Marriage...Its Growing on Me

Martha Stewart Weddings

I have generally not been a huge fan of marriage. Well, it terrifies me. I am from a family full of divorces. My grandparents were the only truly successful marriage I have seen, unfortunately, my grandma died far too early in life. I don't believe that life is easy and full of beautiful roses, nor do I think they had a perfect marriage for 40 years, but I know they were happy and loved one another. The other side of me is a hopeless romantic. I have been with my boyfriend for five years next month and after eight months of living together, the idea of marriage is growing on me.

I heard a few months back from this lawmaker in some European country proposing that all marriages have a seven year expiration date and then you have to renew it. I thought, this is a pretty good idea. If nothing else, it makes you reevaluate your relationship and do what is necessary to make it work. Some marriages would likely end after the seven years, but I think many more would renew. Now, this is not likely here in America or probably anywhere, but it was a creative idea, which is more than I can say about divorce.

I read Cup of Jo religiously and she has been discussing her engagement and wedding plans for months now. She got married this past weekend and has left for her honeymoon. While gone, she has enlisted many of my favorite bloggers to fill-in for her writing about their secrets to a happy marriage. Today, Grace from Design*Sponge wrote some great tips:

Grace + AC's secrets to a happy marriage:

1. Talk it out: No matter how angry you are, talking always helps. I wasn't a big talker before meeting Aaron (I was a big "slam the door"-er) and he taught me the value of talking through any and all difficult situations.

2. Support each other's dreams: AC loves to play poker and guitar, and he also likes mixed martial arts. If he wanted to leave his job to pursue any of those, I would support him 100%. And I know he'd do the same for me. I realized a few years back that no matter how good the salary or benefits, if your partner isn't happy, even the best job is the wrong job. If you're both truly happy, then material things really do become less important.

3. Go on adventures: Whether it's a scooter ride to Coney Island or a backpacking trip out west, remember to experience new things together. AC and I are complete opposites, but we both love to try new things, which keeps us growing together.

Have to Admit this is JAMMIN'!!!

It is Miley, but I cannot deny a good song regardless of who is singing it. I heard it was produced by a hip-hop producer, so maybe that is where the HOT vibe is coming from. I was walking to the metro in the crazy heat, in a terrible mood. I put this on my iPod and almost busted out dancing in the middle of the metro station. I just heard the entire song for the first time yesterday. I heard it in her Wal-mart commercial, like 100 times. I am all over it. It is my end of summer jam.

I had a 2 hour-long texting session with my cousin in Texas about how I really can't stand teenage girls, they are just irritating and Miley definitely falls in that category, just obnoxious. I was not the most likable teenage girl either though, I haven't met many that are. But, I will give it to her, she has earned my respect on the music front. And the girl can sell ANYTHING. She has a serious following for a reason.

I watched her performance on the Teen Choice Awards. It was rather risque for a 16 year old. She has tiny shorts on and did a little dance with a pole, but at least she sang live and she sounded good. Most artist don't and that I respect. My cousin told me to just pretend that she is 18 when I watch it and it totally helped. I do that every Monday when I watch Gossip Girl, just pretend they were 25 years old and the show is totally believable. I love it.

Growing up isn't easy for anyone, especially for someone doing it in the public eye. Miley, I just don't want to see another Britney fiasco.

UPDATE:
Here is the performance from the Today Show this morning.

Taking Social Media to Bed

These are the cutest little throw pillows, one for each of the major social media networks. Is it taking things a little too far...probably. Apartment Therapy has a great post about this Etsy store, Craftsquatch, that is selling social network-themed pillows. They are probably infringing on the trademarked logos, but they look really well made. I am not the biggest social media freak, but I have been on Facebook since 2004 and on Twitter for over a year, longer than most. I can think of about 10 people I would buy these pillows for, too bad they are SOLD OUT.

DC Restaurant Week

Last night, my boyfriend and I took part in DC's Restaurant Week. It happens a few times a year and we always try to take advantage. DC is a huge foodie town and there are a ton of really nice restaurants that are way above our food allowance. But with Prix-Fixe Menus we are all over it. It is $20.09 for lunch and usually $30.09 for dinner, but the price has gone up to $35.09 for dinner.

This past winter for Restaurant Week we went to B. Smith's in Union Station, a delicious Creole-Southern themed restaurant. And because it was so good the last time, we decided to go there again. I got the Smothered Chicken and my boyfriend got the meatloaf. I really enjoyed my meal, but my boyfriend thought it was better the last time we went, when he ordered the Swamp Thing, a mixed seafood dish. They do have the most yummy mini corn muffins and biscuits. It was totally worth the trip downtown, especially since we saw Ms. B. Smith herself, as we were walking out of the restaurant. She is like the "black Martha Stewart". I used to watch her show on TV One.

You only have 3 more days to enjoy Restaurant Week. Go to Opentable.com to make reservations.

Color of Life

I definitely have a new best favorite blog, the Whisk Kid. I love baking, I love the idea of being a fabulous baker. I watch a ton of baking shows, cake shows, I love the idea of making a beautiful cake. I can make a good cake, a tasty cake, but not the pretty cake yet. I haven't gotten the crumb coat/icing process down yet.

This will be my first success cake. I am super excited about this cake. It is fun, pretty and a great practice cake. So, even if I don't succeed at the icing, the inside is really the treat. Plus, my boyfriend will eat anything that is put in front of him. So, he always makes me feel good.

Whisk Kid is making everything I love. Just fun sweets. Keep it up.

Let's Dream

Robin Thicke's new song Dreamworld is amazing. I absolutely love where he was going with this. He has a line in the song, "There would be no black or white, people would just treat my wife right." He is married to a gorgeous black woman. He goes on to say, "We could walk down in Mississippi and no one would look at us twice."

In his Dreamworld, he could tell Marvin Gaye, his father didn't want him to die. It was such an honest thing to say, I wanted to cry.

My cousin, brought this song to my attention and said it was the Pisces theme song and she is soooo right. We are both the poster children for Pisces personalities. Which is why I almost cried during a Robin Thicke song. We are dreamers, we are fish, we want to live one way but we have to be in the water, so we just dream about the possibilities.

Beautiful.

She's Baaaaaack!

Amy Winehouse clearly has had some serious issues. But her music is undeniable. She is an amazing artist and I am glad she could keep it together long enough for this performance with The Specials at the V Festival at Hylands Park in the UK. She has an amazing talent. I love the British soul singers that have hit the scene in the last few years. Keep it coming Amy.

Creating a Mini-Design Studio...

...From a Closet.
I love doing my crafts, but I have to find a new place to do them. When I lived alone I could spread my stuff all over my living room floor for days until I was finished. But since moving in with my boyfriend, I definitely need a space to work. And since I am an organization freak, this should be fun. We have a den in our apartment that we use as a guest room (with the pull-out couch) and the "Man Cave". He has his huge TV and computer in there. But the room is also fitted with an amazing closet with French doors. The closet is deep enough to put my craft table in and create a mini studio, all I have to do is pull up a chair. I tried to use as many things as I already had around the house before buying anything new. I think I am off to a good start.



I only have a few things left, like lighting. I found a great write-up on Apartment Therapy about some great desk lamps from PB Teen. Is it a problem that I find more things from Pottery Barn Teen then the adult company, Pottery Barn?



Here are a few more things I would love to add. I need a great mood board.



But once we get our first home, I definitely want a craft room. I decided, if my boyfriend gets his "Man Cave" then I definitely get my studio. Here are a few amazing work spaces. I can only dream to have a grown-up, organized and chic space like Nicole's from Making it Lovely.

Classy and Fabulous: DVF

There are few women who have successfully mastered being Classy and Fabulous, Diane von Furstenberg is one of those women. You have truly made your mark, when my boyfriend (a typical American male who is usually oblivious to most things these days not pertaining to Madden 2010) makes the comment, "whoever invented the wrapdress gave us all a great gift." We were watching some random HGTV show, a normal Friday night occurance, and a curvy woman was donning the iconic wrapdress. After I closed my mouth from shock of his comment, I quickly responded, "YES, Ms. von Furstenberg is a genius, this is the one fashion piece that looks amazing on ALL body types."

Being a woman with curves, I am extremely appreciative of the wrapdress. DVF's latest collection includes dozens of hourglass-shaped, bright colored dresses. A few of my favorites below.

Wearing Shorts is Controversy?!?

Are you kidding me? Michelle Obama looks great, I am confused what the problem is. On the Today Show this morning, they debated on if Michelle Obama should have been wearing shorts on their vacation to the Grand Canyon. There could have been nothing more appropriate to wear in the 100+ degree weather. I think the only issue people have with her fashion choices, is they cannot cope with the fact that she is not a silent, 60 year old grandma. Everyone is used to having a first lady who is a much older woman, sometimes a bit pudgy and doesn't necessarily have the courage to take the spotlight. Mrs. Obama is the same age as my mother, who I believe dresses her age yet fashionable. There is no rule in DC or any other city in the country that says you have to dress like a 75 year old grandmother just because you hold an important position. If anything, Michelle Obama's style has helped women feel empowered that they can be whoever they want to be and present themselves as they see fit and still be successful.

Again, I applaud you Michelle Obama for teaching your girls and women of all ages what being a successful woman of 21st century is all about. She is healthy, beautiful, intelligent and is making huge changes in this world.

Papier Mache Brooches

I found these beautiful brooches on Mrs. O Blog. Mrs. Obama, as always, was wearing a unique piece that happen to be a vintage papier mache brooch. Luckily, there was a link to the DIY instructions, from Cathy of California in Craft magazine. I love doing crafts. If I had to name one main hobby, it is crafting. I read dozens on craft blogs looking for new projects. I am really hoping to open an Etsy shop to display and sale my crafts. But I am still working to find a craft that would fit in that category. These papier mache brooches are the closest to that.


I put a pin on the back of a few of them. I plan to make the flat, two-layer flowers into hair pins by attaching them to a black headband or ribbon. I wore the top green flower pinned on a dark green summer dress. They didn't match perfectly, but contrasted enough to compliment one another. I thought it looked great.

Lusting After: Mini Wall Gallery

I am definitely starting to become obsessed with interior design. I love the idea of having a great, modern house. I read dozens of design blogs everyday looking for new ideas. I am far from being able to decorate a beautiful house myself, but I can definitely tell you if I like something or not. I am totally loving a wall of picture frames.

Jenny from Little Green Notebook, has a great example of the simplest way to display a series of frames. I like symmetry so I prefer this style of same size, same frames, similar pictures.

Also from Little Green Notebook, Hugi Guiness has a great mismatch wall gallery. The other part of my loves the different frames, different prints version. But, I believe what really makes this work is the vintage look of the frames and the fact that it is not the center piece of the room, the fireplace and framed mirror are still the focal point and the gallery is on a side wall. Love it.

And...here is my attempt at creating a wall gallery. I got a ton of Josephine Baker prints when I went to Paris last year. I bought out Micheal's entire stock of 9x12 black frames, surprised they didn't have that many. Slowly but surely measured out the frames. It took hours, but finally got all six frames on the wall.

Design FormuLA has a great how-to for hanging picture wall collages.

Homemade Pesto

Last night, we made some great pesto. I have had pesto on many occasions, but have never made it myself. My boyfriend got a ton of fresh basil from a co-worker's garden, so we were dying to use it.

Rachel, from Black Eiffel, posted recipe in a cute picture, below.

Ours differed a bit, we loaded it with garlic, almost double the amount shown. And we used walnuts instead of pine nuts. We just used what we had in the house. But, it came out fabulously. We used the last bit of basil to make a fabulous margherita pizza, another first for us.

Au Revoir Paris

Last year, to the day, I left for a five day vacation to beautiful Paris with my boyfriend. It was my first time out of the country and highly anticipated. Everyone from my mom to the receptionist at my dentist office was convinced that my boyfriend of 4 years (at the time, now 5 years) was going to propose. I, of course, knew he wasn't going to propose and didn't want him to propose. But simply putting the idea out there, put me on edge for the first 2 days of the trip.

But, I realized that since returning from Paris, I have never been the same. Once you see how beautiful that city is, you can't forget it exists. It is so full of life, vibrancy and luxury. It just makes you want to be better. I have never been jealous of anyone in my life. I have always been content with my world, but I am jealous of anyone who get to visit that city often. I need a job that takes me to Paris, or at least one that will help me earn as many miles as possible, so I can return.

I will miss you Paris, merci.