grapes and birth orders

"The best match for a last born is obviously a first born – someone who is conscientious and a little more confident about having life together and keeping it that way. By the same token, the fun-loving nature of the last born can help loosen up the first born’s typically over-serious, conscientious approach to life. Possibly the best match one can find is the first-born female and the last-born male. First-born females are often mothering types and last-born males often need mothering."

- The Birth Order Book, by Kevin Leman

This quote makes me laugh, mostly because it applies to my daily life.  Like yesterday when we were perusing the produce at Harmon's and I started to grab a bag of grapes.  Matt, the pickiest eater I've ever met, and coincidentally the youngest in his family, immediately protested.  I thought it was because he had some aversion to the way the grape's skin gets stuck in his throat, but no:

"The bag is open!!"

I am the oldest child in my family, and my mom quickly recruited me for family grocery shopping when I turned sixteen.  This was not my first rodeo.

"The bags are always open with grapes, Matt.  Want to try one to see if you'll like it?"

As I tried to find a way to put that into my phone under the notepad "Favorite Matt Quotes," I couldn't stop laughing.  

Of course, he also has an ongoing notepad on his phone where he records my sayings that reflect my "over-serious, conscientious approach to life" that I'm sure he'd be willing to share with you.

wedding recap: invitations

One of the most important things to me throughout the whole wedding experience was the invitations.  I have always loved wedding invitations, and for my own wedding I wanted an invitation someone would save, or show to a friend, or put on their fridge.
Six years (!) before our wedding, a few of my best friends from my home ward got married within a few months of each other.  One of them made her own invitations and I knew, even then as a seventeen-year-old, that I would have her do my invitations for my wedding.  Since then she had made more wedding invitations and baby announcements, and I was so excited we were finally doing mine!
Lauren was so great throughout the whole process.  She went and picked up the paint chips I told her I wanted for colors, she scanned in the colors so she would have the exact hue for fonts and embellishments, and she emailed me back and forth about the different shades of purple envelopes approximately 15 times.  I really liked invitations that told a story and let the reader get to know the couple.  Lauren skyped with Matt and me to talk about "our story" even though, being one of my bests, Lauren knew most of my side.  :)  I was a little disturbed after our skype conversation because it seemed like all we talked about was how we never liked each other, or how we got in this fight, or that time we were dating other people, or some other dysfunctional event in our relationship.  I had no idea what Lauren got out of it or how she would interpret our story.  But then she sent me this:

You guys, it looks even better printed.  I mean that.  When Matt saw them printed for the first time he was in awe.

our actual announcement

the rsvp card

this was my favorite -- Lauren ended up using this "peacock" design
on a lot of our signage at the reception

How talented is my friend?!  And how lucky am I to know her?  I am so so grateful she did our invitations (and even later helped throw a bridal shower -- I have good friends), I couldn't have dreamed of a more perfect invitation for us.  Let me know if you want her contact information for your own special event!  She is working on setting up an Etsy shop and I will update this accordingly!

Go here for more wedding recaps.

you take me the way i am

Matt and I met at Six Flags ten years ago this month.
The other night I found myself looking back on that hot summer day in the Texas heat.  I still remember what I was wearing.  I remember how nervous I was to be with a new group of friends full of cute boys and intimidatingly beautiful girls.  I remember looking across our bunching of friends as we all unloaded from our cars and were about to embark on our day of spinning and flirting.  I saw Matt looking a little bit as isolated as I was, and the moment seemed to stand still.  I made up my mind and in as bold a move as any self conscious fourteen-year-old girl can make, I walked across the makeshift circle and asked him, "Want to go on a ride?"  I had no idea just how much foreshadowing life was providing me that day, but as I hopped on roller coaster after roller coaster, slowly getting to know the person behind those sad blue eyes and McNeil baseball jersey, I really began my journey into the rest of my life.  In so many ways, the journey greatly reflected that day at Six Flags, with ups and downs, awkward encounters and uncomfortable phone calls.  Exhilarating highs of first kisses and long-distance conversations that ran into the wee hours of the morning.  Plummeting drop-offs of heartache after experiencing the highs only teenage romance can create.  On that day in July, there were a few rides that Matt did not want to go on with me -- too topsy-turvy.  But that was okay, because I had other friends who were willing to take the ride with me.  That continued to be true throughout the next ten years, as Matt and I would separate for periods of time, either due to distance or circumstance, and I was reminded how blessed I was, and still am, to have loyal friends who love me and bring so much joy to my life.

As I sat there reminiscing on that day, on that moment, on that summer and subsequent semester, I realized that I am living my own little fairy tale.  I married my prom date, I married my high school sweetheart, I married the first boy I ever loved, I married my best friend.

2002

At our marriage ceremony, our sealer talked about how rare it is to find someone who accepts you, someone who accepts all of you.  I know I have many flaws, yet I am so grateful I found someone who loves all of me -- including the flaws.  I love this beautiful life we live.  And I love this man more every single day.

Here's to living your very own fairy tale.

park city escape

Last weekend we decided to beat boredom to the punch and drove up to Park City for a little shopping, relaxation, and a twenty degree temperature drop.  I recently threw away over half of my wardrobe in the middle of reading this book and needed a couple key items, and Matt wanted a couple more summer options so we were off to the outlets.  In high school, my friend Laura and I always had a goal when shopping to leave with at least one bag in each hand.  It just felt more successful walking to your car.  After a few stores, let's just say we felt very successful indeed.

After our shopping extravaganza, we continued up the road to downtown Park City.  I love the feeling of their Main Street, it often feels like you're on a movie set, especially when it's snowing.  Still, I'll take outdoor eating over snow any day.  We made another split decision based off our Yelp app and ate outside at Easy Street Brasserie.  It was such a charming little restaurant with a waterfall running through the outdoor patio and a fire pit gently burning in the twilight.  Our water came quickly, but after ten minutes we started to wonder where our waiter was.
Now, I have a certain talent for being gifted with free food at restaurants.  I am typically not a complainer, but for one reason or another I often end up with a free appetizer or dessert.  Our first time eating at Settebello, we polished off the focaccia appetizer before they were even able to bring out the oil and vinegar.  We didn't notice, but our waiter still comped the bread.  We only argued a little.  Years ago at BJ's in Westwood, I went to the restroom and the waiters cleared my half-eaten sandwich.  I don't remember saying anything, but they felt so bad they gave me a whole entree to take home and brought us a pizookie.  This was after they thought we were waiting too long for our entrees and brought us free chips and salsa.  A couple months ago at Cheesecake Factory, apparently they dropped my entree while packing it up in the kitchen so they brought me a free slice of cheesecake.  I'm telling you, it must be a gift.
Anyway, after our bus boy reminded our waiter about us, we received delicious free salads while we waited for our entrees (fish & chips, short rib grilled cheese - yum), and then our waiter brought out two of the most heavenly desserts I've ever had: nutella creme brulee and dark chocolate mousse sandwiched between amazing pastries that came with dark chocolate syrup and house-made caramel.  You guys, it was divine.
So we're thinking of buying a new camera because, as you can see from the lack of quality pictures, we don't have one.  Any suggestions?  Our life isn't the most exciting, but if nothing else we can take pictures of the delicious food we get for free.