It's Almost Party Time.

Two things as you chug through the week:

1. Forest fire season started early.  We have 2 fires (south and north of Bend) that blew in smoke overnight.  Not something I was hoping to wake up to 11 days out from the wedding.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed for quick containment and cooler temps.  A little rain wouldn't hurt either.

2. Still wondering where we are getting married on the 3rd?  So are we.  Although Sparks Lake was a close contender, the limited parking and space for a larger crowd has forced us to move elsewhere.  Most likely we will be having a small ceremony in a friend's (or our own) backyard that afternoon at 4pm.  We will be sending out the private details in email shortly to our friends and family.  Just wanted to keep you in the loop.

It's all coming together!  We are excited, nervous, overwhelmed, impatient, happy, and ready to get this party started!

Should be cooler temps next week.  Hopefully a welcomed break from summer in the South.  Bring a sweater and your party shoes.

See you all soon.

Your Trip to the NW

3 more weeks until the big day!  I think Rob has finally realized that it's coming up and has started to stress out.  Not because he's marrying me... of course. :)  But because of his bachelor party/rafting trip he is taking the week before.  Trying to coordinate the food/camping gear/boats for the group is more than his single-tasking ability can handle.  Hopefully it will be a good trip where he can have one last 'hurrah' on the river, with old friends, siblings, and some whiskey.  He just better come back healthy and alive by Saturday!

Speaking of bachelor parties, I have my bachelorette party tonight!  It's so weird all the traditions that we tried so hard to avoid, constantly sneaking up on us.  What started out as a simple idea has morphed into every-other wedding.  We are desperately trying to hang on to our original goal: simple, casual, fun.  So you can all help us out by following these rules. Laugh with us.  Drink with us.  Eat with us.  Don't make fun of us when we dance... at least to our face.  Make jokes. Wear what you want.  Say what you want.  Be yourself.  And most importantly, enjoy yourself.

And while you are here, get out and see Bend -- it's a gorgeous time to visit and we will do our best to show you a good time Saturday night.  But the real gems are tucked away in and out of town.  We had sent a list of our favorite activities with the invites, but here again are some of our suggestions for things to do in and around Bend:

• First Friday Art & Wine Walk:  August 2nd will be the monthly downtown open house, where almost every store will be serving (free) cocktails and staying open late for you to browse their stores.  It starts ~5pm and goes until the stores shut down.  Rob and I typically head down after work since it's a good time to meet up with friends, browse the local goods, and get a (did I mention free??) drink on the way.  Stop at our favorite spots afterwards for dinner:
• 900 Wall: Pricey, amazing food.  This is our special occasion spot for when we want to treat ourselves.  (Or I admit, we've also come here after a tough week of work just because).  Order the flat iron steak or salmon & shrimp. Also, best cocktails in Bend if you'd rather check it out during happy hour.
• Joolz: Mediterranean meets the west.  Or at least that's their tagline.  Again pricey, but all of downtown is during the summer.  They have really great deals during happy hour and have THE best hummus and feta dip.  Their specials (hello, seafood tagine) are usually a sure thing.  
• Deschutes Brewery:  Besides the best (and most popular) beer in town, they have a pretty decent restaurant downtown.  It gets packed during the summer, but with the recent expansion, it is hit or miss on getting in quick.  The burgers are fancied-up but the best things on the menu.
• Plankers:  Ok, this is a lunch spot and may not be open at night.  But if you make it downtown during the day, they have bomb-dot-com sandwiches.  The tuna salad or turkey bacon won't do you wrong.
• Pizza Mondo: Grab a slice, you won't be disappointed.  Best in Bend.
• Pilot Butte: For a quick tourist stop, drive up Pilot Butte in mid-town.  Or walk the 1-mi up to the top, you'll feel proud of yourself as you check out the Cascades to the West and desert to the East.  When you are done, either head back to town, or check out these spots for a lunch on the East side:

• East Side Village Bakers: my favorite Saturday spot for a sandwich.  They make all their breads in house (obviously), and make a surprisingly mean sandwich.  Get the garden turkey or tomato basil soup with rosemary roll!
• Whole Foods: Grab some pre-made food and enjoy it on top Pilot Butte!
• Hola! For real, it has the exclamation point, rightly so.  For two Texans, this place is the closest to Mexican food around here.  It's actually Peruvian, but they serve up a fair bit of Tex-Mex for the honkeys in town.  It is pricey again, but worth it.  Or just grab a margarita, ceviche, or the table-made guacamole.  It you are staying for dinner, get the tamales!!  (This is Rob's favorite place in town).

• Old-Mill District:  A shopping area with not-to-boast stores (Gap, Pacific Sun, Coldwater, etc).  Nothing too special, but it sits right on the Deschutes river and is a great place to watch all the tourists float by on their tubes.  If you feel so inclined, rent a tube at Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe.  There is also my favorite trail that loops through the mill, out through Farewell Bend park, and follows the river south.  We have seen bald eagles, ospreys, and hawks catching fish in the river.  It is surprisingly quiet and scenic for right in town.  It's a quick 3-mile (flat) loop.  If you want to grab something to eat here: don't.  It's a tourist trap and is not worth it.

• Drake Park:  Okay, this is downtown too and I hear there is a car show going on August 3rd.  So if you are into that, check it out.  Otherwise, Friday or Sunday afternoon this is a great place to picnic, read a book, just enjoy the weather in a beautifully manicured park against the famous Mirror Pond (also name of famous Deschutes beer).  

 

• The West Side: If you are here for a longer than a day, you will hear references to "the East side" and "the West side".  Not to worry friends, we live over here on the West. :)  Rather than me tell you the differences, I'll let you check them out for yourself.  But if you make it over to our neck of the woods, it's out of the tourist loop but has the best in food and drinks:
• 10 Barrel brewing: my favorite spot for beer.  Their pizza is the best thing on the menu, don't try to kid yourself into something fancy.  They have the ambience thing working for them, they are too hip to make fancy food.
• Kebaba: Ok, between BTBS and Kebaba, they are my 2 favorite spots in town.  This place serves well-priced middle-eastern food.  They have a great patio out near Newport for watching the people walk by.  We have tried almost everything on the menu and have never been disappointed.  Rob says they have best burger in town.  I like their hummus plates, fattoush salad, or rice bowls.
• Backporch Coffee: Our Friday morning ritual.  Best coffee in town.  Get the Bend-famous ocean roll.
• BTBS: I won't bore you with a re-review.  You know how I feel.  
• Chow:  Best breakfast in Bend!  We have never had their lunch because we feel guilty not ordering their breakfast.  They have live music in the mornings (probably to make you forget you are waiting 30-45 min to get a seat).  But get there before 8am, which is easy for us old folks, and there will be no wait.  
• Parilla Grill:  A quick hipster stop for cheap tacos or burritos.  Top it off with a $1 PBR.
• Or our favotire weekend excursion: Head to the butcher (Primal Cuts) across from 10 barrel, grab a growler in their lobby, head next door for some local produce, down the street for Ida's cupcakes, and have a feast at your place!
• High Desert Museum: You have to be a museum-type person, but we both are, so we love it!  And Bend Research gives us free tickets, so we can't complain.  It's a good way to spend an afternoon.  See the otter, porcupine, bobcats.  Learn about the birds of prey.  Visit their mock-western frontier (they will be in costumes with real chickens!!) and learn about the history of this part of the country.  
• McMenamins:  Not only will we be having our reception out on the patio, this place also is a great place to catch some live music, soak in their Turkish-style baths, or catch a $3 B-rated movie with beer in hand.  

So that's a quick recap of all there is to do in Bend.  I'm sure there is more, but you are only going to be here for a few days, let's be realistic.  And I did leave our favorite dinner spot off the list, because we like to keep it secret.  I guess you'll be forced to talk to us during your visit to find out. :)

If you are spending more than a couple days in town and really want to experience the NW, Bend is no place to do it.  The NW is 20 miles outside of town.  The Cascades, man.  You gotta get out there.  Again, here is my/our list of favorite hikes around town.  Check out the mileage and difficulty before taking off.  And please, do yourself a favor, bring lots of water and sunscreen.  It is the high desert after all, we don't want people hurting themselves:

• Dillon to Benham Falls: ~10 miles out of town, easy hike, 3-6 miles round trip depending on when you decide to turn around.  We actually considered getting married out here, because of proximity and scenery.  The falls of the Deschutes.  Fishing/rafting too if you are interested.

 

• Tumalo Falls: ~15 miles out of town, biggest waterfall in town.  There is quite a 0.25mi ascent to get to the top (or just admire from the bottom).  But if you do make it up, follow the creek as far as you want to go.  It's a fairly easy hike after the first part and can be shaded and cool in the summer.

• Shevlin Park: in town, easy hike, 3-6 miles depending on what route you take.  This was another potential spot to get married (Fremont Meadows in the back of the park), but they close the road in August due to risk of forest fire.  You can still walk the trails though; stay along the river or head up to the ridge.
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
• Smith Rock: ~25 miles out of town, some of the best rock climbing in the country.  Stay near the river or head up Misery Ridge to get your heart rate up.  It can be a quick stroll or a challenging hike, depending on your path.  Watch out for rattlesnakes in the summer!

  

• Green Lakes: ~25 miles out of town, this is our favorite, so much so, we have planned to do this Thursday morning before the wedding weekend.  It is 6-10 miles depending on the route.  It is a lot of gentle uphill to the lakes, but can be taxing in the high altitude for out-of-towners.  But there are waterfalls, wildflowers, and open walks in the basin of the Three Sisters.

   

    

• South Sister: ~30 miles out of town.  Are you crazy?  Do you want to just go big or go home?  Take the trail up to the top of South Sister then.  Only 4500 ft elevation gain in 6 miles.  You can brag to your friends and family when you go back home.

 

• The Lakes.  It's called Cascade Lake highway for a reason.  There are a handful of lakes to explore right outside of Bend.  Elk Lake has kayak/canoe rentals and is warm enough to swim in.  Sparks Lake is just about as scenic as it gets.  

 

• Crater Lake:  Ok, I get it.  You want to go big.  It's 90 miles out of town.  But if you are here for a few days, why not, right?

Ok, that's a lot for one post.  Start your planning.  And see you soon!

Time for Reflections

I’ll admit that I had a breakdown last week.  I realize I’m no wedding planner.  Besides freaking out to several of my co-workers  (sorry about that), I woke up in a sweat last week, heart racing, because the wedding was 7 weeks away and I didn’t have (1) a ceremony venue, (2) a dress that fit, (3) shoes, or (4) vows.  My list seems to get longer rather than shorter and in case I hadn’t mentioned, we don’t have a place to get married yet!!

These kinds of things are not really my thing.  I like organization and this mass cluster gives me heartburn.  So Rob and I decided to go camping this weekend in the Ochoco’s just to enjoy the warm weather, get a good hike in, and forget about wedding planning (which one of us did successfully).  But when I came back I made myself a do-able list of tasks for the week: ceremony and vows being at the top of the list.  Rob and I have made the decision to personalize/write our ceremony and write our own vows – sounds like a fun idea, until you sit in front of a computer staring at a blank document (or stare at a napkin, paper, wall, whatever your outlet).  Today was my first draft at vows and it has been a slap in the face, to say the least.  For the first time since our engagement, I think I finally realized what this day is about.  It’s not about the shoes (although damnit, I really wish I could find a cute pair!), picking out the right dinner (people will eat whatever we feed them, right?), having the picturesque backdrop for pictures (hello, we are having our party at a bar), or constantly trying to convince my mother that the ceremony is about me! 

I realized that I am going to be someone’s wife in 46 days.  And I am going to be that wife for the rest of my life.  Mulling over the right things to say made me sit and think, why am I doing this?  What does it mean to me?  And how do I possibly express that in 150 words or less?  The whole term “wedding” has made me lose sight of the “marriage” part.  The whole lifetime commitment thing, that promise to love, to hold, to cherish, etc.  One thing I am sure of: I am too lucky to have snagged this guy, so I better make it good. 

In closing, here are some fun pictures of our weekend in the mountains.  Nothing like a little mountain air and heat stroke to bring you back to reality. :)

Look at this spot we found!  

We hit it right at sunset and the wild grass was amazing and green. 

Did I mention we got a new truck?

Our little home away from home.

I had a little practice with the self-timer on my camera, bear with me.

Toyota ad?

On our hike up the mountain the next day.  Hot and humid.

A rarity in west Oregon: green grass!

And wildflowers!

How did this picture get in here?

On top of the Ochoco's.  With black socks.

Check out that booty!

All reflections aside, we were excited to get back into town for burgers.

One Last Wedding Post (Not Really)

Happy June all!

Much to Rob's disdain, I have done a wedding registry.  We have had enough people ask that it seems to make sense now.  Being in our 30s (ugh), it's hard to ask for gifts and we do not want people to feel obligated to bring anything besides some chapstick (it's dry here).  But as my mother pointed out, we also don't want to end up with 5 blenders and a shoe horn.

So please use this site as a guide only -- not a rule, expectation, or order.  Otherwise, buy a plane ticket, get your butt out here, and enjoy your vacation in our home!

www.myregistry.com   ---> Search for myself (Jessica Yankovich) or Rob Hall.

[It's funny how fast a registry can get in your head.  Sure I'd like a blender, but 20 minutes later, I swear I was adding things like chicken twine for $0.99.  After excessive eye rolling and dramatic sighs, I removed such silly things like coffee filters and laundry detergent.  I guess I figured a registry was like your grocery list... we're out of bar soap, I can just ask for that right?  Rob hates the registry.]

That's all I have for today.  Hopefully I can post more updates on our recent adventures soon (like Memorial Day weekend with the honkies, our new truck, Rob's first experience installing a fan ~enthralling~, and why I almost killed a deer with my shoe).

I hope the suspense doesn't keep you up at night!

Jessica

Beer and Books (preferably not at the same time)

It's another month!  Only 2 more until the big day!

Instead of an update on us, how about a quick rundown on beers and books for the month?  I have been on a fitness challenge at work and don't want to bore you with what we've been eating, it makes me sad to think about it.  Only 4 more days then I get to go back to "normal" food.  Ok, we eat pretty healthy anyway... but you know... booze.

(I apologize for those who don't drink, this blog may not be for you.)

Did you know that Bend has the most craft breweries per capita, with one brewery for every 9,000 people?  Last we counted, there were 14, but this place says we have 18: BeerMeBend 

In a town where beer is king, "beervana" if you will, you can't turn around without seeing a beerfest, brewski party, brewery grand opening, or growler fill station.  For some of us (me), the hoppy IPAs are hard to swallow (literally) and the high alcohol content makes for some regretful hangovers.  (10 Barrel's Hop Junkie packs in 8.5% ABV, that's over twice compared to Oklahoma beer!)  So that is why I ask Rob to tell you the best beer in town.  A amateur brewer, himself, he knows good beer.

I don't know that I would consider myself an expert on the matter and taps are always rotating, but here are some staples for the area:

• IPA:  Boneyard's RPM IPA.
• Bitter:  Deschutes Bachelor's Bitter.
• Pale:  Deschutes Red Chair. 
• Pilsner:  Silvermoon's Bridge Creek Pils.
• Stout:  Deschutes Obsidian Stout.
• Porter:  Cascade Lake's Monkey Face Porter. 
• Red:  Boneyard's Diablo Rojo.
• Brown:  Cascade Lake's 20" Brown.
• Cold:  Pabst's Blue Ribbon (PBR).    

And don't hesitate to ask for a sample before making a selection, the breweries usually have a range of beers to fit every palate.

Me again. If you want my two cents, here are my favorites spots for a drink:

• Cascade Lakes Brewery:  Being right on the outskirts of town, it's often less traveled, has a great lodge-y feel, pool tables, dart boards, and awesome Mediterranean platter.  They have 1/2-off appetizers during happy hours - the best and only time to go.
• 10 Barrel Brewing: Hello Raspberry Crush.  My favorite beer in town.  It's a seasonal beer, so not always on tap.  The westside location is super hip, so it's hard to get a table.  If you do happen to hold out for table (and are sober enough to make good decisions), order the pizzas, definitely worth the wait.  
• Broken Top Bottle Shop: Not a brewery, but carries rotating local Bend, Oregon, California, and Colorado beers.  It's off the beaten path, right down the street from our house (I think I've talked about this place before, for real, I love this place).  If you don't find what you want on tap, pick out something from their wall-to-wall fridge.  And you can't go wrong with anything on the menu.   (Yeah, I took a picture of their sign.)

• Deschutes Brewery: A classic.  The Bend original.  Their success allows them to have a massive restaurant, second brewery (for tours and tastings), and an expansive menu.  The burgers are pretty awesome (fancy, but awesome).  It's kind of the tourist trap, but a great place to stop if you're downtown.

And for those who would rather drown their sorrows away in the privacy of their own home, growler fill stations are the new fad here.  Every corner gas station, meat market, grocery store, car wash station, you name it, has a growler fill station these days.  Good luck finding Miller Lite though, the only place that is available is probably Safeway.

Lastly, I might add that I'm not a beer drinker.  Surprised?  I prefer wine.  Coming from the valley where Pinot Noir is king, it's hard to make the transition.  So if you make it over the mountains, check out Lumos, Benton Lane, and Eola Hills.  Grab a bottle (or case) of 2008/2009 Pinot Noir and ship me back a bottle for the advice. :)

Book Time (Don't Drink and Read):

My reviews for the months --
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri: 3/5 stars
Synopsis: Immigrant family from India moves to U.S. and the next generation kids, all-American, clash with their traditional Indian parents.
Review: What to say about it?  It's a story.  I feel like I've read this story already in other books, but it was easy to read, so I can't complain.  I just didn't walk away with that feeling that I like, that "wow, good book" feeling.  It was a predictable, well-rounded story, that just hits the surface of what it could have been.

Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood: 4/5 stars
Synopsis: Based on the true story of the Grace Marks murder mystery in the 1800s.  A young, pretty maid convicted for the murder of her boss and mistress.  It's told through the eyes of Grace while in prison.
Review: I have a healthy obsession with Margaret Atwood.  I have read several of her books, always on the hunt for something as good as The Handmaid's Tale or The Blind Assassin.  This one doesn't measure up to those books but still a good read.  It's definitely an Atwood book, broken up by random thoughts, various story lines, and actual news clippings.  Suspenseful enough to make you want to keep going.

The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera: 3/5 stars
Synopsis: Ponderings of the lives of one man and his mistresses.  Philosophical meanderings of the concept of weight/lightness in terms of life.
Review: I thought it tried to be too much, some thoughts were well-intentional and meaningful.  The rest seemed like some nice old man trying to puncture an otherwise mediocre story with philosophy in order to add depth.  The story itself was interesting -- I guess I just was thinking there would be more to this highly rated book.

I read a lot this month and just started Kafka on the Shore and am loving it so far.  What are you guys reading and what should I read next??

A Little Wedding Update

Wow, I can't believe it's already mid-May.  We have had unusually warm and dry spring here in Bend, which is great for motivation.  I love getting out and playing in our garden, running the trails, and reading on our porch.  Although, come late summer, we are going to be in a drought with forest fires.

So we will all be keeping our fingers crossed that come August 3rd, we aren't where we were last summer:

Poor Ma and Ron visited right in the middle of forest fire season last summer and we had to retreat indoors in the afternoon to breath fresh air (also difficult when houses in Bend don't have A/C - you read that right).

That darn climate change.

On a related note:  I'm getting married in 85 days!  As some lucky ones may have noticed, our wedding invitation says "Jessica & Rob are getting married in a private ceremony".  Many have asked what that means.  It means:

• The invitation at 5pm at McMenamin's is for the reception only (i.e., eating, drinking, dancing, laughing, no ceremony)
• At the time of sending out the invite, our ceremony plans had been undecided but we wanted to get out invites ASAP (I'm not a believer in Save the Dates).
• We originally wanted to elope then celebrate with friends/family later.
• We thought that the ceremony was the least exciting, more obligatory part of weddings.  We didn't realize how many people would want to be part of this event.

But after careful consideration, we decided what we want to say is this:

• Jessica & Rob are getting married in a small ceremony at Sparks Lake, 2:30pm, August 3rd.
• Any and all are invited! 
• If you will be uncomfortable outdoors in mid-afternoon in National Forest (i.e., no bathroom, limited parking, direct sunlight), or really don't want to drive 30 min out of town when you could be playing in Bend, please make the decision to join us at 5pm.  I promise we will understand.
• If you would like to witness the ceremony among our close friends and family, please feel welcome!  The scenery should be amazing and the ceremony short and sweet.  

We are still in the works of figuring out how to get limited chairs and maybe even a bus (!) for transportation out to the lake for the afternoon.  So stay tuned on the details.  

Google "Sparks Lake Bend Oregon" and think about it.  The drive out there would be worth your trip to Bend.  I mean, can you beat this view??  

If you have any questions, please email me!  Whether you want to know if walking would be involved, what you should wear, what I'm wearing, if you can bring booze (actually, you can), if you can bring your dog (only if he doesn't bark), or want to tell us how excited you are, please do so!  

jyankovich82@gmail.com

P.S.  Happy Mother's Day Ma!!  I don't know how I'd be putting this all together if you weren't there telling me how it should be.

Memory Lane

Hey did you know that Rob and I are getting married?  Ha.  I didn't want to be that girl.  You know.  That girl who can only talk about herself... about her kids, her cat, her wedding.  Hello.  Look at me!

But you are the one reading the blog, not me.  So look at me!

So like I mentioned above, Rob and I are getting married.  These are the invitations:

Look at those two love birds!  I love old pictures and have been sorting through my collections of Rob/Jessica pictures for wedding ideas. Come back in time with me:

2008: When we first starting dating, we kept it a secret from our friends.  

Come on, isn't it obvious?

My first, and disappointing, trip to the Alamo.  I really had no idea it would be so small.

New Years Eve 2009!

Summers in Austin.  I can still feel that thick heat.  

Did you know that I used to keep a towel in my car so I could keep it under my shirt when driving around?  You know, to avoid sweat stains. 

2009: Arriving in Ireland.  I still remember those weird guys on the bus.  You can see the tights in the background.

Driving in Ireland.  Notice anything weird?

Jason/Rob/my mouth.

July in Austin.  Town Lake on the 4th.  

What I remember most about Texas: Sunburns and cheap beer.

Date night!  I remember this night after a memorable weekend in Houston.  

Kirk would know what I'm talking about.

Rob's tiny apartment in Austin.  Again, I can still feel the muggy hot of July.  

All dressed up.

Colorado 2009

Lake Powell 2009:

Grand Canyon 2009:

California 2009:

2009 is as far as I could make it today. 

 This stage seems to be distinct - Stage 1, if you will: pre-Oregon years.  The pre-commitment, pre-obligation, pre-long distance stage.  We had no idea what was next... kind of exciting, kind of scary.  

All these Texas pictures are making me hot.  I'm going to go have a shower and a Miller Lite now.