Monday, January 31, 2011

Key to my heart


Did I mention a month ago that I pre-ordered Bright Eyes' forthcoming album, The People's Key?  Is it February 15 yet???  I feel like a teenage girl because I'm so giddy with excitement.  

If only Conor and co. were coming to B-more...

Cheddar Broccoli Soup with Seedy Mustard Croutons


Last night I made Heidi Swanson's tasty cheddar broccoli soup for dinner.  I love her healthy, hearty recipes.  

My favorite part was the addition of crispy, buttery homemade croutons. How to: Tear chunks of a day-old baguette into 1 inch pieces, cover in melted butter, seedy mustard and sea salt, toss, then toast in the oven at 350 for 15 minutes or until golden brown.  

[Thanks, Emily, for giving us Heidi's cookbook for our wedding!] 

Friday, January 28, 2011

Ooohhh, shiny...


Many women would agree that gold hoops are a wardrobe staple.  Another great way to justify a purchase!  

Happy Friday lovely readers :) 

Music therapy


Maybe you recognize these images? Maybe not. 

They're album covers from the latest releases from Ghostland Observatory, Iron & Wine and Foals.  I'm high as a kite because all three bands are coming to Baltimore, and we've got tickets! There's nothing in Seattle that I miss more that the music scene (other than coffee), so it always feels like a jackpot when great bands tour in B-more.  

Been to any great shows lately? 

Thursday, January 27, 2011

My heart broke a little yesterday...


The Minimalist, the brilliant Mark Bittman, will no longer be writing his weekly column for the New York Times.  I'm having a bit of a foodie pity party because of this news, but am happy he is moving onto new opportunities in food advocacy.

Despite him leaving the column behind, I still have this idea that Bitty and I will be friends one day when I live in NYC and that we'll cook together in either his tiny apartment or ours. Is that weird?

How many is too many?


This wooly bag would be so great for work.  You could stuff your lunch in there, have room for a small make-up bag and even your giant wallet.  I just got a new purse for crying out loud. This one would be used for completely different occasions, though...

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Movie indulgence


Instead of curing the blues with food last night,  I decided we should go to the movies (again).  We saw Sofia Coppola's new film, Somewhere.  The best part was, our local free weekly paper was hosting a movie night for their readers, so we were surprised with free tickets!  

The cinematography in Somewhere was beautiful with loads of airy, washed out shots of Los Angeles and southern California.  The plot, ......hmmm.  I wasn't totally captivated by the plot.  Elle Fanning's performance, on the other hand, was delightfully innocent and beautiful. How often do we see an 11 year old shine and glimmer on film with their own natural poise and sensibility?  Not often enough, I realized.

What movies have you seen lately?

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Feeling blue


Last night we saw Blue Valentine.  And, yesterday my mom went home after a lovely visit to our home in B-more.  To top it off, I'm working Saturday, so today feels like Monday again.  The sum of this equation is that today feels rough. 

Too often I convince myself that I deserve a treat or reward for surviving another day, but I'm getting tired of eating my way out of the blues.  I even considered a gym membership. Meh.

It seems like many people I know are feeling a little blue as of late.  (In fact, I think the girls across the table from me at the coffee shop are having a full-blown counseling session at their table, wowza.  Three cheers for self-affirmation!)

Not feeling it?





I recognize not everyone is keen to celebrate Valentines Day in the traditional sense.  So, here are a few things just for you.  Is anti-Valentine too strong? 

Happy almost February loves.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Rocker


This modern chair print makes me smile.  My fave is the powder blue rocker; what's yours? 

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Quick! Act smart.


Today Tuesday is a Monday, so tomorrow is Wednesday, so it's almost Friday, right?  

Whatever day it is, I hope you had a great weekend and have a lovely week.  My mom is visiting and we  packed it in this weekend with brunch Saturday and Swan Lake that evening, visiting all the monuments in DC on Saturday and then heading to Philly yesterday to see the Liberty Bell and the Philadelphia Art Museum.  A jolly ole time. 

Now, more coffee. xo

Friday, January 14, 2011

Have a fun weekend!


My mom is coming, fun fun fun! Have a good one... :) 

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Coming soon...


Reception photos.  There's some fun ones!

Something pretty


Thought we could all use a touch of color today. 

Is it Friday yet? 

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Chubby Stick


As if the name weren't enough to sell me, this new moisturizing lip color from Clinique comes in eight different lovely shades.  

Wish list!

Take me to Santa Fe


This month I've been missing good friends and time in the warm sun.  Even though I know the weather will change before I know it, it's still snowing outside and I could use a break from these cold toes of mine.   Plus, talking on the phone with best friends just isn't the same as sharing cappuccino's in person.  

I'm voting for an all-girls destination vacation in Santa Fe.  Doesn't a destination trip with girlfriends who are scattered across the map sound like a great idea?  

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Super Natural Everyday


I can't wait for Heidi Swanson's new cookbook to come out, Super Natural Everyday.  This egg salad toast looks amazing.

I love eggs.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Mushroom bourguignon


Lately, Ryan and I have been cooking together more often.  I love to cook, but get so bored and lonely in the kitchen sometimes.  So, I'm relinquishing control of some prep work and using his chopping skills to my advantage.  So far, so good.  He's also really good at grating cheese, which I hate to do.  Another plus.

Last night, we made the smitten kitchen recipe for mushroom bourguignon.  Hoooooooooly wow, people.  So good!  By far the best meal I've had at home in a long while.  And so easy, too!  I can't wait to eat the leftovers tonight.  

Wedding photos: The ceremony


I hope you have enjoyed all my wedding posts so far.  Only a few more, I promise! For now, here are a few special shots from the moments leading up to the big event and the ceremony itself.

Our ceremony took place at 5:00 PM on Saturday, September 25, 2010.  It was a beautiful and completely surprisingly sunny day in Seattle. We were fully prepared for the normal Seattle doom-and-gloom sort of sky.  So, when the sun rose brightly that morning (yes, I was awake by sunrise), it was such an unexpected gift!


Thanks to some very thoughtful bridesmaid planning, all of us ladies enjoyed a can of Sofia Coppola champagne just before we lined up to walk into the Fremont Abbey, where the wedding took place.  We toasted, gulped and took a few adorable photos to commemorate the moment. 


My bridesmaid Kristin and I went to Pike Place Market the morning before the wedding to buy dahlia's and other flowers for the bouquets and the table decor.  Then, on the morning of the wedding, the bridesmaids assembled all the bouquets themselves.  They were amazing improv florists, who knew!


The flowers were simple, but lovely.  For my bouquet, I wrapped the flowers in the sash that came from my dress, since I bought the one you see here in this photo.  The long sash around my flowers hung nearly to my knees and blew in the wind.  The big, white dahlia's looked like pom-pom's.  


This is one of my favorite photos with my dear friend, Megan.  A stolen moment, caught on film.






All of these photos speak for themselves.  (And for that reason, I get a little misty-eyed when I see them again!)



These captured moments with my dad and Ryan's mom make my heart melt.  I love the concern in Kathy's eyes and the tender, affectionate hand my dad offered me just before we walked down the aisle together.  


Here is our flower girl, Grace and her mom, my bridesmaid, Olivia.  They made an adorable duo walking down the aisle.  


The moment we'd all been waiting for!  

My dad and I and the entire wedding party walked down the aisle to one song, Across the Universe, by the Beatles, but covered by an obscure band called Laibach (if you click on the link, ignore the bazaar video and just enjoy the music!). The acoustics in the Abbey made it sound like a choir was singing.  We thought it was beautiful.  

Since we had rehearsed the ceremony just the day before, at this point I was feeling totally in the zone and ready for anything.  A good feeling.





I don't remember very much humor during the ceremony, but so many of our photos show all of us smiling, giggling and laughing out loud!  I used the think weddings should be so serious, but having gone through it, it was fun to realize how much joy and excitement is bursting from each moment. We couldn't help but laugh and smile through the entire ceremony.  And since I cried my eyes out during the rehearsal, our ceremony was virtually tear free! 



Here is Ryan giving me my ring.


And me putting Ryan's ring on the wrong finger. Oops!  We'll debate whose fault that was for the rest of our lives.


For the readings during the ceremony, we asked my grandparents, Ryan's parents and our dear friends, Rachel and Than, to do the three readings.  We listed the readers in the program as "three generations of marriage that have inspired the bride and groom".  Their readings were one of my favorite parts of the ceremony.





Phew! That kiss made me think my veil was going to fall off!  What a moment.  Everyone cheered and clapped and it was official.... we were married!  

Our exit song was Rill Rill, an unrelated, but bursting-with-joy kind of song.  


Next up: decor, reception and dancing!  xo

P.S.  We bought this book for our readings and loved it.  A great book on love and relationships, even if you aren't planning a wedding.

P.S.S.  My grandparents read Hafiz, Ryan's parents read Ecclesiastes and Rachel and Than read Stanley Kunitz.

P.S.S.S. We tucked this poem inside the program:

One faith is bondage. Two
are free. In the trust
of old love, cultivation shows
a dark graceful wilderness
at its heart. Wild
in that wilderness, we roam
the distances of our faith,
safe beyond the bounds
of what we know. O love,
open. Show me
my country. Take me home.

A Homecoming, by Wendell Berry

Thanks again for reading!