on wedding announcements.

Today I waited for an hour and a half in the line at the DMV.  Apparently, when you move every year, they forget to update your address, so you have to go down and wait. And wait. And wait a little longer.  Luckily, I had a sister with me, and if we had known that the other sister needed to go too, it could have been a family reunion. I mean, all we needed was the potato salad and fried chicken because we certainly had the time.  Next time, I'll take the office advice and go on a Tuesday.  I'm not a very good waiter because I'm not very patient.  Plus the extra time usually makes me think about all of the problems and lists I have. Today, all that waiting made me think about what's wrong with our society. First up: wedding announcements.

photo by Reena Bammi

Yesterday, I spent a long rainy Sunday afternoon flipping through the paper. I didn't learn very much, but I did read some wedding announcements. And found out who participated, what the bride wore, who the grandparents were, and where the couple will reside after the honeymoon. When did announcements become less about the couple and more about the state of who's still alive in the family and what the bride wore? (Seriously, I can't even link to any in the newspaper because they were so bad.)

photo by Reena Bammi

a dilemma.

have a secret. I love to read. There are not many places where you won't find a book stashed--in my purse, the car, in random places around the house. I am never without a book, and if I am, watch out.  Because that's when I feel the most crazy.  Usually, I'm reading two or three at a time, and sadly, a trip to the library lasts a week at the most--and that's with 10-12 books. (Case in point: I took 7 and bought 2 more when Sam and I went to Peter Island. I finished them all and had to settle for a magazine on the way back home.)

But lately, it's been less about what's inside the book, and more about the outsides.  I've never been a hardback kind of girl.  Basically, I'll pay full price for a hardback if I really want to read something--if it's all I can think about.  But usually, I wait for the paperback--in trade, no less. However, have you seen the Penguin Classics designed by Coralie Bickford-Smith?

via flickr

Find of my life.

I am a blogging fiend this week. Chalk it up to a forced lack of creativity at work and a need to put all my thoughts somewhere. Sam started a new job this week, so he hasn't been able to listen to my nonstop chatter about what I saw and what I need and who kissed who on Gossip Girl. (I'm also pretty sure he doesn't care.) Although, he definitely reaped benefits from the cookies (see below).  Sidenote: have we talked about how he doesn't really like sweets? Back to my point, though, which is Baggu. Here's why you need them. First of all, I am of the firm belief that you can NEVER have enough bags. Secondly, I hate thinking about how much plastic we waste.  Third, I always forget my resuable bags.  Either I leave them in the car or I never put them back in the car after I use them once.  I guess I'm just a bad environmentalist.  However, since I have my Baggus, I almost never use plastic.  They're in a pouch in my purse, and I always have them with me. I get comments on them, and I love to show cashiers how strong they are: they never believe me. And the best part: they're super cute (I have the striped set of three). You can buy separately or in a sets of three / five. I also have the smaller ones--lunchbag style. They're pretty reasonably priced--and they're a perfect gift.  Plus, they have a flat shipping rate. And no, Baggu hasn't paid me anything for this (Although, Baggu, if you're listening, I really do love these bags--and just ordered more! ) So if you want to save the planet and be stylish, I recommend you rush to the website now and buy a bag. Believe me, the planet and your wallet will thank you.

mmm, cookies.

I'm a chocolate girl--through and through. My favorite desserts almost always involve lots and lots of dark, bitter chocolate. But when a Friday afternoon blog favorite featured lemon sugar cookies, my mouth watered. Apparently, so did my co-workers--within minutes, an email circulated that said "if anyone wants to do any baking....these look delicious." 

Two batches later, I'm pretty sure this recipe is a keeper.  After just eight minutes, the cookies come out of the oven perfectly soft in the middle and crunchy on the outside.  They hold up quite well too. I think they could have used a little more lemon flavor, but I might be the only one.  Just so you know, they're delicately-flavored-with-lemon sugar cookies.  That's for all you lemon haters out there. Best of all, they're fast.  And homemade, which means you get to eat all the dough you want. 

I did try to use the homemade stamp, but they spread--a lot! 

Recipe here

Note: I zested two lemons for the first batch, and for the second, I zested two lemons and a lime, plus added all of the juice from one of the lemons. (See, I told you I wanted more of a lemon taste.) Sadly, they tasted about the same.

parker's new trick

Coming at you with a video again, only if you're not my mom or grandma, you probably won't care about this at all. (I do have a post in the works.) Since I don't have a baby yet, I have to spend all my extra time on the dog(s). Parker learned a new trick this weekend.  I think she could probably pass any cotillion or social class--because like all good dogs, she can shake your hand.  However, she thinks it's "nice to meet you."


P learns a new trick from kristen fielder on Vimeo.

we no speak americano on Thursdays.

Until this week, I've never wasted your time on videos. And now, I'm doing it again. But seriously, watch this. And like it. I've watched it twice since last night, and I still think it's so awesome that I'm going to watch it again.

monday, monday.

I needed a little more than my coffee to wake me up this morning. It's been a long weekend; lots of highs, some lows, and a lot of football. (roll tide!) Due to a new set of tires (that would be the low) and a carpooling / work situation, I was at work at least an hour early.  So I set my pandora station to Outkast--which is usually failproof.  It didn't quite work. Then I found the following: if you're around me very often, you know I love to dance.  So hit play, turn the music up, tap your toes, and get your Monday started right!

the view from my desk.

I spend more hours at work than I do at home, I think.  Not complaining, just saying.  I have lots of pretty things to see, though, so I don't exactly mind the view from my desk (even if there's not a window.)  

That's my inspiration board, but lately, I haven't felt very inspired.  My days have been filled with to do lists that never get all the way done (do you know how hard it is for me not to scratch out my whole list everyday?), but instead drag on to the next day and only get added to.  Case in point: 

That list is still not finished.  I have had a lot going on, including the birth of the most perfect niece, but I just want to recapture the peaceful creativity I had here:

I could have written a book here.  Instead, I read 9.  Maybe some nice reggae, a couple of Caribbean beers, and the sun would be enough to take me back.  Pool, I hear you calling my name.  TGIF!

honeymoon, part 2.

There's not a lot to say when this is the backdrop of all your thoughts and you wake up to a hammock outside of your room and

a chance to swim here

or fall asleep in a chair with the waves as background here

So, I won't try to describe it for you.  That's where we've been for the past week: Peter Island Resort in the British Virgin Islands.  All I'll say is that if it weren't for two dogs who missed us and a niece who's about to be born any day (hurry up, Merritt!), Sam and I might have marooned ourselves on a nearby island with only a bottle of rum and a swimsuit.  Best. honeymoon. ever.

reading.

It's no secret that I like to read--and that I read a lot.  I read all the time and pretty much whatever I can get my hands on: fiction, non-fiction, harlequin romances.  I'm a little ashamed that I like to read the latter--it's definitely not from my days of training as lit student. And it's probably not something my dad would like to hear either, even if they have been updated for the contemporary reader (meaning Fabio no longer graces the covers, instead there are artful illustrations on bright backgrounds).  I don't think I'm ashamed that I'm reading terrible writing because obviously the writer's aren't that bad--they're published! I think that I'm more ashamed because I'm training my mind to like all that junk, and it makes it ten times as hard to sit down and work through Faulkner. 

I've come up with a solution: Keri and I are starting a summer reading challenge.  20 books worth reading by the end of August.  In between the hard ones, we're alternating library romances--we anticipate pool reading, and I just don't see us reading Elizabeth Gaskell at the pool.  Sam's picked a few books he considers essentials, but I want to see what the internet thinks: dad? any suggestions? What's on your summer reading list?

Once we narrow it down, I'll publish the final list of 20, and I'll make sure to give weekly progress reports, plus book reviews.  Speaking of book reviews, here are some on books I read a few months ago.  Naturally since marriage has consumed my thoughts since January, they deal with that.  But, even if you're single, they're great to read.

The first book is Abigail & John: Portrait of a Marriage by Edith Gelles.  I picked this up off of a give away table at work, and although it doesn't quite fit in a beach bag (it's pretty lengthy, and kind of cumbersome to wade through), it's a great read.  I found myself underlining, taking copious notes, and responding to some of what Gelles assumes about our heroine--Abigail.  Gelles focuses, mainly, on the marriage of two people who didn't spend a lot of time together.  It's interesting to see the people behind the Revolution.  I've never been a huge history buff; I barely know the dates.  However, seeing the people behind the history makes it interesting.  On top of that, Abigail Adams might be the best woman--ever.  Gelles writes that John abandons active participation in their marriage really early on (it was page 65 of the book).  She says of the marriage that Abigail "would suffer and struggle and all the while grow in strength to endure and make the decisions she must make to tend to her world--and his--in his absence.  He with her blessings--mostly--would turn his attention to the national struggle." Wonder what would happen to the national struggle if so many of these Revolutionaries didn't have women holding the fort down at home? Although my early notes wrestled with the idea of John abandoning active participation (when is it ok for a woman to ever completely do that?), I'm starting to see that marriage is a partnership.  Anyways, good book.  Great insights.

The second book is a non-fiction / memoir type by Elizabeth Gilbert.  Most notably the author of Eat, Pray, Love, which I ate, prayed, and loved.  Well, not really, but I did really like it.  Coincidentally, Committed came out about the same time that Sam and I started planning the wedding. So I bought it in hardback (which I never do); I just thought I would like it that much.  The problem with non-fiction / memoir type books is that they are just that: non-fiction / memoir type books. They're not particularly self-help, and although some of them profess to be able to help you, they're really just the story of one person's experience.  Gilbert's story (from the beginning) is that she was in a relationship, it went bad, she went down, so she journeyed through it and wrote the best-selling first book.  And then she wound up falling in love again and following her love to the jungle of South America.  Which is kind of where this book picks up.  They travel a lot.  And they decide, even though they had both sworn off marriage, to get married, mostly because of legal immigration issues.  Gilbert decides, because she HAS to get married, that she's going to learn everything she can about it.  Only, she chooses some kind of crazy people to ask.   And she looks at a lot of historical evidence that basically says marriage is a crazy institution (not exactly the best book to read right before walking down the aisle, folks).  Here's one of my favorite parts. It's kind of long, so you can quit reading at any time. 

"Do I sound like I'm trying to talk myself into something here? People, I am

And if you're still with me, the book pretty much ends there. I didn't feel comforted.  I felt I was crazy for even thinking about entering into this seriously backwards institution.  But I think that Gilbert has it somewhat right: maybe I didn't need to search through the whole of Western marriage to determine that we have some things backward, but I get that the leap shouldn't be easy.  I think if we're always slightly uncomfortable, we're better off in the end.  At least, that's what I'm telling myself.  So, read this one at your own risk--mainly, don't read if you're about to get married.  But if you're already married, go ahead, Gilbert might surprise you.

my new love.

it's kind of tall, a little bushy, and has a whole lot of green.  what? did you think i was talking about a new man?  already? i'm not that fickle! no, silly, it's gardening.  and specifically, my garden.

ok, so it's not a garden in the ground, but it's the best i could do with my shady back areas.  Lots of herbs: mint, parsley, 2 basils, lemon balm, cilantro and some tomatoes. i wanted to plant some lettuce, but we have a lot of bugs...so i was hesitant, and then it was too late.  i can't wait until we live somewhere i can have a true garden: raised beds and every vegetable out there.  i could go on and on in an ode to fresh produce, but for now, i'll just stick to the topic at hand.  what i have: specifically, tomatoes!

first up is a fine speciman; i can't remember the name, but it's a looker.  pretty leaves and yellow buds.  just a few short weeks ago, it was tiny--maybe 3 inches tall.  at the advice of a seasoned botanist (or the cashier at the botanical garden plant sale) i stripped off more than 3/4 of it's leaves and buried it about halfway in the dirt.  and to my amazement, it's huge! now it's even outgrown the stick, so i'm wondering what to do.  (any help from the internets?)

 

 

it's even too big for a cage, i think.  but we have tomatoes! see? 

 

 

and blooms for lots more.  i can't wait. i can think of about 50 things i can do with tomatoes, and the first is to eat one like an apple.  grow fast!

oh, but the real reason i came to the internet (besides to profess my love of gardening) is to decide if this cherry tomato is just really stunted or if it's going to grow into a round bush? 

although i bought this one about 2 weeks after my first plant, it has not grown at all.  it is definitely a cherry tomato (surrounded by marigolds because did i mention the bugs?).  anyways, if any of you have a green thumb, and you read my blog...any advice is appreciated! don't you just love spring?

f is for fielder.

i had to have a good photographer, right? priority number one--even above the dress. and you know--i searched high and low. but after all of the searching and the hair-wringing, i couldn't have been happier with my photographer.  she captured every single moment that i wanted plus a ton more.  thanks, reena! here are just a few of my favorite moments, starting with f. 

so, to be fair, i predict a few more wedding posts.  even on facebook, i've only been able to narrow it down to 82! didn't she do a great job? 

pink peonies.

i call them PEE-uh-knees. my grandma calls them pee-OHN-knees.  technically, i don't know which of us is correct.  how have i lived my entire life without declaring them my favorite flower before now? lately, i've been obsessed, like used them in every single arrangement i've made, and i've done a few over the past 5 days.  i've used them as the star in mother's day bouquets and as the jumping off point for kelly's baby shower flowers.  i just can't get enough; today i whined that i wanted one for my desk at work, but i had given them all away.

it's odd. i'm not very girly-girl. ok, so with the exception of wanting a sparkly ring, i don't make typical "girl" choices at all: i don't really have any pink clothes.  and i'll almost always choose blue  / green over any shade of red or pink.  but i melt for pink peonies.  

in other news, i'm thinking of changing the blog name.  i mean, i've already completed the process of changing my last name and until we actually get to adding more names, it doesn't really work.  i have a couple of titles in mind, so i might try them out.  you'll be the first to know... and i promise to start blogging more regularly.  i've really missed this corner of the internet. 

one quick thing.

Parker's famous! (again.) 

Before the wedding, Parker and I went to one of our local favorite photographer's studio so she could model our new favorite anchor collar.   Turns out she'll do anything for a treat, but get on the white paper and smile.  For a photo editor's dog, she really needs to be more comfortable on set, right?

And if you're not reading the magazine (shame!), you missed her debut as staff mascot in a Santa hat. 

You can find more of our favorite anchor products at coastalliving.com, but for cute pictures of Parker, come back here! 

married life, part 1.

i have a secret.  even though it's only been a few days more than a week of being married, i really like it. obviously, that's not that surprising, because why else would i have married him, right? but, there's all of these added perks: like someone else to clean the bathroom or take the dogs out.  and the food, my God, the food! when you're dating, there's always this voice in the back of your head that whispers, "don't eat the whole cupcake," or maybe "leave a little on your plate." well, maybe not for you, but it's mostly been there for me for the past, oh, 15 years.  except a few weeks before the wedding, sam and i were eating at Outback (i know, we live in Birmingham and need to get the desire to eat at chain restaurants out of our blood!), and i was hungry. like, hadn't eaten in 24 hours hungry.  so i finished every last bit of my salad, steak, and sweet potato, plus the appetizer and bread. and the waiter, he commented on it.  twice. his exact words? "that's beautiful man; she's a keeper," because i ate all of my food. so maybe, i don't really have food issues in front of sam. all that to say, i've certainly felt a little free-er about eating my full share!

we ate a lot in Savannah.  the city is definitely made for eating. all of the magazines and guidebooks encourage it, and who are we to go against the recs? we had pizza, fresh seafood, and y'all, we ate at Paula Deen's the lady & sons.

 *my plate: fried chicken, mac-n-cheese, black eye peas, creamed corn, and mashed potatoes

it turns out that we were lucky enough to be in Savannah on a rainy Sunday where the lunch buffet for the most Southern restaurant on the planet wasn't completely full.  we did have to wait until 2:30 to eat that Sunday lunch, but yes, it was worth the wait.

*Sam's plate: fried chicken, bar-b-q, mac-n-cheese, rice, mashed potatoes & gravy, green beans (salad & bread off to the side)

Our cute waiter, a Southern transplant from Pennsylvania, told me that Paula's tea had converted him. now, he drinks Southern sweet tea or none at all.  isn't that the cutest?  I think my Southern accent outed his; either that or he heard sam and I ponder if his was real or not because about halfway through faking a "hey y'all, can i get ya some more?" he told us it was fake.  (as if i didn't already know!) but we forgave him when he told us how some of the cooks had been with Paula for at least 15 years. and how every recipe comes straight out of the cookbook. the gooey butter cake, for example, better make 145 squares...that's a lot of cake. i can't even show y'all pictures of my dessert because, sadly, i could not finish it.  or my own plate, but i can show you sam's: he was a trooper and didn't leave anything for the dogs out back. after much testing, though, i concluded that my mom cooks about the same.  so yes, it was delicious, but it wasn't exactly anything new.  i guess i never knew how easy i had it.  mom's Sunday lunch never had a 3 hour wait!

 *that's just bones and sauce, y'all.

we had a great mini vacation.  it was nice to rest, watch a bunch of movies in a great hotel, and spend all day walking around a gorgeous city. Savannah was beautiful: all southern and spanish moss-y. i have a feeling that if you want a great St. Paddy's day celebration, you should head that way. the city was still partying the weekend after. (plus, they have no open container rules! birmingham, why don't you take your cue from a sister city?) Highly recommend. (the marriage and Savannah)

the wedding.

*photo yanked from facebook.  thanks, steven! 

I know that it's only been a whole four days since I tied the knot, but since I'm already back at work, i thought the internet should know about my wedding. What that means for you is that I've stolen photos from family on facebook.  But as soon as I get the professional pics, I'll share! It was absolutely perfect. I mean, I'm sure there were minor issues (like this weirdo in a motorized seat / kite that kept flying over the beach), but I'm happy to say I didn't even notice.  I also didn't notice the dolphins.  As in, I don't know if they showed up. Probably because I was too concentrated on this: smiling and walking down the aisle. 

*photo taken by Sarah M. 

Just in case you're wondering, we didn't have any music.  But my grandpa (that's his head in the picture above) hummed the wedding march as I walked down the aisle.  Now, for the pretty pictures, because seriously, i have the hottest husband ever. 

*sam's cousin, heather's fiance, steven shot these.  i love them! 

This is purely to show my hair, which looked awesome.  My hair stylist, Ashley Sparkman, totally rocked it.  And how great were the pockets in my dress? I stuck my lipstick in there and was good to go!

*my mom and i: taken by keri!

Speaking of great, I can't wait to see and show you the photos my photographer ended up with.  After all the searching, I wound up with the best photographer ever.  She totally got what I wanted and was so nice to everyone.  

You can ignore my face here; I just thought it was a good shot of my dress.  Plus, you get the lovely "poop free zone" sign.  

The best part about the day, besides getting married, duh, was hanging out with family.  Our wedding was so small that we were able to spend time with the people we love most.  Of course, there were a few people missing that we would have loved to see, but I loved not having 200 people there.  Instead we had about 40...give or take a few.  So that left more cupcakes for me! 

Be back with more when I get them.  And don't worry, just because I'm not planning a wedding means I'm shutting down the blog.  I'll be around for your reading pleasure!