Fund-raisin'

Far before I accepted the position at my new job and made an extremely difficult decision to leave the restaurants, I was able to help fund raise for some amazing non-profits in Eugene. As the events coordinator for two very popular restaurants, I was able to use my position as a platform to encourage philanthropy and unity in our community in small but important ways. I'm very lucky to be a part of a community that loves on each other. Below are my memories of my last events with Agate.

Above was an event for The Boys and Girls Club. 12 ex-Duck current NFL players donated their appearances/signed jerseys/commitment to raising money to help tutor/feed and keep kids in Lane Co. healthy and safe.

Above is the annual "Chef's Night Out" which contributes funds to Food for Lane County. FFLC feeds thousands of families in our area. Did you know that a postal worker who also volunteered for FFLC is the man who started the postal canned food drives? Kind of cool.

I've been incredibly blessed in my young, professional career. I've gained an abundance of love and support, friendship, experience and extended family. I'm thrilled about this new chapter but fondly look back on the previous.

Neff-Fountain Wedding

February 25th, 2012 marked the day that my best friend Kimmie and her best friend, James got married. She was flawless by definition. He was a poster child for the all-American handsome Navy man. The entire day, utter perfection. I truly enjoyed getting to know all of these girls and being a part of Kimmie's amazing day.
I couldn't be happier for her.

No sew and Knitting

I saw this knitted scarf on Pinterest a month or so ago and fell in love. I love to knit (an art taught to me by my hubby :) when I can so instead of trying to find where to buy it, I figured out a way to make it. So much better!

This next project is for one of my best friends in the world, Kimmie. Kimmie is a beauty queen, a wonderful friend, hilarious, jack of all trades, Godly, committed and engaged to a handsome Navy man named James. I was asked to be her maid of honor for her February wedding. Of course, I shrilled an excited "YES!" As a maid of honor duty I am planning the bachelorette party and bridal shower. Her and I are equally un-thrilled with the selection of trashy bachelorette party gear that is sold on shelves these days, so away with the home made I go! Here's my first project:A Navy themed bachelorette party sash! She's a pageant girl so, rocking a cheesy/trashy sash would be below par. The best part about this project was it was all done with Liquid Stitch and Fray Check. A no sew project makes this girl a happy camper!
Here's how I did the anchor:

I drew an anchor on paper and cut it out. I then, traced around the anchor with a Sharpie and cut it out.
Then, I did the same tracing technique (but larger) in white lace. Next, I used Fray Check around the edges of both anchor and used Liquid Stitch to glue them together to then glue on to the sash.
DONE!

I can't wait for her to try it on!

KIMMER!!
I love you so much and am so happy for all of your successes in life and for your happiness. You have had an amazing journey of ups and downs that were so worth what you've been blessed with in the end. I'm rooting for you and will always be on your team. You are like a sister and I promise to not cry the ENTIRE day of your wedding. maybe.

Stay-cation

Are you thinking what I was thinking? Time for one? No?? Well, let me tell you as someone who loves a long weekend vacay somewhere atleast 2 hours away from my zip code, stay-cations are a force to be reckoned with. Consider the fact that when in vacation preparation mode there is a level of stress that goes hand in hand with the trying not to forget your tooth brush or enough socks, lists, planning, research, price matching, weather watching, direction finding...etc. Things that you undoubtedly need a vacation from.. on top of why you started the planning in the first place. Now you're limbo-ing under two heavy bars of reason for a vacation. Consideration for a vacation from your vacation start to enter your mind... Dramatic much? Maybe. But here's my point: when you plan to go on a stay-cation, your planning basically stops there.

My friend and I were in desperate need of a break. We considered going to Portland (a short 2 hour drive but still drive time that ate into our weekend), maybe the coast, maybe Central Oregon... All destinations came complete with 2 or more hours of drive time. We just didn't have time for that. In comes our stay-cation. We rented a room at The Hilton... downtown. The downtown of our town. Now what? Well, the easiest part of a stay-cation is planning where to go. We got foot massages at my favorite massage place, Footloose, saw a movie, checked in to our hotel, gave ourselves facials, went out to dinner, came back, slept in, went out for breakfast and came home! We knew where everything was and were able to just go wherever we wanted. It truly felt like time was on our side and like we were seeing our city in a whole different light. I came home so rested and restored. I'm a huge fan of this whole stay-cation idea!

Hard Core Yoga

It's seriously hard core. My good friend, Chelsea, recently opened her yoga studio and it has transformed me in more ways than one. For one, I'm able to use the studio as a multi-purpose good excuse to see her more often. Two: I am forever changed on my mindset of yoga and its use in my life. She instructs a very different kind of yoga that will kick your butt, in mind and body. I would describe it as a fast-paced, boot camp, using yoga poses. We practice, using beginner poses that you're in and out of quickly so you get the cardio aspect and staying true to the name, her core exercises are super intense. I have never loved my body more since doing Hard Core Yoga. That's a powerful thing!!Hard Core Yoga

In addition to all of the physical and mental changes that she has contributed to us (yea, J takes yoga with me and Mr. Big Bad Macho Contractor is super challenged by it and loves it) we have had the opportunity to contribute to her! J built her reception desk for the studio and I've helped with promotion and data entry.

Chels, if you're reading this, I am so proud of you. Thank you for being a woman. A real one. You're the best!
-T

Nic + Alli

Recently, my husband and I were both a part of our wonderful and dearest friends' wedding. What makes for a whirlwind weekend? Add several components: being a pretty large part of the set up/tear down/decoration element of a wedding, being in the bridal party/grooms party, traveling from out of town to said wedding and watching two of your best friends marry each other. It's a pretty amazing thing to be a part of a person's journey. It's extremely special to have had a good friend in Alli and for her to start dating a man who became my husbands good friend and for them to eventually have a family, get married and build a life together. They are such a large part of Jeremy and I's lives. We are so blessed to have such radiantly beautiful people in our lives. We love you more than we can ever say, Mr & Mrs Grant!

a very special girls' night out

Last Saturday, I was on my way to Portland for a very special girls' night out:These, are girls that went to my high school, who have also moved to the valley, most who I haven't seen since then....6 years ago... How did that happen? I am addicted to these types of reunions, thanks to this dinner. I want to do them every weekend! Catching up, and telling stories and the "remember whens" were soooo much fun! Thanks girls for a great, great night!

Skating to the 80's

Jeremy and I were invited to one of the best birthday bashes
I can remember going to. It was an 80's roller skating birthday.
Our friend, Betsy, does not mess around when it comes to having a good time.

Here's what I mean:


We dressed in our best 80's/power outfits (power outfits are those crazy things in your closet that you wish were acceptable to wear in public, but because they aren't you keep them until an event like this)She rented the entire skating rink for her birthday so we were able to
skate the night away with our friends. I cannot remember the last time
I slapped a pair of skates on, but as soon as I got my sea legs I was hooked.
I could have skated all night long.

Pleasant Surprise

I have been in a constant state of being pleasantly surprised in the past several months. I start out with a fairly pessimistic attitude of the outcome (which surprises me to say about myself, I've always considered myself to be a very positive thinker) with something I've volunteered to do or am participating in or a sticky situation with someone. It seems that I'm being shown so many different facets of life that I've not been open to in the past. Which also surprises me to say about myself because I've always thought of myself to be open to just about anything. In any case, I love being pleasantly proved wrong. I am absolutely ok with that!

Recently I learned that a crafty co-worker of mine was moving back to her home town in Hawaii after some very unexpected and unfortunate events. As a hobby, another co-worker of mine digs for crystals. She'll ecstatically bring them into work, after they've been carefully cleaned, and show all of us why they are so special. This girl knows her rock facts. I appreciated the fact that she was so interested in digging for rocks, but they were just rocks to me... until... my friend who was moving decided that she would love to go rock digging before her departure. These rocks would be beautifully turned into jewelry. One thing that bonds her and I is our love for being crafty and creating. Since I was willing to do whatever she wanted to get in as much time with her as I could before she left I agreed to go. The three of us met on a very early, misty, weekday to dig for rocks. We pulled into a hidden nook, lakeside and began digging. We played a game called "rock of the day" which was us basically comparing our rocks to see who had the best find. It was exciting to find little unexpected treasures that I would have otherwise walked right over and ignored. I learned a lot and had so much fun! Who knew?