Christmas is indeed the best time of year.

Last Sunday, my roommates and I got our Christmas tree! AND, it's real! (it's my first christmas with a real tree. sad I know). We trekked through the fields of a christmas tree farm and chose our beauty. Cut it down and had hot chocolate. mmm. I spent the week before creating ornaments and listening to my Frank Sinatra Holiday station on pandora. It was lovely. We made a night out of decorating our tree and celebrating with sugar cookies and The Grinch (my favorite christmas movie ever). Here are some pictures.......  


                              

This is what I used to make my homemade ornaments. (I got this idea from pinterest, and tweaked it a little).

I used Mod Podge to glue on torn pieces of pages from a book to my ornaments I bought. Then rolled them in a luminescent glitter. (I HATE glitter, but decided it was festive and tasteful enough to try). 

                                      

The end result! I am quite pleased. :)

Erin and I at the christmas tree farm.

My car had never looked so cool. :)

Violet putting up the christmas lights.

Cookies!

We made such a huge mess as we worked on our popcorn/cranberry strings till midnight.

(I have elf ears).

Cute little owls I made for christmas decorations! 

Our cozy little christmas nook. 

I leave for Ohio in less than a week!! I get to spend the week before christmas with my family, and I am pretty darn excited. I love this time of year.

P.S. Tomorrow is my birthday!

Blessings this holiday season!

xo, rachelle

change.

These last few months have been very eventful. All working out for the good, and for God's glory I'm sure. I moved into an apartment with Erin and Violet in August. That in itself was a big change. A lovely change though. It is a wonderful thing to be apart of community and surrounded with people who love you and who are there to help you. I thought it would be fun to post some pictures of our home. We still have plans of decorating more, but this will do for now. :)

in my room

my bedside :)

my cool pillows my mom made. :)

our temporary table and chairs.

our back porch area.

In September I had the pleasure of going to home to Ohio to visit my dear friends and family. It was such a blast, and I was so blessed by them. In October, a new job presented itself. I am now employed at St. Honore Boulangerie, which is a quaint french bakery. It was such a sweet relief to put my two weeks in at World Market. It was time for a change....

We have delicious pasteries, desserts, and breads. mmm 

Come check it out!

My mom and my sister, Regina, came to visit me from Ohio two weeks ago. Ethan, my nephew suprised me and came too. :) Best suprise ever. We celebrated my mom's birthday on the Oregon Coast. We visited Multnomah Falls, Pittock Mansion, Rose Gardens, 23rd Street, and Sauvie Island. We had such a wonderful time. My plan: make them fall in love with Oregon and have them convince the rest of my family to move there as well. ;) 

Regina and I

My beautiful mom

Ethan (isn't he handsome?!)

Yes, we had a good week indeed. 

That's all for now, folks. 

xo, Rachelle

move-ing.

There is a lot that's been happening and it's all very exciting!! I am moving in three days. Oh my goodness….I can't wait. I am slightly anxious though. I get really sentimental and don't particularly enjoy big changes in my life, however I am more excited than anything for this new chapter. I get the privilege of being roommates with the lovely Violet and Erin. We are moving into a sweet little apartment in Beaverton that is perfect for us. All my stuff is in boxes eagerly waited to be unwrapped in a few days.  :) 

I like to look back on the time I've been living here in Oregon, and it makes me so appreciative for the ways that God has provided. I truly see this place I'm moving out of a total blessing. God has poured out his love on me so much since being in Wilsonville. When I moved to Oregon, this apartment opened up with perfect timing. Not only that, but this is where I held my first job since moving here. I absolutely LOVE the park down the street, along with my boyfriend only a minute away. I will hold this little town of Wilsonville in my heart forever. lol I know that's a really cheeseball thing to say, oh well. 

I know this next season will be a blast and full of LIFE and COMMUNITY, which is what I have been craving since being here in Oregon. I feel confident that I am exactly where I am supposed to be. Undeniable parts of me still misses my family in Ohio so much, but the good news is....I will see them very soon! Landon and I are planning a visit and it will be extraordinary! Yes. 

Other news: I have found a possible job!! I will elaborate more on this later. :)

I will post pictures of the new place soon, so stay posted! 

xo, rachelle

visits from my hometown.

About a week and a half ago, my cousin, Sarah, came to visit me. What a pleasure it was! She stayed with me in my little apartment and we had such a marvelous time together. We were able to laugh and catch up. She got to meet my boyfriend and other friends here. :) We had breakfast at Mother's, ate sushi, had a dinner & movie night, pierced our ears, did facials, went shopping, ate frozen yogurt at the best ever  peachwave, made adult slurpies, and went to church. Indeed we had a blast. It was so refreshing. Here are a few of the memories that were captured......

peachwave

mmm

I hope you all are having a grand week!

xo, Rachelle

day off.

Yes, folks, I have the day off. Now, what in the world should I do with it. There are so many possibilities....

I started the morning off with some of The Wailin' Jenny's. They are my newest discovery, and I love them! Check them out. I've been pondering the thought of making candles. It's been a goal of mine to actually make my own for a while now. If I do in fact make some, I will try to post pictures on here eventually :) Yesterday I made a photobook on snapfish. The best part about it was that it was free! World Market had a promo that if you bought a picture frame, you would get a photobook for free from snapfish. I'm a sucker for deals like that, and frankly I think it's a great one.

Two weekends ago, I had the pleasure of hosting my 2 wonderful Canadian friends. Well, I was planning for one, but the other surprised me! We had a blast. It's usually fun to take visiting friends to do touristy things. I wish they could have stayed longer. Here are a few pictures of our time together :)

coffee/ tea at vivace in portland

at the saturday market

sitting in the park

awesome hats

cheesecake factory '11

cute.

I hope you're have a marvelous wednesday, 

xo, rachelle

brilliant.

Lorraine Christie is such a fabulous artist. I LOVE her paintings. This is beauty. 

Loving you on London Bridge

47 minutes

Paris Remembered

(my favorite!)

This particular one gives me the travel bug and makes me want to revisit this magical place.

xo, 

rachelle

first.

Hello world,

I have felt the need to get back into blogging lately, so I thought it would be best to create a new blog. Exciting right? I am just an ordinary person, but something beautiful is taking place. As you journey with me, feel free to email me or comment.

Just a few things about myself:

This is where I call home now.

I have a shoe fetish.

I LOVE nature and more specifically, trees. 

One day I want to live in one. :)

I am in love with a certain boy.