Aug 8, 2010

rippkes relocated

Well, we made it! The Rippkes are now Nashvillians. The summer has flown by in a blur of packing, moving, Iowa, family, working, packing, moving, Tennesee, unpacking, starting a business, working, repeat. Actually, only repeat the work part. We're finally settled, unpacked, and finding Nashville to be a very easy place to call home.

We tried to spend as much of our last couple of weeks in Corpus with the wonderful family we gained while there. Saying goodbye to our friends, jobs, and church was so bittersweet. We knew that it was time for us to move on and start something new, but we were so so so blessed in Corpus that it would've been easy to stay comfortable exactly the way things were. It was time for change though. Time to get closer to home, time to venture to a new city, time to set some new goals, time for Rippke Design! But we'll get to that in a bit...

After wrapping things up in Corpus, we spent two days on the road headed towards Iowa. We hadn't seen our families much over the last three years, and decided that since we weren't in any rush we'd head home for a bit to join in some of the summer festivities. We started out with my little brother's high school graduation...and we didn't really stop there. My sister, grandpa, and close family friend all celebrated birthdays in the first couple weeks of us being back. Fortunately we got to see some of the good friends we hadn't seen since before we left for Texas three years ago. Some even longer. I got to spend some time with my "best friend since I was five" and her two little boys. Who are, by the way, the coolest kids ever. I also got to catch up with my best friend since middle school, and even some old teachers. It always amazes me where everyone ends up after all this time.

Oh, and Nate and I celebrated our four year anniversary this past June. Four years! Crazy.

We spent the beginning of July out at the family farm, and up in the twin cities. Nate had a show with the Sons of the Republic up in St. Paul...something that hadn't happened in over three years, but definitely needs to be a more regular occurrence. We always have a great time with the guys. And who doesn't love the twin cities?

Out at the farm my dad taught me to drive the '64 John Deer. So, I'm basically ready to be a farmer. Ok maybe not, but I didn't crash it, stall it, or run it off any roads, so I think that counts for something right? We hadn't seen Iowa NOT covered in snow in three years...it's lovely. I highly recommend taking a trip to Iowa if you've never been. But go during spring or something, not during winter. Unless that's your thing.

Unlike our move to Corpus, we had help this time. Awesome help. My mom, grandma, and papa loaded up the minivan and followed our Penske South! We spent a few days unloading, unwrapping, washing, organizing, shopping, and eating. Lots of yummy eating. Nashville has pretty much anything you could possibly need. Or want. Which has proven to be a weakness for Nate and I. You'd think living just a few miles from Dave Ramsey's radio studio would be a constant reminder to buckle down. But there are shows, and farmer's markets, and shopping, and tons of food, and and and...well, like I said, weakness. But we're getting better. The ridiculous heat has kept us inside for most of the time since we've been here. Which is probably helping.

Now, back to the business part of our time here! Part of the reason we decided to relocate was to expand our wedding invitation business, Izzy and the Bean Design, and to venture out as freelancers/form our own graphic and web design firm, Rippke Design.

And we are thrilled.

Thrilled to be working together. Thrilled to be working in this city. Thrilled for what's ahead! We recently launched our new site, and are busy at work refining our goals for Rippke Design. Our third weekend here was spent attending our first Nashville bridal show. It was a great way to meet local couples, and introduce ourselves to several of the other wedding vendors from the area.

We're finding that we like it here. Our friends, the Thackers, are helping us get adjusted, and we've had some luck finding a church to call home. Once it cools off a bit I suspect our neighbors will be out and about more. And hopefully, now that we're closer to Iowa, we'll be around more often and miss out on less.

And maybe have a few more visitors? Hmm? Yes, yes you should come visit. Now then, pictures, lots of pictures. This is what happens when you don't keep up on this sort of thing...


Our last weekend in Corpus.


Our last day in Corpus. Lunch with the City Church crew.

My Corpus lady friends. :)

We miss these guys.

Saying farewell to the City Church family.



Our Corpus scrapbook. Thanks Mendy! :)



Packed up and leaving Corpus.

Heading to Iowa!

Iowa.

Breakfast at the Grove Cafe - Ames, Iowa

One mighty big pancake. Grove Cafe.

My bestest friend since I was five. And her cuuuuuuute lil boys.


Lil bro's graduation day.



Gpa and Gma Drapal.

Our anniversary.

Sons of the Republic at the Turf Club.

Yep, I married a rock star.

Sons getting some post show fried goodness at Mickey's Diner.

Dad teaching me how to drive the John Deer.


Swinging out at the farm with papa and my sis.

Dad, sis, and me on the tractor.

All the kiddos.


Nate's parents, Nate, my mom, Cathy, Anne, and Grace. Enjoying the evening out at the farm.

Visiting the Dass family in Sioux City, Iowa.

Heading to Tennessee! Izzy and Bean on the drive down. They sleep the WHOLE way. Which is fantastic.

Heading into downtown Nashville.

My new Waffle House mug. Thanks Nate. :)

Hanging out downtown Franklin, the suburb we live in.

Took our first trip to Grimey's.


Izzy loves our new home in Franklin.

So does Bean. Laziest.

Took a trip to the Yazoo brewery here in town. That's some mighty fine pale ale in that growler.

Nate setting up at the wedding fair!

Apr 11, 2010

aaaaaaaand we're outta here

Don't worry, we're not leaving the internet (that'd be the day)...but we are leaving Texas. Yep, the Rippkes are on the move! We've loved our time in Corpus, and are going to miss everyone like crazy (seriously, I'm already stressing about it a bit), but it's time for us to move a little closer to home and test out the waters of being full-time freelance graphic designers.

Where are you going you ask? Well, we're heading back home to Iowa for a bit this spring to spend time with family and friends (wooo!) before heading to Nashville to start the next chapter. We've decided on Nashville for several reasons. It gets us about 10 hours closer to home which will be a wonderful change. It's also a larger city, and somewhere we could see ourselves setting up design shop, and possibly settling long term.

So, we're five weeks out as of tomorrow. Time is going by so quickly already. I know we need to to start putting to do lists together, sorting through all of our stuff (hopefully minimizing it), and maybe start putting some solid plans together...but we're having way more fun hanging out with people and pretending like they're coming along with us (but seriously, you are right?).

We'll be sad to say goodbye to good friends, our loving church family, and our wonderful jobs. But, while we know there is a lot of change coming up, we're excited and hopeful for it all...plus, we can keep in touch on Facebook right? Thank goodness for the internet...

Apr 5, 2010

aaaaaaaand we're back

Take a trip with me if you will....back to, oh, say winter. You know, that time of year about four months ago, when it was chilly, when there was snow on the ground up North...when I was actually updating this thing. Yeah, sorry. I'm back now though (thanks to a reminder from my dear friend Emily). We've been a tad bit busy, and exciting things are happening in our little family.

Let's start back in January...

Well, I took my first trip to South Padre and the Mexican/Texas border. Nate had already been last year with his grandma, but it was a new adventure for me. Karina and her family (some seriously fabulous people by the way) invited us down to the valley to celebrate her birthday. They've been in South Texas for years and years, and are no strangers to the border city of Nuevo Progreso, so I was thankful for their guidance throughout the city...let's just say it's a little out of my comfort zone. The party never stops with the Paris clan though. And I can't complain. We continued the party the following weekend here in Corpus. Here are some of the pictures...

As always we were welcomed with a hug, a cold beverage, and enough delicious homemade food for an army.

Nate getting ready to head out for the day.

Fun with tourist photo spots. :)

Mmmm wanna wannas in South Padre.

South Padre Island.

Barbara, Chase, and Karina enjoying the view.

Ed and Nate.

Driving into Mexico.

Nuevo Progreso, MX.

A visor with built in hair...classic.

Totally should have bought this.

Big hats.

Tiny hats.

Snackin' on the street.


Apparently they were yummy. Nate is braver than I...

So was Chase.



Karina and Consuelo.

A dinner of red fish and flounder.

Back in the states...


in time for some jello poke cake. yuuuuum!

Karina and her parents during bday weekend two - Corpus Christi

The boys. Nate and Cory.

Soon to be married, Taylor and Kayci. Our newest Corpus friends. :)


Mmmm. Jello poke cake and coconut strawberry cake.

Brenda (Chase's mom), Shannon, and Cory.

And us. :) I look super short.


FEBRUARY
Alright, so now, February. The man of the house turned 29 this year. Yep, that's right, Nate's almost 30. Get ready for a major party in about 11 months. It also happened to be Super Bowl weekend, so we had a joint party over at Kayci and Taylor's new place.

Karina spoiled Nate with homemade cheesecake and bailey's. :) Mmm.

And looooads of topping options for the cheesecake.

Chase and Karina lookin cute.


Cory and Shannon celebrating with us.

Towards the end of February we celebrated Nate and his coworker's design achievements at the ADDY awards. Spending time with the Kailo crew is always a fun time...especially when there's a photo booth and 80's props involved.

See...




Um, awesome.

February also had some cute and lazy pup pup moments. Just in case you thought you might get a post on here without a dachshund photo...

Beanie Ween. She put herself like this by the way.

The snuggliest.


MARCH
Almost caught up. Moving on.
We made a trip up to San Antonio at the beginning of the month to see Dave Ramsey. Needless to say, it was pretty awesome. Even in our nosebleed seats (that's what happens when you're late, whops).

Dave Ramsey Live

The borrower is slave to the lender...it's right there in Proverbs.

The event got us inspired and when we were offered a painting job we jumped all over it. :)


During their spring break my family took a trip to San Diego. My sister sent me this picture of my dad, and I am still laughing...



The weekend before Easter City Church hosted an Easter festival in the park behind the church. The weather was perfect, and we had a great turn out. We are very blessed to have such a wonderful church family. They've been an awesome support system, and our family away from home.

Angi and Valor. :)

Nate and Pastor Dave.


The kiddos hunting for eggs.

Ah, water balloons.


And music by the fabulous Steven Hansen


The following day our good friends invited us out to Kingsville for the air show...being a jet pilot might be a tad more adventurous than being a graphic designer...


Nate looking sharp.



The trainer jet

Blue Angels 5 and 6





My first air show. :)