New Blog!

I've updated my blog, and moved it to a new location!  If you'd like to keep up on my posts, please venture over to maceysnelson.blogspot.com

February 2014 in an Instagram

February 2014, you were full of some really big UPs!  

I mean just look what you were full of:

- Love

- Snowmageddon

- Time with family

- Adventures with The Kid

- Signs of Spring

- AMOS LEE!!!!!!

Thanks for the great times February... see you next year!

How was your February?  

Anything in particular you are looking forward to in March?

Playing a little catch up

I feel like like I say this with every post, but wow it's been a long time since I've updated!  I haven't been consistent with blogging - unless you consider not posting consistently to be consistent. Ha!

I've been striving for a bit more routine in my life lately, and blogging regularly falls into that intention. I intend to create space for personal reflection and introspection.  I've realized recently that a lot of change has happened around me which tends to effect where my attention is spent.  My attention being elsewhere causes me to eventually walk into a wall and only then (when smacked in the face with the awareness) do I realize a shift needs to be made.

So anyhow, that's all at the forefront of my awareness right now.

As for the recent past, here's what's been going on:

If we're friends in real life or on social media you probably heard that my brother was in a bad motocross accident last month.  His pain is lessening, his spirits are well and his relationship with God, family and friends is being forged stronger.  This is a long road for him though and while it's definitely effecting him, his wife and daughter most, seeing it effect them and my parents is really, really difficult for me.  I'm a 'fixer' by nature and knowing I can't fix it is hard.  We trust our God though, and while we're hopeful the wheelchair is only temporary, we know His plan is perfect and take solace in that.

In all things there is good, and there is joy in finding the silver lining.  For me that has definitely been the opportunity for more family time.  I love Portland, but moving here has taken time with my family from near-daily to once every few months at best.  In the past month I've had the opportunity to travel home twice, and am already planning to return in a few weeks.  Can't complain there!  I mean look at this munchkin, how could you not love time with her...

In other news a huge bucket list item has been crossed off recently...

I SAW AMOS LEE LIVE Y'ALL!

Yes, live.
In person.
In the flesh.
In all his sexiness.
I saw Amos Lee.

Oh what a glorious night it was.

The show was great!  So full of energy, and that voice.... oh that voice.
Simply perfection.

So there you have it.  Some ups, some downs, and lots of recognition of needs and intentions. 

How has life been for you lately?  

Turns Out Portland Snow Storms Are Sometimes A Real Thing

Well, even though I've been going a bit stir crazy from being indoors too long and stuck at my apartment, it really has been pretty neat to experience a crazy snow storm in Portland.  When I moved here people were still talking about the Snowpocalypse of '08, and I'm sure they will be talking about Snowmageddon '14 for years to come too.

I ended up with about 6 inches in my front yard, and ventured out a couple of times to take a few photos.

So even though I'll be glad to see it go soon, it has been nice while it's here.

Snowmageddon Portland

So it's been doing this:

a LOT.

And this is how Zulu and I feel about it:

Can it be done now?

January 2014 in an Instagram

• Road trip home from Idaho
• Working out with friends
• Oregon Coast visits
• Rains returned
• Kitty cuddles
• Brunch Book Club
• Girls Night Out
• Family night
• Baby cuddles
• Nanny life
• Birthday celebrations
• Magazine launch
• Visits home

What were the highs of your January?

Weekend Update | The Good Life

After a crazy busy week I decided to really do the weekend up right.  In the spirit of embracing "now" I chose activities that I've either been putting off, or been wanting to do for some time and just haven't had the time.

This weekend included:

• The first meeting of The Ladies Who Brunch, Book Club.
• Time relaxing with family (snuggly baby included!)
• Yoga
• Church (the first time I've attended church in about 5 years)

I loved every minute of my weekend.  Everything about it was good for my soul.

How was your weekend?  Did you do anything to embrace 'now?'

My Word For 2014 | NOW

The past year brought me many great things.  I experienced love and heartbreak, growth and loss, and discovered much more about myself and the strength I didn't know I possessed.
2013 was a great year, but I'm ready to put it behind me.

Moving into 2014 I knew I wanted to choose a word to title this year.  I wanted a word that I could focus on when the going (inevitably) gets tough, and a word that I could use to celebrate and embrace the positive.  Many words came to mind, but one circled round time and again, and I knew it was my word.

NOW: adverb | at the present time or moment.

Now doesn't mean forever and it doesn't indicate the past.  Now is the present.

How do I feel now?
What is best now?
When do I need to act?  Now.

The other day I caught the most beautiful sunset at the coast and had to pull my car over to really take it in.  I was amazed by the light, and how it seemed to make all time stop.  The perfect light at sunset lasts less than a minute as the sun kisses the horizon for a mere moment and then dips beneath it altogether. As I was struck by the beauty of the moment, I couldn't help but think how perfect that particular now was.  I can't help but think that each now is perfect in its own way.  It may not be as obvious as that now was, but it's perfect none-the-less, and I look forward to the many perfect "nows" 2014 has to offer.

Do you pick a word to focus on during the New Year?

What were would you pick if you did?

Closing Out The Year | December in an Instagram

December was a great month!  Lots of times with friends and family and traveling to Idaho and back.  December was also a time of reflection mixed with looking forward as I closed out 2013 and started planning 2014.  It was a month of ups and downs emotionally, but luckily it always ended on the upswing as I looked to each situation as a moment for growth.  

I spent a bit of time decorating my apartment and being intentional with some furniture additions.  It was entirely new for me since I've lived the past 10 years as minimalistic as possible.  I like being minimalist, and still strive to live simply and at my means, but I'm enjoying nesting in my home.  Previous to this apartment the longest I lived in one place was 9 months.  I've been in my current home for 18 months with no plans to move.  It's a lovely feeling to be happy with my home.

As I move into 2014, I'm excited to continue being intentional with my relationships, health, and finances.  There's some huge additions to my professional life that I'm really looking forward to developing, and enjoying the growing pains that I've experienced.

Cheers to a wonderful December and moving forward!

Discovering my Desires in 2014

As I wrap up 2013 and gear up for the amazing year that 2014 promises to be, I'm taking time to focus on my intentions.  I'll be sharing what my intentions are for the coming year just after New Years, but thought in the meantime I would share a few of my favorite resources for goal setting.

Rachel over at Tossing the Script shared an amazing PDF resource with me during our goal setting meeting on Sunday.  You can find the workbook here and the author's blog here.   I'm slowly making my way through the prompts and LOVING it!  I can't wait to share some of my discoveries, and would love to hear yours as well!

Another great resource that I stumbled upon today is Danielle LaPorte's "The Desire Map."  I ordered a copy from my local library this morning and am excited to spend some time figuring out what my Core Desired Feelings are.  (Which I will be sharing of course!)

This video interview of Danielle speaking about her own Core Desires and the process of goal setting is a bit of time commitment, but completely worth it.  One of my favorite take-aways from it is something she says within the first few minutes: "It's not about the goal, it's how I want to feel when I get there."
I love it!

Are you setting goals/intentions for the year 2014?

What do you think your Core Desired Feelings are?

Thanksgiving 2013 Recap

This year's Thanksgiving was a special one.  From the time I was 12 and my immediate family moved to Idaho we've been getting together with my Dad's siblings and their families for the holidays.  The idea was to have a different sibling host each year, that way everyone takes turns traveling/hosting each year.  One sister lives in Seattle, another is SW Washington, and my Dad, of course, lives in Idaho.  For the first few years the kids were all young enough that the families all worked hard to get together, despite costs, weather and life interruptions, but as we all got older it became increasingly difficult to get everyone together.  While the tradition still carried, someone - a brother, sister, child, etc - was missing from the pack.

So it was very exciting to hear that everyone could make it this year!  No one had 'other side of the family' obligations or work getting in the way.  The weather looked like it was going to hold out, and my cousin who lives in the Tri Cities (therefore equal distance from everyone) offered to host, so there were no "we have to travel too far" excuses!  Everyone (that's 16 adults, 1 five year old and 1 five month old) made it!  We all stayed at my cousin's house for 4 days, and loved every minute of it.

I really am blessed to be a part of a family that can get along and enjoy each other for that many days.

My Aunt Sandy enjoying time with her Grand-niece Emerson

Uncle Rodney getting his baby time in

Joie made turkey centerpieces for all the tables

Joie "helping" Aunt Janet make pies

Lots of smiles and wine

My little brother Kalen got in some baby time too - good practice for the near future ;)

I love my niece to pieces

Joie and her Papa (my dad)

Aunt Janet, Emerson,  my cousin Jill and Aunt Sandy

Everyone together!

November 2013 in an Instagram

How is it December already?!

I mean seriously.

November was an event filled month!  It started off with my first ever art show (a month-long gallery even!) and ended surrounded by family for the Thanksgiving holiday!

Here's some of the highlights:

• My art show in Newberg
• Girls Road Trip to surprise my family over my niece's bday weekend
• Danielle and Joie visiting Portland 
• New glasses
• Spending 4 days with my whole family over Thanksgiving
• Finding out the family is growing!

Did you see family over the holiday? How was your November?

Here's to a great December!

Catching Up

Oh my goodness life has been good lately!  I've been so busy enjoying it that I didn't even realize I haven't been on here in a few weeks!  So it's definitely time I add some pictures of the past few weeks' adventures.

I found out I was going to have Veteran's Day off from work making it a 3 day weekend and I decided that it would be a good time to drive to Idaho and surprise my family.  My niece's bday was on the 8th, and my family would be having a get-together on Saturday the 9th for her.  I could easily make it that evening and have all day Sunday with them before heading back Monday morning.  My aunt who lives in Longview was free for the weekend to join me, and we discovered that my cousin and her baby girl who live in the Tri Cities was free too.

Girls Road Trip!

My Aunt Janet, Cousin Jill and her baby Emerson and Me all ready to roll!

Pit stop for a diaper change, refuel and baby cheek snuggle!

Once in Idaho I was completely unlike myself and only took pictures at two moments.  Early Sunday morning I captured these treasures with my niece (who's FIVE now! OMG)

and on the trip home snagged a pic of the state capitol building.  

Is it weird that I miss this building?

After returning to Portland I lost myself in the work week, looking forward to my sister in law and niece visiting me the following weekend! That's right, just 4 days and I'd be seeing that little munchkin again!

They made it to town just as I was finishing up work, and we enjoyed dinner and drinks downtown.  Saturday morning we woke up and headed to the coast.  Joie wasn't very excited about it at first, she insisted that going to the beach meant an encounter with sharks, but after a little time on the sand she warmed up (literally - because it was freezing at first) to it.

All three of us, happy as clams.

My sister in law pulled off the best photobomb ever ;)

We thoroughly enjoyed all the coast had to offer.  The next day we got up, enjoyed coffee and hot chocolate and hiked Multnomah Falls.

The past few weeks have been full of family and FUN!  This next week is Thanksgiving and I'll be traveling to the Tri Cities along with the rest of my family for a few days of more family fun.  It's guaranteed to be a great time, and I'm so looking forward to it!

Has anything great happened for you the past couple of weeks?

Will you be traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday?

October 2013 In An Instagram

Wow, the end of another month and beginning of a new one already.  Is it just me, or do the months seem to go faster once fall hits?  I feel like September and October fly by each year!

What a beautiful October we had here in the Pac Northwest too!  Colors everywhere and so many days with sunshine and blue skies!  I have to say though, as much as I've loved it, I've missed the rain.  I'm looking forward to the rainy season starting soon and feeling like the holidays are really here.

October was full of great experiences and many smiley days!  Here's a visual of this past month from my iPhone...

Highlights:

• Ran the Portland Half Marathon
• My Mom visited
• I brought home a new kitty
• Crunchy, colorful leaves
• Time with new adorable Little E
• Time with friends and home improvement projects
• Fall treats

How was your October?  Any fun memories you want to make sure and remember?

Happy Movember!

It's that time of the year again... time for MoBros and MoSistas to show their support for prostate and testicular cancer initiatives!

Cancer is an evil plague and must be eradicated! Sporting my pink mustache won't end the madness, but it does play a part in raising awareness for prevention and early detection.  Did you know that every FIVE minutes TWO men are diagnosed with prostrate or testicular cancer?  That's 2 too many!!

By sporting our mustaches we can effectively become walking, talking billboards for the 30 days of November.  We can raise awareness by prompting private and public conversation around the often ignored issue of men's health.




So let's all sport our mustaches this month and start the conversation!!!  Men, go see your doctor and make sure everything's ok down there!!

For more information visit Movember.com

So I'm A Mom Now

Hello everyone, meet Zulu, the newest addition to the "Macey Perseveres" family!

Zulu came home with me a little over a week ago after The Kid and I met her at the Oregon Humane Society.  I wasn't planning to bring a cat home, we were just going to go visit the animals and get the lay of the land because I had been contemplating getting a cat "eventually."

Well I met Zulu, fell in love, and realized I couldn't leave without her.  End of story.

Since then we've had a few ups and downs, but for the most part this is how she's spent her time...

Can I get a collective "awwwwww."

Do you have a cat or kitten?  Any advice for a new feline mom?

Portland Half Marathon Recap

Well, I did it!  I crossed another item off my bucket list and completed a half marathon in my new hometown.  The 2013 Portland Half Marathon was a great experience made all the better by completing it as a member of Team and Training again!

My mom flew into Portland to spend the weekend with me and be out on the course cheering me on. We had a great time spending time together, just the two of us, at the coast the day before, and she got to join me at the inspiration dinner the night before the race to get a taste of just how awesome this group of people are.

I didn't smash any records on race day, but I proved to myself once more that I can accomplish anything I put my mind to, and felt good carrying all my reasons for running over the finish line with me.

I'm already planning to join the group again next year and tackle the San Franciscan hills once more at the Nike Women's Marathon.  I just love the positivity of this group!!

September in an Instagram

It's been a LONG time since I've recapped my months with Instagram photos!  In an effort to document my 31st year better, I'm going to start including these little recaps again.  It's always fun to look back on the month and see what's happened in my daily life through these little square photos.  I've also been considering offering a linky party once a month, so I may just have to combine the two!
Stay tuned ;)

Without further ado, here's my September 2013 in an Instagram...

Coffee  ||  Friendship  ||  Birthday Celebrations  ||  Dancing

Timbers  ||  Camping  ||  New Adventures  ||  Fall 

Growing Up  ||  Pumpkin All The Things

Running  ||  Fundraising  ||  Climbing  ||  Flowers Everywhere

How was your September?  Cheers to a great October ahead!

Foodie Pen Pal | My First Experience

So I've heard rumblings in the blogging world about these fun blogger "swap parties" that are happening all over.   I was totally jealous when my Instagram and Feedly were full of fun reveals of the goodies my friends were receiving when joining in.  So I put a call out on social media asking for a heads up because I wanted to join in on the fun!  My friend Sarah at Will Run For Pasta sent me info on a monthly swap hosted by The Lean Green Bean called Foodie Penpals and I jumped on the chance to be a part of it!

After signing up I received a lovely email from Kara at Domestic Endeavors introducing herself as my penpal for the month.  After we exchanged pleasantries and told each other a little about ourselves I went shopping and put together a fun little package showing off a little of the best Portland has to offer (starting with Moonstruck Chocolates of course!).  I'll you check out her blog post about what I sent, but here's what showed up on my doorstep last week...

The Kettle Corn (holy yum!), Trail Mix and Marshmallows are made by companies that are local to her area, and the peppermint tea from TJ's is one of her favorites (and one of mine!) during the winter months.  I've been savoring each of my treats, and already cozied up with a good book and a cup of mint tea on more than one evening.

I've already signed up to join in again next month and can't wait to "meet" my new penpal!

Have you ever participated in a blogger swap?  How was your experience?

Turning 31

My 31st birthday was this past Wednesday, and boy was it a great one!  I'm that person who LOVES their birthday.  I love getting to feel special, just for one day.  I spent the day getting love from friends and family over Facebook, phone calls, Instagram, tweets and texts.  It was wonderful!

The day started off with 2 hours of pampering - a one hour massage followed by a one hour facial.

It.
Was.
GLORIOUS.

If you've never had a facial, you should do it.
Now.
Don't hesitate, just call and book.

Seriously.


Here's me all glowy and relaxed and sad to be leaving heaven...

After my relaxing spa morning I headed up the road to my favorite coffeeshop, JoLa in Johns Landing, for some lunch and coffee while I worked on some Motormouth Studios stuff.  I instagrammed a photo of my location, and next thing I knew this delicious and sweet treat was brought to me.  The owner, Brad, had seen my photo, called the shop and had his barista bring it to me.  Is that not the sweetest ever?! (oh, and it was delicious too!)

After some time at JoLa, I headed to get The Kid from school.  He sweet talked me into going to Starbucks to get his homework done - it was a fabulous idea, and one I think we'll be repeating fairly often.

When I got home these beautiful flowers were waiting on my doorstep.  Every year since I started kindergarten my dad has sent me a bouquet of flowers on my birthday.  It's hands down the thing I look forward to the most each year.  He followed it up with a text that read "you'll always be my baby girl."  Aren't dads the best?!

About a month ago I saw a groupon for a painting class in Sellwood and gave a shout out to some of my gals on Facebook to check it out.  6 of us ended up purchasing, and the only night we all had free to go happened to be my birthday!  It seems to never work out that we're all free the same time, and it was extra special that I could use it as a way of celebrating with my friends!

Sadly Kayla got caught up at the last minute and couldn't make it.  She was missed, but the rest of us had a great time!

Don't you just love our sexy smocks? ;)

Here's my painting!  I love it!

Do you love your birthday as much as I do?  How do you usually celebrate?