Engagement

Wow, this month has flown by! I can't believe that June is almost over. We got engaged in June, so I often like to celebrate, but because of all of the stuff happening, we really didn't get to do anything. Our engagement story is great. Gess tricked me and planned out this elaborate scheme, which included the rose garden at Boise State U, flying from Boise (where we lived at the time) to Seattle, meeting some of Gess's family, dinner at a beautiful restaurant on the water, and the flying back home. He also had a friend videotape the engagement. I will have to dig up that tape sometime...but for now, here are a couple of pictures from that day (11 years ago!!)! Aren't we cute?? :)

Banana Blossom Press

A friend told me about Banana Blossom Press and I absolutely love their designs! Exercise and fitness oriented cards and t-shirts. Simple. Love them! And...they are having a SALE right now, 20% off your order. Use coupon code: SPRING 2009 at checkout. I just ordered this Find Your Inner Athlete tee...I can't wait for it to get here!

I **heart** Etsy

Here are some gorgeous things I just found on Etsy. I love this site!!

Headband from House of Telsa:

Mocha Ruffle Dress by Sarah Seven:

Red Poppies Calling Cards by Michelle Brusegaard:

Gweneth Collection Clutch by Fiazco:

History--Engagement

So...I am feeling a bit sentimental tonight, so I thought that I would tell my engagement story. I had been dating Gess for a year. It was our 1 year anniversary and Gess told me that he had a job interview in Boise so that we would go out for lunch after. He talked to my professor (the joys of a small college) and got me excused from the quiz. We drove into Boise (we lived in Nampa at the time, which is about 20 minutes away). He told me that we had some time before his interview (which was supposedly at Home Depot) so we would go to the rose garden that we liked to go to. So, we went and walked around. He was being sweet and stopped us in front of a particular rose bush--the Singing in the Rain roses. Then he got down on one knee and proposed. I said yes (of course), and then he pointed out that one of his professors was a little ways away videotaping the proposal. So sweet! After that, the professor took some pictures of us around the garden (see them below).

After that Gess said that he really did need to go to the interview and we got in the car and drove off. He "got lost" and we ended up at the Boise Airport. He told me that there was one more surprise in the airport, so we went inside. We got through security (after I showed off my bling to the security checkers of course!) and went to one of the gates (this was pre-9/11 and the changes in security). We sat there for awhile and then there was a call for a flight to Seattle. Gess stood up and said "That's us!" He had booked us on a flight to Seattle for the day. I was so excited.

He wanted it to be special so he rented a Town Car--not the best car for Seattle :) I remember him trying to parallel park that thing :) Anyway, he had arranged for us to meet his cousins for coffee. After that we went to downtown Seattle and just walked around. Then we had dinner at Palisade. It was a great dinner and a beautiful location.

Then we got back on the plane and flew back to Seattle. The next day, half of the college knew about the engagement, so it was easy for me to show off my ring and talk about the story.

Isn't he sweet??? :)

What Joy Looks Like

I LOVE this picture of my hubby when he was little. Makes me smile everytime I see it! :)

Beautiful dinner

For Lisa Day Gessner took me to one of our favorite restaurants in Seattle, Palisade.  It was warm enough for a bit to sit out on the patio where we enjoyed the following amazing views.  The sunset was interesting because smoke from a fire in Oregon made it hazy.  I LOVE Seattle!!

"Old" New Pictures

I realized that I never posted our "original" portraits by Clane (http://www.clanegesselphotography.blogspot.com/). This is actually how we met Clane. We were at the Ballard Farmer's Market one Sunday in March, getting some produce and enjoying the community when we saw Clane's booth set up. He was selling prints of his amazing landscapes and I overheard him talking to someone about doing portraits as well. I had been bugging Gessner for months to get portraits, so I went over to talk to Clane. He said that he did do portraits and that he had an opening the following weekend, but then was booked up for awhile. So, I went home and check out his blog and loved his work and Gess called right away and we set it up. So the next week we met Clane on Alki and he took our photos. He seemed like such a nice guys, so I suggested that we should get coffee sometime...and the rest is as they say "history!" Clane is such a great guy, and we love his girlfriend Skylar too. So...anyway, here are the photos that started the friendship :)

Drool: I want these shoes!

I went shopping with my friend today and she introduced me to shoe store that she likes and we both fell in love with these shoes. They are cute, with just a little bit of sass and sportiness. I want!! Gotta figure out why I **need** these shoes!

What I woke up to this morning...

Isn't my hubby sweet? :)

Painting: Self Portrait

A couple of years back I took a course at Bellevue Community College called Intuitive Art.  The underlying idea of the class was to get out of your own way and let the creative art come out.  So we worked with inexpensive materials and didn't spend a lot of time trying to create something monumental.  It was just go with the flow and you will create.  It was an awesome class and I have a few pieces from the class that I really one.  My favorite is a larger than life self portrait.  It is huge and loud, but I LOVE it.  It is not living room appropriate, but I have it hanging up in my craft room.  Something about it speaks to me still, even though anyone else looking at it probably thinks that it was part of an elementary school art project. I love it though, so that is all that matters!!

Over the top obsession!!! More Monograms!

Okay, so I told you that am OCD and this is very damning evidence!  But...I ordered more monograms!!  These ones were designed by Nicole of Pink Design. They are SO awesome!! Thanks Nicole!!