One of Those Nights

You know those nights where you're so happy and everything looks beautiful? That was our date night last Saturday. The week-long rain had finally taken a break and everything glistened in the light of the setting sun. We stifled our loud laughs all through our sushi dinner, ran up our tab, hopped over puddles and visited a new gelato place. When we got to Edgehill Village, we saw a double rainbow and stood outside staring at it, open mouthed, fingers pointing, with tons of other people all enjoying the exact same thing. For those few minutes I forgot about everything else, all the stresses, everything that sucks right now, and just let my heart swell up with joy. I need more sunset rainbow moments in my life.

At the end of the night, we rolled the windows down and let the sticky air blow in as we sang at the top of our lungs all the way home. The next morning, Miles said we should do that more often. I agreed.

p.s. isn't Boo such a stud with his haircut? Wifey likes.

Healthy Weekend

This weekend was delightfully opposite from last weekend. Miles wasn't sick, and even got off work early on Saturday! So we made the whole afternoon a big ole date, afternoon naps included! Saturdays!! Husband dating!! And I actually did my hair (once I found a super easy way to do it)

Boo, still waking up from our nap

I love it when we hang out. Also, I love that we love our neighborhood. We'll miss it terribly when we buy a house and move across the river. Why can't we just be loaded so we can afford to stay over here?

The rest of the weekend, not captured in pictures, was full of college friend reunions, surprise bday dinners, Hunger Games and a lot more food. I don't think Miles was 100% awake last night when he rolled over to mumble, "I guess the Hunger Games wasn't that bad..." Because he would never confess that in his right mind. And will probably demand I delete this confession as soon as he reads it.

And Part Deux

I count this whole weekend as our Valentine's 2.0. Miles was off work and so we were able to spend so much time together. After doing tons of laundry, washing what felt like all of our pots, pans, glasses, dishes and silverware, vacuuming up a storm, finally doing some legit grocery shopping, and making our bed for the first time in weeks, we dated it up. 

For late giftings, Miles bought me a blender, and I bought him the second season of Bored to Death. Honestly, we each kind of picked out something we wanted for life in general, not thinking about v-day, and much later on decided that they were actually gifts. No guilt, best kind. We watched the first disc of the aforementioned series and then went to our favorite little Italian restaurant. Where we would've spent wayy too much money if it weren't for our lovely Groupon. I'm talking appetizers, pizzas, and desserts. Not just any dessert. Warm Nutella bread pudding. I died. Miles did not. Apparently he doesn't like Nutella? I only learned that after I had ordered it. 

Miles made delicious waffles and we enjoyed a leisurely morning before church. The giant snowflakes proved to be distracting during church. But who would complain of such a distraction? We ate lunch at Sloco, where we had the most delicious sandwiches of our lives. Then we ate Sushi at PM with Miles' mom right after Sloco because he forgot to tell me we were actually supposed to have lunch with her.

Then we all went to see Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close..Where do I even begin with that movie? It was honestly one of the most wonderful movies I've ever seen. Ever! I loved reading the book years ago, and I really want to read it again now. But I feel like I'm telling everyone that they need to go see it ASAP. Because I am. Because you should. Yes, as always, there are things in the book that of course aren't in the movie, but I don't even know how they would include all the little Oscar-isms in the movie. I still think they did an amazing job with the movie. I sat with tears of pure joy clouding my eyes, or tears of complete sadness streaming down my cheeks the entire movie. It's such a beautiful story of self discovery, grief, loss, growth, love...everything. Watch it. 

I fell in love all over again with "the renter" (Max Von Sydow was perfect) 

and the oxymoron wars

Please can I watch it again, right now? Like...right now? What's that? I have to work? Bummer.

pictures found here, and here

Valentine's Pt. 1

I don't think/can't remember if Miles and I have ever made a big deal on Valentine's day. We surely acknowledge it, he's been sweet and I'm sure I've tried something nice... So of course we kept that tradition up this year. I began the day with a plan to make a wonderful dinner for us that evening (we've never try to brave the Valentine's restaurant crowd) but by lunchtime I was too tired from watching three kiddos under the age of three (if you're not good at math, thats two more than usual). Keeping up with two two-year old boys who wander off (around the house) and don't answer when you call for them, and a baby girl who will get into/pull up on anything and everything did not help me get into the dinner making mood. I reasoned with Miles that, despite spending so much money in Chicago, we could surely order Thai take-out and cuddle on the couch whilst watching a lovey-dovey movie.

When I got home, 30 minutes later than I was supposed to, Miles was still trying to call our favorite Thai restaurant a to place and order. They never picked up! Still trying to save the evening, we hopped in the car, still in our guitar building, baby snotted work clothes to place an order in person. When we finally parked and tried to order, they said it'd be 45 minutes. Wompwomp. And of course we had no plan b for dinner. We commiserated, tried not to get too annoyed at our evening, and ended up at at our favorite cheapo Mexican restaurant where every other group of single ladies in their 60s, families with little kids, and loud college friends (not generalizing, I recognized them from past classes. The kind where I was a senior and they were freshmen. Electives!) were dining during happy hour. But you know what? It was actually perfect. We sat in our guitar building, baby snotted work clothes, ate our chips and queso and talked about when we first started dating, future baby names, and everything in between.

We also promised ourselves a fancy date night in the near future (Valentine's pt. 2)

Mini-golf and Tea Parties

I bought a Groupon for mini-golf and go-karting a while back but we only got around to using it yesterday. Well, half of it at least. The go-kart track was shut down for repairs and I tried not to be too upset since thats really all I had wanted to do out of the two activities. But we still had so much fun playing our round of mini-golf. It took me fifteen swings on the first hole, but after that I wasn't too shabby--I was the only one to get a hole in one! And Miles was sweet enough to gracefully give me a score of just five for that first hole embarrassment. 

Yesterday was almost a perfect day. Miles made us a beautiful breakfast with syrup that has changed my life, the weather was amazing, mini-golf was so enjoyable, our go-kart tickets are good for a year...Our weekly grocery shopping trip was one of the most fun we've ever had-and really, there wasn't anything that was all that different about this particular trip. We were just in wonderful moods, Kroger played all my jams, Miles only stood five-feet away from me as I sang loudly along to Groby (I can't find a post to link to, but we all know how much I love unexpected Josh Groban songs), Lara Fabian and LFO, as opposed to heading to the opposite end of the store and pretending like he isn't married to me. 

However, we went to a "rally" that was supposed to be in support of Miles' company, which is tied up in a confusing customs/wildlife/state politics thing. As Miles put it, we were going so that he could "shake babies and kiss hands" (joke?) with all the right people. But soon after we got there we realized that it was  really just a big ole Tea Party rally. I went from the emotional equivalent of eye rolling, to the emotional equivalent of "oh, dear God", then to the emotional equivalent of feeling every possible negative emotion at once, resulting in tears and sobbing on my part. Stupid t-shirts and obscenely large American flags being waved around is one thing, but the crowds of people cheering at a song with the bottom-line of "when you're in my country, you'd better speak my language" and general rhetoric along the lines of God giving America to white people, is something entirely too much for me.

Needless to say, we left. Miles incredibly mad, but totally level headed, whilst I am bawling my eyes out and the opposite of level headed (in those moments, is it a good thing or a bad thing that I am terrified of confrontation). I mean, how is that real life? I'm still processing everything that happened during the short time we were there. But I know that somehow it has changed and inspired me in a way that reading about/watching on television/hearing on the radio these rallies and ideals could have never changed me. Which I guess made yesterday still a pretty good day. Just not as I would have planned it to be.  

All that to say, here are some pictures from our day. The fun parts. 

Impression of PGA golfers

I know it looks like it, but I didn't make that putt..

Birthday Weekend!

It is Miles' 25th birthday today! He's not super big on birthday celebrations, but lucky for him I love them. We both happened to have the whole weekend off (I honestly cannot remember the last time that happened) and decided to make the most of it! Which really means just eating a lot of food and watching a ton of Redbox and Netflix movies. Livin larrrge!

On Friday I woke up a little before 4am for no durn good reason and couldn't go back to sleep for the life of me! So I went to work on about 4 hours of sleep then came home and c-r-a-s-h-e-d. Most intense, deep, nap I have ever had and when I woke up to go have dinner with Miles my body simply couldn't deal with not still being cozied up in my bed (even at 6 on a Friday night). So I felt completely miserable at the mexican place we ate. I took about two bites of food and asked for a to-go box, we came back to the apartment and I had to lay back down. Determined to not ruin this birthday weekend, I rallied thanks to a pb&j sandwich Miles made me..with smooshed smiley faced jelly.

Then after Miles' whined about wanting Sonic's hot fudge cake sundae (that has retired from their menu) we decided Krispy Kreme would suffice. And apparently this drive thru is the location of the Nashville cicada night club because that place was hoppin.

Then there was a lot of wedding errand running on Saturday morning followed by lunch at Elliston Place Soda Shop and a visit to Guitar Center. Half birthday concession and half reward for Miles' being so helpful and patient during all the wedding errands. 

Today we went to church, had a sushi roll at our fave PM, browsed (and bought) at Phonoluxe Records, went back to Guitar Center (where Miles sneakily purchased something on his bday so I couldn't get upset at him) and ate a late lunch (kind of) with Jack White at Burger Up.

 Then I attempted to hastily bake a cake for my boo and failed when I reached the part where I had to smoothly detach the cake from the pan. So I improvised. With cupcakes.

I think (/absolutely know) I went wrong in not allowing the cake to cool...like at all before I removed it from the pan and proceeded to put icing on it. That explains why this cake guy's eye is a little on the droopy side. 

Also, my baby brother graduated from high school yesterday!! I am so proud of him and wish I could have been there. But I cannot wait to see him when he comes for the wedding! He will be joining my sister in Chicago for school and I am already planning a trip up there for their birthdays (a day apart from each other). Aaaand look how adorable (and gorgeous) this photo of my bro and his girlfriend is:

p.s. Miles' birthday and Caleb's graduation were the last big things on my calendar before the wedding. Just sayin'.

Best Present Ever

Miles took me to see Les Misérables this afternoon as part of my graduation present. I am still wandering around my apartment pretending to be Eponine, Cosette, Marius, Jean Valjean...singing to myself and to whatever neighbors can hear me through the walls or down in the courtyard.

Obviously, I loved it. I had tears in my eyes the first 30 minutes and then the rest of the time I sat with one hand up to my heart and he other squeezing Miles' poor fingers to a pulp.

As soon as he left I YouTubed all my favorite 10th anniversary videos. Oh, Michael Ball. Oh, Lea Salonga! I'm going to be on cloud nine for the rest of the week.

My love, you are the best for taking me. Thank youuuuuu

(yes, nosebleed seats--By the time we went to buy tickets all the good seats were taken--even so, the prices were redunnnk.) 

Loveless Sunday

Today was actually pretty full of love, a long wait for our table and tons of biscuits made from scratch. 

Miles is going to be thrilled that I am sharing this picture. 

hahahahahaha

This is what we look like when we wait almost 2 hours for a table at Loveless Cafe on a Sunday afternoon. We took tons of completely normal pictures today too, but of course this one takes the cake.

Today was wonderful. This whole weekend was so perfect I can hardly believe it. Miles and I are complete dorks. 

Hopefully I'll get a chance later on to sit down and share some more pictures from this weekend, but for now I am going to turn on my fan to drown out the ambulances that will inevitably race by tonight (to the hospital 2 blocks down) and cuddle up with my duvet.

Our Perfected Valentine's

When I opened my Valentine presents  to find a new iPhone case (I hated how chunky my *one month* old case was, and envied Miles' sleek and suave case) and my new fave movie, The Young Victoria, Miles asked if I wanted to watch the movie before dinner. He knows me so well. But we were on a tight schedule as he goes to bed ridiculously early during the week, since he has to be at work in the wee mornin hours. So instead of going the traditional route, we ordered carry out from our favorite little Italian place and picked up a bottle of wine--all dressed up in our snazzy date clothes.

We watched my new dvd and Miles sweetly sat through my exclamations of love for Emily Blunt, whoever played Prince Edward, the music, the dresses, the script, etc. I actually loved everything about our night. I think we've found a new Valentine's tradition! We've tried the whole battle-for-a-reservation/table and the lets-stay-in-and-cook-the-most-amazing-dinner-ourselves dealy. And even though I felt a little silly picking up our dinner in heels, it was such a special night.

Miles is truly my best friend and never fails to make me laugh (especially when he isn't trying to). I love how he "wrapped" my presents in big red bag and a package of Valentiney tissue paper. He basically unfolded all of the tissue paper as it came in the package, put my presents inside, then folded all the tissue paper back up over it. All 30-odd sheets. He bought me a joke card that said "Will you be my..." on the front, and "love slave?" on the inside. He signed it "HAHAHA I LOVE YOU!" And I loved it. (Along with the super sweet note that he also placed in the card). He also began to write something on the back of the card, and apparently didn't like it--so instead of crossing it out, or even using white-out, he just ripped the section of wording out from the back of the card. It was a pretty big section too. But I loved it! And I love him.

He liked my wrapping job (mentioned previously), and loved the boots I got him...and loved them even more when I told him I bought them for $5! (Originally priced $140) We definitely high-fived.
Straight up, Miles is the best and I can't wait for all the Valentine's, birthdays, Christmases, Thanksgivings, July 2nds (anniversaries) and all the wonderfully regular days in between.

(Obsessed!)

I took pictures, but they all came out weird and fuzzy...Which makes me sad, since I think it is a result of me dropping my phone in the toilet, like a complete doofus, last week. Maybe we just didn't have good light? (pleeeaaseee)

You're Extremely Hot

Miles and I have never gone all out for Valentine's, as far as we're concerned its just an excuse for us to know we're going on a date and getting to spend time together. Last year, Miles bought me tickets to see Sondre Lerche the day before Valentine's and I actually got to meet him after the show! I was a major dork, but I'm so happy I didn't wimp out--and that Miles consented to taking a picture of us. He's always super embarrassed when I shove my camera/phone in his hand and request a photo to be taken. 

I got this little treat in my email today. Not from anyone, just a subscription...but it still made me smile all the same. 

(post secret)

I don't know what we're doing tonight, I am in charge of deciding where we eat...nothing has come to mind. Last night, I went to wrap Miles' present and discovered I had absolutely nothing to wrap it in...not that he cares at all, I was just in a wrapping mood. So I took one of the million Urban Outfitters bags that I have* and turned it into this:

I cut the straps off and the bag open then used it as my paper and ribbon/love letter holder. I'm pretty proud of how good my resourcefulness ended up looking. I am hoping Miles notices it, even for a second. I'm sure I'll make a point to mention it tonight :)

This is my last Valentine's spent not as Miles' wife. Excitingg!!!! (Weird/Cray-cray!!)

* since it is, after all, my place of work and I always seem to come home with one, even if it just holds my empty lunch containers

Toast

Apparently, I am marrying a buttered toast hoarder.