my life : the honeymoon

Currently doing a auto-bio series, hoping to reflect, learn, and grow...and for you to get to know this blogger better!  To catch up read:

1.  the kiddo years 

2. the 'tween years

3. high school 

4. college part 1

5. meeting{future}hubby

6. portland

7. the breakup

8. college part 2

9. the proposal

10. college part 3: graduation

11. cincinnati

12. the engagement

13. the wedding

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The wedding was over.  All that planning and preparation and anticipation - done.  We were both very thankful to have a vacation happening immediately after all the stress of the big day!

After our Saturday evening wedding celebration, we had all day Sunday before we left on our honeymoon Monday morning.  We spent that day enjoying an awesome brunch with my family and a few other out-of-town guests, then doing gift opening back at our house with various family members.

That night there was some last minute packing, and in the morning we were off!

Where did we choose to go?  Well, the trip was completely on our dollar {which we didn't have any actually dollars actually saved yet} so we couldn't do anything too extravagant.  We had yet to pay off all my student loans, a car, a credit card or two, and not to mention the wedding loan we just had to take out.  We had yet to save up an emergency fund, car funds, and travel funds.  Pretty much we had to keep it fairly simple in order to not add a lot to our current debt.  So no private villas on an island, or pricey European getaways.  We had already done a cruise recently, and been to Mexico together, so neither of those options interested us.  

So, in keeping with the "wine theme" we planned an seven day trip to California, to spend four days in Napa, and three days in San Francisco.   Neither of us had been to 'wine country' and since we were both really into wine,  it sounded unique, romantic and fitting for us.  We were both really excited!

One thing I am really thankful for in our relationship is how compatible we are as travel partners.  There is no one I would rather adventure with than Paul.  We knew this going into our marriage, as we had done plenty of travel together beforehand.   While we both love to see the major sights, explore, and try new things...we also enjoy the simple things.  Sitting on the beach for hours, drinking and people watching.  Camping.  Vegging out in the hotel room and even ordering a pizza.  

Our honeymoon was no exception.  We really had a wonderful time together.   It was the relaxing, indulgent, and blissful week that I'm sure most newlyweds enjoy.  

We flew into San Francisco and rented a convertible.  It was a terrifyingly blinding bright yellow Mustang...but as long as we could feel the wind in our hair, it would do just fine.

I did not drive.  At all.

We drove from San Fran to Napa, stopping in the actual city of Napa to check it out and get dinner.  We ate tapas and drank wine {of course} at this lovely little place:

We arrived at our first bed and breakfast we would stay at in Napa, which Hubby had carefully chosen, in the early evening, just as the sky was turning from pink to purple.  It was a lovely chalet-style building, surrounded by vineyards.  Grape vines as far as the eye could see.

That night we explored the grounds, took a dip in the jacuzzi, made a fire in the large stone fireplace, and relaxed after our day of travel.  The next morning we enjoyed a huge breakfast in the dining room, visited with the owner and the other guests, and then made our way to our next destination - a completely different style of bed and breakfast.  This one right in the quaint town nearby, a lovely old historic home, with very antique decor.  I'm not sure it was necessarily Paul's cup of tea, but I adored the place.  Absolutely lovely in every way.  Nice pick for your new bride, Hubby!

Vintage picnic basket filled with breakfast was left by our door each morning.

The basket had three compartments filled with deliciousness...

After we had checked in and gotten settled, our limousine arrived.  I state this not to sound fancy, but to point something out:  If you plan to visit more than four wineries in one day, it is a really good idea to have someone else driving.  You may get intoxicated really fast!  So limo it was, which was a really fun and romantic way to do it.  {If you'll remember I never went to prom, so I never got the fancy limousine experience then.}  I relished every moment of our day in the limo!

oh no!  gaucho pants!

Drinking in the beauty of California's wine country...

during a gondola ride up to a hillside winery

The next day we took it a little easier, decided to drink less and drive ourselves around.  We went to a lovely winery with a modern design with art adorning the walls to match{Artesa}; a quaint, very private winery that we got a nearly private tour of and was set in the woods {Chappellet - our favorite!} the massive, amazing vineyards of Robert Mondavi, and then, because it was one of our favorite wines at the time, we ended up at Clos Du Val.

Here some photographs from that second day...

sniffing the bunghole.  yes, they are really called that.

nerdy honeymoon pose!

in the mondavi tasting room

had to walk through the woods to get to one winery - so cool!  Except that I was wearing four inch heels...

1981 - a good year

Our last night in Napa we did a fancy, romantic dinner.  Considering the night before we had ordered pizza, we were both excited for a big night out!  (Don't be shocked, we end up ordering pizza and watching a movie one night of every vacation we go on, no matter where it is.)

I don't remember what restaurant we dined at, but when the wine glass is as big as my head (and I have a large head) then I know I like it.

um, clearly I am tired and intoxicated.

After our time in Napa, we headed back to San Francisco, where we would finish out the final three days of our trip.  On the way we stopped in a beautiful ocean town for lunch:

Made it to our hotel in downtown San Francisco, the Westin St. Francis.  The weather for most of our time in the city was pretty foggy and very windy!  This view from our room shows the foggy skies.

One night in San Fran we had dinner at a crazy, yet fabulous dinner theater show, recommended to us by one of our friends that used to live there.

We also, of course, went to Alcatraz, which was pretty interesting.  Hubby especially loves the historic audio tours when we go places like this.

Hubby loving the audio tour of the jail.

Fisherman's Wharf was fantastic for fish fanatics like us.  We feasted unapologetically on large quantities of seafood and beer...

and fresh bread.  Gotta have my carb fix...

And then it was time to venture home.   To our new life.  It had been six years of on-again, off-again dating and a nine month engagement culminating in a beautiful, yet improbable, marriage.

After all that, the honeymoon, as they say, was over.

The adventure of marriage was beginning...and oh, what an adventure those first few years were!

You know those couples who always look picture perfectly happy, who claim they never fight, and everything is simply blissful?

Yeah, that's not us.  Just keepin' it real, folks.

Marriage be hard.

And beautiful.  And sometimes more beautiful because it is so hard.

Up next: Newlyweds

g 

the renovation : kitchen demo

Characteristics of a Successful Reno Wife:

Patient.  Okay with mess.  Okay with dust.  Functions well in chaos.   Likes forgoing date nights for 'kitchen demo' nights.   Doesn't need a a firm timeline or date of completion.  Easygoing.  Chill.

I realize now that I am nothing like the woman I describe above.   

Despite my being ill-qualified for the role of "reno-wife" the renovation process is teaching me so many lessons.

There is so much I just need to ignore, forget about, and just plain let go of.  I am in general a non-compromising person.  I have high expectations of people, particularly myself.  Also, I prefer things to happen quickly and smoothly and according to plan.

I didn't particularly want to compromise my comfort in doing this renovation.  I have learned very quickly that is not possible.

I will go without a kitchen for at least a month.  It will feel like for-ev-er.

There will be dust everywhere.  And I mean everywhere.  I taste dust as I type this.

We cannot entertain guests for quite a while.  Years???

There will be chaos daily.

I will burst into tears daily.  (Usually when Hubby asks me if there is any way we can push back the kitchen cabinet installation another couple weeks, because there is something else he wants to do and 'baby, if we're going to do this we have to do it right.'  Ahhhh!)

Every time Hubby remarks he is "having fun" and "truly enjoying the renovation process" I will continue to react in surprise and ask him, "Really?  Are you serious?"

Getting the house to look and feel like the "dream home" I imagine will take years.

The wait will be worth it.  It will be gorgeous.  I will sit in my kitchen, sip my coffee blissfully, and barely remember the current trials and tribulations of reno life.

But for now I just need to view it as a disaster area work in progress.

*  *  *  *  *  * 

Here is the progress on the kitchen, after a second weekend where Hubby's parents were kind enough to take the little guy so he didn't have to endure the craziness of a demo-in-progress:

What do you think of this whole kitchen renovation process, Little Mac?

My thoughts exactly.

g 

one year ago : halloween

Halloween when your baby is only a few months old is not incredibly exciting.  

I'm just being honest, folks.  Last year our little Cormac was, at his mama's choosing, a doctor.  As he is sure to grow up to be, right?  No pressure, Mac.

Anyway, it is cute to dress up the little lump and take some photographs to document that, like good parents, you dressed up your kiddo.

Here is our proof we did our duty last year...

Quick diaper change in the car before taking him to hang out with our friends.  He doesn't look thrilled!

'page dr. c. landon ford to the o.r stat!  just make sure he has a clean diaper!'

looking slightly uncomfortable

I can't even believe a year ago he was this tiny.

dr. mcbaby: it was a rough day to save lives.

This year, with a 15-month-old, it is sure to be a little more entertaining.  We chose the costume based on Cormac's first word besides 'mama' and 'dada'....'dog' - or as he says it: "AWWWWG!"

Here are some shots of our little pup at the fun Halloween party last night at Hubby's office.  He started out scared of Ernie the Elf, but eventually he was following him around everywhere, trying to photo-bomb all the other kiddos pictures with him, and even open-mouth kissed him a couple times...poor Ernie didn't know what to do.

Plus...we are actually going to take him trick-or-treating this year!

Sure, he can't eat 99% of the candy.  But we can. 
g 

the renovation : little sign, big effect

Our house has been address-less for the past few months.  

Not a big deal, unless an ambulance, pizza delivery guy, plumber, or anyone wants to find your house.

Ya kinda need a number.

Might seem a small, insignificant detail, but how you display your house number can add a ton to your curb appeal.

Anyway, we finally ordered our sign.

We knew we wanted one of these classic plaques

that look so nice on many of the historic homes in our neighborhood.

We struggled a bit on color, 

waffling between pewter and antique bronze lettering.

The pewter won, as you can see...

Like my planter?  Both of them were tan when we moved in{see photo below.}  Ah, the power of spray paint. :)

This were our numbers before...SAD!

Much lovelier...

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And just for fun...a couple pictures of my sweet little guy:

he's actually learning how to smile for the camera - so proud!

at the zoo for daytime trick-or-treating.  he is a puppy this year.  Rrrrar!

Speaking of the little man...he's getting a couple days with his Mimi so that Hubby and I can get a ton of prep work done on the kitchen so we are ready for the reno next month.  Oh, and maybe we'll squeeze in a date or two!!!

Happy weekend!

g

7 tips for stay-at-home-mamahood sanity

Source: sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net via Greta on Pinterest

I love this quote...because it is so very, very true.

Now, I'm not an expert on anything really, but in the last 15 months as a stay-at-home mom, I've learned a thing or two...
1. Become okay with really comfortable clothes/shoes.  
This one was really hard for me at first.  I was never that girl in college who rolled out of bed and went to class in sweatpants and my hair piled on top of my head in a messy ponytail.  I tried to look 'put together' and fashionable.  Prior to having my baby I was used to dressing up for work.  I had always actually loved dressing up.  Even when the dress code was "very casual" I would wear heels.  Every. Single. Day.  And skirts, and preppy button down shirts.  And I am pretty sure I had the "Editor" style pants from Express in every color imaginable.

I even wore high heels throughout my pregnancy!

Then came baby, and my new job as an SAHM.  The first eight weeks I think I rotated between three pairs of sweatpants.  Big, baggy sweatpants.  I remember feeling completely gross.  {which may have been the hormones and the generally icky recovery process from having a baby with a giant head exit your lady parts.}  In any case, I wasn't used to feeling so unkempt.   Not wearing makeup everyday.
Plus, when I did go out in these first eight weeks, I was kind of stuck between still wearing my maternity jeans, which were way too big and kept falling off my booty, and wearing my pre-baby jeans, which were too tight and gave me an smallish but very unsightly muffin top.

Fortunately, things got better.  I lost my baby weight {read about that journey here} and in the process of that weight loss I became at peace with my comfy new dress code.  Now, unless I am going out to meet friends, M-F I am usually wearing workout clothes.   I put them on immediately in the morning, so I am ready for our morning jog or trip to the gym.  Then, after my shower during his morning nap, I change into comfy {not sexy or uber-flattering} jeans and a cotton shirt or tank top {+ cardi now that it's cool out} and that is how I spend the rest of my day.  I will sometimes put on makeup.  Sometimes not.  I have learned to be okay with the "sporty, casual, baby-friendly, don't care if I get dirty" version of me.  We do a lot of things that require getting dirty and sweaty.

Needless to say, I have saved a LOT of money on clothes and shoes.  Plus, it is extra fun now to dress sexy and flattering for date nights, and stylish and trendy for girlfriend nights and shopping trips!

2. Be flexible.  I am a total control freak, but I've learned to control that freakishness since becoming a SAHM.  You can have a schedule, but you cannot control the things that babies throw at you  (Not literally. Well, sometimes.}   One day your precious one might be sick, or teething really badly, and your entire plan for the day gets blown out of the water.  {Or, in my case, all of last week was completely shot because he had a contagious virus that thankfully I didn't get!}   Instead, you will spend it comforting and simply helping your baby get through their illness/teething.  Or you'll get invited last minute to a playdate, so the laundry you were gonna do will have to wait for another day.  Or, let's face it, you might just feel like spending an entire nap hour blogging/napping instead of dusting or prepping for that night's dinner.  Oh well -- it happens.  Breathe and go with it.  Oh, and perhaps convince your hubby to cook or, in our case, order takeout.

Source: adornonashoestring.com via Greta on Pinterest

3.  Let go of guilt.  I think it is completely okay to do things for yourself during the day.   Do you like running or working out?  Find a gym with a playroom, or invest in a jogging stroller {I do both.}  Love to write?  Use at least one naptime a week to blog or journal.   Adore the Kardashians?  It's completely okay to have an episode on while you hang out and play on the floor with your darling babe.   You NEED to do things for you.  Staying at home is not JUST about the baby, it is about staying true to who you are as well.

Source: cherpeace.tumblr.com via Greta on Pinterest

4. Be healthy.  I really don't think a lot of SAHMs have time to sit around watching TV and eating sweets.  Pretty sure that is a complete myth men have dreamed up.  However, it might be easy to overdose on empty calories when you are running around after a toddler.  Keep healthy snacks on hand, ALWAYS have a water bottle around to sip throughout the day, and do at least 30 minutes of a workout you enjoy.  Involve baby when possible.  I think your kiddo will appreciate the example you are setting, and hopefully grow to model your healthy habits.  I save all indulgences {wine, dessert, bigger meals} for when baby is asleep or with a sitter so I can actually savor them in peace.

5. Remember: They are watching and listening!  This one freaks me out regularly.  Every time I see Cormac do something that I know he saw me do, I have to remind myself that kiddos are incredibly intelligent and observant, even when they cannot talk.   I see him picking up dustrags and trying to "dust" the cabinets.  He wrestles with the broom to pretend to sweep.  He yelps until I will pick him up so he can push the jogging stroller.  He'll grab my keys, stand at the door and fiddle with them until he finds the 'right' one. He gently pets and hugs the dog.    He finds farting noises funny and laughs uproariously at them. He has meltdowns. Yep.  Pretty sure the good, the bad, and the ugly he saw either me or Hubby do.

6. Don't forget to play!  I like to get a ton done during the day, whether Baby is asleep or not.  When he is awake I will still try to clean some, prep dinner, run errands, all the while trying to involve him and teach him what I am doing, or let him play independently while I get things done.  I have to remind myself daily to take time to completely stop what I am doing, let certain tasks go unfinished, and just PLAY.   See the world through his eyes.  Act goofy.  Really listen to what he is "saying." Look into his eyes and have a quality, one-on-one interaction.    If you have never been a stay-at-home-mama you may think this one should be easy.  It's not.  If you happen to be like me you put a LOT of pressure on yourself to get a lot accomplished.  I have a schedule for housecleaning, I plan and prep all our meals, work out at least once a day, try to keep the house as tidy as possible, AND want Cormac to learn and grow and have a well-rounded experience with me.  IT IS HARD {impossible?}to try to do all these things well.   So I remind myself, every day, that sometimes I am allowed to forget all the other stuff and just PLAY with my kiddo.  Those are usually the best days. :)

Source: neutralnotes.tumblr.com via Greta on Pinterest

7.  Schedule YOU time.  Every week.  So important. Have at least one 3-4 hour period where your husband {or babysitter, or partner, or whoever!} takes your kiddo{s} and you get out of Dodge.  Seriously, just go somewhere by yourself.  Doesn't matter where.  The grocery store, a coffee shop, the mall...just go and be by yourself.  Do things that make you happy.  Actually enjoy a latte instead of chugging down a cup of coffee or abandoning it only to remember it hours later, ice cold.  Enjoy the company of Y-O-U.  Savor the silence.   Remember, this is besides a date with your husband, or plans with girlfriends.

Source: cdn.babble.com via Greta on Pinterest

So there they are.  Again, I'm no expert on motherhood by any means, but these are the things that keep me happy and sane.  Well, slightly.  :)

Are you a stay-at-home mama?  

What keeps you positive and motivated during your work day? 

{and please, if you say it is just all easy and wonderful and glorious, the rest of us know you are lying...so don't even go there.}

g

design journal : stainless steel apron sink

As the kitchen renovation looms on the horizon, I thought I would share our most recent addition to the design -- a stainless steel apron sink.  Originally we were looking at white porcelain farmhouse sinks, which I think look absolutely gorgeous.  But while searching for one we both might like, Hubby came across a stainless steel option and threw it out there to me.  I was smitten.  We both agreed it went better with our vision for the kitchen - which hopefully will capture a warm, yet industrial look.  So the sink was ordered and it arrived the very next day.

While I can't show you exactly what our kitchen will look like, here are some gorgeous kitchens featuring stainless steel sinks...

Eclectic Kitchen design by Miami Interior Designer Pinto Designs and Associates

Traditional Kitchen design by Other Metros Kitchen And Bath Kitchens Unlimited- Karen Kassen, CMKBD

Source: inspirationfordecoration.blogspot.com via Jennifer Hsu on Pinterest

Source: armasdesign.blogspot.com via Laurel on Pinterest

Contemporary Kitchen design by Atlanta Kitchen And Bath Teri Turan

The image below sort of shows how the sink will vibe with the dark cherry cabinets in our future kitchen, and the lighter shade of granite countertops we are planning on.  I love the look! {Um, and that beverage basin built into the island!!!}

Traditional Kitchen design by Phoenix Design-build Pankow Construction - Design/Remodeling - PHX, AZ

What is your favorite style of kitchen sink? 

In what ways does your kitchen reflect your design style/personality? 

What type of faucet do you think we should go with? 

Super industrial or more traditional?  

g

awkward family photo.

This past weekend my parents drove here from Minnesota to visit us.

I am pretty sure I was the laziest hostess ever.  I cooked only one meal.  I spent half the time in my pajamas.  I didn't refuse any junk food that was offered my way.  I may or may not have gained five pounds.

Despite my laziness, we spent three days doing a lot of laughing, eating, and walking around the city, an amusement park, and a farm/pumpkin patch.

It was sheer bliss, and though I tearfully said goodbye to my parents this morning, I am grateful for the three days we had together.

Anyway, I think there is a book dedicated to really awkward family photos.  While I don't think I have any that are quite awkward enough to make it into such a book, a few we took this weekend made us all laugh when we finally downloaded them and viewed them as a slideshow on our TV.

I might have peed a little.

Here is my favorite:

This year's Christmas card, perhaps???

Happy Monday!

g