DIY | pinecone garland

I need to stop pretending these DIY adventures of mine are worthy of a tutorial...

However, to be fair, if I saw this kind of thing on a blog I'd probably pin it faster than you can say "be-sure-there-are-no-tiny-bugs-on-the-pinecones-you-bring-inside".

(lesson learned)

________

Materials needed:

pinecones (I used five)

twine

Do you mind if I take a moment to be really excited about finding this giant spool of twine at Cash 'N Carry for $10? I'll be using this for the rest of my life.

Also, these pinecones are really pretty. Thank you giant trees outside my house. 

So here's what you do... Carefully nudge the twine down into the pinecone (I was pleasantly surprised how easily it hid itself in there) and tie off at desired intervals.

Like so.

When finished, hang and admire!

(it's there, above the frames, dangling invisibly against a white wall... I promise)

(and yes, that's a lot of wine - and three kinds of whiskey to the right of the shelf)

Oh, here's a better one...

I love it. And I plan on doing this with little sprigs of pine once they dry out a little (oh, hey, weird, it's raining again here in the northwest!).

And the end.

more pressing matters

I would love to give you the post you deserve, dear readers...

Alas...

Alack!

I am knee-deep in twinkle lights, tinsel and glitter.

(and completely consumed with another viewing of Love Actually)

So I promise I will get around to proper blogging here as soon as this little apartment looks like Buddy the Elf attacked it with the fury of Christmas.

Until then... Do yourself a favor and get a box of dark chocolate covered Peppermint Joe Joe's from the Trader.

'Tis the season and all.

dumb ways to die

Amidst the thanks and the mashed potatoes and the bake-off and the how-many-bottles-of-wine?

...Our Thanksgiving evolved into food-induced-self-loathing and YouTube.

The above video is what we inadvertently found while searching for... I think it was the Bollywood "Thriller"? 

I don't know. I was high on complex carbohydrates. 

Enjoy a little dose of irreverence. 

And be careful. 

weekly gratitude | thanksgiving edition

thank you ever-trusty boots for keeping my feet (mostly) dry

I am thankful. 

And when I feel myself slip, when I indulge the occasional black cloud overhead, when I allow myself to wallow... I always pull myself back to gratitude.

He pulls me back. 

He reminds me who I am and where I am and what He's done for me and that even when all else fails, I have Him forever. No matter what. 

That alone should be enough (and trust me, it is) but who would I be without all of people and places and things (you know, the nouns) that color my world?

I am perpetually blown away by this life. 

Grace by definition is unmerited, unearned, undeserved favor and as I look around me I am humbled by the fact that I've got that. 

I've got that in spades.

Most importantly, I've got that in the form of my dad, my mom, my grandma Farmer, my uncle, my grandpa Morton, Blake, Brigette & Mac, Katy, Jared, Robin & Dean, Michull & Maggie, Shamoo, Laura & John (and Jack!), Jodi & Scott, Caitlyn, Mari, Kate (and Marme!), Jenn, Gary, Frankie & Matty, Andrea & Dave (and Kamdyn!), Alyssa & Luke, Terra & Nathan, Dakota, Forrest, Tom, Sue, Lorrie, the Alters, the Bandors, the Bakers, Janet, Eric & Andrew, Scott & Billy, Mike & Heather, Janna & Mark, Wendy, Jennifer,  Patt, Paul, Don, Maria, Lizz (and Eleanora!), Ashley & Brandon, Nathan, Tayler, Jackie, Lisa & Helios, Benita, Martha, Jessi, Stephanie, Kristin, Erin, Dani, Dave & Cheryl (and all the people of my missional community!), Doreen, Anna, Anne, Trudy, Debbie, John Mark, Phil & Diane, Ian, Jose, Dominic... So many more, and if I've left your name out I truly apologize because you must believe me when I promise you it does not mean you are any less vital a part of what makes up the tapestry of my gratitude! 

(it just means that somewhere in this stream of consciousness I probably got distracted by the stuffing I've got in the oven and the onions caramelizing on the stove!)

I am overwhelmed by love and thanks and praise and hope and happiness and joy and eternal grace. 

Even when things are at their bleakest, I will remember all these things - these people - who have helped define my life and I will be grateful that I can call them my own. 

Thank you to everyone who makes my life what it is:

Perfect. 

Happy 
Thanksgiving!

letter to the portlanders

When John Mark read this letter this past Sunday, it made me so happy I could have cried. For the first time in a long time, I am part of a church I truly, deeply love. I am grateful for a team of leaders who ignite a pure passion and fire for the Lord in me in a way I've never fully experienced before.

And I am blessed and humbled to know that these people feel the same way about me.

Here is what was said...

Portlanders from Solid Rock | A Jesus Church on Vimeo.

---

To all God's people in Portland...

To the rough and rowdy crew that is Solid Rock...

To the young and the old, the urban and the suburban, the hipsters, the hippies, the stay at home moms, the doctors, the lawyers, the people in SE who turn backyards into farms...

To all those listening online. The college students gathering in dorms with friends, the girl from Germany who sends me that spicy mustard you can’t get in the states (I don’t have the heart to tell her I became a vegetarian and don’t eat Bratwurst anymore), whoever it is that puts Spanish subtitles under the video podcast and posts it on YouTube, gracias mis amigos...

To the hundreds of you who have been baptized over the last eight years, and those of you who have been walking with Jesus longer than I have been alive, and to every last one of you who make up my family in this city and around the world...

Grace and peace.

By grace, I don’t just mean “unearned favor.” I mean the empowering presence of God, like oxygen in your lungs, filling you up with joy, and spilling out into the world.

And by peace, I don’t just mean the absence of conflict. I mean so much more. A deep sense that God is with you. That it’s going to be okay. That King Jesus is going to put it all back together again.

Now, to start things off, I want you to know that every time I think about you, I thank God for you. I can’t believe that I get to be a part of this church. I know we have issues—every church has issues—but you guys are the real deal. I’ve never seen a more Jesus-loving, passionate, generous, up-for-it church than you. I love you.

I’m with Paul when he said, “In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel.”

That’s what we are. Partners. We’re in this together.

I know it’s been a long, hard year, but we’ve seen so much happen. We’ve seen well over 150 missional communities started. Well done. From that we’ve seen a brand new church planted in the Sunset area. And from that we’ve seen over 200 baptisms in the last ten months alone! We’ve grown from one church in one location to a family of churches all over the city.

And this is just the beginning.

My favorite line in Paul’s letter to the Philippians is in 1v6: “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of King Jesus.”

Like Paul, I’m confident that the exact same Creator God who spoke the universe into existence is at work in this church, and in this city. And he’s not done. There is so much work to do. A recent study said that we live in the least Christian city in America. We’re going to see that change. We’re going to see hundreds of you get into Missional Communities and live out the gospel in your neighborhood, your workplace, your school, your gym, your coffee shop—because it’s not about the guy up on the stage on the weekend. It’s about the Spirit of Jesus in you, on the streets of this city. The Spirit of God—the active, dynamic presence of God is in every last one of you. You have what it takes. You have the Spirit of God! You have the power to see your neighborhood wake up to the gospel of Jesus.

Do you believe that?

It’s true. And I believe that in the coming months and years we’re going to see a move of God in our city. We’ve been praying for it for years with Seven, and we’re starting to see the first wave. Scores of baptisms. Unprecedented unity in the churches. But, my friends the best is yet to come, because with Jesus, the best is always yet to come!

But we have to stay humble. That’s the only way we’re going to stay unified, on the same page, and a force to be reckoned with. Don’t forget Paul’s words, “Let nothing be done out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves, not looking out to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others.”

We can’t let this become about personalities or preferences.

We can’t be consumers. This is not about you or me! This is about Jesus at work through his people.

We have to become givers. A self-giving community, just like what we see in God, giving himself in and through Jesus. And when I say, “givers”, I don’t just mean giving our money. Yes, that’s true for sure. We need to grow as a church in the area of generosity in order for this thing to keep growing. And it’s happening. The last two weeks’ offerings were amazing. Thank you! Don’t stop. Don’t forget that it’s all God’s—every penny. And giving is an act of worship. But we need to give more than our money. We need to give our time, to our neighbors and coworkers and family and friends who don’t know the living God. To share our lives—all that we are—with those far from the life found in Jesus.

And it’s not going to be easy. Jesus said that up front. But it is going to be good. My plan is to spend my life in this city, shoulder-to-shoulder with you, working for the kingdom come.

Are you in?

To close, here’s the most important thing. We have to stay focused on Jesus.

What we think about matters. Paul made that crystal clear. “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure”—you know the list. Our minds should be filled up with all that is good and beautiful in the world. Paul is calling you and me to look out on the world and celebrate the goodness of God in all creation. We should be a people who celebrate! I want to become a guy like Paul. He’s in prison, and not only is he content, but he’s filled with joy. Because contentment and joy aren’t found in more money, or more stuff or a new living situation or a new spouse—it’s found in the King.

What could be more good or more beautiful than King Jesus? He is true. He is noble. He is right.

He is life. In flesh and blood.

Anything else—no matter how good—is skubalon. It’s a word-I-can’t-say-in-church. It’s nothing compared to knowing Jesus.

We need to stay focused, borderline obsessed with Jesus. Because He is what this church is all about.

Which is why I’m going to rip off Paul for my ending.

“May the grace—the empowering presence—of the Lord Jesus, the King of the world, be with your spirit. Amen.”

(photo via Solid Rock's Facebook page)

he speaks! kind of...

Can you say hi? from lauren jean allece on Vimeo.

Found a couple of videos on my phone from Indiana. I actually got there a day before Jared so I was taunting him with clips of Kamdyn (he loves that kid more than anything on earth) as he and Dakota made their way from Chicago. 

Oh my, I love this little man. 

knock-knock from lauren jean allece on Vimeo.

Also, for any concerned viewers, he chose to cram himself under that bin on his own. 

And I wasn't about to take the thrill away from him. 

backwoods alley

A while back I had the pleasure of shooting a show for Backwoods Alley, a local band out of Canby, Oregon (who happen to be managed by my dear Jodi). 

Fronted by Corey Barton, the band plays all the country songs that made up the soundtrack to my summer along with a dash of pop and even classics like "Runaround Sue" (see the last photo in this post - Corey's "Runaround Face" is my favorite!).

The black and whites turned out to be my favorite shots of the night. Wrangler's is a small venue but the band hardly minded me crawling delicately around directly on the stage half the time to get the best angles!

Leading lady Shelby Jones has the voice for songs like "Pontoon" that catches the attention of everyone in the joint. Doesn't hurt that she's gorgeous either. 

This show was actually their bassist first show with the band - impressive as he was sight-reading almost every song as he went along!

Our conversation between sets went like this...

Him: So, do you listen to a lot of country music?

Me: I listen to my fair share. Do... You?

[beat]

Him: LOOK AT ME! I'M WEARING A BOWTIE AND SUSPENDERS! 

Me: So... No?

No. His usual gig is in a punk band.

That made much more sense. 

See?

I told you this face was the best. 

___

Check out Backwoods Alley on Facebook! Shoot, throw 'em a "like" if you're feeling fancy!

holiday spin

Do you get Lifetime?

GET IT. 

Even if it's only so you can watch Holiday Spin starring.... Wait for it... My friend Gary!

Better known as Garrett Clayton to the rest of the world. 

Better known as "the guy who makes better use of the acoustics at my mom's house than I ever did" (there may or may not have occurred a slightly toasted Little Mermaid sing along 

at my mother's dinner table one time).

Anyway, I'm losing track of my point... 

My point here is that Gary is amazing, I've never been excited for a Lifetime movie in my life but he makes it worth it, and you should probably watch it too.

The end. 

weekly gratitude | veterans day edition

thank you for these feet for getting this soldier home safely!

This is a day late, but all my gratitude this week goes to the men and women of our military. 

And the husbands and wives, sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, friends, cousins, nieces and nephews (and any other relation I've left out) of those who serve, and have served, our country.

I am truly grateful for the people who have stepped up and done what I could not. 

The people (all of these people) who have put their lives on hold and put their lives on the line. 

Thank you to the brave, the courageous, the strong, and the heroic men and women who have put on a uniform for the United States.

And the brave, courageous, strong, and heroic men and women who have held down the fort, caring for the families and friends at home.

Thank you for serving our country and protecting our home.

Thank you for your show of strength, holding onto faith and hope when the people you love are far away.

Thank you for Scott & Jodi, Nathan & Terra, Kev & Kate (and Cullen & Bennett), Steve & Jenn (and Sam & Molly), Scott & Kristin, Sam & Martha (and Bud), Cam & Amanda, Erik & Stephanie (and Avery), and so many others!

(I apologize if I left anyone out!)

You are my heroes. 

Thank you.

the boat

Chuck Ragan.

Rocky Votolato.

Jon Gaunt. 

Joe Ginsberg.

The Boat.

I can't feel my face. 

the great pumpkin swap

Can we back up for a moment? Yes, let's.

I'd like to just do a quick describe of my living situation:

My apartment is in the attic of an old house. The staircase to get to my door is around the back of said house and basically, unless you know it's there, you'd never know I'm up here.

(unless you see a girl walking on the roof of the garage my porch, then yes, you'd probably know)

But the best part of this hidden living is the mail situation. 

Mail arrives to my landlords, they sort out what's theirs and what's mine (great for the junk mail aggravation) and that's that! I also have a theory that the precarious location of the front door keeps me from ordering take out and thus saving both my wallet and waistline, but that's another story for another time...

What I'm here to talk about is The Great Pumpkin Swap!

Kristin and Allie hosted a swap of autumnal goodies and I was paired up with Kristen down in Texas (go say hi!)! The minute I opened the box I knew this was a girl after my own heart... Candles, owls and soup?

Done and done. 

The general love of mail is part of what keeps this blog world of ours together and when it's a box full of fall (there, I said "fall"... And I will never live it down), I'm that much more enthusiastic! 

(more exclamation points!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

I can't say for sure what heaven smells like, but I'm pretty sure there's a chance at least one wall is a scratch n' sniff of this scent.

Oh, these will be scattered, you best believe it.

And the owls? I shall name every one of them Hounslow.

And these earrings? Perfect.

And finally, since it is barely 50 degrees outside (and I actually put on pants) you know it's cold enough to be soup weather! 

I think my favorite part of this swap was that Kristen and I put together such similar boxes for each other! Both had cider fixins, autumn leaves, a little bauble and tasty treats! 

Thank you Kristen! I'm actually having some cider now! 

And Hounslow is staring at me. 

Go say hi to Kristen and see what the Great Pumpkin brought to all the other children in blogland! 

recipe | fig + pear galette

Let me preface by saying this:

I am not a baker.

Cooking (there is a difference!) is my preferred medium. 

(see my lasagna/risotto/meatloaf obsession fascination)

(Brigette is the baker among us... Click the link, you'll be doing yourself a favor)

Anyway, I'm getting sidetracked (squirell!) so let me get back to my point...

I feel bad calling this a recipe. 

This was the result of my late-night guilt at the thought of the pre-made pie crust in my fridge nearing its expiry date.

And my intense desire to slather fig jam on anything slatherable (i.e. a piece of bread, a spoon, my tongue, etc.).

So this is what happened. And by calling it a galette I trick myself into feeling fancier than I actually am.

Behold...

___

Fig + Pear Galette

(all measurements are approximate)

ingredients:

1 roll-out pie crust (homemade or store bought - I bought one because as noted, I am not a crafty baker)

2 good-sized pears, thinly sliced vertically (I used d'anjou)

a couple tablespoons of honey

dashes of cinnamon & nutmeg

a few tablespoons of fig jam (I used Trader Joe's Fig Butter)

directions:

1. Preheat oven according to pie crust package instructions

2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and roll out pie crust flat

3. Dollop on desired amount of fig jam and spread out evenly over crust as you might for a pizza (leaving a little space around the edges)

4. In a bowl, toss sliced pears with a little honey, cinnamon & nutmeg to taste (I warmed up the honey a little to make it slightly easier to work with). You should definitely taste what's going on in that bowl at this point... Even dip a slice into the jam, just to see how it's all coming along...)

5. Arrange pears on crust. I sort of fanned them out in a cirlce and filled in the center with smaller pieces as needed. Fold up edges of crust over the pears just slightly to create a sort of rustic edge.

6. Pop in oven until crust is golden brown and it starts to bubble (just barely!), or according to package instructions. I just kept an eye on it.

7. Let cool slightly and enjoy! 

You can bet I was wishing I'd bought vanilla ice cream for this one... Though research shows a glass of milk works, too.

___

So there you have it. 

Go forth and nosh. 

weekly gratitude

thank you boots, even though you have a hole in the right sole

At around ten o'clock Sunday night I decided, "Hey, that pie crust in the fridge needs to do something. It needs to fulfill its destiny!" 

Followed closely with, "I think I bought pears... (investigates kitchen)... Hey, I bought pears!"

And rounded out with, "What else can I slather this fig jam on?"

(the answer to that last question is two-fold, answers being: a spoon and/or a pie)

The result of the thrilling trills of these innermost thoughts of mine was the smell of a fig & pear galette filling my apartment. This smell, I'd like to point out, made me rue the fact that sticking my head directly in the oven to wrap myself in that smell would have been a horrible, terrible, no good, very bad idea. 

It also begs the question of whether Sylvia Plath was just trying to get a whiff of a pie in that oven of hers.

Too far?

//

1. Thank you for Maria and Gavan and Kerrigan. My girl, her nephew and her sweet friend joined me at church Sunday and it meant the world, the whole dang world, to me. Aside from the obvious joy at not going to church alone (though truly, even though I show up alone I have made wonderful friends and rarely feel "alone") I was so happy they came. Maria showed up with a smile - that smile of joy I've so missed seeing on her face - and said over and over how happy she was that she was there. i swear, my heart could have burst right out of my chest. And as soon as my eyes stop welling up every time I think about this amazing little turn her life is taking, I'll let you know. On top of everything though, I am so grateful that Gavan came too. He is Maria's thirteen year old nephew and is facing a dark, dark season. A week ago his best friend was killed in an act of senseless, heartbreaking violence. No one, and especially not a thirteen year old, should ever have to bear this. I wanted to hug him and never let go. But he is blessed in the support system he has in his family and I am thankful he has them. If you think of it, pray for Gavan and the family of the young man who lost his life, that they all might find some peace and rest in this.

2. Thank you for Jared coming home safe! After almost five months away, multiples fires put out and a few fires lit, only minor scars and an impressive beard, the Indy kid made it back to Portland last weekend. Three fires seasons down, and I continue to be so ridiculously proud of him I could bust. (and so incredibly thankful when he comes home alive. Oh, yes, alive is good).

3. Thank you for positive affirmations at work. I know I'm not curing disease here, or doing anything particularly noble, but I love what I do and it means so much to have customers thank me for a lovely visit. And what means the most is when they thank me for "[my] knowledge" on the wine industry, the history of the valley, the wines... That's really what means the most a lot of the time. That I've been able to share what I've learned and teach people something is such a sweet feeling and I am incredibly grateful when people let me know they've had as much fun as I've had.

\\

So short and sweet this week.

Now it's time to attack the pile of dishes in my sink and maybe, maybe get around to finally changing the clock on the wall so I stop panicking every time I look at it.

Ah... To have goals. 

some photos of mike & jared that make me giggle... and a happy weekend to all

Fireman & Firestine.

Mike's last name is very fitting to his gingery self. He has the most magnificent, flaming red hair you ever did see. We, his adoring public, are particularly fond of it in its bearded form.

I like it when there two are together. 

Back when Jared and Mike were roommates? Those were some of the happiest times of my life. 

On an unrelated note, this is Mike's victory stance. 

And his victory chops.

Are those chops?

What is the correct term for that creative facial hair up there?

On an even more unrelated note, I can't remember what point he was trying to make with that there bourbon, but I really like his face in this photo.

He probably will not like it so much.

Good thing he never reads this.

I can practically hear the admonishing, "LAIREN!" from here. 

Here's to the first weekend in November and being that much closer to Thanksgiving dinner!