celebrating five years

i've noticed there's been a bit of a lull in my writing here.  i am sorry for that.  so much (good) has been going on as of late that carving out time to jot down our life's happenings and to reminisce on this new chapter has been a challenge for me.  but busy is good and busy we are.

as one would assume after moving, we've got little projects here and there, such as putting up flowy curtains, staining wood planks, mowing our sweet little yard, getting rid of pesky ants, moving heavy furniture...etc.  all those we-just-moved-into-a-new-house things.  result being, andrew and i have found ourselves pretty exhausted at the end of our days.  our muscles sore and our minds ready to recharge with a good night's sleep.  cozied up in our new, vast bedroom semi-furnished with our bed, a bold fig tree, some hats on the wall, two bentwood chairs and our television we have found ourselves asleep most nights before nine thirty.  snuggled together spooning with legs entangled we drift off quickly only to wake fully drenched in golden midwest sunlight.

to put it mildly, it is beautiful here.  we've both agreed together we could not have made a better choice in choosing this old home to be our forever one.  it is so us.  with that said, being rather exhausted and all, we will take this form of sleepiness any day because we are home and settled and we could honestly not be happier than we are right now.  this season of our lives marked by half a decade together is more perfect than i could have ever dreamt it could be.

this past week we settled into what marks the five year period of being married.  we celebrated hand in hand over some bubbly and a really good supper at novel sans kiddos so we could really talk and savor and flirt and such.  there's something about wearing heels and one's brightest shade of red lipstick that invites a woman to flirt with her man and on our anniversary we did just that.  we felt a bit like newlyweds and loved it.  i remember exchanging a few giddy laughs at things of silly importance because of the high that such an evening brings with it.  the entirety of our outing felt so comforting to me.  as i sat across the table from my best friend, laughing, snorting at jokes, smiling, sharing bites, and nustling legs under that old wooden table it all felt so right.  it is odd to say that i missed him?  well i did.  we needed this night more than i think we both realized.

there was a moment after dessert i looked into his hazel flecked eyes and felt overcome with peace.  that's what he gives me, this husband of mine, among endless laughter and joy.  and so i say, i'm blessed to be forever his and he forever mine and cheers to decades more of what we've got which is downright beautiful. 

thoughts on marriage

"most people get married believing a myth that marriage is beautiful box full of all the things they have longed for; companionship, intimacy, friendship etc … the truth is, that marriage at the start is an empty box, you must put something in before you can take anything out. there is no love in marriage, love is in people, and people put love in marriage. there is no romance in marriage, you have to infuse it into your marriage. a couple must learn the art, and form the habit of giving, loving, serving, praising, of keeping the box full. if you take out more than you put in, the box will be empty."

quote found here. 

i stumbled upon this quote the other day and it really resonated with me. it caused me to stop and ponder a bit...to reflect on my own marriage and my relationship with andrew.

i whole-heartedly respect the idea that marriage is something that requires the two people involved to constantly fill and keep full their box to gain any sort of satisfaction from it.  however, filling one's box should never be a chore to check of your list of to-do's, nor should it come with unrealistic expectations.  i know that is easier said than done, but i have found that the more you selflessly put in to your relationship, the more both of you will get out of it and grow as a couple.  i suppose that goes for any relationship.  nourishing it must be a priority.  it must be the forefront of everything.  because without that solid foundation of love, nothing else will fall into place.  you would not neglect a plant and expect it to grow, would you?  just some things to think about.   

to the person who not only makes my life whole, but enriches the cruddy moments into laughable afterthoughts, and makes me feel like the best, most beautiful mama in the world: i love you completely with every fibre in my being.  so much i feel as though i could burst.  i will spend my forevers happily filling our marriage box, putting more into it that i will ever expect to get out, tending to it with honest intention and thoughtful purpose.  i vow to help keep it not only brimming full, but overflowing.  for always. 

four years

andrew and i celebrated four years of being married last thursday.  how has it already been four years? boy was it ever a fun night!  we took stella to her nana's and headed up the street to westport to try out a new mexican restaurant called port fonda.  it was insanely good and is very easily one of our new favorites.  we devoured habenero shrimp civiche, house made chips, pineapple pork tacos, and chicken confit.  food porn at its best.  i have been on a mexican food kick so it was pretty perfect.  after dinner, we walked hand in hand to a movie at our little independent movie house, the tivoli theatre, where we saw the middle eastern foreign film the attack.  it was brilliant.  we found it to be very sad, alas, a good thriller if you are into those.  and it sparked good conversation for our walk home which is always fun.  our anniversary date ended with chocolate banana sonic shakes, as ALL dates should, and lots of lit candles.  we listened to fleet foxes, talked about our babies, and cuddled.  we went to bed at a reasonable hour and woke up feeling refreshed.  how lucky i am to have married my absolute best friend.  he has given me the world and i love him beyond measure.   

away we go // st. helena and sacramento part two

we've been away from our baby now for too long.  and to boot, i am rather homesick and ready to play in the sun with my girl.  it has been a pretty wonderful seven days, but seven days without stella is almost more than we can bare.  we will be adventuring to san francisco tomorrow where we will be flying out of as well.  i hope to eat my share of seafood and breathe in the coastal air for a few hours before boarding our plane.  

here's a bit of what we have been up to since my last post where you caught a glimpse of our day touring vineyards and such...

on sunday we brunched it at farmstead on their patio.  i am have still having dreams about their grilled artichoke.  in fact, i think we need to get one on our way out of town just for kicks.  

on monday i ate a bowl of cherries for breakfast.  that about covers monday.

on tuesday we dined at the home of darrell corti in sacramento.  his kitchen was an absolute dream.  the old pots and pans that hung over head transported me to another time.  we ate a scrumptious five course meal with some pretty cool folks.   the precious napa goddess margrit mondavi and famous sacramento painter greg kondos graced us with their presence.  it was one of those evenings i know will never happen again.  we were sponges soaking ALL of it up.

on wednesday we hung at the local pool.  i refuse to wear a maternity tankini.  it's that simple.  and guess what!?  i am officially HALF WAY!  yes, this is what a twenty week bump looks like.  ;)

on thursday we explored.  andrew and i took troy and lauren's surrey carriage out for a spin around the block and stopped a few times to vineyard gaze.  i love doing life with my sweet husband of mine.  we stopped at taylor's (aka gotts) for some sweet local grub after working up an appetite.  we played with ate garlic fries and burgers and avocado salad on the park benches in the back. 'twas premium. 

and today, friday, we slept in till noon.  i rubbed my eyes at ten after twelve and could hardly believe it.  we walked into town, bed head and all, and got ourselves some iced coffee.  i couldn't turn down panini either, so i got one of those.  we spent the rest of the day picking oranges, reading, and taking walks around the neighborhood.  tonight, we are going to get some chocolate shakes and hit the town.  well, not really.  just a nice long walk perhaps. 

california, we sure love you.  but next time we are bringing the babes.  

away we go // st. helena and napa valley part one

to celebrate the end of my chapter as a teacher and the new beginnings as a stay at home mum, we decided to go on holiday!  

well, to be frank, we were asked by some of our good friends to accompany them awhile back on their trip to cali and we leaped at the chance like any sane human being would.  a trip to wine country just can be turned down, nosiree.  

but to be fair, our time spent in california (our second favorite state next to our home state of missouri) will serve as a premium excuse to celebrate this transition in our lives and see some of our favorite people: troy, lauren, and little charlie!  troy is andrew's brother and we get along with the three of them so well. each time we visit them it feels like home.  they are the loveliest of people and we are happy to spend some quality time with them in their sweet little city of st. helena. 

our first day here was storybook perfect.  we started it off with breakfast in their backyard, where we were welcomed with jade succulents, perfuming jasmine blossoms hanging overhead, ripening artichokes saying hello from afar, busy hummingbirds making the rounds on ruby red pomegranate leaves, and warm sunlight that gently peaked through dark green leafy branches.  what a special way to wake up.  perhaps one of the best ways.  

we started our vineyard tours with a limo, no less.  this gave us all a chance to talk and tell stories and laugh from vineyard to vineyard.  after meandering around the luscious rutherford region and a few sips of vino (for the non-pregnant folk) and pink lemonade (for this mama) we grabbed some impromptu sandwiches at soda canyon store and picnicked under the a grove of shady trees.  i had a salty prosciutto and bree cheese with avocado on warm focaccia.  

side note: if i could be any sandwich, this would be the one.  each bite was rather honest and humble in its' nature.  a quality sandwich in every sense of the word.  and it goes without saying but i'll sure proclaim: there is something so magical in a simple picnic shared with friends.  it is our favorite way to dine.  perhaps this is because it is the easiest.   but i feel it is in the sharing and togetherness that i find comfort in my picnic meals.  the straightforward nature of picnics speak to me and bring me down to earth.  they take me back to the basics and into a calmer, happier light.  so for about forty minutes we listed to the hum of bees as we shared bites of good food and sipped cold peach tea.    

after our tummies were satisfied and our brows began forming pearls of sweat, we made our way to the air conditioning, and then to palmaz vineyards up in the hills of napa.  to say that this place was pristine is a complete and utter understatement.  the scientific technology and precision used in making their natural wine process was remarkable to see firsthand.  as we walked about their underground caves discussing tannins and grape varietals, we were told about the many steps in their delicate process the grapes go through from wild vine to glass bottle.  

this unique and high end process is measured by computers and a very passionate family, as we were delighted to find out.  the tasting room was set for kings and queens, and we were treated as such.  being pregnant, i sample all of the wine, and spit a good majority if not all of it out.  just the sensation of swirling, smelling, swishing was enough for me.  to spit was no bother.  the aromatics alone gave me satisfaction.  it was a great wine tour and gave us a chance to buy some beautiful oaky chardonnay.

after palmaz, we went in the very opposite direction and visited perhaps my favorite winery to date.  its' rustic nature and beautiful people made terraces vinyards a magical experience for me.  i felt like i was stepping back in time to a pastoral tuscan village, with its aged balsamic cave, homemade honey gardens, hand-carved stone buildings, and heaps of passionate individuals ready to welcome and share.  i will never forget the people at terraces, nor their hospitality.  this wine tour was like going to home to your grandparent's farm.  it was the breath of fresh air i had been longing for.  the unpretentious nature of the wine makers at terrace was refreshing and rather blissful.  i appreciated that.  we tasted a remarkable rosé made of, surprisingly, riesling, zinfandel, and pinot grapes.  it tasted of sweet strawberries and begged to be drank in the sun with good friends.  we bought a case, which i will be patiently awaiting to sip next spring as nature starts makes its' presence known.  

our tour was given by the sweetest ryan from new zealand.  kiwis are always the most fun to be around, if you didn't know.  he made our tour a special one, letting us taste house balsamic vinegar aged both ten and sixteen years!  hearing about this ancient process was one of the most intriguing experiences i've had.  my taste buds are still dancing and not so secretly hoping to have more.  getting to lick that sweet syrup off the back of my hand in the old cave is something i'll always treasure.  what a treat, indeed.  we ended the tour at the terraces homestead with bouts of genuine laughter and sips of pear cider.  

after afternoon naps and a bit of freshening up, we found ourselves at bouchon bistro.  just a cheap ol' joint on in yountville.  i kid!  i have this longstanding foodie crush on thomas keller so eating at one of his establishments was basically a must for us/me on this trip.  i had the mussels poached in a white wine saffron broth with crispy frites served in a tin cup on the side.  and more homemade mayo than one should consume.  but really, there is no such thing as too much homemade mayo.  i think my idol julia child is looking down on me very approvingly right now.  i recommend dipping in the mayo and then the ketchup.  it takes one's fry experience to a whole other level of awesomeness.   

our evening ended with my silly husband and brother in law giving us all side aches from laughing so hard.  what a perfect way to end a more perfect napa day.  i hope this mini holiday gives us both a chance to recharge, soak up the sun on long vineyard walks, grow closer as husband and wife, and close our eyes as we murmur a many "mmmmms" throughout exquisite meal adventures.  

oh, sweet napa valley, we have missed you and are happy to be back! 

our yearly oscar workout

the time has come for our yearly oscar workout.  the only muscle being exercised for this workout is thee mind (film depending) and possibly the stomach, if belly laughs ensue.  

andrew and i happen to be big fans of the silver screen and have a little too much fun watching the academy awards each february. we usually order in some spicy thai or indian, "oooing" and "ahhh" over what she wore and who won what.  yeah.  i guess we are that couple.  

so without further adieu, this week marks week one of watching oscar noms.  we started with a toast to good film with a glass of vino, obviously...and then d'jango.  if you can handle wee bit of gore from mister tarantino, lots (and i mean lots) of syrupy red food coloring, and a whole bunch of sarcastic awesomeness you will just love it.  we did.  and we also stayed up way past our bedtime to finish the whole darn thing.  well worth it, too.  so what can you expect us doing on a random weeknight somewhere sometime from 8-10ish?  well, let me just say there are about ten more on our "to watch" list and we best get started.

head here for some oscar info.

if you have seen any oscar nominated movies so far, what were they?  and did you like it?!

handmade // date night sticks

andrew and i think it's so very important to keep things spicy and fresh in our relationship.  in fact, we absolutely adore going on date adventures and cherish ANY alone time we can get these days with a wee one running around demanding to be the center of attention.  and who can blame her?  

so last night, in we got a bit crafty and made a little date night jar with some ideas to add some spontaneity to our lives.  i used the colored popsicle sticks from my teacher stash that were left over and a we decided to store them in a simple mason jar on our bedroom book shelf.  here are some of our ideas!

blue sticks = inexpensive you can do at home date ideas

- fondue night on floor pillows

- make individual pizzas with italian movie

- bubble bath for 2

- make a dessert together 

- take out and board games

- fancy dinner by candlelight in our pj's

- breakfast for dinner

- black and white movie marathon

- picnic dinner

green sticks = out on the town mid-price date ideas that require no planning

- watch live music at local pub

- dinner and a movie

- cocktails at a speakeasy

- take out and a drive-in

- dinner at a new restaurant 

- bucket of chicken and bowling

- happy hour on the plaza

- dinner and dancing

- dinner and museum

yellow sticks = more expensive fancy shmancy fun date ideas that require planning

- concert (his choice)

- concert (my choice)

- bed and breakfast stay

- fancy dinner (my choice)

- fancy dinner (his choice)

- couples massage

- 3 course meal restaurant hop

- 1 night hotel stay

- play, musical, or opera

if you have any more ideas, please share them below!

back from mexico, feeling like a million bucks

husband and i just returned from our mini holiday down in gorgeous mexico.  it was the perfect balance of relaxation and rejuvenation we've been craving since the last time our toes got to happily dig in the warm, powdery sand which was long, long ago.  remember this post bursting with a strong sense of longing to get lost?  well.  we finally satisfied that desire.

laying on the beach does wonders for a person's soul.  when the only sound to be heard is the perfect crescendo of the calming tide being tugged back to sea, paired beautifully with the mild flipping of the crisp page as one digs deeper into their novel, there can only be one outcome: peace.  

long afternoons spent tasting the salty air on our tongues gladly welcomed a cocktail, or two.  with only a few swim suits in our carry ons and plenty of coconut scented sunscreen, we had all that we needed. less is more in a place that exudes simplistic loveliness. 

and so that's what we did.  we lost track of time and got lost with one another, devouring several books, taking adventures on the beach, and sipping brightly colored drinks, all whilst eating like 25 lobsters a day, or something like that.   it was pretty wonderful.  

but it's always good to return back home.

because there's no place like it. and soon, our new home, our very first home, will be officially ours for good. 2 weeks and counting, friends! 

by the way, i really, really want one of those swingy things for our new patio.  don't you!?

our mornings, in novel form

as the dawn's light creeps in slowly, inching upward towards the horizon on those cool october mornings, it's always so easy for her to crawl back under those soft, fleecy covers and snuggle up to the warm body clinging to her side.  

"just call in," he effortlessly says with a grin, squeezing her tighter.  

"sure, babe.  i'll call in and we can snooze the day away, all nestled in our cozy bed...here in this position."  

"like two puzzle-pieces locked together?" he says softly into the crook of  her neck.  

"exactly," she whispers back, with a knowing smile.  

and together, fingers interlocked, they both decide to get up and start their day.

for andrew, just because it's thursday and i miss him.

"you are my favorite person in the whole world.  and that includes the imaginary ones."

this is my hubs, walking amidst the dreamy echo of cow bells and rolling jade hills in switzerland, circa 2009.  yeah...pretty amazing stuff, huh?

when i see this picture of him, or any photo of him for that matter, i get completely overwhelmed with a sense of happiness and gratitude that both simultaneously fill me up like an overblown balloon on the verge of popping.  these precious feelings come full force, knocking me over and enveloping every inch of my being on a daily basis, making me feel as though i can't catch my breath.    

looking at this photo on this crazy thursday morning {when i miss my man SO much like i always do mid week} has this same riveting effect.  it's crazy seeing your whole world right there before your very eyes, suspended in time....a beautiful moment completely frozen for me to look at and hold in my hand whenever i so please. 

i cannot help but think...

"everything i love in life is right there, in that little photo.  i mean, right there!  my whole world. {minus sweet stella vivienne, of course}."

it's such a delicately wonderful and astounding thought. 

and sometimes, only sometimes, it causes salty tears to brim, but not quite fall.  never tears of sadness, but tears of sheer thankfulness that life is being beyond kind to me.  those droplets of water not committing to drop, will just sit there, quivering, waiting to see him and feel those arms wrap tightly around what has missed him all day.

it's no secret...

happy 3 whole years, baby!

it's been whole three years, baby!  


three whole years of you vacuuming patterns into the rug and me making you the best sunday supper on this side of the mississippi.  three whole years of turning our high school phone whispers into full-fledged dream-come-trues.  and three whole years of i love you always and forever, in circles, god bless, i love you, so much {every night before we drift off to sleep, and sometimes more than once...}.    


it's been three years of netflix movie nights, chipotle dinners, and us calling each other "pants" because we all know how married couples come up with ridiculous pet names for one another, and ours happens to be "pants" because, well...it just is.   


it's been three years of our "t.i.h." lullabies every time we feel at home in one another's arms even though there doesn't have to be a roof over our heads because that home is in our hearts.  home is wherever we make it, and it's always with each other.  "this. is. home."   


it's been three years of "i'll see you soon" in the mornings before work and "i miss you already" texts on the drive there.  three years of the best cuddle sessions and the worst excuses for not working out.  like, "it's 5:00 somewhere," because lord knows we have perfected that one over the past three years.  


three years of excitement and new beginnings, like the perfection and beauty in each time the frothy waves kiss our beloved california's ocean's shore.  three years of mission avocado: picking out the perfect one on our magical market visit.   and three years of exploring unknowns in this surprising city of ours.  


it's been three whole years of a new city, a new home, a new job, a new baby, a new life.  goodness, we have gone through a lot in these past three years, and it's been one beautiful ride.  


it's been three whole years where i have gotten the extraordinary and amazing chance to get to know you, my best friend, deeper and more fully.  and because of that opportunity, i have become more complete.  


it's been three whole years, baby, and i love you more and more each day.  i love you bigger and better than i ever thought i could love.  and because of our love, i love life more, too.  thank you for asking me out 11 years ago freshman year {online, might i add} with my garish braces and all, and despite the fact that my hair was the color of sweet stella's favorite elmo toy.  that young love turned into our forever love: a love which ended up making one heck of a daughter, that is for sure.   


i said "i do" three years ago and i say it today, tomorrow, and for always {and infinity}.  if three years has been this wonderful, i cannot even imagine what is in store...but here's to a gazillion more...and cheers to things in this post only you and i will only truly understand...


happy anniversary to my love, andrew


xx

on hunger and meeting my mister

here's the tale of how i met my mister.  met as in last night, mere hours ago, while it's fresh in my mind and i'm sitting here still feeling like a frivolous school girl.


we switched it up and changed our pace.  the change in our date night evening drifted from our usual rushed polka set to barnyard hoedown throw down, into the beautiful glide of a calming waltz, accompanied by bach and harps.  lots of harps.  that is how we started our evening, or so it felt.


he did not come home right after work; rather, we met there.  there, as in an intangible place in one's heart and mind, but and also an actual location, one with food...


before i bathed the babe, walked the dog, fed the babe, and welcomed the sitter{s}, i got dressed.  laid out on my bed were two items that whispered nostalgic nothings in my ear:  strappy  heels + summer citron skirt.  this was the outfit to meet my mister in.  


as i pulled out of the driveway, all was waveless.  i felt as if i was looking out on to a sea of glass, only to be reminded that it was in fact the ocean by the slow and gentle pull of the placid water towards shore.  the glitter of bubbles reflecting from the sun's rays gave it away.  but in reality, in the middle of this country and nowhere near the spray of sea salt, i was looking at the hot, black pavement.  both dangerous yet soothing forces, the road and the sea.  regardless of the metaphor, i felt peaceful and assured, in a comforted sort of way.  as if i knew what lay ahead because i had already made up my mind that tonight would be wonderful.   


i couldn't recall what he was wearing.  that was part of the thrill.  part of the mystique.  the excitement.  and part of the longing we had to go back in time.  that zestful yearning to feel silly while longing to remember, only for a bit, what it was like when it was just us two.  back when i always met my mister.  


just for a bit now,  ya hear?


just like we used to do, before marriage, before baby, before bills, back when we both drove saturns and got report cards.  the anticipation of seeing him waiting there for me filled with a feeling i have not felt in so long left me hungry.  yes, in an appetite sort of way because i could always eat a horse, but hungry in another way, too.  a much more important hunger that seeped into my being beyond my stomach.  in that moment, i had this voracious appetite to be enclosed in a world where two sets of eyes were locked and where worry was cast aside.  hungry for us time, without the heavy baggage of guilt and regret.


i haven't felt that hungry since, ever.  we haven't had a proper date without feeling contrite {on my part} since ever, too.  ever is a long, long time, you know.


so i met my mister.  we dined, we drank, we shared, we smooched, and we dreamed.  together.  in that bubble, our bubble, until hunger subsided and rapture filled our hearts.


3 hours after having met, another kind of hunger started forming deep within.  we longed to smell that sweet, familiar scent, to feel that soft, strong clutch around our necks, and to see the truest form of ourselves combined in one sweetly innocent babe.  we missed our stella.


so we went home and appreciated life, and our marriage, and our family, feeling rejuvenated and happy.  as i closed my eyes and felt my body sink into the mattress, the hunger was gone. 

us two love birds and our frozen yogurt

you know how some people say they they look like their dogs?  well.  my husband and i, we look like our frozen yogurt.  or rather, we are reflected in it, i think.  it's random but true.  a few nights ago we took a walk after dinner to a local frozen yogurt joint in westport.  you know, the kind that allows you to mix and match and add all sorts of goodies.  

i went through the line first mixing flavors i had never tried before: tropical pineapple, toasted coconut, and orange soda.  to my summery concoction i added some fresh fruit toppings of kiwi and blueberries, for they are my favorites.  and then for a little balance and color, i threw in some mango and strawberry boba.  why, not?  there is something about that unexpected pop of sweet caviar that makes me smile.  i've only had them a few times and considered it a fun option to try.  and all of this was topped off with a little marshmallow creme, because everyone likes marshmallow creme, right?

and then for husbands walk through...can you handle this???

he started out all americana with a big swirl of vanilla yogurt and a small side of raspberry to taste.  he didn't even glance at the other twenty flavors on the wall, skipped the fruit, and gallivanted strait for the goods.  by goods, i mean my cutie patootie of a husband went for the sugar.  to his classic foundation he added sour worms, gummy bears, rainbow crunch cereal, nerds {i know, right?}, aaaaand....wait for it....caramel sauce {yep, he's crazy}.  i feel ten cavities starting to form just thinking about it.  

when we were eating at the counter he said something to this effect as he saw me peering into his cup, "...it's all just sugar anyways, right?"  and that's just one reason why i love him.

on our walk home i could not help but think about how were were each represented in those yogurt cups...each reflected in its contents.  our yogurt was so...US.  

me: borderline impulsive. always creative.  curious enough to call myself a tad adventurous. conscientious and always an over-thinker. overly sensitive. a human striving for balance.  

husband: consistently steady. thoughtful beyond measure. hilarious. adorably innocent. did i say hilarious?  always insanely over-the-top sweet. SO SWEET.  darn kind. a child at heart.

so there you have it.  us in yogurt form.  

i suppose i could connect each ingredient to a character trait but i think you get the picture.  do you and your love ever find yourselves reflected in food...pets...or anything else?

small victories

it's all about the small victories in life, the little things, if you will.  it's about those random experiences for which we give thanks and celebrate a life fulfilled.  it's about moments that others may deem trivial and inconsequential, yet to one person, they add spark to the flame and light up a dark day.  it's about soaking up and relishing in the pure moments of exquisite happiness, and then taking a second to smile...and to respond with a simple, "thank you."  small victories make life beautiful and unexpected; they create memories and nourish the soul.  they are priceless.  

tonight my husband brought me this, a tiny pink flower from the patch of grass across from our apartment.  picked by hand, delivered with a kiss.   

he said three words that filled me with hope and love and joy.  

"because it's wednesday."

...and, you know, it's always a good idea to listen to andy.

what are some of your small victories recently? here are a few more bits of happiness from other blogs, too!

handmade // lovely little love notes

as most of you know, andrew and i have been together since we were freshmen in high school.  just a few months ago we celebrated being together for ten whole years!  one thing we used to do at the very start of our relationship while in 9th grade as mere 14 year olds was write each other love letters throughout the day and deliver them spontaneously.  sometimes i would get a note in between classes, and other times, right before volleyball practice after school.  it was kind of our "thing," something we each looked forward to each and every day.  

i still have all of these handwritten love letters in a box embellished with x's and o's, along with mod podged magazine hearts.  from time to time we get them out read them for a laugh and a smile.  through reading these letters, it is amazing to see how much we have grown up, not only on an individual level with regards to our maturity, but also as a couple.  one letter we read started out saying, "i love you so much and i am so sorry about not sitting by you at lunch today!  ...forgive me?"  :)  our love has grown so incredibly deep over the course of this past decade, and these letters capture the first stages of our butterflies-in-my-tummy, innocent, young love.  they are quite precious to us.

i decided to bring back the idea of spontaneously dropping little love notes for my main squeeze here and there throughout our home.    

...inside his tie drawer here...under his pillow there...

and while i was at it, i decided to paint them, thereby turning these little lovelies into pieces of art for andrew to take to work as a visual reminder of how much he means to me.  

here is the process if you would like to make some love letters of your own!

coffee is an essential ingredient to any craft, of course.

the more imperfect the hearts...the better.

now for the words.  check out pinterest to find some beautiful quotes, scribble down special memories just between the two of you, tell him what you love most about him, and quote a poet, or two!  ultimately, have fun and don't stress about how fancy your letters look.  he will appreciate the message above anything else!

i hope you find some inspiration in this DIY and happy crafting!

we're ready to get lost. together.

we're ready to get lost.  together.  

...to dig our toes in the powdery, white sand. 

... to go on another exploration, a new pin in our map.

we're ready to get lost.  together.

...to soak in the smells of the sea-salt breeze.

...to bathe in water bluer than you thought blue can be. 

we're ready to get lost.  together.

...to walk underneath a blanket of twinkling stars.

...to gently sway to the rhythmic beat of the crashing waves.  

we're so, unbelievably ready to get lost.  together. 

...but wherever should we go?