Sarajane creates a "Save the Date"

Seth and I are so fortunate to have so many talented people in our family. We commissioned my Grandma Sara to create a Save the Date (To be Announced and Shared soon!) and Sarajane, my youngest sister, lovingly created one for us too!

It is so beautiful and perfectly adorable, can you believe she is only 7 years old? 

I really like the texture she used (the front and inside drawings popped out of the page!)

Plus it's so 'Sarajane' to include "what to wear" in the invite -- she's such a diva, and really it is the most important part right?

- Tessa

Kissing in the Sequoias

Seth and I went to Sequoia Park on our most recent trip to Humboldt County with our families to check out this potential ceremony venue and see if it was up to par. As we found out, it most definitely is! The tall Sequoia Redwoods make amazing backdrops, in fact there were almost too many potential sites to consider for the ceremony! 

These trees are out in the front of the park near the gazebo.

These are also right in front of the gazebo area. There would be plenty of room for chairs and guests.

And what's a perfect venue without huge slides?

This may be difficult in a dress.... :)

You can see in this picture, right behind the main park area is a larger forest area that is a lot more wooded.

Momma and Aiden

Sarajane showing off a pretty stump.

These trees looked absolutely breathtaking. I love how they are so symmetrical, tall and pretty. 

We decided that the only possible problem with these beautiful trees, is that we will look very small in comparison.

Trial photo... it's looking pretty good!

And here are some more beautiful trees and potential backdrops if we choose to have the ceremony here!

Isn't Humboldt County wonderful? We love that we're getting married at home, and we're counting down the years until we can move back up here :)

- Tessa & Seth

Beards and Flannels Engagement Party

HELLO EVERYONE! Seth here to give you all a long awaited update about our engagement party!! Tessa and I had so much fun seeing all of our family and loved ones all together for the first time; it truly was an amazing night. For anyone who couldn't make it to the party, we missed you dearly and wished you were there, but you definitely missed out on a fun party!

So, the chili cook off, wasn't it amazing?? Just wanted to say thank you to my beautiful Moms and the amazing Chef Louis for working so hard to make such wonderful chili and making the competition fun, you are all winners. Also thank you to everyone else who prepared food for the party or brought drinks, it was so nice of you to help out :P

If you weren't at the party you are probably wondering, why is the title Beards and Flannels?? So Im uploading some pics, I think you will get it lol. Hope everyone else had as good of a time as Tessa and I, and we can't wait to celebrate with all of you lovely people again!

- Seth

'Tis the Season of Love

The Mr. and I had a wonderful Christmas! These were our thoughts going into this holiday, and I'm pretty sure they played out really well!

Christmas day we celebrated by volunteering through the Lion's Club, we helped package more than 1200 meals to be delivered to home-bound seniors (that typically don't see anyone Christmas Day!) Seth and I were pros at the 'crimping machine' that sealed all the meals at the end of the assembly line of volunteers!
We had a lot of fun, and even though we had to wake up really early, it was worth it to start out our day with some generous love.

We then went home to my parent's house and shared gifts and a really delicious meal. Seth and I decided our 'rule' was to give each other only homemade presents this year to save on some money and place less focus on consumerism.

I custom designed Seth a guitar pick made out of copper:

"I will always *pick* you"

And Seth lovingly handmade a coupon, colorfully written and decorated, for a pair of Vibram Five Finger Shoes! It was a very sneaky way to give something handmade, but I didn't complain :)

As for the presents we made to give to our friends and family, we saved a lot of money (and had a LOT of fun!) handstitching Christmas Stockings! And then filling them up with goodies!!

The stitching took FOREVER as neither of us own a sewing machine :) But it turns out Seth is a really awesome crafter! And so we cranked them out in a couple of days! :)

 Mmmmm, so yummy!! (not to mention the pile of candy next to him!)

We are both very happy and I am even more so looking forward to our first Christmas as a married couple :) We're still thinking of some nice traditions to carry on when we have our own home, but if this holiday is an indicator, we're in for some very Merry Christmases to come :)

How did your Christmases go?

-Tessa & Seth

New Family, New Traditions

Kate and Tess - Christmas 1993

One of the many reasons Seth and I are so excited to get married is that we will finally be our own little micro-family! Especially since as a new family, we get to start creating our own goals, dreams and traditions.

I’ve been thinking a lot about new (and old) traditions lately especially since it is the Christmas season! Mostly I have been trying to think of ways that Seth and I can start off our first Christmas (next Christmas!) focusing less on gifts and presents, and more of the spirit and joy I feel Christmas really symbolizes in my heart. Of course, it is very hard, growing up in such a consumerist culture and in homes where my parents were very generous (sometimes maybe too generous!) in their gift giving. I know that I have been engrained to want that, to almost need that on Christmas morning. But along with the presents come other feelings we all know of, including guilt of overspending (or underspending), stress of finances, disappointment if presents aren’t what you expected, and jealousy of others in your family, or even of other families. Choosing to go anti-consumerism on the largest consumerist holiday of the year though is very challenging and I know I have a lot of mixed feelings this venture. I’m hoping though that by focusing on those happy aspects, the joy and love that the symbol of Christmas was founded on, we can celebrate Christmas year after year maximizing the good feelings, minimizing the negative emotions and trying to stay out of debt.

On a brighter note, there are lots of Christmas traditions that whether they include gift giving or not, are fun, happy ways to spread love and cheer to loved ones Christmas morning.

At my mom’s house, everyone gets to open one present Christmas Eve. We don’t get to pick the present, it’s already picked out for us, and it’s always the same: a new pair of pajamas! 

 Joselyn, Kate and I Christmas Morning in our new Pajamas

They are always so comfy to go to bed in at night and to wake up in the next morning! At my dad's house we have started baking and decorating cookies on Christmas Eve! 

It's a super fun and delicious way to hang out with family, plus afterwards we usually play a board game or two :)

What are some of your favorite family traditions? Anything you think Seth and I should try out next year for our first?

Lots of Love,

-Seth & Tessa

p.s. Anyone can comment, even without a username on all the posts :)