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new year's eve.
the h and i have been in all day. woke up, made breakfast, and i reorganized the kitchen. grin.
saturday night live marathon on comedy central.
ordering chair pads for tulip arm chairs in this pattern:
aside from the regular goings on, i've been thinking lately. caught in my past, yet learning from it. thankful, so very grateful for where i am now. 2010 has been a year of wonder for me. i got married! i am pregnant! this year was like throwing my head back and laughing into the wind. pure magic. and exceptional experiences. life is sweet.
i only wish for 2011 to be just as full of wonder.
it's the day before my birthday!
so weird. i'm home. alone. the h is in pittsburgh for work. tomorrow i'm off to msp. alone. i hope that the weather goes easy on me. going home. for real.
kind of a bummer that the h is stuck in pa, but i'm determined to have a happy day anyway. grin.
hope you and yours have a wonderful day! xoxo
a letter to my sister-in-law from 9.13.2010:
hi dollface!
we are going for sure. i'm exhausted and feel like crap but we're going. :)
i'm feeling terrible! i know i should feel all blissed out and glowing, but honestly i've had 24/7 morning sickness for the past 5 weeks, and i am sooooo sick of feeling horrible. i found out at about 5 weeks because i was coming home from work and going to bed at 8p. i didn't know why i was so exhausted, and it was about a week before my period was due. h was out of town for work, so i picked up a pregnancy test just to rule it out. it turned positive so fast i almost passed out!! i tried another test in the morning, same thing. eep!! so i told him it might be some kind of fluke/false-positive and i would try again a week later. so a week later i did it again and made him look and he wouldn't tell me what it was (i guess that was our special, stupid way!). so i looked and again, it said "YES" and i almost peed myself again. we weren't exactly trying, we were not not trying, you know? anyway, sheesh. so fast! who knew? i was convinced it would take us two old biddies a while to get it right.
and hell yes, we're going to find out the sex of the baby. you know me. i gotta plan my whole life around this now. :) we won't find out until about 20 weeks, which drives me crazy because i'm only halfway there.
i don't think we're going to move back anytime soon, but i'm hoping my kid won't have to go to school here. :)
but we're excited. i'm just too sick to be too happy about it right now. i bought ginger tea, ginger candy, ginger gum, ginger saltine crackers (those kind of help), ginger cookies, and those dried fruits that always used to make me feel better. but nothing really helps that much and i can barely eat anything but cheerios and fruit. so sad. :( i'm not that hungry either - just nauseous and exhausted. so you can imagine how i feel at work all day. :) bathrooms make me gag on sight. a fruit and yogurt parfait i had from starbucks was the best thing i've ever had a couple of weeks ago. i also flipped out over a bagel with marmalade. i gag/dry-heave all day long. a friend of ours just got married (i mean JUST like three weeks ago) and they are pregnant as well, and i brought over some ginger crackers and candy and she was like "i was sick for like two days in the morning but then nothing since then" and i wanted to punch her and take those ginger crackers back.
i also can't eat and drink in the same meal sitting. it's super annoying. but my stomach gets really upset. i can't stand the taste of plain water, so i have to put lemon, strawberries, or something in it. the fruit water drinks don't help because they taste too syrupy and sweet. i can't eat too much otherwise my stomach gets upset. i can't eat too little because then i'll get even more nauseous and heave more. i can't stay up too late because i'll start feeling SUPER sick and dry-heave my way to sleep (i worked 14 hours last thursday on a business trip and i thought i was going to die i felt so horrible). it's like having the stomach flu for a month.
i make it sound so FABULOUS, don't i? although at our confirmation appointment i got to see the baby's heartbeat and i cried. that was cute i guess.
other than that, no picnic for me even though everyone tells me how worth it everything is. i'm having a hard time right now!! :)
that's probably way more info than you wanted to know, but stay tuned, i'm sure i'll have better updates for you. :)
xxoooxoxoxo can't wait to see you!
sophie
p.s. i could also cry like every other day if i let myself. i feel like i'm constantly on the verge of a breakdown. glamorous.
i had a great morning that turned into a funk.
argh. i can't tell if i'm just crabby or if i'm unhappy or what. i'm just a little blue i guess.
perhaps i'm in a rut. it's still in the 60s here so i should be able to rock out whenever i want, except one of the things i majorly dislike about the holiday season is the swarms of people at the shops. seriously! last week the h and i were supposed to meet for dinner after a quick bon voyage hh and the instant i turned into the parking lot i knew it was never going to happen. i get panicky and anxious and claustrophobic. and, er, grumpy.
so i guess i feel kind of trapped. in my own home. of my own doing i suppose.
as someone who loves to shop online, have gifts shipped home, wrapped, and shipped to the mother land, i feel wonderful. as someone who likes to window shop occasionally and actually try things on once in a while, i feel completely ripped off.
except look at the deliciousness i managed to snag online (30% off!):
oh please oh please let them fit my prego body. with the loose, baggy trends these days i'm still able to fit into my regular size, with some adjustment layering pieces. joy!
so i'm not entirely sure this works yet, but i'm crossing my fingers:
trust me. the skin is doing weird things. itching. stretching. dry spots. um, i can see INSIDE the belly button. and i have a super innie. hair is growing. i'm lovin' mama mio's tummy rub oil but it gets everywhere, so i put it on after my shower before i step out (slippery!). the rich cream is wonderful. super rich but super absorbent. and the packaging - when i received my congratulations box i almost started crying (note: set doesn't help with emotion-inducing hormone fluctuations).
today i bought this dress (i'm avoiding maternity clothes).
delicious. as i feel more and more like my body doesn't belong to me (and indeed it no longer does), the more i want cover it with pretty things.
um, i know.
it's been a while.
and i promise i didn't mean to do it. just kind of happened.
quick updates before i resume regular posting:
1. we are pregnant! yes. it was planned. yes. i didn't want to say anything for at least three months. yes. it's been five.
2. we were robbed (quote from flight on the way home from msp: "we really should get a safe or something for all my jewelry.")
3. we went to costa rica for a honey/baby-moon!
okay. that's it. thanks for staying with me.
star-gazing in our backyard tonight.
the meteor shower? amazing.
i know, i'm a super nerd. but i like it. the night sky is mesmerizing. and makes you feel very, very small. in a good way.
the clouds finally parted.
just returned from a friend's birthday celebration in reno/lake tahoe. ah-may-zing. silver legacy hotel. brew brothers. lake tahoe boat cruise. bbq dinner. wine. fabulous!
but what i'm really excited about?
the dining table i found. and picking up tonight! i've been coveting this table for years. when i was finally ready to buy a dining table (that would seat more than two people), i found out it was discontinued. boo. i started my search for another table i could adore ( know, right? who adores a dining table?!)
i saw it on craigslist earlier this year. i lost out because i didn't want to pay $250 for it and 10 chairs (so, so stupid). it came up again. i sent a note too late and it was already sold. but, third time's the charm! saw it, sent a note, and getting it! the best part is the price she wanted. under one hundred dollars! not to mention that the table has rarely been used and is boxed up from her recent move. perfection!
i want. i need. i bought. i can't wait!
i have been down lately. not sure if it's hormones or workload or lack of exercise or what.
but it's true.
the husband said to me last night, "you've been a glass half empty person lately, and it doesn't seem like you."
and i know it.
i just can't seem to pull myself out of it. i've been turning to retail therapy. friend therapy. busywork.
the plus side is that this weekend i wrote out all our remaining wedding thank yous, filed all my paperwork, picked up everything i need to finish some birthday favors, reconciled my receipts, and made iced tea. mm!
the downer is that i'm still not me.
hoping that the dark cloud above me passes soon.
so....i....
bucked my natural tendencies and bought a toaster yesterday.
um, it's not steel. or white.
it's...
and it's delicious. like, truly, amazing. and gorgeous. and totally clashes with our red laminate cabinets.
SO FABULOUS.
the husband and i escaped the heat this weekend.
we drove up to flagstaff by way of sedona.
gorgeous. the red rocks of sedona are truly a sight for sore, tired eyes.
we stopped at the cowboy club for lunch. i tried cactus fries. nopalitas cactus. breaded and deep-fried. it didn't help. tasted like soggy green beans cooked in too much vinegar. sigh. i'm glad i tried 'em.
we arrived in flagstaff. the difference in degrees was amazing. brilliant.
for dinner, tinderbox kitchen. jalapeno mac-n-cheese, duck leg confit, garlic crumbs, truffle oil. red wine. delish!
we tried to spot the moon at the lowell observatory (read: i am a night sky freak). cloudy night + sliver of waxing moon = no telescope viewing for sophie. sad. but we did get passes to come up again. and trust me, we will.
it just keeps getting hotter!
i miss having a journal.
this fourth of july we were in boston. with family. and it was so lovely.
i am really, truly blessed with a fantastic family and people who love me.
sigh. and massachusetts, even the 'burbs, is gorgeous.
our family dinner reception was a full traditional happy chinese family meal. huge family-style portions, lucky noodles, double happiness, and a tea ceremony.
i know sometimes i complain about my family and all the drama. cousins that never rsvp or send xmas gifts (even during our cousin exchange). uncles that borrow money. aunts who babysit for their grandchildren in lieu of nannies. they can be very, um, new england-like. very country club, we don't tan in the sun, we have summer homes in maine, like. not that there's anything wrong with that. i quite like it, actually. it's just that, well, as a family of five marooned in minnesota, we grew up having our own fun. and our tight-knit family is exactly what i like.
this weekend, however, i was very, very grateful to be surrounded by so much family. wherever they live.
it was a lovely weekend in north carolina.
i arrived early on saturday morning.
after some tea and breakfast, i took a nap.
like, hard. i woke up in a pool of drool (lovely) and feeling like my eyes were crusted together. nahsty.
we took what should have been an hour drive (with my navigation skills and inability to focus) and turned it into a good hour and thirty-five minute tour. but we arrived at cameron village. lunch at cafe carolina (delish!) and a sauvignon blanc later, and i felt recharged.
we walked around and gabbed. it was nice to catch up.
ended the night with this movie. dumb chick flick. but there were definitely some funny moments. light-hearted. perfect.
just like the quick weekend.
i'm out this weekend.
heading to spring lake, north carolina.
i take the red-eye out tomorrow evening, and i arrive in north carolina on saturday at seven in the wee hours of saturday morning. sigh. already kind of tired even though i am excited for the super short visit. i'm kind of all, what is there to do in fayetteville?
like, time magazine said it was one of the top five places in the u.s. to sell a house? and...? it's america's most pro-military town? and...?
i'm not sure what to expect, and i don't like when i'm unprepared. good heavens, what shall i wear? it's humid and in the nineties (oh perfect). my most-hated weather. escaping the heat for the humidity.
but...i think it will be a lovely weekend.
a couple of days of killing time, catching up, and hopefully some yummy eats.
that's really all i need.
the thing about minnesota is, well, you gotta grow up there to love it.
we went back this past weekend.
looking forward to an escape from the heat.
except. it went too much the other way. it was rainy. at first, that was nice because the air still smells fresh and clean. but it got gloomy. the sun does a lot for the attitude, and it was missing all weekend.
but, we stayed inside, with family and friends, where it was bright.
i miss minnesota, but sometimes the weather just lets me down.
thank goodness for family and friends. mwah.
sigh.
thank goodness the romance isn't dead.
we are going here for date night.
giddy.
sidebar:
yesterday, when we landed in phoenix, we went to a favorite dinner spot for a quick bite. after egg rolls, tom yum soup, and a curry noodle dish, the boy called a tire place to see if we could get in. when he asked about how long it would take, i heard him say, "i'm just wondering if i should have my wife pick me up later." and it was absolutely fabulous and super weird! how delightful.
we did it!
and what. a wonderful. week!
it was seriously so fantastic i want to do it all over again. to be in our favorite holiday spot and share with our family and friends. sigh. it was amazing. and worth every breakdown, every tear, and every penny.
when i thought about my wedding, all i could think about was the favors, the menus, the paper fans at the ceremony, the program, the centerpieces, my bouquet, my hair, his socks, my makeup, his cufflinks, the father/daughter dance song, the wedding cake, the shot list, the table runners, the welcome bags, the family dinner, and all the rest of the details.
i forgot to think about what my father would look like seeing sea lions up close on a boat tour of land's end, the smiles on the girls when i tried to name who brought my each pair of underwear and forced to chew a piece of gum for each fail (read: i was up to, like, ten pieces), watching my brothers during their readings, yoga with my mom and brother, hearing our event planner telling us about how few weddings touch her heart, winking at beloved friends during the ceremony, clinking margaritas, singing karaoke at miguel loco's, dirty dancing at cabo wabo, friends telling you over and over how beautiful you look, watching the husband and his friend get knocked over by a huge wave in a cove, seeing my family's sunburns, having lobster at edith's, the wave knocking over half the tables at the dinner reception, and the tears on the bf's face while i walked down the aisle.
i know now why they say that all the details don't really matter.
because they don't. the big stuff does. our family and friends. sharing our moment. absolute perfection in imperfection.
i'll never forget it.
we are blessed.
and this is our happily ever after.
we leave tomorrow!
cabo or bust! :)
i am trying not to lose it. i really want to keep it together this week. i really need this.
i went to the dentist this morning - regular cleaning but for the past three days my teeth and gums have been throbbing like holy h. no cavities. but because i have severe allergies here, i have been breathing out of my mouth while sleeping. hear? i am a mouth-breather.
so now, i can either try try try to control my allergies (it hasn't worked for 32 years, why would it work now?) or put vaseline on my gums at night (ew). yippee!
also, my mom has decided that this is the BEST time to ask me for our resort information as all of a sudden her friend's daughter also wants to plan her wedding in cabo. wtf? now?! why can't she let me have this moment?! all i ask is for. one. week.
plus, there is a last minute guest that is still UNDECIDED. listen lady, if you are undecided four days before the wedding, please don't make my life miserable by coming so that i have to freak out about place settings and placecards and upping the guest list. please. don't. attend.
argh.
today, it's simple.
i am deeply grateful.
i am remembering you tonight.
you told me you started the night we met and never stopped.
you say that to all the girls.
and i loved your words. you begged my coworker to introduce us. i received a random email introduction. i spotted you in the office one day.
you. have. a way. with words.
i do love the way you spin me so that i am surrounded by words that make me swoon. i fell in love with the things that you would tell me. say to me. write to me. and in return you were rebuffed and rejected. i soaked in the power. took baths in it. with you i felt a million feet tall. super.
and yet. i never felt that spark with you. the thing i know you're supposed to have but we didn't. i let my guard down for a moment because i loved the way you love me, not the way i liked you back.
one time you asked me to marry you. over the phone. i thought it was so lame at the time, so silly. how was i supposed to take you seriously when you couldn't even look me in the eye and ask me? you had a plan. you would drop everything and we would be together, if i would. just. give you. a chance.
i regret the way it went down. and i regret the hurt i caused. but i don't regret the decision i made. not for a moment.
what people don't tell you about planning a wedding is the unhappiness you will inevitably encounter along the way.
don't get me wrong, planning a wedding can be blissful, and fun, and surreal. and totally girlie.
all things that i love.
it can also be a major exercise in disappointment.
like it or not, there will be people who will not rsvp by the date requested, some not at all. not ever. some people will not respond to your follow-up call/email/text. people will not send in their rsvp even if a follow-up is made. even if it is specifically requested. there will be unknowns. great friends will miss your wedding. and you will unfairly place blame. and you will feel sad. and disappointment. and regret.
hey, it is an emotional time. and boy, is it an emotional ride. it's super high highs, to fantastic zen moments, to uncharacteristically low lows. it spans the spectrum of everything you can think of in feelings.
i'd like to think that it's the feelings that stay with you. the good ones. the ones where you realize that even though everything isn't working out the way you want it to, it is working out the way it supposed to be.
so you let go. and release. and give the negative energy away.
and it's may day!!
i don't even know if that's one word. grin.
it's the final month of our engagement. and i'm reflective today. it certainly has been a whirlwind of emotions. don't get me wrong. our engagement has been full high highs and extremely low lows. i thought that spinning myself a web of wedding would keep me safe. and keep me sane. by keeping the bf away.
but i forgot that the wedding is about two people. not all our guests. certainly not only about me, although the jokes about my wedding never get old. it's about the bf and me. you + me. we always said that no matter what, at the end of the day, it is just you and me. getting through it all together.
and no matter what communication breakdowns we endure, no matter what disagreements we have, no matter how many concessions and compromises we make, we will always have each other.
and that's what matters.
i'm in LOVE with these chairs:
why do they have to be so crazy expensive? i am looking for other options.
goodness! the days are just flying by.
this weekend was my time with the girls!
and it was lovely. i treated myself with a stay at this place. and it was totally worth it.
saturday
noon: the dress fitting.
afterward, a small group at salut for a late lunch.
six: the girls at beaujo's.
delightful! e did an amazing job with the decor, the champagne, and the favors. how fun! i love the little touches - i feel like they completely make the event!
kudos, my dear, kudos.
dinner was lovely; then out to king's, and closed down nye's. the girls sang chapel of love and it was ador-able. we sang and sang. i tried to take some dude's shirt off because i thought he wasn't straight and he was from california. i tried to convince him he was my bachelorette present from the girls. no-go. wink!
it was truly an unforgettable night for me. i feel lucky to have such wonderful, gorgeous friends.
mwah. you know who you are.
i feel very lucky to be with him.
there is so much love in this house.
and i have to keep reminding myself that at the end of the day,
at least we have that.
i must share this with you.
i have been looking for foo dogs for at least one and a half years now.
at first, i wanted white. i knew i didn't want the turquoise blue that everyone else had. i found red/orange ones on cb2 that i adored, but couldn't fit in our decor.
but i thought i would have to settle for them anyway. i liked them, i just didn't want to hop on the bandwagon.
and then...just a couple of weeks ago, i didn't have to.
they look pale yellow, but they're not. they are a fabulous primary yellow. perfect height.
and all for $24.99. thanks to target. somebody stop me!
i've been to san francisco for work three out of the past four weeks.
and i am exhausted.
but last night i stayed here.
and it felt a teeny, weeny bit like a holiday.
i adore this bedding:
simply gorgeous.
i know you're sick of the wedding gabber, but i thought of a FUN idea yesterday when i was perusing through etsy (it has been an absolute lifesaver).
here's the situation. our resort events manager likes to charge us. a lot. for everything. so when she quoted $50 - $150 per tablecloth (i need 12 - 14), i was all, uh-uh (waving finger back and forth), i don't think so.
i dream of black and white striped tablecloths.
but apparently no one else does.
so, i went on etsy. i am going to get plain white tablecloths (14 for $100 on ebay, thank you very much), and get table runners in these patterns:
fabulous!
she also tried to charge me $180 per centerpiece, when all i really want are peonies in a black square vase.
so, i bought 14 matte black ceramic square vases for $117 (including shipping!) and will be shipping them down.
anyway, here's the fun idea:
getting these for fun photos! :)
last week i went to sfo for a quick awards ceremony.
who knew they gave out awards for video games? (answer: darling, they give out awards for everything)
o. blink blink. i like it!
two dirty martinis at the sir francis drake boutique hotel.
um. i love it!
i also really like huge chandeliers (that's what she said).
i have a complete nerd-on for this vacuum:
is it not gorgeousness?
oh, and it will help me keep this house clean?
while looking effing fabulous?!
yes please.
so, um, the liberty of london line at target is driving me bonkers!
so many patterns. so many colors. so, so pretty.
we recently bought a second guest bed, and i wanted to buy a liberty of london quilt. overwhelming. it is so difficult to choose! does that look like...peacock feathers? floral print is beautiful but will i get bored? what color palette will work the best?
my match is: garla.
you're fashionable and classy, but with an intriguing combination of order, sophistication and letting your hair down.
and if all of this praise makes you just a titch uneasy, that's just you being garla—and charming.
take your patternality test!
so, i promised myself that i would get a massage every month leading up to the wedding.
i missed february because it whooshed by. (so insane! we moved! we had houseguests! work was a rat bastard!)
and i really wish i would have gotten one in. neglecting my need for zen. very. bad. idea. it's hard to put things in perspective when your body is tense and your mind is racing.
but, it's a new month. and it too is creeping past.
i must make an appointment. [reaching for phone...]
aaaaand the shoes...
i have been searching for the right pair of hot pink shoes and i finally found them. score.
and...check
dude.
i found my "rehearsal" dinner dress. we're not actually having a rehearsal because we will not have a wedding party, but i still wanted a family dinner the night before the big day.
at first i ordered it in an xxs. i don't know what i was thinking. dresses shouldn't hurt when you try to get them on. they definitely shouldn't stay on when you try to pull them off. a dislocated shoulder and fabric burns probably isn't a good sign.
i almost called the bf home from a business dinner to help (read: cut) me out of the dress, but inch by inch i pulled it over my head. stupid fat shoulder blades. grin. exchange!
march is going to be busy for us.
this weekend? cabo
next weekend? houseguests + housewarming
third weekend? nothing yet - thank goodness!
last weekend? bf's sister + friend staying
i'm already tired! but this month will be full of friends and family. and i like that. mwah.
whew. what a week.
tonight is our first night alone in our new house since we moved in last saturday.
that's right.
the MIL and her bf came to stay with us, starting from friday night.
here are some things i just want to get out in the open, even though i claim to be over it:
1. please don't go into an empty guest room, grab a white bath mat off the floor, and use it as a doormat
2. why would you remove the child-proof locks from the cabinets under the kitchen sink?
3. i get that you're on vacation, but please try not to rub in my face how you've gotten to try the spa and outdoor fireplace before we do
4. don't. touch. my. stuff
5. i don't expect you to do my laundry, but when you run your swimsuit in the dryer and don't ask if there is anything else we have to throw in there, i will get angry
6. go ahead. fill our fridge with your favorite foods and drink
7. park your car in the carport. it is obviously more important than mine
8. leave food on the counter. there are no bugs or varmints in arizona
9. i understand that you were thinking of us when you bought two patio chairs. i just i could have picked them out
10. i thought it was just normal courtesy to ask before mounting speaker shelves on the wall
goodness. so glad to have our home back.
we are moving today.
it's a lot of work to move. and we don't even have that much stuff! it's just hard to get everything organized enough to move. i'm one of those people that really like to box and label. purge and pack. stack and admire.
it's a beautiful thing when i have time to do it.
the bf, however, likes to do it a different way.
different in that he has no method. and that kind of drives me crazy. as you know, i am *somewhat* of a control freak.
it's going to be a long night.
so this is not my wedding dress, but i still think it is delicious.
yummy. big fan of short dresses. when you're a shrimp with hips, like me, you need to wear a dress and not have it wear you. i think this does it perfectly. so what if it costs twice as much as my actual wedding dress? it is quite the confection.
hope you had a wonderful valentine's day.
the bf and i were flying back from a family-filled weekend in minnesota.
exhausted. emotional.
upon landing, we drove to the grocery store to pick up some items for dinner. we roasted baby red potatoes and called it a meal.
just another day.
and then he gave me this:
now, if you've read my blog at all you know that the bf doesn't like to buy jewelry. moreover, he hates tiffany & co. so i know it took a lot for him to buy it. he also hates valentine's day. with a passion. he must love me a lot. grin.
happy heart. day.
what a week.
thank goodness for thursdays.
it's been a really rough couple of days for me. i don't know what is up (full moon?), but things have been very difficult. i feel sensitive. emotional. and a little bit unstable. things with the bf have been disconnected. we haven't really had a good conversation in a while. constant fighting about the wedding.
it's unreal. i'm exhausted.
i'm hoping next i will be back on track.
oh dear.
i really, really, hate our upstairs neighbors. they are so loud and disrespectful. i can't stand that even though we have called property management endless times, i've documented the times that i've heard him over a particularly anger-fueled weekend, and a proposed mediation meeting by management, they still doesn't get it.
i hate living on the ground level. two years ago when we moved in the bf and i were thinking "temporary situation." the ground floor apartment was to help in moving furniture in (read: no elevators). two years later, and life just caught up with us. stuck.
but today, today, while taking a lovely saturday afternoon nap and being woken up again by them, i was filled with rage yet again.
stupid loud walkers and bouncey dog.
argh. get me out of here!
good sunday.
a hot cup of jasmine tea.
and the ny times modern love column.
blissful. and one of my favorite ways to start the day.
so, i LOVE this top:
i want. i need. i have to have her.
we got it!
our wedding ceremony will be here.
and i am SO ecstatic about it.
[happy]
the bf made an offer to rent a home in scottsdale.
and we got it!
so...as if i didn't have enough to do, we are also moving.
here:
built in the sixties. remodeled with a modern aesthetic. three bedroom. three bath. pool + spa. what's not to love about it?
i hope we get to move in real soon.
i bought this last night:
deliciousness!
on another note, the bf picked up groceries the other night. i was nervous because i like certain foods and certain brands. i told him we needed zucchini, squash, tomatoes, special k, and...healthy choice frozen entrees (i've started to bring these to work and find that they work really well, even if nutritionally and tastefully unsatisfying. i like pizza, butternut squash ravioli, and the new asian-style steamers they make. but the bf, well, he picked out honey ginger chicken, marsala penne, and turkey medallions. turkey medallions? who buys those frozen food-style?
i laughed.
and brought it to work for lunch on tuesday. as luck would have it, i went out to lunch that day. on wednesday, i went to the lunch room freezer to pull out the turkey medallions.
and you will never guess.
it was gone! nowhere to be found. someone had stolen my healthy choice turkey medallions. and ate it for lunch.
i almost cried i laughed so hard.
today i was ranting and raving as i left work...
drove 10 minutes to this place.
my friend s was waiting with open arms and a glass of wine. sigh.
a sip of tempranillo later, i was feeling much more relaxed.
after bruschetta with mascarpone, figs, proscuitto, and tomato jam, i was certainly there.
good girl chat night. i need those more often.
so we're looking at homes to rent in scottsdale/phoenix.
sigh. what a nightmare.
we've been looking and looking - mostly sporadically. in spurts. we'll get really excited about a property and something will happen. and we will miss the opportunity. we found one magical place that had everything we ever wanted: pool, garage, modern. we made an offer. no go. why? because the owners wanted to see if it would sell before committing to a lease option. then why give that as an option in the first place?!
then we found another place that fit the bill. not exactly but close enough. it was all white. it was built in the seventies. we're talking lucite handles in the kitchen seventies. but still, we made an offer ($150 less than the asking price per month). the owners countered. with what? the asking price. wtf?
last thursday i found something in a great location. it has a pool. no garage. built in the sixties but 90% remodeled. i sent an email inquiry, and we haven't heard back yet. are there any real estate agents who want to work in this town? we're crossing our fingers on this one though. third time's the charm, right?
right?! oh dear lord let's hope so.
sorry to be so wedding-focused but i ordered our invitations today!
i am SO happy about that.
another thing checked off our list!
in the shop today, we picked out the suite, colors, and language. i am absolutely giddy about what we chose. you see, i'm a paper freak. like, freak. i'm the girl that could spend hours just feeling paper. touching letterpress. choosing colors. matching envelopes. sigh. so lovely.
anyway, it's all set. we still have to nail down details (oh, like resort and time) but i'm not worried.
white letterpressed invitations with black ink. the hot pink? a super slim ribbon to tie it all together. like, wow.
and the stamps?
i'm considering:
a little andy warhol. a little bit fun. and a lot of personality. it's too much!
is it just me or are these the most beautiful shoes?
for our wedding?
black. white. pink. my dream wedding colors. i'm working hard to make that come true. i just want to make sure that the shoe will work and not be obnoxious. i'm worried the hot pink is too, well, hot. it's a $300 gamble i don't know if i'm willing to make.
kate spade. drool.
my nose.
has been killing me lately. i don't know if it's the change in season or wind blowing or what.
but my nose just keeps running. running. running.
i can't sleep. i can't stay still. i can't breathe. i am super uncomfortable.
and yet. i'm not sick. just delicious allergies striking again.
i am a lifelong sufferer of allergies. all kinds. pollen. pet dander. dust. mold. all the things that are super difficult to control. i have purchased air purifiers. humidifiers. allergen-blocking pillow cases. mattress covers.
i take nasonex in the morning. astelin at night.
argh. stupid nose.
sorry so long since i last wrote.
i've been caught up with life. but we all know that's not a good excuse.
this past weekend some friends from chicago came for an impromptu visit.
i love having people over. i think i will love having people over more when we move into a house.
when the boys went to play golf on saturday, the girls got to go here:
bliss. if i could offer any advice for wedding planning, it would be to schedule spa visits. at least monthly.
sigh.
