i wish i were here

Pat and I had the luxury of taking a honeymoon immediately following our wedding. It was the best decision we made in the entire wedding planning process (aside from saying “yes” to his proposal). So much goes into planning a wedding and it is gone before you know it, a week to spend time exclusively with your new spouse is a perfect solution to the equation.

As much as we wanted to go someplace exotic in the Caribbean or some where floating along the equator, we would really rather not be blown to smithereens by a category five hurricane just days after saying “I do.” I guess that’s what we get for having a summer wedding, huh?

The alternative to the exotic hurricane-ridden tropics of the Caribbean? The volcanic islands of Hawaii! Hawaii seemed like a sure bet on weather and island beauty. And let me tell you, Maui did NOT disappoint. We’ve already chosen it as our retirement spot. (Don’t worry, we’ll have a spare bedroom for those who would like to visit).

We didn’t do too much while we were there – it was the perfect mix of exploring and relaxation. My favorite part was leaving the lanai door open from our hotel room at night to hear the crashing waves of the Pacific Ocean just feet away. It was so soothing, I fell asleep at about 7:30 nearly every night (no joke). We didn’t do anything too crazy, like helicopter rides over actively steaming volcanoes – or volunteering Pat to sacrifice himself as a dancing pawn during a ceremonial Hawaiian dance before a luau – but that would have been entertaining nonetheless.

As I sit here listening to Pat moan about not being able to open presents this year, I’m secretly longing (and complaining to myself) that I’d rather be jet-setting across the globe to bask in the sun on a tiny little island. Someday again soon, someday.

we made it!

Today, August 27, 2012 marks the one year anniversary from the day I had the chance to marry the best guy a girl could ask for. I know it sounds cliche, but our wedding day was perfect. With the exception of a few comical mishaps – best man not having the accompanying pants for his tux, the limo driver going to the wrong reception hall, etc – it was everything we could have hoped for and more.

A few (of nearly 1,000 – compliments of Viveria Photography) favs:

Life can be funny sometimes. The past year isn’t exactly how I pictured the first year of our marriage going – it was far from the ‘duckies and bunnies’ you hear about. That being said, if we can get through the curveballs that life has thrown at us in the last year, we can get through anything. I ♥ you to the moon and back, Patrick. Happy anniversary to my wonderful husband!

gertrude is gone

I am pleased to announce that surgery went well. While it has been quite the process to get to where we are this afternoon, I am beyond thankful that Gertrude has been safely removed and surgery was quick (only 20 minutes!) with little recovery time needed. We find out in about two weeks to see what Gertrude was – will Donna’s speculation that Gertrude is Pat’s long-lost twin be true?! We shall see.

As Pat drifts in and out from his from his Vicodin-induced coma – well deserved obviously, I would want to be like that too if part of my hamstring was cut out – I bring you some Friday links.

Best beach cottages around the world

My new favorite website for trendy, fashionable outfit ideas

I’m always on the search for the best Bloody in town (the best that I’ve found so far is at Huberts downtown Minneapolis), but thought it might be cool to try a Bloody Mary bar sometime

Coming up on just our one-year wedding anniversary, I couldn’t help but reminisce wholeheartedly about our wedding day and everything we’ve been through the past year. Our first dance was Brad Paisley’s “Then” – and I’m pretty sure the words in the song hold more true today than ever before!

Enjoy your weekend – and hold your loved ones close!

Follow Friday

To keep up to date with the Olympics, be sure to check out the official London 2012 guide. Otherwise you can always stream live on NBC’s Olympics-devoted website.

Rocket Club is a local band filled with talent that has no boundaries – enjoy their summer anthem for those in the North Country (and for those that just like a good rock-out jam):

My current obsession is watching HGTV – and thinking about all of the possibilities we could do to improve and add value to our house, daydreaming about all the possibilities of one day building our dream home, and coming to the realization that we would never want to purchase an old home to remodel. While we both love small home projects, remodeling would better off be saved for those with time, money and sanity.

I love nothing more than a good caprese salad – and it might be a thousand times better when you add pasta to the mix!

Oh, and I suppose I could mention, happy 11 months of wedded bliss to my one and only – my knight in shining armor (said armor may or may not be a pair of over-worn Minnesota Wild shorts – but I love him even more for his ‘simple’ taste). 🙂

Happy Friday!

Happy (Royal) Anniversary

I have a confession. I am a sucker for the British Royal family. I love the history, the palaces, the accents, what they symbolize for Great Britain, the princes and princesses – all of it. When William and Kate Middleton announced their engagement in late 2010, I was elated. Their wedding in April 2011 was like my Superbowl. I recorded all NINE hours of coverage on BBC America – and still haven’t let Pat erase it from the DVR. This past weekend, on the one year anniversary of William and Kate’s marriage, while the rest of the world was focusing on the NFL Draft, I was enamored with the highlights of their wedding coverage. I still claim I’m not the lame one.

Pat (my husband, for those who haven’t grasped that yet) and I were married on August 27, 2011; it was a beautiful summer day that happened in a whirlwind. So much planning goes into a wedding day and its over before you know it! We had a blast and it was everything we had hoped it would be. This past Friday, we too celebrated our eight month wedding anniversary together, by going to dinner on Grand Avenue in St. Paul. While some may call it excessive to celebrate monthly milestones of a marriage, the first few months were a less than ideal start to our marriage. Life’s other circumstances prevented us from fully enjoying our first few months as a married couple. That being said, we ‘grew up’ fast and learned so much about the importance of being each other’s support during tough times.

We are by no means a “fancy” couple – we rarely go to a high-end restaurant for dinner (unless it is a memorable milestone or moment) and being the hillbilly country music lovin’ couple that we are, jeans, boots, and a flannel shirt are often choice of concert attire. We branched out on our six-month wedding anniversary to try a new fancy place for dinner; we went to Oceanaire for a snazzy seafood dinner. While the food was delicious – and it was the first time I had ever tried bluefin tuna – the portion sizes were comparable to what you would give a seven-year old for lunch at the school cafeteria. By the end of our meal, we felt extremely awkward in the midst of all the businessmen and vowed to stick to ‘normal’ people places to be able to enjoy our dinner.

I am horrible with surprises – making them and being the victim of them. Pat, on the other hand, is wonderful with surprises. Our engagement weekend: case and point. I had NO idea! He is so thoughtful, thorough and always spot on with something that I like. Anyway, I wanted to surprise Pat this time by picking a restaurant spot for dinner. His dad’s side of the family is from the south, so Pat has always had a soft spot for southern/BBQ food. I opted to take to him to Dixie’s on Grand in St. Paul for southern home cooking. The restaurant was a tad fancier than what you would picture for a southern restaurant, but the food was delicious nonetheless.

Happy anniversary to William and Kate. And to my husband. May we all continue to make each other laugh and smile – here’s to having half the sorrows and twice the joy.