She Likes Purple

New Places on My "Must Visit" List, Part Two

2013-05-23T06:00:00-04:00

Here's my last list, a list I've since crossed two places off (+ one more this fall!). And here's my latest list.

1. Round Top, TX

2. Monument Valley, UT

3. Galapagos Island

4. Turks & Caicos

5. Destin, FL

6. Big Bend, TX

7. Vermont

8. Broken Bow, OK

9. Columbus, OH

10. Mexico City

11. Eureka Springs, AR

12. Palm Springs, CA

Where do you want to go?

Sixth Anniversary

2013-05-20T06:00:00-04:00

(The iron and candy anniversary! Or, as I'm calling it, a nice excuse to eat a lot of Almond Joys.)

You know what they didn't tell me at my bridal shower? That some time over the course of our marriage, Mike would upset me or that on more than one occassion we'd fight our way past midnight and that, also, I wouldn't fit into my wedding dress beyond my wedding night.

I understand why we played shower games and toasted champagne and ate cupcakes (of course my shower had cupcakes) instead of talking about the nitty-gritty. Those parties are about the fun stuff, the cupcakes and the champagne.

Marriage isn't a wedding or a shower or a party or a bunch of cupcakes, though. It's different and harder and better and more important.

What they also didn't tell me at my shower, though, is that Mike would turn out to be the kind of man who apologizes with real grace after those midnight fights, who shows up to talk about the tough stuff even though talking about the tough stuff is like his 1576th favorite thing, if he's rating his favorite things. He turned out to be the guy who hears me when I really need to be heard. He is the man who has never said no when I tell him I need a big hug or an afternoon to myself or for him to sacrifice something he wants for something I need.

Life is weird, isn't it? Six years ago, I was in a lovely wedding dress and last night I was in yoga pants, and both days, both places, were beautiful.

You know what my favorite thing is, if I am rating my own favorite things? Mike's laugh. When he laughs, I swear the world brightens. I would rate it top of the list because he gave that same laugh to Kyle, so Kyle's laugh is my second favorite thing. I'd say it feels extra awesome if I'm the one who has made either of them laugh, but I'll take the sound however I can get it. Mike's laugh, man. It's the best. That's not a catchphrase. It really is the best.

That's one thing I could have told you at my bridal shower. That Mike's laugh starts in his eyes, and it's the best sound I've ever heard.

There have been fights, oh have there been (and there will be more) and Mike will upset me many more times in our lifetime and who the hell knows if I'll ever fit in that wedding dress again, but every single day I've gotten to hear Mike laugh has been a good day. I've never stopped loving that sound, that guy, nine years after meeting him, six years after marrying him. He didn't give Kyle his hair, but he gave him that laugh. It starts in both their eyes.

I loved Mike so much on our wedding day, I couldn't even stand it.

I love him even more today.

(One of my favorite wedding pictures, of us listening to my SIL give a beautiful toast.)

Six years! Pass the candy.

Pinterest Challenge #2

2013-05-14T06:00:00-04:00

We've already established that I'm lame enough to love stuff like this. So, let's just embrace the lameness.

Here are a handful of pins I'd like to tackle before July 1st.

1. I saw this awesome idea in a recent issue of Martha Stewart Living, and I loved it for remembering trips. I also like the idea of actually printing vacation photos (instead of having them live and die on a computer) and slipping them inside.

2. Roasted Red Pepper Quinoa + White Bean Burgers. I'm always looking for a delicious veggie burger and not a "grill a portobello mushroom and slap it between a couple buns and call it a day" burger. This looks unique and delicious.

3. I like adding things to my Pinterest Challenge lists that are basically just me buying things. I need a new iPhone case, and this one is pretty fantastic, right?

4. I think this spruced-up tote bag might be a big ole recipe for disaster but it is cute and looks relatively easy and canvas tote bags are cheap at Hobby Lobby. We'll see how this goes.

5. Glazed Chocolate Muffins. Need I say more.

6. Pomegranate & Lime White Wine Spritzer. This looks like summer in a glass, I'd say. I should have my girls over and serve these in pitchers.