say.cheese

Charlie has decided that this is his "best smile" face...Hm. It's not the best smile but it just may be the cutest face EVER!

prima.ballerina

When I was three I was in a ballet class. It didn't last long, not because I wasn't talented, but because I was humiliated. Well, let's be honest, I probably wasn't that talented either. The only memory I have was that my friend was talking to me and I asked her to be quiet. In that moment the teacher saw me, yelled at me and had me stand in the corner facing the wall. I still remember the feeling...mortification.

Years later, aka now, I have been taking Claudia to ballet. Her experience has been the polar opposite of mine. When she is in class her entire being radiates joy. It is so much fun to watch! Two weekends ago she was in a little performance and it was so incredibly cute. I watched the two minute dance with a smile on my face. And then I cried...I am one proud nanny!

addicted.

Hi, my name is Becca and I'm addicted to shopping. There, I said it. My sister has been telling me this for years, but I refused to acknowledge it. But then I found myself in the shoe department at Nordstrom yesterday, eyes closed, breathing in the intoxicating smell of new shoes and it hit me, "Becca, you have a problem." I've heard that admitting you have a problem is the first step to recovery...here's to hoping.

total.eclipse.of.the.heart

Last weekend I was out at Washington Family Ranch for a women's weekend. Although we arrived late on friday, skipped the sessions on saturday for some much needed time in the sun and only heard two talks, it was a lot of fun. Anytime I can get away and relax, especially out at the Ranch, it's a good time! Saturday night we had an 80's dinner and it was so fun to dress up and dance to 80's music. I was more of a 90's child considering the fact that I was 8 when the 80's were over, but I tell you, I kind of dig the 80's. The movies and music are BOMB; the clothes...not so great. We looked pretty great though!!


Rocking it


Julie Reeves


Sweet Olivia


Maria


Stacy, who looked AWESOME! She totally channeled the friend from "The Wedding Singer"


Some of the ladies in my room

birthday.dinner

Last month my roommate Maria and best friend Stacy planned a birthday dinner for me at Henry's Tavern downtown in the Pearl District. It was a lot of fun to have some of my dearest friends come together and celebrate with me. Thanks my lovely friends!!


Maria and Cate


Mar


Dear friend Ashley


Kristi, Maria and Cate


My best friend Stacy and one of my oldest friends (and new mommy!!) Julia

anthropologie.

I have a new obsession. It's a good thing that I don't have a lot of money because I would NOT be able to resist spending it at Anthropologie. They have the coolest stuff but it is so expensive. I have been itching to redecorate something, namely my room. I don't have the finances to do an overhaul, so instead I am just making myself crazy and drooling over the possibilities...

I love exposed brick. It is a secret dream of mine to live in a cool vintage apartment in either Chicago or NYC that has exposed brick.

I would love to take a square of this wallpaper, frame it and put in in a collage.


I LOVE these colors. I don't love the black paint, but the colors of the quilt and the chandelier are gorgeous!


I love the texture of this bedspread, the airy feel of the room, the chair and the vintage distressed dresser.


I love the headboard in this room. (The guy in the painting totally freaks me out.)


The brightness of the colors are this quilt are beautiful. I love the contrast of the colors and the complimentary throw pillows.


This shelf and frames above the bed are my favorite. The bedding is so simple, but the way that this is all put together is so amazing. When can I move in here?!

29.

It was twenty-nine years ago that I, in all my messy glory, emerged from my mother's birth canal. What a glorious day it was! My poor mother had not only been laborously walking the halls for 24 hours, I also decided to stay in my cozy little sack for two extra weeks. No thank you. (To my future children, that will not be happening. Don't get too overly comfy in there...that is if I'm still able to bare children at the ripe old age of 65 when I'll probably, finally get married.)

I was thinking about this birthday. The last year in my 20's...Honestly, I thought I would be married with at least two kids by now. I was feeling depressed about the fact that the one goal I have has not been reached. Instead of sitting around and wallowing in things that I cannot change, I decided to think about the things that I have done in my 20's. So here it is folks...In no particular order, 29 things from my 20's!!

1.) I spent my 20th birthday on a flight over to France. It was the shortest birthday EVER, but quite possibly the coolest.
2.) I graduated college.
3.) I went on a trip to Africa.
4.) I got a tatoo.
5.) I had my first serious relationship.
6.) I took a trip to Italy with my grandma.
7.) I moved into Portland.
8.) I paid off $13,500 in debt in a year.
9.) I bought a car.
10.)I went to Paris with my best friend Erica and my parents.
11.)I became a young life leader.
12.)I lost friendships.
13.)I became a little obsessed with clothes, specifically boots.
14.)I fell in love with art.
15.)I bought a dog, had a bit of an anxiety attack and sold it two days later.
16.)I began my job as a nanny.
17.)I went to Italy with the family I nanny for.
18.)I became an auntie...three times.
19.)I gained some life changing friendships.
20.)I went to Slovenia on a mission trip.
21.)I got my heart broken.
22.)I became addicted to coffee.
23.)I was in nine weddings.
24.)I had my first drink.
25.)I went to Prague.
26.)My type-A, ocd kicked into full force.
27.)I fell in love with NYC.
28.)I fell in love.
29.)I learned that no matter what I do, God still desires to have a relationship with me. He loves me, unabashedly. He waits for me. He pursues me, relentlessly. I learned that I am broken, but God still chooses to use me. He is the only one who has always been there and always will be. He is the one who has saved me, the one I boast in, the one I live for. And most definitely the one I love.

I think that 30 will come too soon. I have a pretty good feeling that despite my dreams of being married and having a family by the time I'm 30 won't happen. (Well, technically the dream was for it to happen by 25...Not so much.) I'm really going to try to be okay with that. God has blessed me in so many ways and I need to focus on that. So that's my new goal, count the blessings, not the frustrations. Here's to 29!