Saturday, December 31, 2011

Paper

You might be expecting a post about area rugs...sorry to say that isn't happening today.  Although area rugs and the conversation surrounding how they would add warmth and style to our house was a hefty percentage of our home decor related conversation in the first part of our marriage, that's not what I want to talk about today.

I'm also breaking another another promise to look back and recap the last year. Instead, I'm going to look at the present. That's just how I'm feeling right now.  You dig?

Last Friday was our 1 year anniversary.  As in one year since we said "I do," danced our faces off and schmoozed with our friends and family and ate enough candy and popcorn and ice-cream for the next century to come.  Good day!

A few months ago AJ and started discussing our anniversary and what we'd like to do to celebrate.  We thought it might be fun to try and put a non-traditional twist on a traditional gift. If you're interested in learning more about traditional/modern anniversary gifts, read about it here.  (Go on, it's actually really interesting...I also want to know if there has been a couple blessed enough to make it to their 100th anniversary.  Lucky gir!)

Anyway, in an effort to turn a traditional paper gift into a non-traditional paper gift we decided to buy each other the Barnes and Noble Nook (simple E-Reader version.) Get it?  E-book=modern twist on traditional paper?  We thought we were pretty clever.  AJ (in true techie fashion) has visited about every conceivable forum and blog and website that has to do with the Nook and how it functions and secret tips, etc, etc.  Me?  I prefer to ease into technology.  Baby steps, I guess.

However, we both got each other other 'paper' gifts unbeknownst to the other.  AJ bought me "Q&A a Day: A 5 Year Journal".  Basically, the journal asks one simple question a day that solicits a short answer: for example yesterday's question was, "Can people change?"  I write down my answer for 2012 and then come back to it in a year and answer the same question all over again.  And this goes on every day for 5 years.  So cool!  I think it will be fascinating to look back and see how my answers change.

 I bought him "My Future Listography: All I Hope to Do in Lists".  This book is just that: lists.  AJ and I are both a little obsessed with lists.  I love lamp lists.  I know it is the satisfaction of writing something down on paper and then scratching it off when it's completed.  Whatever the case, this book is a list-lovers nirvana.  For example: List the places you want to travel in the future.  List the books you want to read.  List mistakes you hope to not repeat.  List things you'd love to learn how to make with your own two hands--this is good stuff folks!

In all honesty, I think I like these two traditional paper gifts more than our clever, modern Nooks--ironic!  These gifts allow us to sit and chat with one another.  Discussing stuff.  Sometimes dumb stuff, sometimes cool stuff, sometimes important stuff.  And so timely too.  Discussing stuff together at the beginning of the year!  I've never been into resolutions for New Year's but I used to be really great at creating a year-long motto. Mottoes like: Make it Happen in 2008!  Sadly, I fell out of the habit of keeping mottoes (but dear friend Jenna has been super great at keeping mottoes since we started in what...2005??).  I may not be into resolutions and mottoes, but I'm into lists!  So this year, I will be creating a list of 12 things I'd like to accomplish in 2012.  And also reviewing last year's list (that we created on our mini-honeymoon in MSP).

So there you have it.  I'll be writing my list of 12 things I'd like to accomplish in 2012.  On paper.  Stay tuned!






Tuesday, December 20, 2011

The First Steps of our Journey



Nearly one year (Dec 30) has passed since we uttered "I Do" and entered into the loveliness, craziness, madness, awesomeness, and beautiful mess we call "Marriage."

In reality, nothing can prepare you 100% before entering into a lifelong commitment with the person you love. All we knew is that we loved each other, and wanted to spend each day together as long as we both shall live. A decision that stacks up there in our Top 3 Best Decisions Ever Made.  Right behind Peanut Butter with Chocolate Ice Cream for breakfast that one time. And naming my childhood cat, "Kitty."

The crux of it all right there is love. Love, as we both assumed, would make everyday together better than the last, and we would find ourselves in perfect accord with every decision, opinion, and perception we faced. Love has not let us down, and we have outnumbered the bad days with good days at least 10 to 1. It has been a great adventure shared between us, and one with many opportunities to grow personally as well as together.

We want this blog to be a way to share with you our lessons learned, and adventures that we embark upon in the most amazing trail to be blazed: marriage.  Check back soon for more installments in our first year of marriage.  Next up, picking out area rugs!  Okay, we won't bore you, but you should ask AJ about it sometime. 

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