Selections from the Rhododendron Garden

Here is the beginning of our adventure. This is all taken place at the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden. One of my favorite places to go as a kid. First we stop right outside the park for some feed for the ducks/birds and nuts for the squrriels. It's $2 per bag. Then, to enter the park it's $3. Or only $25 for the year for a family pack.
Sorry this one is sideways. Here they all are. Gathered around us.
Joseph and Shane being crazy.
Joseph feeding the goose.

New Home

My in-laws have so graciously let us stay at their place in Milwaukie until we are sure of where the Lord wants us next. Here is our little set up for now. A living area, and the bed in the office;-) It works quite nicely for the time being. I have the best in-laws ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Life

So, this is strange. Getting used to things. No job right now. We are hooked up with Shane's parents right now. Who are awesome people. Bering filing out apps online left and right. I really hope this legal secretary one turns into something. He emailed me back with a whiter questionnaire for me to fill out. ((fingers crossed))

It is great being here with the family. Just did some face time with mom, dad, and Joseph. I was able to show them around here;-) great stuff.

Megan is visiting tomorrow! Ya Hala here we come!!!


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Location:Home

New Do

So I streaked my hair.
Looks more like I dyed it all over though.
I can't decide if I like it.
What say you?

Lazy Saturday

So I didn't do much this Saturday. Cleaned a little. Then I did a put this puzzle together. It was fun, but hard starting out.
Viola!
"John's Potato Soup" My favorite. My dad's favorite first, hence the name. Haha.
And it's totally the best for dipping bread in;-)
Rice crispy treats with chocolate chips for dessert! And The Office reruns!

Goodbye

Dear Hermiston, I will miss you. Especially the people in it. And LFC. And my job. And this wall I painted in Shane's office. I'll miss going to Wal Mart and seeing 7+ people I know.
This is the view from my desk. Yes, I'll miss that too. You can look straight ahead and barely see these swirl/flourishes I painted in Aaron's office. I'll miss that too.
I'll even miss folding bulletins. Not as much as other things, but just a bit. Hehe. I'll miss random balls of tumbleweed on the roadside. And the sun. I'll miss the sun, alot.
And I will most assuredly miss this computer. I think I'll save for one. Yes, I am a Mac girl;-) Love it!

But, it's not all bad news. At least for now we get to move to Portland. And for that I am happy. I hope we get to stay in the area. (Or nearby) But I will miss all my Hermiston friends!

Hummm

Hello there. I have lately been bored with my work outfits. So I thought I'd try some new stuff. Here we go. For this, I stole my husband's belt. Hehe.
I made this necklace...
I am not sure what I think about this lace shirt.
Love these shoes!
At the end of the day, slippers are best (oh, and my bird friend, Earl) hahaha.

Shoes

For those of you who do not already know, I love shoes. I have alot. Boots, sandles, OXFORDS, chucks, pumps, flats, etc. I love these red flats. Fads lately show shoes with socks and skirts, and tights with open toe shoes. I still never do that... I am not sure how I like it. Eh, whatever. What are your thoughts?

New business cards...finally

I would make everything from craft paper, if possible. I love it. But rarely can you order business cards on it. So, I made my own. I made them awhile ago, and here's the proof. Hehe.

Letters

Well, among all the saddness of leaving Hermiston. Good news! A letter from my sister at boot camp. I am so proud of her. She is doing so great there, and got to have lunch with her supervisors. But, I am sure she will be even happier to graduate (at the end of next month) It's hard enough being engaged and planning a wedding, let alone when you are in boot camp. I am so excited for you to come home, Brit;-)

Moving

These are not my boxes. Haha. Mine will be in far more of a disarray. Hopefully not. March 13th will be our last day here in Hermiston. And as much as you might here me talk about missing Portland and how small it might be here. I will miss it. Maybe I will take some tumbleweed with me to remember it by. Hahaha! Mostly I will miss all you wonderful people. Darcie, Megan, and all my wonderful friends at LFC, and at Highland Manor. I don't think I will have that again wherever we go (the fact that 6 friends I already knew live in the same apartments as we do!)

What an amazing time it has been here. I wish I could stay forever, or bring all you with me;-) But, God has his own way of doing things sometimes... Even if in the midst of them I don't like it, I know it'll all work for his good. But, good thing for blogs, twitter, facebook, texting, facetime!!! And if we're lucky, we won't be far. Still in the PNW anyway.

Valentines and Spring

My man is the best. He brought these to work yesterday! They're so springy and fresh, I love them. Roses are nice and romantic, but I really love these cheery tulips. Thanks, Babe!

Mint Oreo Pops

Okay. So first you'll want to buy:

1 package oreos

1 package cream cheese

2 packages of Andes mint pieces (or chocolate chips)

1 package of lollipop sticks

sprinkles to garnish

Makes 20-24 pops

First crush the oreos. Using a food processor or a kitchen aid is great, but a bag and rolling pin is what I had to make do with.
Crush til they look about like this.
Then add the cream cheese with your hands until it is fully blended. If the "dough" is still too sticky to roll into balls, add some powdered sugar.
Then form into balls and add the stick in about half way. Refrigerate for about 20 minutes, then set out on the counter for another 10 minutes. Melt the Andes mints in a double boiler over the stove and cover the pops. Add sprinkles and vuah lah!!!

Blogs

Just found this great blog called Bakerella. All about desserts. I found it because my mother-in-law gave me this great book on making cake pops! I have not tried yet, but tomorrow is the day. I am going to start with some simple oreo ones;-) I am excited.

Plus I found this website with all kinds of cool colored meting candies, cake glitter, straws, etc. It's called Wilton.

Another great blog I found all about designing, crafts, food, clothes, etc. Jones Design Company Enjoy.

Redecorated

This picture was taken from the kitchen (looking over the bar) I pretty much just switched everything and made it backward, but somehow it seems more spacious. And there is of course, the great "Starry Night" and the chest made by my dad;-)

Gimp

Having fun in Gimp. I am still not sure if I like it...but I like this whole old school look;)

Music Love

"The Raven"

The bird was actually going to be blue until I decided that it would be ingenious to make him black, since the book pages are from an Edgar Allen Poe book;-) This will be for sale at Branch & Wonders bookstore on Saturday!

Me

Hey there. Thanks for stopping by. Here's that great pic again, taken by ASH Photography. I am Maria Tebeck. I am married to the most wonderful man, Shane. And we live in a small town in northeast Oregon, however we are both from the beautiful city of Portland. We came here to study under a great mentor/pastor. We both work for him at our church, Living Faith. I am the administrator, and my husband is the Youth Pastor and runs Underground Church. We love it alot. You can check out my facebook here. Also, you can check out my facebook page for the jewelry business I own called Bittersweet Bling by clicking the tab "Bittersweet Bling" on the navigation bar, or by clicking here.

Here I am with my best bud, Megan. This is last summer when we had to get all decked out for our church's VBS program.

I am not sure why I like this picture... probably the incredibly blue eyes, which I don't actually possess.

There is probably a ton about me that you can figure out from my posts/pictures. I love to make jewelry, do crafty things, paint, write, blog, shop, go on vacation, visit my family, give gifts, etc.
Here is a picture from my sister-in-law, Adrey and Brice's wedding. Here I am with my other sister-in-law, Allecia.

I have the greatest family on the planet.
Here is my family on our vacation to Mexico in September 2009. That was so awesome. I love the heat, and the water, and seafood, and infinity pools, and the fact that Troy was filmed behind us, etc...
I love this picture alot. It's right before we left on our anniversary to Joseph, Oregon. Such a great time!

What do Shane and I like together, you ask? Hummm... trying out new restaurants, serving at our church, watching House MD, The Office, King of Queens, and the Twilight Zone, talking walks, playing board games, hanging out with friends, etc...
Shane's family at Brice & Adrey's wedding. It was so beautiful. I like how all the men are pretty much the same height, and so are the women. Except me. Hahaha.

Here I am being crazy. I like funky photo edits sometimes. Green eyes, cross process, whatever.

I am so weird sometimes. I like a very wide variety of food, clothing styles, music, movies, artsy stuff, etc.

Here I am on Christmas 2010, with my new little nephew Nathaniel!

Taylor the winner!

And the winner of the earrings from the other day is TAYLOR...that's the beauty of being the only one who commented;-) Stay tuned for more jewelry to give away. I have an 80's earring set next.

Aaron's Cake

If you tilt your head to the right a bit, you can sort of see that it's a mac apple. I think this might've been the first time I did a cake that wasn't a circle or square...so it was a little hard, but ahhh...it tasted good;-) As you can see, when I took this pic I totally misspelled birthday (what a dork!!!!) So I had to scrape off the "y" and fix it. Hahah.

Jazzed up subway art bags!

Cool, cheap Christmas bags. Even if you're not all free-handy like I do it, grab some stencils, a pen, and a plain, boring paper bag to jazz up! -Mine probably would've looked better if I had stenciled it-

And the winner of the earrings is....Adrey!!! Woohoo. If it works for you, I'll just bring them next week during Christmas.

I think for a while I might do the jewelry give away more often, because I have TONS!!! (just ask Megan or Shane) And some of the things I have can only be taken apart and reworked so many times over before I am bored of them. Hahaha. So, keep your eyes peeled and on my blog to check it out;-)

Background

I know this is increadbly plain...but I kind of like it. That way you can jazz it up with pics, etc. I'll try it for a bit..........

Gumdrop Wreath

I love Christmas! This is super easy to make. You just need one small Styrofoam ring (used to make wreaths) Two large packages of gumdrops, or spice drops, a box of toothpicks, and a few inches of wide satin ribbon. And next, go to town!

More Christmas Cards