Christmas has gone just as quickly as it came and I sit here at my computer awaiting a new year that is only a half a day away.
It will be a new year full of new adventures, new faces, new memories, new lessons to be learned and new hardships to overcome. I know these things await, yet we (my handsome husband and I) have no idea what these words actually mean or the weight that they hold. Something that I personally could sit and fear. Yet worrying myself for the future is futile. I have learned this already.
I suppose now is the time to look back in retrospect. I think of all the amazing places we have been, adventures we have had, new faces we have met, lots of memories and even those hardships. I have learned no matter what the situation we are all the more refined in those beautiful things. This makes me excited for the new year.
I read something this morning that caught my attention and made me think about the new year that is looming as time ticks. "let’s try to create awesome things. step outside our boundaries. be positive. be adventurous. be healthy. not be too hard on ourselves. discover new things we love doing. not procrastinate as much as we did last year. and focus on facing some of those things that make us anxious." And to that I simply say yes. Yes, please.
As I have made a huge step in marrying the man I love, my life will be forever changed. I spoke with him last night about priorities. Something I realized, quickly for that matter, changed with a simple "I do". What once was a very selfish frame of mind has quickly been tweaked and poked and prodded to become a imperfectly self-less frame of mind. I realized my priorities have changed for the better. I haven't quite honed in on what those priorities are but the simple knowing of those priorities in question have changed my life. I do not simply live for myself or to better myself in a particular area in this world. I live for a God who loves me, a husband who would risk his life and family and friends that are more dear to me now than I ever thought possible. What I do in the interim of time in living for the above, will only be a blessing to me in some way shape or form. I have hope in this. And will quickly learn that a life lived this way will bring me more joy than I could ever know.
I pray I never lose sight of this.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Friday, November 11, 2011
Honeymooners
One month down and a lifetime to go.
The wedding is over, our vacation has come and gone and I currently sit in the house I now call a home with my husband. Its a perfect Indian summer here in Portland and the warmer than usual temperatures has made the ease into winter a little more bearable. Josh and I have settled into a new routine that includes both work and play (still working on hitting the gym hard). Our little apartment wedged in Sullivan's Gulch is perfect. More perfect than we could have ever imagined, in fact.
This month has flown by faster then ever. It has been a beautiful time of thought, rest and reflection on the one of the biggest steps both Josh and I will ever take. The past 7 months we were preparing ourselves for a lifetime together, yet not even really knowing the weight of that statement. Our life together, the relationships we have made and continue to make, the experiences we endure together mark what our life will actually be made of. A time of molding, modeling and shaping.
I remember one moment right before our ceremony. To this day I can honestly say that I have never been more overwhelmed by the love of others. People we love and who consequently love us back just the same. It all came to a breaking point about an hour before the ceremony began. A breaking point that lead to tears. A love I have never felt but hope will once again experience in my lifetime.
Our wedding was much like every other wedding. We had beautiful bridemaids and handsome groomsmen. Our family was there surrounding us with that constant familial love. Relatives came from far (Australia) and wide (middle America and eastward). We had delicious food and the most important libation Portland has to offer (beer). Wildflowers were everywhere I looked and the the delicateness of babies breath lined the aisle. A sight I knew would not be as beautiful as it was. The bustle of friends and family helping with last minute details. I prayed before the wedding, as I quickly discovered RSVPS held no meaning these days, that the people that were meant to be there were. I believe that my prayer was answered. Every corner of that ballroom held a face that I was excited to see. Although, excitement doesn't really hold weight to that. It was more of that overwhelming love feeling. The faint sound of a beautiful violin players melodies rang in my ear as I walked down the aisle with a father who I wasn't sure was quite ready to let me go. A head was my future. My husband. That Australian I met 1 year, 7 months and 5 days prior to the leap. I remember every word our pastor spoke and I hung to every word tightly. I remember nearly whispering our vows as I was only speaking them to Josh. He was the only one that needed to hear, after all. Our first act as husband and wife was communion. My gluten free bagel lay there with a glass of wine. The view outward and into the world outside was magnificent. Just as God intended it to be, I suppose. The sun was setting and dusk was near. As Josh prayed for us and what lies ahead, I couldn't help but be overwhelmed (again) with that fact that God had us exactly where we were, exactly when we needed to be there. Subsequently He knew from that moment on what paths our life together will take.
The rest of the night was hugging one person after another whom means so much to me. Yes, it was a whirlwind, something I prayed would slow to a snails pace, but alas the night went by fast. Too fast. Yet, I remember the things I need to and will forget the minor details that don't matter...like how I only got one glass of wine. Not a big deal.
October 8th 2011 was truly one of the best nights of our lives. A night that still brings a tear to my eye. A tear that merely represents the love I have for God, Josh, my family and all of my friends. I simply cannot put into words this feeling, nor do I believe will it do the feeling justice.
And so it begins.
The wedding is over, our vacation has come and gone and I currently sit in the house I now call a home with my husband. Its a perfect Indian summer here in Portland and the warmer than usual temperatures has made the ease into winter a little more bearable. Josh and I have settled into a new routine that includes both work and play (still working on hitting the gym hard). Our little apartment wedged in Sullivan's Gulch is perfect. More perfect than we could have ever imagined, in fact.
This month has flown by faster then ever. It has been a beautiful time of thought, rest and reflection on the one of the biggest steps both Josh and I will ever take. The past 7 months we were preparing ourselves for a lifetime together, yet not even really knowing the weight of that statement. Our life together, the relationships we have made and continue to make, the experiences we endure together mark what our life will actually be made of. A time of molding, modeling and shaping.
I remember one moment right before our ceremony. To this day I can honestly say that I have never been more overwhelmed by the love of others. People we love and who consequently love us back just the same. It all came to a breaking point about an hour before the ceremony began. A breaking point that lead to tears. A love I have never felt but hope will once again experience in my lifetime.
Our wedding was much like every other wedding. We had beautiful bridemaids and handsome groomsmen. Our family was there surrounding us with that constant familial love. Relatives came from far (Australia) and wide (middle America and eastward). We had delicious food and the most important libation Portland has to offer (beer). Wildflowers were everywhere I looked and the the delicateness of babies breath lined the aisle. A sight I knew would not be as beautiful as it was. The bustle of friends and family helping with last minute details. I prayed before the wedding, as I quickly discovered RSVPS held no meaning these days, that the people that were meant to be there were. I believe that my prayer was answered. Every corner of that ballroom held a face that I was excited to see. Although, excitement doesn't really hold weight to that. It was more of that overwhelming love feeling. The faint sound of a beautiful violin players melodies rang in my ear as I walked down the aisle with a father who I wasn't sure was quite ready to let me go. A head was my future. My husband. That Australian I met 1 year, 7 months and 5 days prior to the leap. I remember every word our pastor spoke and I hung to every word tightly. I remember nearly whispering our vows as I was only speaking them to Josh. He was the only one that needed to hear, after all. Our first act as husband and wife was communion. My gluten free bagel lay there with a glass of wine. The view outward and into the world outside was magnificent. Just as God intended it to be, I suppose. The sun was setting and dusk was near. As Josh prayed for us and what lies ahead, I couldn't help but be overwhelmed (again) with that fact that God had us exactly where we were, exactly when we needed to be there. Subsequently He knew from that moment on what paths our life together will take.
The rest of the night was hugging one person after another whom means so much to me. Yes, it was a whirlwind, something I prayed would slow to a snails pace, but alas the night went by fast. Too fast. Yet, I remember the things I need to and will forget the minor details that don't matter...like how I only got one glass of wine. Not a big deal.
October 8th 2011 was truly one of the best nights of our lives. A night that still brings a tear to my eye. A tear that merely represents the love I have for God, Josh, my family and all of my friends. I simply cannot put into words this feeling, nor do I believe will it do the feeling justice.
And so it begins.
Monday, June 6, 2011
The time is drawing near...
Hello friends and family,
As Josh and I are making plans for the "big day", we figured that all of you out o' towners will need to make plans of your own. We want to be sure you make the most of your visit here to Portland, so we compiled a list (long) of "things" that help us love Portland more and more. Whether it's places to stay, sights to see or food to be ingested...we have you covered! Can't wait to see all of you very soon!
Questions and comments can be directed to me at
mgroves1215@me.com
I also included links for pages if you want to know more about our suggestions. Some of the pages are really fun, so you should check them out.
Happy trip planning!
As Josh and I are making plans for the "big day", we figured that all of you out o' towners will need to make plans of your own. We want to be sure you make the most of your visit here to Portland, so we compiled a list (long) of "things" that help us love Portland more and more. Whether it's places to stay, sights to see or food to be ingested...we have you covered! Can't wait to see all of you very soon!
Questions and comments can be directed to me at
mgroves1215@me.com
I also included links for pages if you want to know more about our suggestions. Some of the pages are really fun, so you should check them out.
Happy trip planning!
Foodies
Let us start from the very beginning. After all, its a very good place to start.
We are foodies...
Japenese: Biwa
Mexican: Por Que No.
Sandwiches: Meat Cheese Bread. Bunk Bar.
Pubs:
We are foodies...
Portland has many excitements to offer. Luckily for Josh and I, food is a culture in and of itself. It just so happens we love to eat. More importantly, we like to eat good food.
Here are our top picks. Beware, its a long list:
All around goodness: Mother’s Bistro, Tin Shed, Savoy.
Mother’s Bistro is owned by an Italian women and her family from the East coast. When you visit, because you must, you will see her running around making people laugh and delivering her famous dishes. The menu consists of hearty and wholesome comfort food. You really can’t go wrong with anything you order. The atmosphere is fun and exciting. But because of it's great food, it can be really busy. Making reservations is a must. Mother’s also offers a brunch menu.
We love: Crunchy French Toast. Macaroni and Cheese. Crab Cakes.
Tin Shed is located in the Alberta Arts district in Northeast Portland. This neighborhood is eclectic in vibe as Tin Shed offers the same attitude. All food is local and sustainable (sometimes this makes me giggle, as Portland is VERY into local sustainability.) The Tin Shed’s sandwiches are great. The burgers are even better (in my opinion). Tin Shed offers a great happy hour!
We love: Cajun Kicker (burger). San Fran (sandwich).
Savoy is where I took Josh for his birthday the first year we were dating. We were both so pleased with the meals we ordered. Savoy is owned by a gentleman who reigns from the good ole state of Wisconsin. The menu reflects some mid-western cooking with a Portland twist on it, of course.
We love: Beet Salad. Savoy Burger. Carlton Farms half Chicken.
Brunch: Tasty n Sons. Border Cafe.
When visiting Portland, Tasty n Sons is a must! If you hit the resturant perfectly, you will/might avoid an insane amount of people. The line is always out the door. All the food is amazing. The Bloody Marys are great! We suggest happy hour here as well.
We love: Polenta and sausage ragu with mozzerella and fried egg. Burmese Red pork stew with short grain rice & eggs two ways.
Broder is a swedish resturant with a little twist of Portlandia. Their menu offers traditional fare and it's all very delicious food. This wins as my favorite resturant! I love everything about it. The food, the people, the place, everything!
We love: EVERYTHING..well I do at least!
Breakfast: Waffle Window. Pinestate. Le Petit Provance. Helsers. Broder Cafe. Milo’s Cafe. Stepping Stone.
The Waffle Window is as simple as it sounds. You walk up to a window, order a waffle and take it to go or sit at one of their cozy picnic tables. This places wins for inexpensive and satifying! They serve waffles of all kinds.
We love: The Three B’s. Seasonal Fruit Waffle.
Pinestate is where you will fullfill your desire for classic fried chicken and biscuits. Enough said.
We love: The Reggie. The Mcisley.
Le Petit Provance is a classic patisserie and boulangerie. The food is great. The baked goods are to die for. If you have any diet restrictions, La Petit offers made to order requests.
We love: Northwest Salmon Hash. Mimosas.
Japenese: Biwa
This happens to be one of Josh’s favorite resturant in all of Portland. If you are a fan of meat, Biwa serves some amazing skewers. I took Josh here for his birthday ‘cause Im a great FIANCEE! This is more of a fine dining location. I enjoy the comfortable atomsphere.
We love: SAKE. Kimchi-kara-age. Lamb skewers.
Mexican: Por Que No.
Great vibe and good music. The food is satsifying and resonably priced.
We love: Bryan’s Bowl. Margaritas.
Sandwiches: Meat Cheese Bread. Bunk Bar.
We both love sandwiches. There are two shops in particular that have brought the best sandwich award to a neck and neck. Meat Cheese Bread is a small location in SE Portland with a wide selection of artisan sandwiches for the meat lover and vegetarian. Bunk offers the same but with house cured meat that melts in your mouth.
We love: Italian Cured Meat sandwich. The Classic Roast Beef.
We love: Park Kitchen sandwich. The Turkey.
Cuban: Pambiche
Pambiche is a long time favorite of mine. During the warmer months the outside seating is perfect as you eat flavorful and traditional cuban fare. The dessert case is mouthwatering. Pambiche is a fun place to relax and enjoy life.
We love: Mango shake. Tostanos. Ensalada de Aguacate. Sandwich Cubano.
Pizza: Dove ViVi
Dove Vivi (pro: dough-vey vee eve) has amazing cornmeal crusted pizza. All pizza’s are made with fresh ingredients all coming from local farms in Oregon. The dining is comfortable but with limited seating, waits can we long during the busiest times.
We love: The Corn Pizza.
Pubs:
Green Dragon (wear a Hawaiian shirt on tuesday evenings and get a free pint! Also referred as Tiki Tuesdays) (Also one of Josh's favorite pubs. One of the largest selection of beers)
Backstage (where we met)
Horse Brass (Low-key vibe. Great beers)
A caffeine rush.
Upon arriving to Portland, one must know that our culture revolves, nay, thrives around the timeless drink of coffee. What once was a bean in the far regions of this world has now become a wide spread culture phenom here in the great City Of Roses. Therefore it gets special attention and admiration from us.
Roasters:
Stumptown
Coava
The lovely atmospheres in which to enjoy a cuppa:
The Albina Press:
Coava: http://coava.myshopify.com/
Crema: http://www.cremabakery.com/
Bakery Bar: http://www.bakerybar.com/
SweetPea: (vegan) http://sweetpeabaking.com/
New Cascadia: (Gluten Free) http://www.newcascadiatraditional.com/
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Where to rest your head...
One important morsel of information that you might need before you begin booking a hotel: The Portland Marathon is the same weekend as the wedding. What does this mean? Well, there will be an abundance of extremely svelte runners. Key word abundance. With that said, the hotels will fill up fast and in actuality are already filled. After calling around to many hotels for huge group rates, I came to a crossroads as I don't really know who will be joining us for the wedding, more specifically precise days. I will begin by giving suggestions for you all to ponder for a month or two or three or four. At which point we all might have a better idea of everyone's travel plans.
Here we go.
Something for the hipsters or just plain hip:
Ace Hotel
Location: Downtown Portland
The Ace Hotel is known for its original design and comfort. A hotel that is unique to Portland's very own style, molding to what the city has become. Modern yet comfortable, simple yet intricate, you will find rest among the downtown's most bustling neighborhood. Just around the corner (walking) you will find the world's largest new and used bookstore, Powell's Books. In the same area you kind find an assortment of higher end boutiques and art galleries. A well known and local coffee shop, Stumptown, resides in the lobby of the hotel. Quick and delicious coffee to start your day. The hotel is also sandwiched betweenClyde Common and Kenny and Zuke's whose dining always attracts a crowd.
Why you should stay here: Centrally located and inexpensive. Rates starting about $120. The "walkability" is 100%.
One drawback….street pay to park.
Something a little cush.
Hotel Vintage Plaza
One of the reasons I LOVE Hotel Vintage Plaza is the fact that they have the most amazing pillows!!! I stayed with a girlfriend at this location and the pillows are that amazing to mention. Also located downtown this hotel offers a central location for easy access to wherever your heart desires. The Hotel Vintage Plaza is a small hotel in size and its pretty quiet for the location. This section of town quiets down around 10pm. Interstate 5 is less than a mile from the hotel, so again, this is easy to get to and get away from :)
Why you should stay here: Moderately priced accommodations. Comfortable setting. Easy access to just about everything.
Drawbacks: Street parking.
Something kind of Portland.
Mcmenamins Kennedy School
Unexplainable. You will just have to see for yourself. I highly recommend The Kennedy School for a true Portland experience. Set in a 1915 secondary school, you will find numerous bars, a movie theater (with couches), pubs, restaurants and even a soaking pool. The rooms are comfortable and the food is great! The location is in NE Portland, about 5 minutes to our wedding venue. It is situated in a quiet neighborhood, but it is in close proximity to the freeway and downtown.I am thinking that I will be staying here the night before the wedding with some friends. It might be a good place to hang out for everyone. The rates are great for overnight stays.
Why you should stay here: The experience. Close to wedding venue.
Drawbacks: None I can think of.
Something comfy.
Residence Inn Marriott
A faithful and reliable place to stay. If you are planning on staying in town for more of an extended stay, this might be the place for you. Josh's parents and nanna stayed when they came to visit us and my dad, sister and I spent our Christmas here. It is a good place to rest and wind down from the adventures that Portland holds. Situated in the Lloyd district, you will find easy access to the freeway. The light rail (The MAX) is a stones throw to the hotel and you can go just about anywhere and for free at that.
Why you should stay here: Its an all around great place.
Drawbacks: None that I can think of :)
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