Happy Anniversary to us...

Just a year ago today we pulled off one hell of a party for our family & close friends. We had a completely homegrown affair... just the way we wanted. We handmade the decor, strung the lights, placed each flower in its vase. It was {simply} lovely. Yet, all the while never losing sight of the day's gravity and weight, for this was the day we pledged our lives to one another. (I have never been happier in my life until this day.)

merry christmas

merry, merry to you and yours.

love,
Megan (from Williamsburg, NY)


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... Until then I just ate.

Let me just say, if Julia could begin a career of epic proportions at the ripe ol' age of thirty-two, then FAB, 'cause I am just over a month away from following in her shoes. Here’s to my thirties and dear, sweet Julia.

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Sex & The Silly

I, like most ladies my age, will tell you in an honest moment between cocktails that I love Sex & the City. Especially while living in the New York City, single in my 20s, this show was like my rock. And on certain occasions, when gems of truth revealed themselves, it became (if only for a brief moment) my bible of sorts. And that's how I felt when these little words were spoken. I remember watching this episode in my tiny Astoria bedroom while eating fresh cut mango from the corner bodega, hearing these words and feeling like it was written just. for. me.

I watched it, re-watched it, memorized it, scribbled it down... and much to my surprise, all these years later I find there is another little lady who felt it just as profoundly, 'cause lo and behold, here's a stunning little print.

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rewriting my dreams

This morning on the dreaded Facebook one acquaintance said to another something to the affect of, "You look absolutely fabulous. Following your dreams has certainly done well for you. Blah, blah, blah." And suddenly there I was mid-coffee sip, panic stricken. 'Cause it was then I realized, "F (!), I am not following my dreams (!)".

But, WAIT, it gets deeper.

See, the problem is not that I gave up on my dreams to face reality, or anything as cliche as that. The problem is, once I realized my original, childish dreams were no longer valid, I forgot to write new ones. I forgot that even as we grow older and gain responsibility and face challenges, we still have to have dreams. And not life-goals... that's too practical for what I'm looking for. I want pie-in-the-sky, rock-on-a-hammock-all-morning-&-fantasize type dreams.

So, I'm thinking now. Thinking hard about what my dreams are, because frankly, although my life looks a little different from what I thought it would as a child, my life is Pretty. F-ing. Great. And I have a sneaking suspicion one could look at me and say, too, "You look absolutely fabulous. Following your dreams has certainly done well for you." But first, I need to figure out what following my dreams looks like...

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fear and sunshine

Today it took almost forty minutes of sitting in my car, in the parking structure, to convince myself to come to work. You see, this is my last week at a company I've been with for four years. I will miss this place. These people. (Well, let's be honest... some of them.) And while I'll be happy to experience something new, I'm also scared. Scared of what lies ahead of me. Scared I am making a mistake. That I am not living up to my life's potential. But that's just fear, right? Fear is irrational. Unproductive. A dead end.

I contemplated sitting in my car all day. Listening to NPR, playing solitaire, maybe napping. But, I couldn't keep that crazy choice a secret forever... how would I explain the missing day's pay to my husband? How embarrassing it'd be to admit succumbing to fear. And so, I clipped on my trusty security badge, packed my bag and left the car.

As I made the five+ minute walk from the parking structure to work, I still felt a strong pull back to the safety of my car. But, as I got to my desk, checked my email, I saw that a gift was waiting... a request to submit my time card through the end of the week immediately. Translation: if I feel this fear again, if I need a moment alone to calm the nerves, I can do so with no one knowing. No one. Well, no one but me... and now you. {wink}
_______________________________

When I was a child and felt fear, I'd calm myself with the song You Are My Sunshine. Maybe I need to bring it back for some good ol' fashioned soothing.

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a delicious start with Lonny

Once again I find myself a moment away from diving into Lonny Magazine and I can hardly wait. But first, a delicious cup of Earl Grey tea awaits me. {See you soon.}

courage to fall

Today I made a large commitment on the job front. One that will keep me "safe" for a long while I hope.  It's had me nervous all morning. I know I'm making the right move, but it's scary nonetheless.

Then, this afternoon as fate would have it, I stumbled across a chat excerpt that I saved from exactly a year & a half ago...

me: i can't tell if you're supposed to "follow your dreams" or be safe in consideration of the damn world falling apart. friend: both? me: ugh. me: and how? friend: by focusing on the safety friend: and only pursuing dreams in spare time me: but can you truly obtain your dreams when you don't let go of safety? friend: no friend: but you can inch closer so that when it is safe to let go, you are closer to the ground when you fall.

One day, when the time is right, I hope I still have the courage to fall.

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a headboard for my... head

 

I found it. Finally. The headboard that makes me want to rest myself against it with a good book, a cup of tea, and read endless pages of beautiful prose. It's simple. Chic. And looks as if it will pair perfectly with our new German bed and the IKEA lamps we purchased almost a year ago and have yet to install...

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a dose of reality

This morning on NPR's Weekend Edition I listened to an informative and subtle, yet heartbreaking story that explains yet another Wal-Mart Effect: folks surviving on food stamps and government checks shopping at midnight the last day of the month as their funds kick in. 

The story talked about Walmart changing stocking patterns to better provide for these families... cupboards going bare the last week and a half of the month... parents working multiple jobs just to eek by... sadly, all things we've grown accustom to hearing. But what really struck me about this story was the image of the Tracey and Martin Young, the couple interviewed here, taking this trip to a far away Walmart while their five children slept so they could "wake up and be able to have what they want for breakfast". 

Nick and I have been talking over the last few days about our own food consumption and grocery shopping habits as we look to plan for our future and having a family of our own.  We've discussed menu planning, cutting back on Whole Foods, choosing less pre-made food and cooking more. And, it's easy to look at our own situation in the bubble of our lives and forget what's happening around us. But this story has really hit me in the gut. I think the conversation may change now, or at least get a little bit deeper as I remember how lucky we are to have food in our cupboard everyday of the year...

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le fisheye

 I am dreaming about this camera. Sadly, it's not first on my "to buy" list for camera equipment, but how damn cool is it? I mean, cool is an understatement, but you get me, right? It's chrome with smooth design and a touch of industrial. Tell me you don't want one, too...

today i'm feeling...

... a bit of California Love. Considering all we've done this summer driving all over this fair state, I think it's safe to declare, We Love Living Here. I know, I know... LA = fake people. Blah, blah, blah. Well, you know what? This girl's from LA and she's not too fake (rather down to earth, actually). And I know many folks I grew up with who are the same. Here's what it comes down to for me:

mountains for hiking & camping

+

beaches to dig your toes into

+

amazing, delicious cuisine

+

tons of art & culture @ your fingertips

+

fabulous weather (even on as we hit record highs)

+

wine country, expansive farm lands, fabulous shopping, I could go on & on...

Sure, there's traffic and high home prices and high unemployment at the moment, but hey, if you can deal with it, there's greatness to be found here. Lots. You just have to take a second to find it...

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the balance

Today, Hunky-Dory just about sums it up. Los Angeles is 107 dreadful degrees today. It's a Monday after a busy, tiring weekend. I'm totally underwhelmed in le old office job at the moment. BUT, I'm working hard on a little personal project. I've got the week's evenings blocked off for time @home. And I'm day three of an eleven day cleanse (which makes me very proud).

Sometimes you just have to weigh the good with the bad... and things balance on the side of "good"... leaving you... at hunky-dory.

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on being original

Exactly what I needed to hear after a long night (followed by a long day @ le office job) working on the new, fantastic secret project.

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ming, make me a cupcake please

This morning I stumbled upon this website, Ming Makes Cupcakes. In true gluten-free-self-preservation style, I clicked right past it despite my curiosity. Fast forward to this afternoon, and lo, I stumble upon it yet again. Well, what's a girl to do but start perusing. Seriously. And to my delight I've found 2 cupcake recipes for gluten free souls, like myself. Please enjoy.

 

And for a little self-inflicted torture I'll include this:

  

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the countdown.

Today is Friday. And while my neighbors at work are counting down the moments until they can fly down the elevator to a glorious weekend, I am looking forward to a little something different*. Yes, this design-nerd is counting down the minutes until I have a quiet moment alone this evening to finally read / absorb / indulge in the first edition of rue magazine. Here's a little something to whet the appetite... (forgive me if I drool).

* Let it be noted that while I am shamelessly far more excited than I should be about the above, I should also allow a moment of excitement for the fact that I'll be in wine country this weekend. Yes, I'll admit, I'm also terribly excited about that.

hot cross buns

Tonight is about these people.

This relationship.

This intense friendship.

It's been building over time.

Years, actually.

I think together we will conquer the world.

We will grow together.

Grow old together.

But tonight, we're going to just relish in us.

Relish in this...

{love}

outlaw love

While at the Renegade Craft Fair a few months ago, Katie and I stumbled upon this print. We read it. We paused. We cackled. (One of us chortled, but I won't say whom.) Suffice it to say, this is funny shit. A signed print now sits, framed, on my bar at home... I'm just sayin'.

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you are special

Today I fell upon this plate online. My heart fluttered. You see, when I was growing up we had this plate:

My mom pulled it out of the cupboard on every special occasion she could think of, always with the intent of giving us an extra bit of attention in our otherwise hurried lives. I remember that even when times were hard, money was tight, and there was not much "extra" to spend on treats, this plate was always there to punctuate a moment. Even when I hit those dreaded teenage years and was too cool for nearly everything in sight, I always (secretly) looked forward to using the You Are Special Today plate. And now, as I look to starting a family of my own, I think this Paloma's Nest version will be just the perfect addition to our little cupboard...

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yoga, marriage & football

This morning as the sun rose, Nick and I headed out the door for his first yoga class. I took him to my favorite local spot to practice, Yoga House. We were both a wee bit nervous; he with the fear of "embarrassing me", but me with a fear that he'd hate it and never want to return. As he explained his fear walking in the crisp morning air to the studio, I laughed a little and reassured him. I, however, was not released of my fear until I saw him out of the corner of my eye valiantly holding pose after pose, breathing deep breath after deep breath.

My discovery? In the quiet moments when I heard his breath I fell just a little more in love, realizing that although we were very different people four years ago when we decided to spend the rest of our lives together, each day we take a step closer to the other. This part of marriage, my dears, is simply magic. It's the reason people "do" this, I think... to have that person by your side working to be better, breathing deeper and growing in ways you never thought possible.

Now that Nick's crossed over into yoga, how will I respond? I'll probably have to take the leap and (gulp) watch a football game this weekend. But, hey... it's all about sacrifice, right? I mean, growing. Yeah, growing...

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for annie

{find a quiet place and spend a few minutes of your day watching this... it will fill your soul with warmth & your eyes with tears}

enjoy.


Danny & Annie from StoryCorps on Vimeo.

food and wine :: food and wine

Who's the luckiest girl? Me. Why? I'm going back to the land of delicious food & wine this weekend with the LA Times Food & Wine Festival. Last month, the Food Truck Fest, this month... even more awesomeness. (I wonder what the fall will bring?!?) The best part about this weekend? I'll get to support my little pal, Georgia as she mixes cocktails cocktails cocktails in anticipation of her launch on Cooking Channel. Oh, and She & Him will be playing. And although I'm NOT a fan of Zooey the actress (I use that term loosely), I like the damn songs, so there you go...

L.A Street Food Festival

While waiting in line at the L.A Street Food Festival back in July, Nick & I were approached by reporter, Krista Simmons, asking questions & snapping pictures. She followed us as we made our way through the line, us posing between shuffles forward. All the while asking us who we were, why we were here, why we loved food trucks, and such and such. She was sweet. And fun. And we got our photo taken, so that's cool.

Fast forward a week and I receive an email from a young-ish, hip coworker who does not usually grace my Inbox. All it includes is a sassy comment and link to the LA Times. Turns out, we made the paper. Well, not the PAPER, but the news. The only hiccup? Let me see if you can guess:

The Twitterati have transformed these road stoves into something much more than a place to find cheap, unique eats; they're now a meeting point for young singles to connect. A collision of technology, food and followers, the food truck phenomenon has become like a roving dating service and street meat market.

We're the headline photo, but WE'RE MARRIED. Ooops. I guess if you don't look closely you could overlook Nick's wedding ring. But, I'm not complaining... we're suckers for seeing our faces in print.

little miss manners

Sometimes I meet adults who might wanna give these children's books a quick little read...

And please don't tell my mother I said this: I'm so SO very thankful that she taught drilled into me all the manners she did. The more I meet adults who chew with their mouth open I just want to reach across the table and hold their lips closed tightly between my pointer and middle finger (just like my mother did). And people who touch their bare feet in public? Gah... don't get me started.

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a dose of reality

A gentle self-reminder of how very, very lucky I am at this moment. Take nothing for granted, Megan.

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1 deal, 2 deal, 3 deal, 4

I woke up one morning last week thinking about our New York City trip and food. Delicious food. I think that's what I'm looking forward to the most*. Well, that, and spending eleven days frolicking the city streets alone with my husband. The only puzzle about this trip and all the amazing food we will be faced with is how to afford those meals. Yes, it all comes down to money. So, my brilliant, early morning thought? Groupon. Groupon and all its like-minded pals, such as Living Social and InBundles. And honestly, in the few days I've been following these sites we've already purchased four excellent, mouth-watering deals:

 Indian cuisine @ top-rated Darbar Grill ($50 of goodness for $25):

Tuscan fare @ critically acclaimed Bread Tribeca ($30 of goodness for $15):

Delectable French pastries and espresso @ Ceci-Cela Patisserie ($15 of goodness for $7):

Sunday evening burgers @ Good Restaurant ($25 of goodness for $10):

________________________________________________________________

* And, for honesty's sake, food is in close tie with the walkability and public transportation. Yes, I am the geek that dreams of  a world with no cars.

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baby ballet

These silver Baby Bloch ballet shoes make my former-dancer / baby-obsessed heart dance a happy, happy dance. (I guess if we have a boy this may not be my first choice of shoes, but if it's a girl...)

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brilliance

Magic- A Belly Grows from The Panic Room Videos on Vimeo.



I've read Pacing The Panic Room for a while now... ever since Cole's Maternity Series first went viral. I'm not sure how I first stumbled upon it. Maybe from here? (Which would make sense since this was first posted on ohdeedoh days after my non-pregnancy saga began. (More on that later.)) But, suffice it to say, the way Ryan saw his wife and captured the beauty of her pregnant belly made my heart flutter. It is/was/and will most likely always be awe-inspiring. And now, with his new found career success & strides I cannot help but feel immense happiness for him. And hope. Hope that each artist, with a little bit of luck and a ton of blood sweat & tears will have his day. Here's to you Ryan. (Thank you.)

a single moment: the farm

Today I'm dreaming of this farm. Of its quiet. Peace. Of its endless, breathtaking beauty. I'm reliving the significant moments I've had there.The moments of extreme joy. Love. Passion.

At the moment I took this photo my husband's family is just beyond those structures preparing for an evening of sausage making. The winter sun is setting. And I have stolen away to capture the farm where I made the most important decision of my life... where I answered him, "yes".

christmas morning locale

Guess where we'll be sleeping this holiday season... The Williamsburg Guesthouse: A gorgeous ivy-covered red carriage house in trendy Williamsburg. (Eeeek.) Check out the description:

1st Floor Suite

we have a beautifully renovated 2-room suite
a queen-size bed
beautiful organic linens + towels
a fully stocked eat-in kitchen with all new appliances
organic coffee + tea fresh-baked goods
flat screen tv, wifi
tastefully furnished + full of natural light
over-looking a lovely flower-filled courtyard
private bath with shower

All of that (organic, natural) goodness for a whopping $117/night. To call it budget-friendly is an understatement. In short: we are in heaven with this find (and its adorable owner, Lucy). Williamsburg, here we come (!)

PS: Airbnb is a pretty darn amazing site.

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scenes from my mother's garden

PS: This is her first season growing a garden. Doesn't it look just amazing?

baking goodness

Here I sit @ ye good ol' day job thinking, "before I start on this one (endless) task, let me check in with A Cup Of Jo for a little goodness." Bad call. And not because I wasn't delighted by what I found (that doesn't happen with her yummy blog). But now I, too, am writing my own post and dreaming about the taste of these...

Now, normally I encounter something delicious-looking online and give it only a passing glance. (As I have learned three years into eating gluten-free, every damn thing contains flour.) But THIS recipe, ladies and gentlemen, is gluten-freakin'-free. GAH. So, Joanna Goddard and Smitten Kitchen... I {heart} you.

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be jealous, please

Guess where we'll be this Christmas and New Years? Think magic and excitement and cold and delicious food. You guessed it (!) New York (freakin') City.

The tickets are booked. 11 days of delight with my lovely husband. I can't wait to help him fall in love with the city the way I did so many years ago...

Here's to (hopefully) our last holiday without a little one (!) Eeeks.

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san francisco: part one