Update. Since my last post I have lost about 4 lbs. I was going to blog about food choices and calories and struggles and indulgences and failures and exercise and probably whine and post some pictures of my progress but this has been the easiest time i've ever had losing weight. I'm not denying myself and I'm not having any big struggles (like devouring a stack of waffles on a saturday morning!)

My garden is planted, our 4 new baby chickens are happily enjoying the green grass and pecking each others feather's out. We've had a handful of evening fires with marshmallow roasting. Overall, we're on a good pace for welcoming summer!

I'm back, with a new direction for blogging purposes. I don't really want to talk about my children or post pictures of their every-growing little selves, although I most likely will do that at times. My aim for keeping a verbal commentary of my life at the moment is to chart my journey to lose weight. I've made this journey a few times over (maintenance is a four-letter word!) so this time it will be about accountability and support. I've done it before, and if I really want it I have to work at it. Here goes......

30th Birthday Party Menu

Vegetarian Chili Verde
Grilled corn and hot dogs
Pumpkin Whoopie Pies {thanks to The Lovliest Day for the recipe and image via Martha Stewart}
Voodoo Donuts
Spiked Apple Cider
Banoffee Pie 

Any other ideas???

CtrlP is Awesome!

Have you heard of CtrlP? They're a new etsy design business that has the raddest invitation suites for your wedding! And...... the creators are Lizzie and Isaiah from this blog that journals their Chicago wedding planning on a $10,000 budget.

Check out some of these fab, can't-find elsewhere-designs:

I recently worked with Lizzie on customizing this invite for my 30th birthday party coming up in October

I liked the playfulness of the font mixed with the warm, dark fall colors, perfect for a pre-halloween bash!

Check them out if you're looking for something fresh and eye-catching for any event!

I was alll the Buzz

Okay I'm making light of this situation, but it was seriously scary. Have you ever been shocked? I mean like whole-body-taken-over-by-robotic-aliens-who-are-frying-you-with-their-zappers shocked? Of course I was stupidly hanging up christmas lights barefoot on wet grass and picked them up near broken bulb/exposed wire which didn't immediately make contact until I had a hammer and nail in one hand and looped the string of lights around my finger to nail to a tree.
For the first few seconds of not realizing what was happening it felt just like the description above. According to my husband and daughter I was screaming bloody murder so the whole neighborhood could hear. I couldn't see anything until it clicked in my brain that I was being electrocuted and I pulled off the lights with my other hand. I have no idea if I clenched my eyes shut in reaction to the sensation freaking the crap out of me or if the voltage zapping my body caused temporary blindness?
So I ran, I screamed, I was shaking, my arms muscles hurt for a bit, then my legs, then I folded myself on the ground and cried a bit. I do that, I cry to release freaked-out-ness among plenty of other emotions. I had a red slightly swollen hand for a bit, and a burn on my finger, and even yesterday woke up unable to make a fist and my left arm got tired easily and couldn't take much pressure before aching. 
Household voltage is not that dangerous, but the force of a zinger is dependent on how reactive your tissues are, whether you're wet or dry (duh) and how far and where the current travels.
 I managed to supply the right conditions for a whopper of conductivity!

Oh maiya, it was all worth it, your birthday was lovely.

13

                          { age 8}
Ack. I'm only 29 and my oldest turns 13 today. That many years ago I was an oblivious 16 year-old huge in the belly and ready to pop. That morning I sat up in bed at 9am and felt all this watery stuff coming out of me. It feels like a soft liquid that you can't stop if you try, like stopping your pee, nope doesn't work.
I showered, dressed, called my mom, called my boyfriend who picked me up and took me to my doc appt that was scheduled for that morning anyway.
I can't imagine what we looked like in the waiting room, me with a towel between my legs having contractions and my husky (read: tubby) black boyfriend sitting next to me. Haha! I bet it was shocking!
They sent me down to the hospital right away.
I had visions of walking up and down the halls during my labor, squatting, what-have-you. But sheesh the moment I got on that bed I didn't move except to turn side to side. I had a "birth plan" which I doubt was looked at by anyone, I swear they're just to make the mother feel like she has some ounce of control in the situation. I refused the 20 million offers for an epidural, but accepted some other narcotic shot to the hip a couple time. Not bad, made me sleepy.
I was there all of about 4 hours before I wanted to push and they told me NOT TOO. Crazies. Give me a woman who had a sensible hospital experience and I'll give you 10 more that didn't. I tried not too, but then I pressed the nurse call button a little bit later and yelled into it "I don't care, I'm PUSHING!!" and about 4 people scrambled into the room to assist her birth.

I won't go into the details of the rest, but she arrived safe and sound, sweet and pink and gorgeous, with wavy black hair that eventually fell out and allowed for her curly blond locks to come in. And then I blink and she's 13 and we're sharing clothes and acne products.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAIYA!!!!!
May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!

I pulled out my scarf hanger

Yes, I have a scarf hanger. I figure I may as well continue to write about my humdrum and fabulous life.
I have many places I stash "things". Whatever they may be. So as I dug out the next size up from laila's hand-me-downs that I've hidden in a trunk in the living room, it meant I had to make room in the big gray bin tucked next to her crib for all of the too-smalls to go. And so, I found at the bottom my scarf hanger affixed with many colorful and some hand-created neck wraps.

It is too bad that a week ago I would be freak to don one of these and go out in public, but our weather has already turned and that means I can do whatever I please.

There is one I'm toying with tossing ~ remember when funny yarn was so popular? That polyester thread yarn with all the little hairs that when knit together made this fake-furry-boa looking thing? I made one out of black sparkly yarn. It truly is hideous and fantastic at the same time and only appropriate for a drag queen or a costume.

My sugar bean had a rough night of sleeping and was prompty awake by 6am this morning, and I begrudginly fell out of bed, lifted her out of the crib careful not to slam her lengthening legs against the bars and turned on Dora after she shreaked so loud it must have woken the neighbors. Erg. I got a few seconds of blurry-eyed rest on the couch before giving in to coffee and the start of my day.

As we speak she is pulling at my shirt and touching my nipples while wedging her feet in my armpits and wrapping her body around my side trying to get into nursing position. erg. That's how good weaning is going. I think she's frustrated at her ever growing body and how she doesn't fit into places as well as she used too which = more abuse to me.

Who Am I Kidding?

I love weddings! I love looking at them, they still make my heart swell and my eyes a little watery. I can't help myself........

With the kids starting school, and throwing myself full force into work it is good that I don't have too much time on my hands, otherwise I just might try to plan another wedding.

My daughter's 13th birthday party is this Saturday. Let's see what I can pull out of my hat. She brought home a small chocolate fountaing (tacky! and I have no idea where it came from) a few years ago and I've refused to bring it out of hiding. But, this is the right occasion. What do I put inside it? Chocolate chips? Almond bark? I feel like there some special melting chocolate, hmmm off to a decorette shop to do some scavenging.

                       {circa 1 year ago}

My little bean is cuter than ever. She finally decided to walk on her own and her personality has skyrocketed!  Besides getting up at O'Dark thirty she's a loveable, hilarious little gal. That and we've officially weaned, which I occasionaly feel a tinge of regret over but not really.

Oh, and I'm about to run smack into 30. Oh. Frick. I don't even know what to do with myself. I feel like I should have a killer party, a costume party even, as I've never done that before and was born the day before Halloween.

If I had the money I would rent out The Press Club, a literary cafe/crepe house in Se Portland that is declicious and small-ish but would be an ideal venue. Alas, maybe for my 40th?

And I'm feeling really boring lately. The constant job of motherhood and house cleaning and wifedom makes for a dull Jasper. I haven't figured out how to bring myself into the social scene again, it costs twice as much to go out now w/out kids cause I have to pay for a baby sitter too! Grrrrr
Or, if I leave my husband home and fun w/out him and vice-versa, and we don't get any socializing time together, it leads to seeing each other as boring, or maybe just I feel that way. But I don't see the point of getting to know someone and having a great time with them and then you get married/have kids/work to hard and all you can do is try to have a great time w/out them cause someone has to stay at home with the kids. Or I'm too tired to go out anyway cause i've been up since 5:30am. Just venting a reality check for y'all thinking of breeding. It truly is the best thing though, don't let my pity party disuade you.

Going to a Wedding!

Today is my friend Kaarin's wedding. It is taking place at Youngberg Hill Vineyards in McMinville, Oregon. She is marrying her British fiance' and the father of their little boy! She is the second of 4 her in family to wed (like me!) and I've been watching the wedding come together as she's been planning it from their home in Tenessee.
Her family and ours have known one another since way back, and we have had the pleasure of living with them for a summer during a transition time for my family. And although we aren't bestie's, she and her siblings have been pseudo-family for me for years.
August weddings are supposed to be a guarantee for sunny, warm weather in Oregon. But here we are, overcast and not even 70! Go figure. This summer has been so strange for us, so mild and consitently bland save for a few days here and there.
I am so excited for this afternoon! Congrats Kaarin, this is your day and you are gorgeous! Can't wait to see that sassy little dress on you.

I Don't Have to Care Anymore!

What a relief it is to say that........ I don't have to plan a wedding, or fill my head with ideas. Nope, I can just make some strong coffee and soak in the hot tub in the early morn' with my hubby and girls and not.talk.about.the.wedding.
Then for breakfast have toasted pugliese bread with salted avocado on top and tomato quarters drizzled with champagne pear vinaigrette, followed by a salad nicoise to pick at throughout the day. I've since finished that off!

And I got to do a belly casting at work today,on a client who shares my littlests' name, but spelled differently.
Yes, these are the daily moments I love.

Did I ever share a photo of my belly casting?

My oldest daughter, younger sister and I decorated it with a variety of paper pieces and modge podge. Its been hanging above Laila's crib ever since.

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Congrats to Angie, Brittney and Rachael who all got hitched yesterday!!!!!!!! Ladies, I hope it was fantastical!

Could it be? And a music share

The spell is broken!

I haven't looked at Style me Pretty, Ruffled, OnceWed, GreenWeddingShoes or any other stuffy bridal inspiration blog in 2 whole days?!?

To think that I've detoxed off these sights so quickly after my wedding!*

This calls for a beer.

*denotes sarcasm

 This has been my wedding song since before I even met my husband.

Guest Blogging on BridalHood!

Today you can find me on the lovely wedding blog BridalHood! Debbie's fantastic blog was one of the very first I followed when I joined blogger-land. She writes about her own wedding planning and also shares great wedding inspiration with her readers. She married in Hood River a few months ago and is currently driving from Florida to her new home in Hood River with her husband. From their photos I can tell they are super cool and full of life and happiness!

Check it out!

From Seeds and Stiches

I just finished reading this post:

Note from a 5 year old marriage...

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And wanted to share it with my readers, in case they aren't following seeds already.  There seem to be so many posts post-wedding that I can't agree more with regarding the aesthetic and expectations of a wedding day. I like that she addresses her thankfulness at not having wedding blogs during her planning to further increase these visions and pressures. And that so many people are having lovely weddings that aren't what we see day to day on all these blogs. 

Still, obviously, so many people are having these types of weddings. 

But, being here now, 6 weeks post wedding, I'm proud of the work we did, we carried out our intention of love and family, and the responses we've received from our guests support those feelings. We accomplished not only throwing ourselves a wedding (with friends and family helping immensely of course!) but we've accomplished a year and a half of an awesome marriage, filled with new jobs, new baby, a broken toe, financial gain and loss, tearing out a wall and a chimney together, celebrating our first anniversary, as well as landscaping our yard and other small home improvements. But most of all, its the end of the day, when we have our customized bowls of popcorn, and sit on the couch with each other, taking turns putting the kids to bed, and just enjoying being together.

More Wedding Photos

These creative pictures are the work of my cousin and bosom friend for life, Lindsay.
The best photo of my bouquet ever.

Me smiling at something, with my friend's boyfriend beside me.

Devin and the girls, with my older sister on the right

 A sort of behind-the-scenes snapshot, see the top of the porta potty on the left? and our brick pathway my hubby laid with the chimney we tore out a few months ago.

Last, but not least, my oldest daughter and my bff forever (and cake baker) Jill. They are my favorite girls.

Thank you Lindsay! And your creative genius.

Un-wedding Post

Three chicken eggs... the one on the right got stuck and took in two yolks.

Isn't it Huge? I should be a hand model...

My tin can herb garden courstesy of wedding table tins from my mother that she *doesn't want back*

And lastly, little LW's first camping trip on Suttle Lake in Central Oregon

She is most happy outdoors, so spending three days and two nights outside was her favorite! That and the tent, she was all about how cool then tent was and made lots of scratchy noises with her fingers on it.

Happy Weekend everyone!

She Takes the Cake

I heart my bff. She is so amazingly generous, loving, tender, and makes some damn good cake. Seriously, she does this professionally, went to school for it, been working as a pastry chef for 10 years. So to have her as my friend, to make my cake as a loving gift makes a girl feel pretty freakin' lucky.

It was three round tiers made of chocolate espresso stout cake, filled with espresso amazing creamy goodness and covered in caramel buttercream. In the beginning of planning I was inspired by a local artist's creations of bird and branch decorated cakes, in a somewhat folk-art manner, but the more cake photos I saw, the more I knew I wanted a simple fluffy cake that just made me want to eat it as soon as possible.

Table Details

We kept our table centerpieces small, simple, and free. Everything we used was sourced from my mom's house, tin cans, doilies, old spools, glass bottles. She even sewed the table runners from more Pendleton wool scraps that had been donated to her art class. I wasn't concerned if they were perfect, so we left the pinking edges and didn't worry if they weren't perfectly straight.

The haiku forms were great, I found another stack yesterday hidden in a tin. They were written by my husbands family and some of my not-so-appropriate co-workers! Smile.

{All images Chris Lae Photography}

Our Ceremony

{Images by Ron Hope, except #2 Chris Lae}

Its Friday!

And I'm going camping my friends, I've been baking blueberry muffins and brownies, prepping hamburger patties with blue cheese, I've got balsamic potatoes ready to roast, and sliced stale bread with veggies to make a panzanella salad (with a bottled vinaigrette), and the standard breakfast fixin's.
I haven't been camping in years, and I'm looking forward to low slung camp chairs, cozy sweatshirts by the campfire, canoeing in the lake, a bandanna in my hair and great company!

What are you doing this weekend?

Our First Look

 

Devin and I dressed side by side, he helped me clasp my necklace and I watched him put on his shoes. We didn't' have the typical first look. Seeing these moments captured in our bedroom, I don't think we missed out.

Getting Ready

I left my house at one, three hours before wedding time, to be hair and make-upped. I didn't want to go, I wanted to set up photos and seating charts and help decorate. But if I hadn't left I would have walked out into my wedding a total homely looking mess.  And yes, I am writing my vows down right before the ceremony.

Weddings

In my non-effort to stop looking at wedding blogs now that my wedding is over, I came across two this morning that I L-O-V-E.

First up, from grey likes weddings is an intimate gem in Palm Springs, California at the Korakia Pensione.

I definitely need to vacation here soon! See more here.

Second wedding love of the day is Jessica + Tyler's in Carmel (boy, am I a sucker for small California shindigs today!)

I couldn't pick a favorite photo from either of these weddings, its the collective style, atmosphere and sweet, simple ceremonies that got me on both. They're worth a click over to see the rest!


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All this is making me even more excited and anxious to receive our own wedding photos! Which, I will post immediately, of course.

Have a great day!

A quick clip of us dancing

My old, My new, My blue

My necklace........was periwinkle.
My corset...........was borrowed.
My dress.............was new.
My boots............were old.

This was by accident, but when I gave it thought, all of the elements popped out together in my mind. Ah, sweet tradition, I can't defy you with any amount of indifference!

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This wedding got me excited today:

Head over to Ruffled to see the rest!

And my new friend and wedding blogger Julie of the Smart Ass Bride is getting married this Sunday July 4th! I am so excited for her, she has been working her butt off DIY-ing so many darling red, white and blue you-name-its for their party at the Overlook house here in Portland. Check out her blog to see some of her lovelies.
Have a blast Julie!

Happy Fourth Everyone! I'm looking forward to a warm, romantic evening with my husband and our two youngest. What are you doing this weekend?

The Other Reading

This poem was supposed to be read at the wedding. I had lost the book I found it in, and so, a few days before the wedding I went to Powell's Books, found the book and looked for paper and pen in my purse. I had none. What mother, or woman for that matter, doesn't have a bazillion things to write with and on in her purse at all times?!

Here is my little sweet that I love so much. I saved it as a text draft on my phone, and never typed it out for anyone to read.  But it is still ours.

Do you not see
that you and I
are as the branches of one tree?
With your rejoicing
comes my laughter;
with your sadness
start my tears.
Love, could life be otherwise
with you and me?

Tsu Yeh  265-316 Tsin Dynasty

My Bouquet

                     {blurry pic sorry}

The story goes like this..... I never planned or budgeted for flowers. First, we were going to grow them. But then we decided to gather or buy some the morning of. I had intended on making a few herbal boutonnieres for the boys and family, but that never happened. My mom stopped by the local farmers market on her way to our house and picked up a few bunches of brightly colored flowers. I never communicated to her that I preferred softer, more neutral colors, but no matter.
My husband's grooms maid split and arranged them into about 18 different bottles and vases. I came back to the house an hour or so before the wedding and casually mentioned to Katy that I didn't have a bouquet. I never intended NOT to have a bouquet, it was just one of those things that never got planned. In fact, the most recent thought was that I'd have my hubby put one together for me (he has some experience, don't fret!) But, of course, you already know how our day went.
So his sweet and awesome friend/grooms lady looked at me wide-eyed and said "What? You don't have a BOUQUET?!" And proceeded to pull flowers out of vases, and took scissors to our rose bush and the neighbors' garden. It was her first bouquet. She tied ribbon around the stems and I handed her an old lacy trim piece I had worn as a hair accessory for years to go around the ribbon. I am eternally grateful.  And I think it turned out quite lovely! The pop of color against my dress and the overcast sky was perfect.