family

{gray + gold} backyard oregon wedding

I have been so excited for today’s post that I can barely handle it. I am pretty much not breathing at this very moment. As you may know, I love weddings. I’ve talked about wedding etiquette, stationery, and other various wedding related goodies, yet nothing like today. Today I get to show you one of the most adorable, chic, and beautiful weddings I’ve ever been to. And, I was in it! So exciting. Not only is the bride my oldest childhood friend, but I’ve also known the groom since grade school and he happened to film my wedding (he is a producer and videographer). So, to say I feel honored to showcase their day is the understatement of my life. If you are planning your own nuptials or just like to peruse gorgeous images for the sake of inspiration, keep on reading.

The wedding took place in Salem, Oregon in the backyard of a family friend’s historic home, surrounded by gigantic trees, an open field, horses off in the distance, and lots of well wishers. The day was photographed by Leah Verwey who produced such beautiful images I wish I could go back in time and have her photograph my wedding. Sigh. The bride, family, and friends crafted all of the decorations, like painted wine bottles to hold flowers, glittered jars, and burlap table runners. (I’m still not sure how she managed to do it all.) I love so many aspects of this wedding but my favorites are: the colors (gray, gold, ivory, champagne), the bride getting dressed in the middle of a field with an old oval mirror, the father-daughter dance to “You Never Can Tell” by Chuck Berry, the pick-your-own bridesmaid dresses, the family style dinner of legitimately delicious BBQ foods (I feel like that is a très difficult feat), and that the bride and groom are two of the best people on Earth. The bride sent me some of her favorite shots and I added a few of my own to show you the day, in all of its seriously gorgeous glory. Also, keep your eyes peeled for an upcoming issue of Brides, because this wedding will be in it!

550857_650413110394_2030661936_n {All photographs were taken by Leah Verwey}

Posted On January 16, 2013 // 1 Comment
Filed Under: wedding // Tagged With: backyard chic, diy, family, friends, wedding

kolache dough

I really struggled whether or not to post about kolache (a Czechoslovakian dough). On one hand I wanted to share an amazing recipe yet on the other hand I wanted to preserve the secret recipe within my family. So, I came up with a compromise: I’ll post on the process without revealing our specific recipe. I trust you’ll thank me anyway, because everything is a “pinch of this” and “a little of that” which my grandmother was infamous for. It’s quite maddening. Instead, check out this very simple kolache recipe. So much of the dough is the feel of it and knowing how bubbly is bubbly enough or too bubbly. It takes practice. A few years ago (my first holiday season on the East Coast away from my family) my sister and I were Skyping, she in tears over her disastrous dough. It was her first attempt making them alone. Just three years later though and she is a bonafide kolache master.

Our holiday tradition is to make the dough and turn it into several different treats: poppy seed “pie”, crescent rolls, and sticky rolls for breakfast on Christmas morning. If you have the time and a special brunch approaching, though, I don’t think the recipe needs to be reserved solely for holidays. Splurge and make the most indulgent and delicious sticky rolls you’re sure to ever taste.

Steps to remember when preparing the dough:

1. Let the yeast, warm milk, and warm water sit until the yeast is dissolved. Then add flour until a thick gravy is achieved.

2. Let the mixture sit until it rises and is bubbly.

3. Add eggs and butter and combine with a wooden spoon.

4. Then (still with the wooden spoon) add the sugar and salt followed by gradually adding in the flour (1/2 cup at a time).

5. Let rise until doubled in size (at least two hours).

6. Always handle the dough with floured hands and on a floured surface. I especially love this marble pastry board which keep doughs cool and manageable.

7. Trust your instincts! If you think the dough needs more flour but you’ve already used the specified amount, add more flour. You’re probably right.

These are some good bubbles after the mixtures are combined.

Kolache dough is very precious and can easily be over-kneaded. Just a few minutes will do.

To make the gooey, delicious insides of the sticky rolls:

Melt 1/2 cup of butter, add in brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and chopped pecans to taste. The mixture should be thick enough to hold its shape. If it’s too liquidy it will drip right off the dough.

These are perfect to prepare the day before and refrigerate until the morning of. They’ll continue to rise so ensure there’s room in the (greased) baking dish. Cook at 350° for 30-35 minutes, until browned on top.

To make the cream cheese frosting (obviously a necessity), beat together four ounces softened cream cheese and 1/4 cup room temperature butter. When combined beat in 1/2 cup powdered sugar and 1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract. I never said these were healthy.

For the crescent rolls, simply roll out the dough and cut into triangles. Roll the triangle (bigger end to smaller end), brush with melted butter, and sprinkle with poppy seeds. Bake at 350° for 10-15 minutes.

Happy baking!

Posted On January 8, 2013 // Leave a Comment
Filed Under: baking // Tagged With: baking, brunch, dough, family, kolache, recipes, traditions

marriage monday: how do you know the one is the one?

When I was engaged to my husband, I had cold feet. Like really cold feet. It was hard to talk to anyone about it because everyone just says “Oh you just have cold feet. Don’t worry.” Helpful. My friend Bree, who had already been married for three years, gave me the best answer I heard: It’s impossible to know for sure, you just have to know enough and be willing to work on the relationship for the rest of your life. Well, in my case it actually was just cold feet and I am now happily married and forever grateful my hesitation towards lifelong commitment didn’t get the best of me. But, what if having cold feet really is a sign that the marriage is doomed? I’ve recently heard of some couples who divorced after one to two years of marriage. This breaks my heart! It made me think of my husband and I and how we knew (enough) that we were each other’s *the one*, although there were plenty of bumps along the way. Together we came up with a list of twelve topics couples should ask themselves when facing a life together. Before marriage or a lifelong commitment to one another both people should confidently be able to assert the following, otherwise more time is needed in the dating phase or get. out. now. save. yourself. the. trouble. of. divorce.:

1. You want to get married to him/her. It’s not about the wedding(!) or just getting married for the sake of getting married, but spending your life with that particular person.

2. There are zero doubts the other person may be unfaithful.

3. You share the same fundamental principles in life, such as having/not having kids and financial habits. And regarding kids, you agree on the number to have and child care (e.g., will one person stay at home, work part time, will the kids be in daycare full time, etc.).

4. You are your best self when around the other person. And he/she is their best self when around you.

5. You share the same idea of what constitutes a rocking Saturday night.

6. You respect each other’s hobbies yet share a few hobbies together.

7. You believe in each other’s dreams. You’d move across the country for your spouse’s career.

8. You could survive on your own. This sounds weird, I mean you’re not getting married solely due to financial reasons or fear of being alone. It’s better to be alone than with someone who’s not right.

9. You call each other out on mishaps without getting butt hurt (that’s our term for being too sensitive). Nathan and I will often point out each other’s ridiculous behavior. Recently, in a dramatic scene at the airport when our flight was delayed for the third time, I burst into tears. (I was really tired, okay?) He said, “Lesleigh, pull yourself together!” And I did. And that was that. Because I fell asleep.

{via}

10. You are genuinely and truly best friends.

11. You are comfortable being yourself in front of the other person. When Nathan and I first started spending the night at each other’s house (um, Dad, are you reading this? Because if you are, clearly I mean when we got married.), I’d wake up in the middle of the night hearing Nathan in the bathroom letting go of all the fury he’d been holding in that day. Poor guy had quite the stomach ache. Now, obviously, he’s not shy and lets go of his fury at any given moment. He’s pretty comfortable around me now and was at the time we got engaged.

{via}

12. You listen to each other. Fortunately, Nathan and I both work in healthcare and can relate to the daily battles experienced in this field. We come home, talk/gripe about our day for 20-30 minutes, and move on with life. If we couldn’t express this, I think we’d end up stewing all night with thoughts of our day’s struggles.

I am not an expert on marriage/relationships. I’m learning as I go. Nathan and I have been married for not-quite-three-years and we have a long journey ahead. I hear having children really does a number on marriage, so we have that to look forward to someday. I think in the frenzy of engagement (the ring! the planning! the fuss!) it’s très important to sit down and have a truly honest chat with yourself and your significant other. Nathan and I went through pre-marital counseling which was extremely beneficial. Although we had already discussed most of the major issues on our own, it was wonderful to have an objective third party weigh in on our conversations (i.e., point out how wise I was).

What are your thoughts? What else do you think is essential before planning a life together?

Posted On January 7, 2013 // 2 Comments
Filed Under: marriage // Tagged With: family, marriage, relationships, tips

christmas traditions {new / old}

I come from an extremely large extended family and holidays were quite a party growing up. Holiday gatherings usually consisted of at least 30-40 people and chaotic madness ensued. Spending the day with just our immediate family never occurred and I somehow equated small gatherings on holidays with loneliness. We were the family that took in the strays. We were big, happy, and Polish. I still fondly reminisce about holidays past but realize that family no longer exists. The almost twenty first cousins I share my holiday memories with have grown with the exception of two who are still young and one who passed away, many have moved away, and my parents’ divorce changed holidays forever, as divorce tends to do like a tornado whipping through a quaint town and leaving a mess of wreckage behind. At one point I became the stray that needed to be taken in. I was not sure how I would handle the holidays when my husband and I headed east three years ago, considering our closest family members are approximately 2,000 miles away. To avoid exorbitant plane tickets and hurt feelings we enacted a “No Holiday Rule” meaning we refuse to travel during the holidays. I thought we’d be lonely, sad, and spend the day longing for our families. But, a funny thing happened: our little holiday celebrations became even more special, we grew closer as a couple, and I am more excited for the holidays than when I was a child. My husband and I are able to spend the day with just us. No pressure, no timelines, no obligations. No craziness of driving from house to house and watching the clock to ensure every parent receives the same amount of face time. We’ve taken the best of our holidays past, armored with the sadness of holidays past, and created new traditions for us. We’ve both experienced holidays deep in despair and we’ve come out more grateful for simple gatherings spending time with the most important person in our life. When people ask our holiday plans and we tell them we’re spending the day with just the three us, we often garner a look of pity for our sad, lonely little Christmas or an invitation to their gathering because we can’t possibly spend the holiday alone. Of course we miss our families but I just smile, my heart warm inside, knowing there is absolutely no way else I’d rather spend my holiday than with my husband and our dog. So, Merry Christmas from my small family to yours and I hope you enjoy your holiday no matter the size of your gathering. Above all else, I’m thankful for the opportunity to pick up my family’s wreckage and start anew with our small party of two (+Charlie).

Keeping old traditions: Making kolaches, a Czechoslovakian dough my grandmother made. This year, we’re going to try our hand making cioppino, which is a fish stew my dad used to make.

New traditions since 2010: Midnight mass rather than Christmas morning or Christmas Eve day. Taking a two-hour walk with mugs of mimosas. Stopping for coffee for one last holiday mug. Enjoying every second of our stress-free day. FaceTime with our family members.

Merry Christmas!

Posted On December 24, 2012 // 1 Comment
Filed Under: family // Tagged With: christmas, divorce, family, holidays, home, marriage, musings

a baptism affair

Back in August I went home to Oregon for a glorious week that consisted of a baptism and a wedding. The baptism was a lovely affair that the mother put together perfectly. Baby Lola was beautiful, of course, and rocked a fresh flower halo that is a tradition in their family. Cross-shaped cookies, (super strong) sangria, and simple DIY decor made the after-party a chic adult gathering. Even though this was f o r e v e r ago, as the holidays are here and parties are underway, I think it’s important to remember food and decorations don’t need to be over the top to be memorable. (But strong beverages are always a plus.)

Posted On December 6, 2012 // Leave a Comment
Filed Under: family, style at home, weekend fun // Tagged With: baptism, decor, diy, entertaining, family, home, party

day in the swimming hole

I really try to refrain from entire posts dedicated to my furry child, but our Sunday was so lovely with a favorite outing I had to share. There is a charming spot a quick five-minute walk from our front door and when we head off in that direction Charlie achieves near-hyperventilation with excitement. He knows there is swimming in his imminent future. (He is his mother’s pet after all.) It’s one of the reasons I love Annapolis; there are endless hidden nooks and crannies of water and, if it weren’t for the giant water-front home, we’d feel like the only people ever there.

{He looks like a sea otter.}

{The beautiful view: gorgeous houses and their equally impressive boats. Sigh.}

Posted On May 22, 2012 // 1 Comment
Filed Under: pets, weekend fun // Tagged With: animals, annapolis, dog, family, nature, pets, swimming

top ten lessons i’ve learned from my mother

Happy Mother’s Day to all the loving and selfless moms out there. Although I am only mother to a furry creature I am continually impacted by all mothers, both in my personal and professional life. I know many extraordinary mothers, especially my own mother (obviously), my sister, my sister-in-law, my mother-in-law, and the courageous mothers I meet every day who raise children with the most devastating disabilities. (I am still not sure how they manage.) Happy day to you all! Can you believe that the most recent picture I have of my mother and I is from two years ago at my wedding? That is what living across the country will do. Like most mother/daughter relationships we’ve certainly had our share of struggles (I was quite the dramatic teenager) but in the end there are several lessons I have gleamed from her. The top ten bits of wisdom I have learned from my mother:

10.) Make a giant pot of coffee in the morning and reheat in the microwave throughout the afternoon rather than making additional pots.

9.) Don’t wax off your eyebrows, no matter what is in style.

8.) It’s okay to go out in public sans makeup (not that she ever would, but she definitely wanted my sister and I to feel comfortable doing so).

7.) Have something chocolate every day.

6.) It’s easier to do a task right away rather than letting it fester, which makes it take longer and is usually more difficult.

5.) Always take daily vitamins.

4.) Bring a water bottle everywhere.

3.) Sometimes the most unthinkable decision is the right one to make.

2.) Invest in quality facial creams to look much younger than your years. This is why I started using under eye cream when I was 20 years old.

1.) You are never too old to do awesome stuff. At 62(!) my mom goes on several week-long scuba diving adventures, rafts the Grand Canyon, and travels around the world…none of which she started doing until her early 50s. Not too shabby.

Happy Mother’s Day! What have you learned from your mother?

Posted On May 13, 2012 // 2 Comments
Filed Under: family // Tagged With: family, mother's day, motherhood, musings, personal, relationships

dare not to compare

I have this nasty little habit.

I’ll be in a lovely mood or proud of an accomplishment and the happiness involved is quickly replaced by the overwhelming feeling of inadequacy when I think of someone else. Not anyone in particular, just a person who achieved more. And then I am sad. It is ridiculous.

Husband and I are attempting an experiment in which we will not compare ourselves to others. Not our friends, family, or strangers (that’s the worst of them all). It seems everyone is doing amazing things these days: Having kids, buying houses, getting promotions, driving new cars, living a better life. There is always someone lurking around the corner who is smarter, more attractive, skinnier, more creative, makes more money (or just does not have student loans!), is friendlier, happier, dresses better, decorates better, cooks better, networks better, runs marathons, seems perfect…Oh. My. Word. This is exhausting!

If you experience a similar infliction then I challenge you to join us and quit the unnecessary comparisons that steal joy from your achievements. Afterall, isn’t it the people who are seemingly secure and confident that we yearn to emulate anyway?

{Image via Pinterest}

Posted On May 12, 2012 // 1 Comment
Filed Under: Uncategorized // Tagged With: family, friends, health, musings, personal, quotes

two years of wedded bliss

Today marks two years of married life for my husband and I. It’s amazing how much can be packed into two years: a wedding, a honeymoon to Europe, a cross country move, a handful of jobs, a few dozen arguments, three trips back west, thousands of text messages, hundreds of cookies, one trip to the emergency vet, and many, many kisses. A new life.

The last two years started with the picture above and below is a glimpse into two years of wedded bliss (most of the time).

{Wouldn’t this be the perfect Christmas card picture if these were actually our kids? We’re just loving on our nephews during their visit last year.}

{Prom pose. My favorite.}

When I worked with an older population my favorite question to ask my patients was what their secret was to marriage, which usually spanned at least four decades. Their answers varied from the funny (“We agreed whoever left first had to take the kids”) to the faithful (“We put God first”) to the cliché (“Communication is key”). I am still working on my answer to that question; hopefully in another 50 years I will have had the experience to truly impart wisdom to the younger folks. As for now, I realize marriage is not made up of big vacations and iconic moments (although they are certainly memorable), but the everyday rituals that warm my heart such as a husband who cuts up carrots and fruit every Sunday for weekday lunches, silly nicknames, a wife who always puts her husband’s vitamins out in the morning, and leisurely Sunday mornings in bed with coffee.

What’s your secret to a long and happy marriage?

Posted On April 24, 2012 // 4 Comments
Filed Under: Uncategorized // Tagged With: anniversary, celebration, family, home, travel, vacation, wedding

godmother bliss

I am one proud godmother these days.

I am incredibly blessed and extremely fortunate to have four godchildren. My best friend just had a babe (who I made these letters for) and I am so ridiculously giddy and honored to be the godmother. I literally burst into tears when she asked. (Cry baby.) Devastatingly, I have not even met the beautiful baby girl yet but I am already madly in love and obsessed with everything about her.

And who wouldn’t be obsessed with this little one?

She is one lucky girl to have two of the most amazing people I know as parents.

Did I mention her mom used to be a model?

{All of these pictures are courtesy of Joy Anderson Photography.}

I need to book a trip back to Oregon immediately if not sooner.

Posted On April 14, 2012 // 1 Comment
Filed Under: family // Tagged With: babies, family, godmother, photography

{gray + gold} backyard oregon wedding

kolache dough

marriage monday: how do you know the one is the one?

christmas traditions {new / old}

a baptism affair

day in the swimming hole

top ten lessons i’ve learned from my mother

dare not to compare

two years of wedded bliss

godmother bliss

{subscribe to pearls on a string}

{sponsors}

Archives

Categories

{search this site}

{grab my button}