Thursday, January 30, 2014

Thursday Reflections - VAP

Throwing it back to September 2013 
and a Bomb Diggity Wedding in Montana! 

(Ing -  Throw Back Thursday is an Instagram thing! hehe)


Beautiful Wedding Day Hike in Seeley, MT with our bunk mates Katie & Joe



The SPOT! before all the magic happened.  Those mountains and blue sky kill me!



Going to see her hubby for the first time.... I had to walk away because I couldn't stop crying!



Amazing embrace between sisters.  You two are inspiring and beautful!


Blurry but one of my favorite pics :) Favorite bride!


The couple of the decade!  They have the most best friends of anyone in the world (and all over the world) the deepest sweetest love, crazy passion for life and adventure, ridiculous ability to have fun (even at 5:30am dancing and singing while packing lunches) goofy, silly, energetic and caring! 
 Everyone they touch is a better person because of Chris and Ingrid.  We are all SO blessed to be a part of your lives, Thank You.



We Love You!


Now go have an KICKIN' Honeymoon!!! 

XO,
grateful lover 

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Gratitude Lately

Grateful For


- little heads on my shoulder. nothing sweeter than reading with my two oldest, one on either side and having them both(!) rest their heads on me.  I couldn't stop smiling, inside and out!

-receiving the most amazing honeymoon itinerary in my inbox.  So great I will know where you are, when and make sure your flights have landed safely.  My anxiety will be a little higher while your skiing the alps but I will be picturing that insanely large smile on your face!

-a fun and hilarious phone call with your ridiculous man! you two are awesome :)

-pillow talk with my man

-enlightening drives to work, alone time that helps figure things out and enjoy the beauty of my life


I look at this everyone morning as I drive into work.  No matter the color of the sky it is beautiful!

XO,
grateful lover

The quote I have tried to live by since I was 15.

"Live everyday as though it is your last"
Ing, you are SO good at doing this, your honeymoon itinerary is the perfect example! 

Grateful for:

- sincere interactions with strangers all day: new postman who loves our dog, adorable grandma at the grocery store, meaningful conversation at my favorite dog park. Some days it's nice to fly under the radar. Not yesterday, was lovely to see and feel human connection. Good stuff.

- bowling with good friends. it's hilarious, entertaining, and another chance to rock awesome socks. 

- the BEST girls night ever! my ladies continue to amaze and inspire me. they speak their truth, are insanely wise, and make me belly laugh. V, hands down best dinner convo. Ever. 
I drove home smiling. No joke. 
V, you're an old soul my dear. love ya to pieces!  

 -picking up swiss francs and euros at the bank today. enough said, this trip starts soon!

-surprise present in the mail from a favorite cousin. Christian, you have a heart of gold. love you. 

xo, 
grateful lover

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Two Amazing Days of Gratitude - VAP

Grateful For

It has been a few days and ALOT to be grateful for. Here are just a few!



A man who is constantly working to create the life and family we dream of! These four make my heart burst!!

That same sweet man bringing me coffee in bed at 5:15am, Lucky Lady!! 



The bus stop and the love these brothers share.  Its real life and happening to me!! SO Blessed!


Mondays with this dude.  They are second best to Sundays and I cherish them.  He is growing up so fast, sleeping in a big boy bed, in his own room and using the potty! 


A big brother who plays, is caring, sensitive, sweet, smart, and just amazing! I couldn't have dreamed of a better role model for my younger children! So blessed!!


Its not the best picture but I had to.  I am grateful for a girls night, organized by the best! She brings amazing people together and we all fit so perfectly! Ing fills you up and brings out all the greatness!! Love ya! 

XO,
grateful lover


Saturday, January 25, 2014

Gratitude Lately - VAP

- Grateful for - 



Bard Coffee - Middle Street

local coffee shops, we are pretty lucky here in portland! The coffee is SO good.




My mans sweet kid style, I mean really now?! Rambo!! (will post pics of A&C style next time!)




Friends watching my littles babe, I get some sweet pictures when I'm away.  It is such a relief to know he is in good hands




Maine winters love them and hate them (only because we have to pay the damn oil bill! wood stove here we come)  When I'm working, I'm dreaming about walking around in the cold snowy woods with my little fam!


xo,

grateful lover

Friday, January 24, 2014

grateful for



winter in maine. i love when ocean waters turns to ice. it brings calm and peace. so much movement and so many currents stop. we all need a break- simmer down ocean and rest!


our membership card that just arrived from the Austrian Alpine Club. sweetness, indeed this trip's happening (and now we're covered for search and rescue, that's nice)... 


a best friend's daughter turned 3 today! i'm so incredibly grateful for the docs in SF, for Cleo (and her parents)- they've taught me about vulnerability, love, friendship... she's healthy now and thriving. happy birthday Cleo!! 



xo,
grateful lover

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Gratitude Lately - VAP

- Grateful For -

Travis and Corbin in 2010

-reflection, it is so necessary and refreshing
- support system, co-parenting is tricky especially when there are three parents! I think we do a rocking job though :)
-NPR very essential for my commutes

XO,
grateful lover

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

grateful for:

- dancing to otis redding. at work. amazing. 

- my man's last straight week of overnight shift at the hospital!! so proud of him. 

- it's -23 here in maine. lets talk about wood stoves and how they make everything better, even folding laundry. wood stove + glass of wine + laundry folding + snoring dog at my feet = relaxation. 

xo,
grateful lover

Gratitude Lately - VAP

- Grateful for -



-large parkas, bean boots, and fuzzy mittens (wind chill of -22 is serious!)

-finding the time to read (and the sister who got me the book I'm FINALLY reading!)

-Blue skies

xo,
grateful lover

Happy Wednesday!

- Inspiration from my desk -

"Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life.  Because almost everything - all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important.  Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose.  You are already naked.  There is no reason not to follow your heart."
-Stever Jobs

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

How we Started

Victoria & Ingrid at Ings Wedding Sept. 2013

Thanks for visiting our Grateful For's Blog

We are Ingrid and Victoria, dear dear friends and grateful lovers (we just really wanted to be lovers of some kind!)  I wanted to share the story of how this all started.

Ing and I were out on a typical spur of the moment walk in the woods last spring, with our dogs and the H-man.  We were exploring what would soon be my new backyard!  She started telling me about this blogger she follows (something we love to share; our favorite bloggers!) This blogger would email with her friend everyday to express what she was grateful for!!   Ing was pretty cute and quietly asked if I would want to do the same!!   I said "YES!"  It was pretty fantastic.  That is when our grateful for's blossomed.  It changed our lives and deepened our relationship.  Our days are spent focusing on the great and what makes us feel full.  We have a crazy list going through text's and email but really wanted to put it all in one space. 

We hope you enjoy our blog and it helps inspire you to focus on the greatness in your life, because even the struggles are beautiful! 

xo,
Ing & V.


Grateful For

Sundays with these four amazing men!



This amazing lady! As stressful as she can be with her; barking constantly, biting trees and chasing squirrels in the neighbors yard!  We all LOVE her and she is so important to the completion of our family! 



- To friends who make a special "first time" outing to come visit us with their sweet new babe.


- To this blog and my dearest Ing! This is going to be an amazing journey and I am so blessed to be sharing it with you. No matter how far away you move, you'll always be my best!

xo,
grateful lover

Happy Tuesday! 






Monday, January 20, 2014

grateful for:

Post-work run with my favorite partner in crime, Webster.


At work, a much older customer (think old grandpa) who, with the most twinkly eyes, selected the finest scone for his lady at home… cause, "they're her favorite, she's going to be so excited". Yes, and thank you for showing such kindness.

new favorite quote-
"We must have the stubbornness to accept our gladness in the ruthless furnace of this world" Jack Gilbert

XO, 
grateful lover

Saturday, January 18, 2014


- Grateful for - 

Happy Saturday! 
today I am grateful for:

-hot showers in peace
-geek squad
-emails from friends with fabulous reading material.... because they know me 
-anticipation of a night out to attend a salad & 90's hip-hop birthday party! Ack and pictures to follow. Of Ing and I on the dance floor, showing off our skillz!

XO,
GL

Friday, January 17, 2014

Blessings of New Life


There has been lots of new life and happiness surrounding me, I thought I should take more time than the traditional bulletin points.

First and foremost my niece was born yesterday!!!!!

Fiona Maria Parker, she is beautiful, perfect and the world now has one better person living on it.  Her parents are the type you really hope have children.  They will introduce her to everything, take her on adventures, keep her down to earth but very open minded.  They are thoughtful, caring, talented and wicked smart. We are very excited she is here and honored to call her our niece! I cant share a picture of her yet, but will someday don't worry! And we have already priced out the gas to drive down to her in February :)

Una Rose Mayer, I had the honor of meeting this little the other night.  It was suppose to be a quick visit because I needed to get home to my own little but I couldn't leave.  The energy in their home has tripled (which is impressive from where it was to begin with, such happy people). I was completely energized and excited after leaving, an 1 1/2 later.  They are in heaven and just completely over the moon.  They are so relaxed and just taking it all with a grain of salt.  When I asked Sharon, how she was handling Una crying her response was priceless..... "We laugh"  Not laugh in a mean way, they laugh at how silly and adorable the whole thing is.  This is another couple that we all want to procreate, so there are more people like them in the world!  PS her diaper changing area is the bomb!

Our House; we don't have a new baby but we do have a new atmosphere and liveliness. We made a change for January, we put everything second and our little family first. We limited electronics, mainly cell phones.  We don't touch them on Sundays and the evenings until the littles go to bed. Unless a moment is being capture by Iphone photo goodness. (new favorite ap is vscoscam) We have a large, flowery, calendar up on our kitchen wall.  It is our new bible with meals, cleaning, activities, shower schedule is all on it (all flexible and changes have already been made) The boys have better nighttime routine and are setting up their mornings before bed! Everything is going much smoother so our time together has proven to be SO much more enjoyable.  One thing we have also done, is fully established the Friday Night Pizza & Movie night.... it has been on going but for some reason now it feels sacred.  There was a local event going on tonight that I was interested in, but once I remembered what night it was, there was NOT A CHANCE!!! Missing this night would be sad, the thought of not making a bed of blankets on the floor, laughing, building pizzas..... I couldn't even. So much family goodness.
We were inspired by, yes a TV show, Parenthood.  We know it isn't reality, but they are pretty damn good at making it feel and look like reality.  Family's do all the things they do and they do it right.  Make mistakes and make memories.  The Bravermans have got it going on and they have helped us make a vision of what we want for our current and future lives!

Life is not always beautiful, it can be ugly but we are choosing to make our ugly beautiful too! 
Happy Friday!!


Much Love,
GL


Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Grateful For

Grateful For - 


-sharing cereal with the H-man


-early morning yoga session (damn I'm out of shape!)



-connecting with a dear friend on the phone! And yes we are trying to get this dude to move in with us, only if he brings his beautiful fiance and babe though!


-dog (Nahla) and cat (Dash) that can co-live after 5 months of hard work! obviously the super cutie sitting with them :) 

XO,
Grateful lover

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

-Grateful For-




-Rainy mornings of coffee and snuggles with this dude and all his favorites!
-chat's with the shuttle driver on my way to work. Inspiring conversation with an elder is always so refreshing and grounding!
-weddings and love; helping answer a dear friends wedding planning questions is a sweet privilege!
XO,
Grateful Lover 

what are you grateful for today?!