I went to Japan and fell in love.

Photos taken with Instagram. Follow me @woopics.

P.S. Hello Kitty phone booths!

Happy Valentine’s Day! Matt and I celebrated the occasion by going a Korean BBQ restaurant since it’s the most unromantic (read: uncrowded) place you can go. (Your hair reeks like meat and you must unbutton your pants the moment you get in the car to go home. Sexy.) It was awesome.

We’ve definitely become an old married couple. I’ve been noticing it more ever since my younger sister started living with us temporarily. She’s 26, single, and always has some exciting event to attend. Every evening, just as she’s about to leave the house, she cheerily asks us, “What are you guys up to tonight?” Matt and I, both in pajamas and sunken in on the couch with our laptops, stare at each other and mutter, “Uhhhhhh … this?” And then she’ll say, ”Oh … cool … well … have fun!” and prance off in her cute outfit and heels. It’s rather depressing.

But, you know what? It’s not. I’m okay with being an old married lady because I get to do it with that old guy over there, who right now, is waiting for me to watch New Girl in bed with him. … And is now making farting sounds to get me to hurry up. I guess I should go.

I wanted to share this one This American Life Valentine’s Day episode that I love. (Don’t worry, it’s super short!) It shows how important honesty, compassion and humor is a relationship that’s way past the honeymoon stage.

Even after living on this peninsula for nearly a year, I still act like a crazy tourist, making Matt pull over so I can take an Instagram shot of the view. It’s so pretty and I’m so lucky. It always reminds me of that good ol’ Ferris Bueller quote: “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

In case you haven’t seen our latest home project, made with love, a staple gun and a few curse words, here she is! An upholstered headboard, created under the guidance of this Design Sponge tutorial. Matt did the wood-cutting, and the fabric came from an old Anthropologie duvet cover. (I’m so glad it turned out okay because I would have been eternally bummed if I ruined it.) The thing is huge, which is awesome because our bedroom had previously been a big sea of nothingness. I feel tiny leaning against it. Anyway … ta da! DIY success. Phew.

Today, I am 30. So far, there’ve been no tears or meltdowns or tantrums. Birthday success in my book.

I’m happy and sad about the milestone. Sad because I’ve embraced life as a twenty-something for so long (10 years if you’re counting) and it’s hard to simply shed that phase, that identifier. I’ve been able to blame my bad decisions and confusion about the future on my youth, but all of a sudden, it’s like I’ve run out of excuses. Dammit.

But I’m happy, too. Really happy. I can really picture myself loving my thirties. The decade is about finally knowing what’s right for you, and saying, hey, let’s do that. It’s also about dinner parties, possible family-growing and age-appropriate dresses. And more awesomeness, obvs.

(Do 30-year-olds still say “obvs”?)

Cheers to growing up.

Some tidbits that make me happy:

Martha Stewart didn’t become Martha Stewart, queen hostess with the mostess, until 41.

Julia Child didn’t learn to cook until 37.

At 32, J.K. Rowling was an unknown writer.

At 30, Suze Orman was a waitress.

Lucille Ball was 40 when I Love Lucy hit the air.

30, ready or not, here I come.

Do you Instagram? If so, follow me at woopics if you’d like. I just got my first iPhone and I’m in love!

So do what you know.

Matt and I just spent a week in Boston and Chicago. It was a fantastic trip. I wanted to go someplace “fallish” (have you seen the weather here?), and had never been to either city. Both were charming and memorable in their own ways.

Some highlights: 

Chicago: Architecture boat tour, BEAN! (seriously, who knew a metal blob could be so captivating?), Al’s Beef (nom), Second City (I was determined to see a show after listening to Bossypants, and it did not disappoint — hilarious!), dinner with bloggy friends Ang, Jamie and Alex, drinks with Mel atop the John Hancock Center (dude, check out the view from the girls’ restroom — mindblowing), Ruxbin (amazing), Potbelly sandwiches, the Art Institute (a must-must-must-see!), Wicker Park.

Boston: Freedom Trail, Boston Public Library, Neptune Oyster (I’m still dreaming about that lobster roll), Mike’s Pastry (great), Modern Pastry (greater — get the sfogliatelle, trust), Giacomo’s, Myers + Chang (the ginger cream dessert zomg), Brazilian seafood stew at Muqueca, dumplings and beef noodle soup in Chinatown, charcuterie at The Salty Pig (can you tell we’re hungry people?), Haaaavard (where Facebook was born!), visiting Matt’s cousin Carter at MIT, not understanding any of the T-shirts, feeling sad, getting ice cream to feel better, driving up to New Hampshire to see red leaves, settling for green and slightly orange and yellow ones at the Flume Gorge (it’s really stunning there), brewery tours (with free beer!) at Harpoon and Sam Adams.

Such a wonderful whirlwind. Chicago and Boston, I miss you already.