Wedding Wednesday: Dad's and Donuts

A lady from work saw a wedding picture of mine. So I had the opportunity to show her a few! Which of course got me all excited about wedding photos again.

Ironically, today is Wedding Wednesday (or has been in the past, but bringing it back today!).

Today was a special day at home preschool. It was Dad's and Donuts. The kids got to bring their dads and share some donuts with them! Really fun to see the dads come out for a special morning with their children.

One of my 3 year olds asked me what my dad looked like. It's funny what kids can think to ask. I said "he is tall and handsome".  All the other 15 kids proceeded to tell me that their dads were tall and handsome.

In honor of Dad and Donuts, enjoy this beautiful shot of my father. I loved how the photographer captured this special moment.

(side note to any brides out there: veils do feel a little suffocating!)

DINKs

Double Income No Kids.

That is us. We are that married couple who has no dog, no kids, and outside of work no extra responsibilities.

Is that a good thing or bad thing? We tried getting a dog. The landlady denied us! It was pretty disappointing actually. Kids are somewhere in the long term plan. We are waiting to start that adventure. More on that later.

We are doing our best to get involved with a church. Being social isn't one of our strong suits. But hey! We are have to working on something.

So what do DINKs do? Take a 24 hour getaway to the mountains.

Exploring is on of the reasons why we aren't having kids. We moved to Colorado so we can explore the beautiful state with free reign. We booked a hotel (talking CHEAP hotel) and explored the city. The next morning we enjoyed a long hike up a mountain. Then, we devoured a tasty lunch at a local grill.

It's funny. Even as DINKs we did everything as cheaply as we could. We packed leftovers for Friday's dinner. Ate the continental breakfast at the hotel. But we did allow ourselves a few treats and even dessert after lunch.

Even though we might be on a tight budget we still got to have a vacation and feel like we spent a lot! We ate great, we had a drink (or two!), and we got away from the daily rhythm. Exactly what a vacation should be like.

Do you have an vacations planned? The travel bug is so fun to get!

on top of a mountain

boy... that was a long hiatus. I could blame it on a few things: like starting a business with my husband and blogging for Primal Grub Co. Or just being lazy. I think that's the one.

I truly miss blogging. Sometimes I don't blog because I feel like I no one reads it. The reality is, I think blogging is therapeutic for me. I'm not going to even pretend to catch you up on the last few months. Instead, I'll fill in the blanks as needed.

For Labor Day my husband and I drove to the top of Mt. Evans. The first 14,000 foot mountain I've been on. Thankfully, this time we didn't hike it. I know that won't last long. It'll be done within the next 12 months because it's on our bucket list.

I was reminded of how much to be thankful for. I live in an incredibly beautiful state. I get to explore it with my best friend. And, I have family who support us in living away from "home".

I could go back to that day for sure. But, writing this post is a good reminder to continually be thankful regardless if it's a day off or not.

What have you been reading?

Happy Friday everyone!

We got back from a lovely trip to Arizona, so I missed the Wedding Wednesday. But don't worry it'll be back next week!

My friend Sarah sent me a journal a few months back. I'd been using it as a decoration, but then decided I needed to start writing again. Journaling through devotions has been really helpful in my spiritual life in the past. So, I decided to use the journal for my daily devotions.

I told myself 12 days

Start there and see what happens. And what do you know? My 12 day reading plan is over and I am starting a new one!

I love when I have extra time in the mornings do drink coffee and read! 

I read from She Reads Truth (I do wish I had a book to read from, I do not like that I have a screen in front of me during devo time) and follow the scripture they provide. Right now I am working through their Women in the Word series. I am excited to learn more about our God through the women in his book.

What are you reading lately? Do you journal?

Wedding Wednesday: Groom

This is one of my favorite photos of my husband. Anytime his real smile gets captured I feel like the world gets a treat.

He is laughing at his brother Seth. Let's just say, he's a goofball. So, there is no surprise that he is cracking a joke and making his brother laugh. 

I also love how so many wardrobe details are captured. 

Fun fact: groomsmen attire was furnished by Kohls. We spent many hours at Kohls, trying to pick out responsibly priced items, asking for deals, and trying on clothes (well, my man did the tying on. I did my best not to be to picky).

I also like how the building details are prominent. I am probably biased, but our reception hall was the absolute best. You can see how it looks like a log cabin. But it was bigger than a log cabin, and had a huge tree in the middle. The BEST.

Happy Friday everyone!

My husband and I went for a (very) early morning run. So, I'm not fooling you into thinking it's Wednesday. I just have a little extra time before work!

Any plans for the long weekend?

We are taking a trip to Golden, CO to do some hiking and use our monthly restaurant budget for brunch. Best way to use the budget in my mind.

Plus a little cooking for our business Primal Grub CO and checking out a graduation party for his cousins.

We also hope to check out the local farmer's market after church.

I hope you have a wonderfully long weekend. And enjoy the sun if you have it.

Wedding Wednesday: Awkwardness

Did you know: 

That shirt was my husband's. I had this crazy idea that it would be cute if wore a shirt of his. And have cute pictures in it. Sometimes Pinterest ideas don't go so well. It just looks massive and not as cute as I wanted.

Did you know:

That bracelet is from my grandma. I loved wearing it on our wedding. 

Did you know:

I felt incredibly awkward taking this photo. Uhh... how do I admire my dress. 

The upstairs room was a huge bonus for us. We got to hide out there for a while and munch on yummy food. 

I do like this photo because I think it captures the awkwardness I felt all day. Everyone looking at me because that's what you are suppose to do at weddings. Stare at the bride and see how she'll react to the environment around her. Not a good combo for someone who gets red in the face. 

Awkwardness is not bad if you embrace it. It's a good thing I had a lot of makeup on that day.

Wedding Wednesday: Cotton Boll

There is so much story behind this photo. 

I wanted a rustic feel for the men's buttinere. No one likes a floppy flower anyways.   

My dad wanted wedding task.

Cotton bolls (yes, I googled it to make sure I am spelling the right word) was our common ground. 

After dinner one night we stopped on the side of the road beside a cotton field. We picked a bundle, took in the glorious sunset and were on our way.

Other than the burlap wrap, nothing else was done to the cotton boll. I am thankful I didn't have to make the buttinere's.  We sent them to our wedding planner/flower designer. Making them would've ruined the sweet memory. 

I love the little memory with my dad. So here's to small memories and cotton bolls on this Wednesday.

Welcome back to the second week of Wedding Wednesday. 

I love this photo of my mom. I have only a few photos of my mother and I (and even fewer great shots) and cherish every one. 

I love how the photographer captured her beauty and her love. I can just tell she is absorbing the whole moment in this photo. I also feel like she is becoming a little more relaxed! 

Not to mention her dress! I think the colors and the fit are perfect for her. Plus I love the memory of us shopping for it. My dad took us shopping and we somehow ended up with champagne in one of the stores...

Pure beauty and love.

Wedding Wednesday

After mentioning how I did not know what to do with wedding photos, my friend Sarah texted me this great idea! On Wednesdays I will post a wedding photo and explain why I love it. 

I hope that you are not totally over the wedding thing, because secretly I think about it a lot! I loved our wedding and hope that you get a sense of the wedding through this series.

back at it

I'm just going to ignore the fact that it's been over a month that I haven't blogged...

I'm sorry.

Life just happened.

But good news! My online class is done and I honestly miss blogging.

I've been messing around with a new website I found. I also had been going through my wedding photos. Guys, I really do not know what to do with the wedding photos. I can imagine a gallery wall, but in a rental I'm not sure I want to put that much effort forth.

This will do for now.

Let me tell you something that no one else tells you... there are so many details in a wedding.

I literally had no idea what I wanted on half the details involved. I just found my dream bouquet on Instagram. Um... can you say 9 months late? Maybe "Dream Wedding" Pinterest boards are not a bad idea after all.

During my trip to Arizona we had about a two hour meeting with the event coordinator. She was amazing. Me, totally unaware of what I wanted, changing my mind three or four times, and picking the most expensive options.

So to new brides: know what you kind of details you want. and stick to it.

Also, have the photographers take picture of all those wonderful details you worked so hard on. There is a good chance you won't notice them on the big day.

traditional husband

About half of my blog post ideas never get posted because they are sappy.

I'm not sure how often you want to read about my love for my husband. But the fact is is that I do. And sometimes I just need to write about my traditional husband. 

Last weekend I got really sick to my stomach. Usually, I can fight off any stomach aches with an hour on the couch or a good nights rest. This was different. I started the day off feeling at 60%. I thought a run and a clean (Paleo) breakfast would help. It did a good job of stabilizing everything. But after lunch I felt awful. I often say "I have never felt this sick before" but I wasn't being dramatic this time. (By the way, that phrase looses it's value once you say it a few times :). I laid in bed with the worse stomach pains I've ever felt. For over 6 hours I laid in bed hoping the pain would go away. 

moving in.

My ears always perk up when a conversation starts "I started living with my boyfriend..." I am not listening with intent to be nosy. But with the intent of being able to share my story.

During the time my husband and I met we were living in college dorms. We were lucky enough that we lived in the same building. Seeing each other for a quick minute was easy when the person lived a few steps away. We both chose to live off campus our senior year. In a Christian community it was not a surprise. However, in the real world it was mind blowing.

The other day I was listening to a girl talk about how nervous she was about moving in with her (new) boyfriend. I listened for a little while then began to speak up. I told her that I wouldn't do it. I pointed out that nerves are probably not a good thing. If you have a good thing going on now why change it. I finished my two sense with "I know I'm a little different. It was scary living with someone I never had before, but my husband makes a great roommate. I am glad I didn't live with my husband before we got married because we had to keep pursing each other until the day we got married. We had another thing to look forward to." Another girl chimed in and gave reasons against everything I had just explained to her. That's when I left the conversation. But I hope that I got her thinking.

The reality is that not living with your boyfriend before marriage is so uncommon. It makes me SO sad. I do not understand how living with him would be a beneficial thing. I think it gives them more reasons to not commit to marriage or even leave the relationship all together. What happens if you do not live together?

You enjoy the sweet moments of having them over to your house. You enjoy making time to spend at each other's house. You become so different from the world but realize it's working! It's a beautiful thing; seeing the looks on people's faces when you tell them you never lived with your husband until marriage.

I love being able to tell others how my unconventional choice is working. I loved the first few months of trying to figure out how to live with this male. Maybe a little strange but certainly worth waiting for until after marriage.

March 11

Guess what day it is? You're thinking Hump Day. While that's true. I got something bigger than that.

It's my man's birthday today. So HUGE shoutout to my husband. Thank you for being the optimistic, nature loving, self.  And thank you for loving me.

Looking forward to celebrating with Paleo hamburgers and pear crisp tonight!

girls' night

Two weekends ago I was invited to a girls' night. Cocktails and Conversation. Pretty cute right? Everyone who went was from work. I really like the host but was not super excited about spending a whole night talking with girls (that has never been something I get excited for. Really, school retreats with a cabin full of girls: cue anxiety attack.) Remember a long time ago when I wrote about doing things we don't want to? And the post about making friends? It was like all of these posts were coming together in real life.

I won't elaborate on those things again. You've probably got the picture I'm not very good at these things.

I am 100% behind the idea of a girl's night. What better way to do it when your husband drives you (time together) and in a house (nice and safe!). I would recommend it to anyone who is struggling to get to know people in their area. Conversation can be easily formed by environment. For example: I saw the clock on your wall is from Alaska. Did you live there? Now all you have to do is listen! Or, go for something you know you have in common. For me everyone had a drink in their hand, so I asked if anyone like breweries. Bingo! I got one girl to talk for a few minutes about breweries. All I had to do is pretend I knew what she was talking about!

Of course there is a huge temptation at girls' night. Gossip. Anytime more than one person is in the room the temptation to gossip is SO high. The temptation is even higher when all the people's are women and work together. I had to walk a thin line between having conversation and gossiping. Anytime I am with people from work I want them to think I am different. It's amazing how much we can be a witness to the people we work with. 

I am so glad I went to this girls' night. I really did enjoy the conversation and the cocktail (wine... yum). I even stayed Paleo through the whole thing! I wonder if I could host something like this. Have you hosted a girls' night. If so let me know your tips! 

home cooked meals

Admit it, we all love a home cooked meal. Especially when it's cold, you've had a long day, and you're hungry.

When I am cold, hungry, and tired I want my meal to be cooked for me. But as part of taking on a traditional wife I wanted to be the one who cooks dinner. Oh man, are there so many stereotypes that I am fitting into. But I love that stereotype and I do not want it to die. You might be thinking: so you're not much into that feminism stuff. You got it! For me, I want to be the Betty Crocker and serve my husband a fresh, hot meal, even after a long day of work.

Here are a few reasons why I love it.

1. Cooking actually gets me out of my boundaries. My sister is the cook in the family. But for me: I often fear the kitchen. I cook not because I'm good at it but because I want to become better. 
2. It's a time where I can cut, simmer, and blend all my stresses away. I often feel after cooking meal I am more relaxed. 
3. Eating dinner with my husband is engraved time we have together. Phones are away, TV is (usually) off, and we talk. Usually we talk about what happened over the course of the day. But regardless, it's time together. 
4. Home cooked meals nourish our bodies way more than fast food or take out. I love creating a healthful habits before kiddos come into the family. 
5. Secretly, I love hearing how much my husband enjoys the food. Affirmation. It's my love language. I'll cook him a meal breakfast, lunch, and dinner 7 days a week to hear that affirmation. 

What about you? What is your nightly routine for dinner. Home cooked meals? Or takeout? Don't get me wrong, takeout is a BLESSING! I dream of the days where we can order takeout. But for now I love coming home and cooking a meal for both of us. 

5 places to visit in Parker

News flash: my mother is visiting tomorrow! I cannot wait for her visit and to "hang out" with her.

In honor of her visit here are a few places in Parker, CO that my choices to bring visitors.

1. Castlewood Canyon State Park. My husband and I have been there twice. Even though there is a small charge to get in the state park is beautiful and has multiple trail heads. Great place for visitors to hike while still getting acclimated to the elevation. 
2. Fika Coffee House. Because every visitor needs a cute coffee shop to visit. Especially one that sits on mainstreet. 
3. The Barn. Not technically in Parker but so close and so worth the drive. It is one of our favorite places to shop for antiques. Lose yourself in the hidden gems and enjoy the free coffee towards to back. 
4. Parker Farmers Market. Hands down one of the best farmers markets you will go to. Even their winter market has great vendors! If you visit during the summer, enjoy the beautiful weather while walking down mainstreet (literally on the street because they close the road down) and trying samples. 
5. Elk Mountain Brewing. Because when you're on vacation and in Colorado you need a good brew. This place serves only beer but frequently has food trucks in their parking lot. They have popcorn and board games to enjoy too! 

Be sure to visit these places and definitely check out Parker's Mainstreet. It is full of restaurants and shops right next to a park.  

stress

Before signing with my current work position I knew I would have to take an online class. They require all workers to take Early Childhood Education courses. I actually respect the work place for doing so. If I was a parent I would want my child to be in the best care and with a person who has knowledge behind what they are doing.

Respect aside, taking an online class has been a struggle for me. I am in my fourth week and am finding myself having a bad attitude towards it. My poor husband has to hear my complaints almost every time I sit down to do homework. Really, Victoria? Complaining every time? Yea, pathetic right? But for some reason I am slow to switch my negative attitude to a willing heart. I know the class will be beneficial to me later in life. Especially, if I want to become a mother. This week I realized a lot of why I don't want to take the class is because the stress is puts me under.

the springs.

Welcome back to a new week! I hope you were able to spend some time with someone you love. Just putting it out there: my weekend rocked!

To celebrate my birthday, my husband's full time job, and his birthday (which is next month!) we had a staycation. To celebrate even more we chose our cheat day (on our Paleo lifestyle) during our getaway! Friday night we stayed in Colorado Springs. We kicked off the celebration with a brew from Red Leg Brewing Company. Yum. Checking out new breweries and restaurants is one of our favorite activities. We loved the clean, industrial, and low key feel of this place.

I then acquired a big craving for pizza. Pizza filled with cheese, wheat, and grease. All things not Paleo. My loving husband went on an adventure to find me pizza. Because when I have a craving it doesn't go away. So we had our pizza in our king size hotel bed watching cable TV. Pure bliss my friends.

meat.

Fact: my husband is a meat lover.
Fact: I cannot stand the texture of raw meat.

It's true. He could eat red meat for every meal if our budget allowed for it. On the other hand, I like meat but it's not something I crave on the regular. Nor is it something that I love to handle. However, to maintain my wife status and be queen of the kitchen I have to get over my fear of raw meat.

Example A. The first time I ever cooked a whole chicken I had my husband de-gut it.
Example B. Whenever we buy meat in bulk my husband is the one to separate the package into meal sized portions.

How am I getting over this fear?

Resolution to example A. I de-gutted not 1 but 2 whole chickens all by myself. Yup, I stuck my hand in and took out all the nasty stuff.
Resolution to example B. Just this past week I separated the bulk meat package all my myself. You probably would have caught me with a funny face though. But I did it!

I know this is really earth shattering topic. Nothing to stress about. But maybe it comes down to something bigger. Maybe it's conquering those silly fears in order to serve others better. I have asked my husband to help me de-gut or separate meat and he will do it with a cheerful heart. I takes a whole five minutes for him. But then I am feeling like I haven't really done my job. I feel like I am not giving 100%. That is why last week I decided to separate the meat when he was at work. That way I had no one to bail me out and I would get one step closer to conquering my silly fear.

By the way, cooking for a meat lover is always fun! Before we went Paleo Meatless Monday's was a weekly thing. It was always fun to see what kind of meal I could cook to convince him that meat wasn't EVERYTHING. Now that we have gone Paleo meat is the regular. Beef, poultry, bison, you name it, I've cooked it. Maybe not all the way done but I am getting better at cooking that stuff up and not scrunching my nose at the smell of it!

Got a meat lover in your life? Let me know how you adapt your cooking to their style.