2014 was a pretty great year, but it was also a roller coaster. It was a year of great friends moving away, siblings moving closer (physically and emotionally), life-altering trips to europe, strengthening of new relationships and old, and there were heartbreaking losses to our little community. There were both uncertainty and celebration in droves. And countless (albeit meaningful) little things in between.

I know that 2015 will be even more of a trip, with three vacations already in the works (and it's only January, folks), two weddings and potentially big life-plans in the balance. Families are changing all around me. But this year, I hope to fit in as many time-outs for myself as possible. I need to learn to take better care of my mind and body, in order to keep up with it all, to fully soak it all in. Isn't life supposed to slow down as you get older? This year will be the last year of my twenties, and with my thirties inching ever-closer, I feel an itching to clean out the cobwebs. I feel a need to learn all of those things you're supposed to be good at when you become an adult. Like washing your face before bed every night, removing your makeup before it has a chance to crust itself into your pores like artifacts to haunt you years into the future. Like learning to better manage your finances, and pay off old debts, taking charge of your dreams once and for all. Like putting yourself out there more, going for what you want in life and especially in career; this is no time to rest on your Laurels.

But it all seems so daunting sometimes. There are things I should know how to do, and the idea that I need to learn them is at once overwhelming and exhilarating. This post has become weighty, but it was meant more as a pep-talk for myself, but we all need those sometimes, right? Here's wishing you all a happy, healthy, and most of all, an extraordinarily fulfilling new year.

Normally, I dont get into the Christmas spirit until after Thanksgiving (yes, I realize that it is now after Thanksgiving), but this year I found myself accidentally humming to the Christmas music playing on the speakers in Home Depots and Targets long before it was decent to do so. I found myself perusing google images for Christmas decoration inspiration and how-tos before I had even researched which apple pie recipe I was going to make for our Thanksgiving feast (ahem, the night before...)

I blame it, in part, on the fact that we have a house now and I am excited to decorate it for the first time! I am excited to try out these weird suction cups that claim to hold up a 20-lb wreath on a single window pane! And guys, I am so excited to try out getting my first ever real Christmas tree! It's the first time in my life I really feel that sense of pride in making my house look nice for the Holidays.

Also, I feel like I really need the extra Christmas cheer this year. Aside from the yearly seasonal depression I know to anticipate, and the annual work stress of putting on the nation's largest college Art Sale, we've both had a long year: celebrating our first year of marriage, mourning the deaths of two grandmas (one of each of ours), enduring the stress of house-hunting and putting in purchase offers, and elation in first-time homeownership. We've traveled to a state we've never been to before, Illinois, met some great new people, and helped make a wedding for our sister and brother-in-law.

Now I know we still have a month left of 2012, but I've been feeling thankful (tis the season) and pondering the future. And I thought this would be a good time to mention it.

Have a great rest of 2012, folks! And prepare yourself for Christmas decorations post PART DEUX, when we go pick out our Christmas tree! I am pumped.
xoxo

Does your partner annoy you? Joanna from Cup of Jo always asks her readers to weigh in on questions she poses. And this one really made me think. Because while I am totally head-over-heels in love with my partner, yes, there are still things that bug me about him. But she makes a good point (or rather, her husband Alex does) that annoyances are "part of the fabric of the relationship. They try to act like they're driving each other crazy but they really can't live with out each other. Annoyances aren't a deal killer. They're a natural part of a long, happy marriage."

Things that Alex does that annoy me:
-He is such a smarty-pants. He always has to explain things to me in a very calculated, scientific, smarty-pants way. When I dont understand the language he's speaking, I end up getting even more frustrated.
-His reluctance to try new things (which he has been getting better and better about in the last few years, but very slowly). He always wants to go back to his favorite restaurants, and go on the same vacations over again, and do things the way he's always done them. I hate doing things the same way twice, even watching movies for a second time! There are just too many things/places I havent gone yet to think about going back again!

Things that I do that annoy Alex:
-In general, I am very good at spelling and grammar. But the one that I never say right is "borrow, and lend." Somehow I manage to always say "Emma borrowed me this book," instead of "Emma lent me this book." (Did I say that right?)
-I watch bad tv. He cant stand being in the same room with me when Im watching Gossip Girl, Charmed, Law and Order or any crime show. He can be half-listening and still find fault with the plot or the legitimacy of the show. He hates them.

Also, I totally stumbled upon one of THE BEST twin cities guides! All thanks to Design*Sponge! It is written from the point of view of an actual local, instead of sounding like every other city guide out there (aside from The City Scout, of course!!!), regurgitated over and over again from soul-less internet articles and best-of lists. It is seriously amazing and comprehensive, you should check it out.

Design*Sponge ALSO did a little home tour yesterday of Sarah & Greg's Los Angeles apartment, whom I had a chance to meet up with while visiting Miss Katie back in March. It was so great to see your amazing apartment Sarah & Greg, Katie & Scott talk about it all the time! (Go check it out, I especially love that vintage couch and chair set!)

TRAVELING... I have that itch again! I know, I just went to CA, but it was such a short visit! I was browsing Airbnb yesterday, and I found this adorable little flat in Istanbul for only $14/night (THOSE VIEWS OMG)! I think I might have to make that happen. UGHGhGhGHHHHHhhhh.

PESTO. It is taking over my life! We've had a few weeks of our CSA delivered now, and all we seem to be getting these first few weeks is spinach, arugula, swiss chard, salad greens and more salad greens! When we cant quite finish them at the end of the week, I've been throwing them all into the food processor with some walnuts, garlic, olive oil and S+P to make a quick pesto. But NOW I have too much pesto... a few small jars of it in my fridge. But I found out last night that I can just scoop it with some crunchy french bread and some spreadable goat cheese and it is to die for. BEST THING EVER.

What's up with you guys? I feel like we havent caught up in awhile.

A few weeks ago, our good friends Ben and Bill had a cookout/party to celebrate their recent (official) domestic partnership status. It had to have a theme of course, so they decided on Domestic PartyShip, a nautical party me maytee, arr! They even handed out sailor hats as party favors, and I have to say, everyone looked smashing! Almost as if we all walked directly off a (very fashionable) boat and into their lawn, haha.

It was one of the first perfect summer days with nothing but sunshine and a light breeze, just warm enough for a campfire late at night. Here are some of the pictures I captured with the famous Canon Demi S. For some reason, I must have been really into taking portraits that day. So here are a selection of those, with lots more on my Flickr!

I am so happy for you both, congratulations again Ben & Bill! I wish you both an eternity of happiness.

When Alex and I moved in together in 2008, we both had busy full time jobs and lots of friends and etc, and we started realizing that we didnt spend much quality time with each other alone anymore, even though we lived together. Most of our time alone was spent curled up in front of the tv or crammed in the bathroom brushing our teeth in the morning! Great stuff, but not very romantic. So we carved out some time each week just for date nights, deciding on Mondays mainly because we knew things most likely conflict on Monday nights. AND I SWEAR YOU GUYS, it is one of the best decisions we have ever made. We usually go out to a new-to-us restaurant (or one of our all-time favs), since we are so obsessed with food. But we also go to movies, bowling, the Walker or walks/picnics in the park. It really reminds us to connect as a couple, and actually we tend to look forward to Mondays now (who does that?!)

So I would highly recommend it to all couples out there: married, dating, living together, not living together, have kids, newly dating, dating forever or what have you!

Here is an outfit I wore to our last date night. I had totally forgotten that I had this dress (or maybe rather, how much I like this dress!) We went to Red Stag in NE, which we rarely get over to, even though Alex has deemed their burger the "best burger he has ever had in his life." He always gets that. I got a spicy chili-infused mint julep (not for the faint of heart, actually!) and polenta. YUM. The night was ended with some Mad Men on the couch, if I remember correctly. We have been watching it from the beginning again, since we havent seen any of the new episodes and wanted to get back up to date with it first. Can I just say, it is so different the second time around?!?



dress: F21, years ago
fleur de lis necklace: etsy, gift from Alex!
sandals: vintage, thrifted
bag: vintage, Melrose Flea

PS: I am sporting the necklace Alex picked out for me for our first married anniversary, though you probably cant see it very well in this picture. He did such an awesome job (he snooped my Pinterest for something I liked, GENIUS)!

Also also, in a sort-of-related-fashion, I recently stumbled across this hobby compatibility quiz that Amanda from wit + whistle whipped up. What a curious and fun idea! Maybe Alex and I will go golfing or take a ceramics class next date night, we will see!

Alex and I have been together for almost 9 years now, can you believe it? I couldnt begin to imagine a life without him. And its strange, being used to celebrating another year and another year of being together, to celebrating month by month of marriage, and finally 1 single year all over again. On Memorial Day, after a whirlwind weekend in which a couple of our friends stayed at our apartment with us (more on that later), we celebrated our very first year of Marriage!

We went to Meritage in St. Paul (which I have had on my list to go to forevarrrr) and it was delicious. I had escargots, a variety of oysters (yum) and a 1/2 lobster. They even brought us a little champagne on the house to celebrate! Alex gave me an awesome necklace with a fleur-de-lis on it (!) and I gave him a pair of Left Field selvedge denim jeans from Black Blue.

This past year has flown by for us, but it still feels like such an amazing milestone. Alex makes me happier every single day I spend with him, and I could be more giddy (read: Barffffff!) about it.
To celebrate, I've rounded-up some of my most favorite photos of the two of us from the past 9 years.

2004 Camping Trip, gotta love 4 megapixel cameras!

2005

2006, Bemidji MN

2007, hanging out at the Boys' place

2007, Black&White Ball

Our first Christmas living together, 2008

2009 Dance Party, Minneapolis MN

2009, Duluth MN

I love this picture of us doing charades at a friends' cabin, 2009

2010, playing around with Photobooth as usual!

I never pass up an opportunity to show the famous proposal photobooth! San Fransisco, 2010

At our Groom's Dinner at the Bulldog Uptown, 2011

Our Wedding day, 2011

I am just loving the "My Better Half" Series going on over at Amanda Jane Jones' blog. Sweet so sweet, oh my god!

2011 was a whirlwind of a year for me. An Amazing year. I traveled a bit, got married, celebrated friends and family, and I tried to fully appreciate the wonderful life I live. It's not always what I'd pictured myself doing at 25, but I am lucky. And in 2011 I think I did a pretty good job of reminding myself of that! And yet, there are always little improvements that can be made. Some things I've been thinking about making a priority in 2012:

+ Start eating meats again. Something to do with grabbing life by the horns and never holding back!! Never turning down an opportunity to eat well, enjoy life and stay out a little bit too late.

+ I need more candles in my life. Buy a bunch of candles. Something to do with romance.

+ The ubiquitous "I need to get in shape" resolution. I agree with Erin that "get in shape" feels a little bit more attainable than "lose weight." I just feel my age beginning to catch up with me (see above). I'm thinking Mary Helen's Ballet Beautiful might just be the perfect change for me.

+ Have no fear. I might need to deal with some big (difficult?) life changes in 2012, and I have to remember not to be afraid, and remember that everything will work out in the end. Life may not be like I had originally planned, but sometimes it turns out better! Travel more, even if you dont think you have the dough, and take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves to you. Make opportunities happen for myself!

+ Seek out simple little ways to de-stress. Pay bills in advance, have a glass of wine before dinner, make homemade bread and other baked goodies more often.

+ Create more. Whatever that might mean.


PS: Inspired by Jen from jenloveskev, Alex and I whipped up a quick (our first) Happy New Year newsletter/card for family and friends and sent it out last week! You can see it here.