elegant or not

ohhhh, blogggg.

i miss youuuu.

it's been a really lame couple of weeks, i have to tell you.

the flu (or his cousin or maybe his second cousin?) came for a visit our house and decided to stay a while. dave was the first to go down, then elias, then me (the day before 23 people were to arrive at my home for thanksgiving), then piper. we mostly had a random, peculiar and miscellaneous smattering of symptoms. 103 temps, chills, nausea, runny noses, headaches, general gross feeling-ness. i won't bore you with any details, like about how sick kids are whiny and needy little drips, but by last saturday, i was so desperate to get out of the house that i was giddy to just get out and do errands. i mean, i almost was willing to gladly go to the grocery store. almost. but we're all better now, and truly, i'm grateful that we weren't more sick. a lot of people are really getting nailed with these various strains of flu.

it's funny, i finished reading traveling mercies by anne lamott* when i was sick. and suddenly i felt like being sick is a great opportunity (and not just to catch up on reading).

let me explain.

i picked up in the middle of the book somewhere, and she was talking about her neighbor who had cancer and how one day she woke up feeling awful and achy with a headache and so on, and was complaining to her neighbor. who's essentially...dying. and having chemo and various other painful cancer treatments. but he smiles and is chipper every day because he is at peace, and is enjoying his life anyway. you know, come what may-type thing. and she was killing me, talking about how ridiculous she felt because she was sick, and there she was complaining to him about her seemingly insignificant troubles. and it really reminded me that there is always someone sicker, always someone who's frying a bigger fish in a murkier pond.

she writes "i hate being the kind of person who tries to get someone with stage-four metastatic lung cancer to feel sorry for her just because she has a headache. (though it was an ice pick headache.) but the way i see it, God loves you the same whether you're being elegant of not. it feels much better when you are, but even when you can't fake it, God still listens to your prayers."

i tell ya, my head/body didn't feel better after reading those pages, but my heart did and my soul did. we've all been there, haven't we? when our life sucks "the most", we're the "most tired", or the "most overwhelmed", even though...we're not. and we're really not trying to be elegant, we're just mad or sad or ill or annoyed and we don't care who knows it.

reading those pages was a good reminder to be grateful even when we're ill, and our kids are sick, and they whine and demand to be held constantly. because when we're sick, we get to read books. and snuggle our kids and watch movies all day. and wear pajamas, and have no pressing things “to-do”. and be present. and enjoy the good things wrapped up in the not so good things.

because that’s life. and life IS good.

*and seriously, if you've never read anne lamott, pick up anything she's written. bird by bird, operating instructions, anything. she's somehow reverent and irreverent, quick-witted, insightful, and at times, cheeky. but i live for honesty in writing. it's like breath to me. i'd rather listen to nickelback on repeat then read books that are a bunch of crap. so i admire her rawness. i wish i had half the audacity she does, even if i don't always agree with some of her theology. it's neither here nor there. hilarious is hilarious. and i love me some funny :)

"the Newport experience"

So our night away was simply charmed.
Perfect.
Fabulous.
Romantic.
Restful.
Fun.
Pretty much everything we ever could have hoped for in one short night. Some photos...

Here is Dave in the room we got upgraded to...pretty much four times the size of our original room. WITH an ocean view. What a little blessing :)

The Narragansett Bridge, umm, out our window...

Per the concierges suggestion of where to find delicious food, we headed down to Bannister's Wharf to eat at the Clark Cook House. And we sat next to the fireplace, so that pretty much made my night.

Ambiance? Check.

Perhaps some of the best salmon I've ever had. The crab cakes were good, too, although I still think I make a meaner crab cake at home for, like, an eighth of the price. Just sayin.

Later on we stopped in at The Pelham for a drink and to hear the Kulprits cover some sweet 90's music.

Thames Street on one of those warmish, breezy, rainy, beautiful nights. You know those nights??

And last stop was this room at OceanCliff, in the very same spot we said our vows five years ago. I have to say that this time it was somehow more meaningful after five years of a life spent together. Plus, Davey said all kinds of romantic, heartfelt, and complimentary things to me. C'monn, you can't go wrong with romance, people.

And I leave you with some shots around the hotel.

I kinda wish this mirror was here when I got married. It's stinking beautiful!

All in all, a great night away, a great husband, and seriously- a great life. And a very special shout out to my sister for holding down the fort with her kids AND my kids. For almost 24 hours. Like whoa.

So everyone: renew your vows. Every year. Do it.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

11.14.04

11.14.04.

Was that really FIVE years ago?!
Here are some wedding pictures to commemorate the best move ever made by yours truly, next to investing in that black pair of theory pants. just kidding. Here is a selection of my very favorites :)
(And thanks for all the anniversary wishes, guys. BEST anniversary EVER. i'll be sharing some photos of our Newport experience on Monday, so be sure to check in!)



me and my neices, Caley and Madey

Narragansett Bay. The view from OceanCliff.

I had my tailor bustle the back of this dress more, because I simply ADORE bustling. It wasn't widely vaialble 5 years ago at my price point, but now it's everywhere. Of course. It's alright-10 years, I'll get married again (renew my vows, people.), and maybe I'll be able to find a Monique Lhuillier knock off so I can have all that lace I always wanted! :)

Me and Lee and Ams

Windy was an understatement :)

me and my dad

we do...glady

me and sister

Happy 5th to one amazing husband.

a little friday lovvveee

Since I'd yell them from a rooftop anyway, why not share? Here's a sneak peek of my vows, sans anything inappropriate, of course :)

DBS,
The thing about loving you is that its just. too. easy. I knew 5 years ago that I loved you, and that I’d love you more every day. It was obvious. But looking back over these past five years, I feel like God must really love me a lot to have given me a husband as amazing as you. Truly. And I wonder if He is playing some kind of joke on me sometimes, the way you seem to read my mind and anticipate my needs. Being married to you is far more spectacular than what I could have ever anticipated. Being married to you makes me smile even just thinking about it. I love your ideas, and I love your mind, I love your “immersions.” I love your athleticism, I love your devotion, I love how capable you are. I love your tree eyes and your smile and your laugh. I love how well we fit and how well we complement each other. You bring a lot of joy to my life.

Being with you means anything is possible, and there is nothing that can’t be done. There is no situation, no circumstances that I ever feel nervous or worried about…as long as I have you (and Jesus). And when I am overwhelmed, you help me, and when I feel sad, you tickle me, and when I’m mad, you talk with me and when I’m glad, you laugh with me. And when I am ridiculous…well, you laugh AT me. You know what to do, you know when to do it, and you know how to do it.

These past five years have been so crazy, so amazing, so wonderful, so joy-filled, so revolutionary, so…typical us. I literally can’t wait to see what 5 more years will bring to us, but I have a feeling that if they look anything like the first 5, they’ll be awesome. I cant wait to do anything and everything with
you. I especially can’t wait until your hair is salt and peppered and I convince you to wear loafers and aviators. In time…

You’ve given me many gifts over five years: love, commitment, security, happiness, confidence, wisdom, contentment, and a personal favorite- two healthy, beautiful, bright, and delightful children. Thank you for helping me to raise them to be respectful, loving, patient, kind, and good. Thank you for never thinking it it’s my job to raise them, but for always being hands on, all in, and involved. Thank you for supporting me, for helping me, for protecting me, for laughing at my jokes, for liking me more than anyone else in the whole world, for snuggling me, for understanding me, and for knowing how to dismantle my quiet anger. It is a wonderful thing to be known by you.

When I said ‘I do’ five years ago, I had no idea what it would mean to spend a life with you. When I said I’d be your wife, I had no idea how easy loving you would be. When I made that commitment to you, I had no idea how happy I’d be to be with you alone forever. And when I told you forever, I had no idea how secure that promise would make me feel. I know that you will love me forever, even when I’m not loveable. And since these are vows, I ought to promise you some things, eh? I promise to love you more each day, and better each day. To be what you need; to be the woman next to you, supporting you, listening to you, encouraging you, and helping you. I promise to respect you, to grow alongside you, and I promise that I will be here forever, even if it gets harder. Because you are a man worth fighting for. After all, I did wait six years for you to look at me twice- I think I owe us both that. You, David, are my Deep Blue Sea- the man in my dreams and of my dreams. I love you and adore you an embarrassingly immeasurable amount. Forever.

MLS

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Neither hair nor there

You know what you do when you write a blog and it somehow accidentally disappears? Well, you get a little miffed. Then you wait 30 seconds, breathe deep, and you scrap the original blog and write a much better one (read: shorter one).

About hair. And cool things like that. Because it will make you feel better about writing for the 20 minutes you didn't have and having nothing to show for it ;)

So Shag was awesome, and I'd recommend Lisa to anyone who wants an edgy rockstar haircut. I was laughing at how suburban I looked in a salon full of tatoos and mohawks and awesome red cowboy boots. I loved it..except I felt, and looked, quite like a mom after a 10 hour workday. But who exactly was I hoping to look like? Haha, I WAS a mom after a 10 hour workday.

Silly.

You know what it is? Well, its probably a lot if things, but I blame it on that fashion degree of mine- it pulls at my sensibilities and says absurd things like "you'll totally wear those shoes...just buy them" and "why aren't you, umm, dressed yet?" and "don't you have anything...cuter?" And I yell "leave me aloneee, that was 10 years ago and I have small children who wipe their boogers on my leg and those...shoes...hurt...meeee!"

Hmph. So there, take THAT long tangent of a thought just to say that seriously, I don't need more social pressures and expectations. From one hour in a hair salon. Am I alright?! Just because the people at Shag have cool cowboy boots and sweet tats doesn't mean, well, anything. Except they clearly shop at far more interesting places than me :) Jesus wasn't worried if he had brand name sandles, a cutting edge look, or if he was trendy and fashionable. And I rest assured he is more pleased with me if I focus on important things...

Like having awesome hair.

(kidding)

And for the record, Dave had to take about 3679425788368032 of these before there was a shot or two that I deemed worthy to share with the world at large. I'd much rather be putting my kids pictures up here :)

a quick shag

tonight i'm swinging into southy for a quick haircut at shag salon. my beautiful cousin daina got her hair did there, and it looked fffabulous. as it should- shag salon has apparently been featured on E! and MTV, for pete's sake. my husband insists that for our anniversary (the 14th is practically here!) i go some place a little swanky to get my hair cut again. partially because he thinks hairdressers keep mussing my hair up. fair enough. it's quite uneven right now. and it's our 5 year, so i gotta look gooood.


if you recall, i was contemplating going dark (back in MARCH. don't rush into anything, michelle. and the cut i'm going for is somewhere between the victoria beckham and rhianna 'do's in that post), but i'm holding off for now. partially because i'm a wuss, and partially because everyone and their mom thinks i'm going awol for even considering it. any blondes out there go dark?? c'monn, a vote of confidence would be great. so the dark will wait...although low lights are likely on my horizon.

for my anniversary, you may also recall i wanted to go gown shopping. which i did, and do, but considering what it takes to get away from two children for one wholeeee night, and the details involved in having photographs taken and the logistical nightmare it becomes in my head? forget it, i'm opting for a quiet night away, just davey and i. no frills, no fuss. maybe dinner, maybe a movie, and the rest can wait. the dress, the photographs and all can come down the road when i don't have a my plate stacked ridiculously high on a precarious ledge on a windy day. i'm already planning a 10 year mini ceremony. more on that to come :)

we're still heading to oceancliff in newport and renewing our vows to each other, which was the most important thing to us. somewhere, on the cliff walk next to the ocean, or on the grounds at the hotel, or in bed at night, or over breakfast. doesn't matter. maybe you'll get a sneak peek of my vows, and as requested, some more wedding photos (andrea).

less fuss makes me happy. i'm relieved. to not have to think about anything except what i'm wearing to dinner is good for my heart.

hang on- what AM i wearing to dinner?

Traf-gik

My backseat driver:

Traf-gik, also known as traffic, is no friend of mine. Elias is well aware of this, as well as many other unwritten rules of these Massachusett streets (can I make MA singular? It sure looks weird. I'm gonna go with it.) For example, he knows that if I swerve or beep my horn, it's because "people aren't driving safe." Or I I slow down at any point, it's because there's traf-gik. Elias has become the ultimate road observer and a back seat driver extraordinaire. For real- driving in this state through the lens of a three year old is hilarious, at the very least.

I tell you all this just so I can tell you a little story from last week that put me in stitches (is that the wrong expression if we're talking about cars?) It was after Piper's appointment in the city, and Elias, Piper, and I were driving in the car. Mostly, I was driving. I slowed down and Elias asked if there was traffic. I replied that there was not, and I had to "slam on my brakes" simply because the person in front of me had. He asked "Why did that that car slam on hims brakes?" to which I answered "Because the man in front of HIM slammed on HIS brakes." Making deductions, per his usual, he replied "Ohhh, so he had slam on himsss brakes. Ooohhh!"

And suddenly, his brain made yet another connection: "Mum, you hit traf-gik with Piper on your way home from Boston?" and I'm thinking, 'Dave must have told him that. Funny...' so tell him that Piper and I did in fact hit traffic, yes.

I can see the wheels turning in his cute little mind, and he cocks his head, squints his eyes (his thinking face), and asks "Are Piper's nipples okay?"

What?!?!

And then I realize, he's totally asking about her hips, and I'm dying equally over the hilarity of body part mix ups (hips...nipples...close enough, right?!) and the adorable concern he has for his little sister. And that's the stuff of life right there.

You must all have one of these stories! So tell, tell!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone