Netflix Instant Treasures: Take This Waltz

Netflix and I have a love and hate relationship.  This relationship has only grown more complicated with Netflix Instant Streaming.  There are so many choices right at my fingertips, but 99% of these choices are not really my cup of tea (ahem, like Dora the Explorer, episodes 1-2873918374 or Nude Nuns with Big Guns...it exists, trust).

But, every once in awhile, little gems of movies sneak their way onto the instant streaming menu and it is ever a nice surprise!  One movie that I loved was Take This Waltz by Sarah Polley. 

My love for Sarah Polley knows no bounds.  From our first meetings as Ramona Quimby and Sara Stanley in Avonlea to her heart-wrenching roles in My Life Without Me and The Secret Life of Words, I've grown to love what an amazing and powerful actress she has become.  When I realized she is now writing and directing movies (watch Away from Her, NOW...actually, watch everything I just talked about), I couldn't have felt more proud of little Ramona!

You know how the Instant Streaming nightmare starts...

Kitchen Demo Lite

Signs you are really, truly a grownup now:

~ You spend your anniversary weekend eating Taco Bell to save moolah.

~  Said anniversary weekend is also spent wrestling 60-year old cabinets out of your kitchen.

~  You are now a proud owner of a sledge hammer.

~  But you only bought the sledge hammer 

after tapping away at counter tops built for the zombie apocalypse 

with a regular ol' pantywaist hammer

...for SIX hours.

~  You had a sincere discussion about garbage disposals.

~  THEN, you spent YOUR SHOE money on a garbage disposal...

~  The best part of your day was collapsing into bed and holding your husband's hand,

knowing you did a grownup kitchen demo together.

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Annnd we're still not done!

July 24th, 2011

While everyone in Utah was waiting to celebrate Pioneer Day, history was being made in New York.  I loved looking through this collection of couples that were finally able to tie the knot!  One sweet couple had been engaged for 36 years.  I teared up reading all of the endearing and lovely things these couples had to say.  I <3 New York!

Via A Cup of Joe

Happiest

I had a birthday.  And it was so much fun!  

Even though I was crazy-busy with work stuff most of the weekend, I was able to spend a little time with some of my favorite people on the planet.  People that I am sure make me a little better of person each time I get to: listen to their opinions, watch them follow their own ethos, and watch them set their plans in motion, big and small.

I was spoiled rotten this birthday, but I feel most spoiled by the amazing influences I have in my life.  My parents and my sister being the people I STILL can't figure out how I lucked out so I get to have them as a part of my life.  My dear, dear friends, who are some of the most amazing and inspiring individuals I've ever had the luck to meet, support and challenge me.  And my husband, my sweet, strong, ridiculously creative husband...I am still reeling from the fact that I, ME, get to have him as my partner in crime.  I tell you, none of this makes sense to me, but you can be sure I thank my lucky stars for these people daily!

Oh!  And I got gluten free red velvet cupcakes, too!  

It really was a happy, happy birthday!

Because This Is Important

{via The Daily What}
        {via eject}

"This Is Heartbreaking, You Should Watch It of the Day: Palm Springs residents Ed Watson and Derence Kernek have been in a loving, committed relationship for over 40 years.

Recently, Ed was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and the disease appears to be progressing rapidly. The couple want nothing more than to be able to get married before the Alzheimer’s wipes away Ed’s memories of the life they’ve shared.

With the help of the Courage Campaign, Ed and Derence have submitted this video plea to have California’s ban on same-sex marriages lifted until the state’s Supreme Court makes its final decision on constitutionality of Proposition 8. “If the California Supreme Court is going to take its time,” Ed says, “then we deserve the dignity of marriage…before I can’t remember what marriage is.”

Learn more here."
 

Perfect Day

Some weeks are so insanity-filled I like to take little mental health breaks throughout the day to recharge.  I like to imagine my perfect day.  It changes all the time, but I think it changes to meet me where my stresses are greatest.

Some days, I'm on a chairlift, the wheels happily squeaking against the line.  My legs feel comfortingly heavy against the chair because of the weight of my skis.  The sun will be shining through a light cloud and when the rays hit just right they sparkle like glitter suspended in the air.  The snow would muffle the occasional whoop and holler from other skiers below and it would be, just, perfect.

Other days, I'm back in Paris with Shug.  We're sitting in a park enjoying a bottle of deliciously cheap wine and a picnic.  We get to sit in the mid-afternoon sun and watch the tiny dogs run around with the serious purpose of playing.  The dull thunder of traffic is actually cut out here and there by the water splashing in a million-year-old fountain nearby and both of the sounds together are oddly soothing.  Shug will make me laugh so hard my cheeks hurt and we may even take a catnap there on the grass, warmed by our full bellies and the sun low in the sky.

And then there are days where I'm cannon-balling into our family condo's pool.  It's still a liiiiiiitle to cold to be swimming, but I don't care.  I be sure to stay away from the leaves floating here and there like little brown lily pads and wait for my Grandpa to skim them out and away from the clear water.  I know he enjoys this morning ritual, we get to talk and I show him my impressive backflips. 

See!  SO nice to take a little break!  What is your perfect day like today?

Happy Valentine's Day!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

I hope you have a lovely lovey day with your sweetheart!

Shug was so sweet and took me to a romantic dinner at Fresco on Friday.

They actually had quite a few gluten-free items on the menu!

And you know what else?

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Chocolate

is

gluten

free,

too

!

Have a happy day, ok?

A Gentleman's Evening with Whiskey...

Planning a party can be so fun, but I've usually had the pleasure of getting the details of the celebration in order with my partner in crime, Shug.  Since this Gentleman's Evening was supposed to be a surprise, I couldn't enlist my spouse for his creative powers, and what's more, I had to keep all of it a secret from him.  I can't tell you what was more stressful: planning a party without Shug or keeping a secret!

Happy Birthday to Shug!

Yesterday was Shug's birthday.  

We had a nice restful day hanging out with Ruby and watching movies.  It was so fun!  I think Shug was still recovering from his surprise party on Friday evening!  THAT was so much fun, too!  I feel so lucky that I get to spend another year with this amazing man!  Happy Birthday, Shug!

I'll have a whole post on the birthday shenanigans later this week...!

In which we find we are not only joined by our hearts...

...but our stomachs!

Shug and I have always enjoyed eating the local cuisine when we travel.  Our heads just about exploded over Irish Breakfasts.  And all we lived on in Costa Rica was gallo pinto, avocados, and cacique.  So you can imagine our excitement when we knew we were headed to Paris!

Since the dollar was so weak against the euro while we were in Europe, Shug and I decided to have one "real" meal a day, bolstered with some café au lait and inexpensive snacks.  Our first sit-down dinner in Paris remains Shug's favorite: steak, pomme frites, and haricots verts with an amazing mustard cream sauce.  We shared a lovely bottle of red wine and I ordered the escargots and cheese plate for my gluten-free fare.

Have you tried escargot?  It sounds like the most vile thing a human could ever want to eat: snails.  That green slimy-looking stuff is actually an amazing mixture of pureed garlic, butter, and herbs that have been slathered all over the little slugs!  They taste like a nutty, chewy mushroom dipped in butter and heavensauce!  Shug was a little skeptical at first, but decided to ignore his reservations about consuming an invertebrate and dove right in!  He was more than pleased with the cuisine risk he took, and escargot were ordered at almost every meal we had thereafter! 

On the walk back to our hotel we passed a sign that made the 11-year-old in us giggle:

I suppose that was lost in translation on us!  I am guessing it means served platter-style as opposed to sandwich or wrap-style, but it didn't stop us from laughing...!  I couldn't find the translation in my French phrasebook, either, so maybe the restaurant owners were playing a big joke on everyone who passes that sign!  Who knows?  If any of you speak French, please explain!

I hope you have a lovely weekend.  Are you ready for spring yet?  I know I am!  xo.

This is serious...

I am pretty sure I've found my holiday gift to myself.

But I only get to choose ONE.

Now they aren't the Isabel Marant shoes 

that I know I'd never get on the waitlist for anyway,

but they are also a third of the price!

MUCH easier to explain that purchase to Mr. Teef.

A Kinsale Wedding

The whole reason Shug and I went to Ireland was to attend our two close friends' wedding celebration.  Supermodel and Shug's Best Bearded Friend started dating almost exactly the same time Shug and I did four years ago.  It has been such an amazing journey to the altar and I feel I was able to share a lot of the fun with these two on our parallel trips!

 The wedding was just surreal.  It was a beautiful Irish autumn day with rain (good luck!), sunshine, clouds, and everything in between.  The ceremony was lovely, with an officiant from Cork and close to a hundred people that had crossed the pond just for the special occasion!

Supermodel lived up to her name and looked ethereal.  Her dress, that was custom made, conjured up old Hollywood glamor with sparkling paillettes and demure cut-outs in the dark grey silk.  She had the cutest pin curls to top off her wedding day look.

There was such a feeling of support and love for these two it was indescribable...!  After the ceremony we went to have drinks and take pictures while the dining room was prepared.  Champagne and Jameson were the popular choices!

 

All of the bridesmaids wore navy dresses with cream cabbage rose bouquets and the groomsmen all had navy vests with plaid ties and cream Vans shoes.  I'm not gonna lie, it was a dapper-looking bunch!

Dinner was served and the toasts began to honor the bride and groom.  I can honestly say I haven't heard a better speech from a best man!  There wasn't a dry eye in the house.

 The dinner was delicious and the company couldn't have been better.  One of my favorite things about this celebration was that Supermodel and BBF have such a diverse group of friends and it was so nice to get to spend the day with them!

I think I'm still "coming down" from this amazing experience.  But you know what was the nicest part?  That I get to have these two in my "real" life back in Salt Lake City.  I hope you all have a lovely weekend! xo.

Give. Luck.

The excitement has set in.  At random times throughout the day, my heart will decide to trampoline off my diaphragm and leap into my throat.  I am giddy, yes, unapologetically, ridiculously, unequivocally, giddy for Bestest Bests nuptials on Saturday!

I think much of this excitement was siphoned off my very own "wedding giddiness reserve" since much of my own emotion was spent on last minute to-dos and panic over my own wedding.  It's been almost a year since Shug and I jumped into a life together and, while I thought it impossible, things have gotten even better.  I'm not trying to say life is full of cartoon birdies helping fold the laundry...life still happens.  We get grumpy, tired, sick, aggravated, and impatient.  But the gift of having a partner in crime who knows the whole crazy backstory of WHY you may be grumpy or impatient is priceless.

Before I got married, I thought I understood what loving another person meant.  I realize now you learn how to love each day a little differently.  Burrowing out new spaces in my heart for Shug to reside hasn't been easy. I didn't think I could fit anymore places to love in there.  I really love him THAT much.  No.  I've always been right.  Like never-ever-wrong-right.  Well, he taught me, because I eschewed the married life for years, arguing I didn't want to fix something that wasn't broken.  But I was wrong, I admit it, that a healthy relationship needn't be "fixed," because it's not a machine or a toaster.  A relationship is a living growing organism, needing constant care and room to grow and change.  This flux needs attention.  This plasticity demands a willingness to learn. Every. Single. Day.

I'm not saying marriage is the "magic ingredient."  Hell, no.  I am lucky enough to know people who are committed and still in love and in their 80th year that didn't need no stinkin' marriage license.  I realize that I needed marriage to kick me into really "working" at my relationship.   This is why I am so happy for Bestest Best.  I am excited she'll get the kick in the pants, too.  It's not that she needs it, I'm just excited for her to start this new chapter.  We're lucky, just so lucky.  

So as I search for that perfect wedding gift, I'm just going to give Luck.  The fact that we made it this far is lucky, but you can always use a little more here and there in the future.

Source.

Priority Smackdown

Sometimes,

you have to leave the laundry where it is,

turn your phone off,

put the homework away,

order takeout,

and love on your sweetheart(s).

My house is a mess.

My jobs are crazy.

School is ridic.

That's ok.

I'm looking forward to spending time with my sweets.

What are you doing this weekend?

The Art of Saying "No."

I've always been a pleaser.  Blame my birth order as the eldest child or my propensity to try to fix everything I see as "broken," but I just want to make people happy.  In many ways this is a blessing, since I am going into a helping profession that demands lending an ear sans judgment on a ridiculously regular basis.  But I've started, yes, just barely started, to realize I need to start policing my resources.

This realization came after a particularly arduous day at work, followed by another "crisis" that demanded my attention into the wee hours of the morning.  Do you know who I didn't get to ask how their day was, after talking about how everyone else's day was ad nauseam?  Shug.  Do you know who had to eat dinner by himself as I attended to the rest of the world's issues?  Shug.  Do you know who pulled the covers over me and turned out the light when I had crumpled into bed after I had exhausted every last resource of energy I had for the day? Shug.

So, lines in the sand have been drawn.  I am now set to protect the modicum of safety and sanity we've built together.  This is hard for me.  I'm practically unwinding my own DNA every time I tell a person "no" now.  It's hard because I do care about these people that ask and ask and ask, but I also need to start caring a little more about me.  I'm not talking about being selfish, just reserving enough for myself so I am capable enough to attend to my own relationships and priorities.  Typing that just gave me a migraine.

Is it difficult for you to tell people "no?"

Source.

Yellow Dress Search Continues...

STILL looking for the right shade of yellow....

Help!

This cute number is by THREAD, but it's waaaay outside my price range.

P.S. This is totally unrelated, but for the most heart-warming and raw birth story, head on over to Pacing the Panic Room.  And bring tissues.

Camera Bag Dupe

If anyone knows Shug, they know he looooves photography.

Our camera count in the house is at an all-time-high of 26.

Yes, 26 cameras live in our house.

The funnier part of this equation is that we have ONE

functioning camera bag that Shug deplores.

I thought this Fjallraven Backback would be a good lil' bugger to lug around a few of those cameras!

Secret to a Lasting Relationship/Marriage #27

Have your partner completely in charge

of a single "big" chore.

For example:

Shug is the master at laundry,

so that's what he does!

Ruby likes to think she's

helping, too!

I'm in charge of cooking.

It's nice, because we never have to stress about the things we don't have to do!

Tongue Kisses are on Hiatus

I am super sick right now.

It seems my body got word that I had a few days off

and decided to MAKE me take a break 

with a horrible cold.

The bum deal is that I still have a ton of papers

and final projects that need to be completed!

Shug and Ruby are only allowed to kiss each other.

I don't want to give anyone else this grossness.

If you would, send some healing thoughts my way.

Pretty please.

Brunchday

I love Sundays because it usually means brunch!

Have a lovely Sunday!

xo.