Notes from Home (plus giveaway winners!!)

I went back home for a few days this weekend, home to the parent's house that is!

Portland and this house we bought most definitely feel like "home" now, but my parents still live in the house I was born and raised in, on the outskirts of Reno at the foot of the mountains. They've been there 39 years and counting! And I was there with them for 18. And when I go back to that house, it still feels like "home", too!

I realize that it's kind of a rare luxury to be able to visit where you came from, even go through the stuff in your old room, so I was grateful to have the chance to do just that this weekend!

Here are some things I found, some sights I saw and some goodies I brought back to Portlandhome with me. 

***If you're looking for the giveaway winners, they're announced at the end! :)

{school pics of me from 2nd-5th grade. Mom picked out the outfits and did my hair! And those aren't vests folks, much worse- they're half-vests sewn on the front of dresses! Apparently I liked that.}

{this is Scotty, my parents bought it new in 1976 and it's still kickin. It's what I drove in high school and for a couple years of college.}

{on a walk with mom around the neighborhood- that mountain is called Mt. Rose, and that there water's a crick!}

{brought a piece of the forest back with me : and these little guys, who remind me of my mom and my Swedish/Norweigan heritage}

{a cool astrology kit that helps you create your own birth charts, I used to geek out on it : and my favorite ever astrology book that I've been wondering where it was! Happy to have it again.}

{my old diary from junior high- it is super hilarious to read now : and a creepy funny dot-matrix (?) must've-been-super-cool-technology-at-the-time t-shirt from Sea World when I was 6ish. Mommy's Girl! Man oh man. Yes, I'm an only child.}

{some of mom's old jewelry that I couldn't resist : some of my old jewelry! A perfume bottle, a sachel with crystals & arrowheads from the desert, and an alligator necklace from a trip to South America that I went on with my friend Megan's family at 14}

{and an old bathing suit from high school! That by some miraculous occurence is not only cute still, but still fits! And I've been wanting a one-piece again... perrrfect... }

So, as you can see, I've always been a hippie. Except on school picture day!

Did you grow up in one home when you were a kid? Or move around a bunch? When's the last time you saw your childhood home?

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in other news, do-do-do-dooo! (trumpet noise :) The two big WINNERS of my 6th Blogaversary GIVEAWAY are ....

#21, a mysterious lady "H" and #28, Esther Stanford! You'll both be receiving emails from me later this evening! Congratulations!

And thanks so much to everyone who entered! You'll ALL be receiving a special email from me tomorrow as a thank you, so keep your eyes peeled :)

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Comments

[esther // paragraph cove]

I'm so psyched! Thanks, Jena!

[dizzle]

wow, where your parents live looks gorgeous. my dad still lives in the house i grew up in and it's only 15 minutes away from me so i go there a lot. it is fun going through old stuff!

[Miss Modish]

Yay, I'm excited too!

[Miss Modish]

It does have its gorgeousness! I ached for some green after growing up there tho. That's so cool you get to go to your old house anytime! :)

[Hannah]

I have to know what movie your mom took you to that was excellent in your journal pic?!?!?! Please say you remember!

I miss pretend vests. :(
thanks for sharing these!
Hannah

[Melissa Crowe]

I have that astrology book!

[Miss Modish]

I just looked it up and I can't even say, it's too dumb!! Oh man, 13 year old me was easily impressed. (ok, it was Twister. "Excellent?" Really? I was probably quoting my mom on that one.)

[Miss Modish]

Oh I love it! :)

[Casa e Cose]

What beautifull landscapes...America does have that. Stunning. Want to go back!

[Julia @ The Spotted Sparrow]

You are not alone! I too was a fan of the mock vest and those sweaters with the fake bits of shirt at the bottom. *cringe*

[Meli (Blush + Jelly)]

I always love going back home - brings back good memories and I always find some super awkward teenager pictures of myself that make me laugh.

[drsmoothdeath]

Nice Sweetie! You're lucky you can go back through your old room! Great finds!!

[Blenda Tyvoll]

Whoa! That was a fun blog post to read!
There is nothing more wonderful than digging up those old treasures from the past. My mum too saved a lot of little childhood memories like old art projects from the first grade. So sweet!

[Miss Modish]

ah, where are you from? I want to go to there! (I'm sure, I want to go everywhere :)

[Miss Modish]

haha, yes! I had those fake bottom sweater things too. eww. Also, dickies! Did you wear those? Mock turtlenecks things which I wore under SWEATSHIRTS! Man, mom.

[Miss Modish]

haha, teenage pics, and journaled thoughts, are the worst!

[Miss Modish]

;) <3

[Miss Modish]

Thanks Blenda!! And aw, that's so cute she saved your art projects and stuff! Good mama :)

[Hazel]

Hee, hello from the mysterious H, aka Hazel. I just wanted to say thank you again for my prizes! It's very exciting :D

Love the vikings, by the way! I have a Norweigian heritage too (I'm either an eighth or a sixteenth Norwegian...I can never quite work out the maths on that) and I remember loving the adorable/ugly trolls my relatives brought over for me to see.

[Jo]

That picture of the landscape with the fence and mountains in the background is so so beautiful. takes me right there, its awesome.

[Connie]

I love seeing these tidbits of home! That's my favorite part of going home. I go through all my boxes everytime and remember things like it was yeseterday! I totally had a journal & notes to my friends from middle school too. We thought the strangest things were important didn't we? I don't even want to look at old photos! Probably side pony tail & all.