Let Them Eat Cake

Well, we did it...

We ate the top of our wedding cake. 

What I really should say is that I cut two pieces and we had several bites. It wasn't inedible but it certainly wasn't super tasty either. I figured we could at least say we honored a tradition and finally got that big box out of the freezer.

Isn't It Romantic

Yesterday was delightful. I got to spend it entirely with John at Peddler's Village, the location of our wedding last year, enjoying the warm weather and just quality time together. 

In lieu of any elaborate anniversary gifts, we decided to conserve funds for a trip to New England this summer. However, after John's awesome suggestion, I did get a chance to pick out a new wallet thanks to the nearby Coach outlet.

Last night we had a delicious meal and spent the night in the same room we did after our wedding, watched our wedding video and reminisced about our very eventful first year of marriage. In that time we moved, I changed jobs, we argued, we laughed, we traveled, had many great moments with friends, family and of course Duke, all the while trying to navigate what it truly means to be husband and wife.  I can only hope for many more years as wonderful and exciting as the first.

One For The Road

One year ago today I married my wonderful husband...

and not a day goes by when I'm not so grateful for that.

Here's to many more great years babe! Happy Anniversary :)

7 Things I Love

I’ve been tagged by A. to name seven things I love so let's give it a go...

1. Waking up next to my husband. This past month and a half we've spent more nights a part due to work and other activities than we have in our entire 4 years together. I hated it and will not be taking that for granted any longer.

2. Duke, our boxer, lab, shar-pei mix. Even though he sometimes leaves surprises for me to clean up and hogs all my legroom at night, I couldn't ask for a more sweet and loving dog to have as a part of our little family.

3. My grandmother, Clare. One of my few regrets in moving to PA has been that I don't get to spend enough time with her.

4. My engagement ring. Don't laugh, but even now when I look at it I'm just completely grateful that my husband took the time to give me something I'll always be in awe of.

5. Our backyard in the spring/summer time. It's heavenly. This year I vow to get a hammock and enjoy it that much more.

6.  Getting into bed with a stack of magazines and reading for hours.

7. Oatmeal. I've been eating this kind nearly every day for months and have yet to grow tired of it.

Pretty Things

I stumbled across this website for vintage clothes and accessories and am now freaking at how many cute dresses I must have...

I can totally picture wearing one on our upcoming trip to Jamaica. 

Man I wish I was made of money. For now I'll just have to dream or perhaps sell a few more nail guns next month!

Cut Above The Rest

There is nothing that makes me feel like I can take on anything quite like a sassy, short haircut...

Bring on Spring!

All In Good Time

My weekend consisted of the following not too terribly exciting but nonetheless fulfilling events...

• Attending John's Dad's 60th birthday dinner at The Chart House
• Using my 30% off Gap/Banana/Old Navy coupon to buy new black flats and a belt (the selections were a bit disappointing)
• Catching up on my beloved HBO shows
• Trips to Target and Barnes and Noble (I can't get enough of those stores)
• Eating the tastiest chocolate cream pie from Genuardi's 
• Having dinner in the city with my hubby and cousin Lauren and her husband Bill
• Laundry, laundry and more laundry
• Doing many People magazine crossword puzzles in bed while trying to recover from/prevent a much worse cold than the one I'm going through now
• Put the finishing touches on a bridal shower gift for next weekend
• Packing for Chicago work trip this week
• And finally, searching websites like Paper Source and Etsy for a cool journal fit for my best gal pals and I to begin our inspirational sharing (see last post)

I'm pretty proud of myself.

Great Idea

I really look forward to getting my copy of Real Simple in the mail each month. I think it's full of cool ideas, recipes, you name it. 

Last night while reading the April issue, I came across answers to this month's featured question, "how do you stay connected to the people you care about most?" and was struck by one response from a lady in Houston, TX. She said that she shares a journal with a few close friends, keeping it for a few days, filling it with whatever moves her (i.e. cards, ticket stubs, photos) and then mails it on to the next person.  I thought this was such a great idea. Not that blogging doesn't help me stay connected to those I love, but I think it would be so exciting to open up a package in anticipation for what could be in there next. And the women I know are very creative so the thoughts and ideas would be great to receive. 

So ladies, who is with me? E. and A. I'm thinking of you two in particular! 

No Can See

I'm as blind as a bat. I have been wearing glasses/contacts since the 9th grade and have recently dreaded the evening hours as my poor contacts just can't hack it any longer. Yesterday I had an appointment with a new eye doctor and it was about as intense as any physical exam I have ever received. After explaining to the doc about how I struggle with my vision even while wearing contacts, he put me through the regular exam and then four additional very high-tech tests. One required me to stare at a tiny black box for five minutes straight (per eye!) while clicking a mouse every time I saw a flash in the periphery. It was nuts. However, afterward my doctor went through a very thorough explanation of where I was vision wise and I felt much more educated. 

Later that evening I checked my email and saw that my new eye doctor had written me a message thanking me for my visit and reiterated what we had gone through. He then attached the below photos. For your viewing pleasure readers, I now share with you my eye ball x-rays...

Ewww...

I personally think they look like boobs and I'm not sure exactly what I'm supposed to do with the pics but oddly enough I feel a newfound responsibility for taking care of them and am thankful to my eye doctor for taking his profession so seriously. Who gets that kind of medical service these days?

Testing 1, 2, 3

Our cable is on the fritz so tonight I decided to catch up on other blogs I enjoy. While reading  The Pied A Terre (which is quite lovely by the way) I saw a post about the free personality website 41 Questions.  Never one to miss a chance to analyze myself, I clicked on it and gave it a whirl.

The results are quite interesting to say the least. Mine stated that I'm the following:

Warm-hearted, popular and conscientious. Tend to put the needs of others over their own needs. Feel strong sense of responsibility and duty. Value traditions and security. Interested in serving others. Need positive reinforcement to feel good about themselves. Well-developed sense of space and function.

Pretty much spot on. But what I find most fascinating are the careers it thought I'd be best at...

Home economics, nursing, teaching, administrators, child care, family practice physician, clergy, office managers, counselors, social workers, organization leaders, dental assistants, homemakers, radiological technologists.

I had thought long ago that I'd enjoy teaching but never that I'd be best at a career as Suzy Homemaker. Perhaps I should run and tell my husband that I'm ready to start a family. He'd love that. 

Sold Out

I'm back from my work trip to Chicago and happy to report that it wasn't horrible. I actually learned a few things and had a moment or two to shine in front of the corporate folks which lets face it, doesn't hurt in these shaky economic times. And as a parting gift we were given this...

which oddly enough has the funniest cartoon drawings in it. I can't say for sure if I'll be diving into the actual chapters, but it's definitely worth a good laugh or two on the can. I'm all about the positives this week!