Our move to Los Angeles is finished, but not without some great stories for you sweetie. Right now I’m sitting in my new family room that has a serene shady feel from the ocean breeze. Mission complete! Our move began with a goodbye party where my extended family and friends made us feel like we’ll be missed in San Francisco. Nick's Crispy Taco's hosted us with great food, red walls and full on chandeliers. That restaurant couldn't be anymore city funky.
I spent the next two days packing and preparing for our Saturday and Sunday move. Our U-haul was packed by 1:00PM and then we spent the rest of the day spackling the holes in the walls, meeting our landlord for a final walk through, handing in our cable box etc. But then the unfair thing happened! You see, it looked like the San Francisco parking attendants also didn't want us to move away. We parked our U-haul in the driveway while I was upstairs with a couple of boxes when Honey's family ran up to tell me we were getting a ticket.
You can get a ticket on a U-haul parked in a driveway I had no idea! I felt like I was in a movie.
Our moving movie continued when we drove the U-haul at 5:30AM from San Francisco to L.A. I had a blast while Honey drove. I got to play DJ, set the right temperature in the truck and encourage Honey to stay in the moment.
I could feel our chapter turning as we got closer and closer to L.A. I was excited and nervous for him to see our new home as I had found it a couple of weeks before. We pulled into our driveway and I felt peaceful.
So forgive me as I stop writing and go outside to experience more. I can’t wait to tell you about our L.A. adventure. Do you enjoy moving and is it OK that I’m still tired?
Happy Monday all! I spent my weekend on a quick trip to L.A. Are you a good car traveler? I am OK if I'm driving, but I get really bored in the passenger seat without the right music. But its so much cheaper to take the car down from San Francisco to L.A. Road trips always make me reminisce to the first time Honey and I traveled together so I wanted to share with you these feelings in editorial falling in love pictures.
Capturing love in a photo must be difficult, but look at how the emotion is caught? What title of the picture would you give this one? How about, "Hold on Tight because you'll miss him when he's gone!"
Incredible Los Angeles based photographer Amelia Strauss captures editorial love perfectly.
Did you like the book Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck? It was one of my father's favorites...
This is a stunning autumn falling in love picture. That I think would feel totally different in color.
Rachel McAdams Vogue shoot is strong, bold, retro and that dress is killer. I wonder if she's staring at her new beau across the room. Ah editorial love... sometimes soft or strong, but always creative. I hope you had a good weekend sweetie! Which picture do you love the best...bet you can choose mine.
In the almost two year tradition of writing this blog, I've never once shown a picture of Honey. Mostly for privacy etc. Now this becomes a problem when you have wonderful wedding pictures to share...so please trust that I actually got married to another person. Thank you!
This first picture was taken at our Jewish ceremony just after Honey and I were pronounced as husband and wife and we started to walk down the aisle together. I loved my bouquet and all of the flowers. * Flowers done by Laura Miller Designs.
This is a sliver of Honey and I at our Hindu wedding ceremony. The colors and flowers are something I will never forget. Plus the smell of jasmine will always remind me of our wedding day as they were flowing in my hair.
Our cake was so lovely, classic and tasty. The colors of champagne complimented the deep red of the roses. It was a darker venue so the cake was also surrounded by candles. Yummy! * Cake created by Carolyn Wong.
And this is another peak of our lovely bridal party on the stairs just before the wedding. We had such a wonderful time filled with love and happiness. So get ready sweeties...over the next weeks I'd like to write about my wedding as well as Italy experiences. If you could do your wedding all over again what would you change anything?
Hi lovelies and thank you so much to my blogger friends for your wonderful guest posts over the past weeks. Honey and I just married and back from our honeymoon. I have so much to tell you sweeties and have filled a notebook of my thoughts for posts so I wouldn't miss anything.
And as I am getting over jet lag from our two weeks away in magical Italy, I find myself thinking about all the things I want to share with you.
Our weddings were filled with warmth and people and cultures coming together. Really it was more then I could have hoped for. Honey and I participated in both religions for each other and for our families.
Our morning Hindu ceremony was filled with colors like reds, oranges, purples, flowers, colorful sarees and henna.
Our evening Jewish ceremony was sophisticated, champagne and blush colors, warm, slower and it felt like we were on movie set.
So as I enjoy our first weeks as being Mrs. Honey, I thank you for all of your support. I can't wait to share with you all that's happened. So for now I'd like to leave you with what Honey and I keep saying to each other every day, "Wow we really did it!"
There's always been something really lovely about mister Emerald Dandy and I am proud to say he has become one of my blogging friends. If you haven't seen his Seattle blog then please check it out soon. He has such a wonderful and fresh way of seeing the world. And he wanted to share with you his love story. Take it away ED...
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It all begins when I had first moved into my building nearly 2 years ago. I was busy unloading my car of my boxes and hiking them up the stairs, when I was startled by a man and his dog. The dog gave a little bark which set off my nerves, but the man himself was truly stunning. I was excited to move into my apartment, knowing that there was at least "one" attractive gentleman in the building.
Without too much work I was able to see that this man lived in our courtyard (which I had to walk past everyday to reach my apartment), with another man... most likely his boyfriend. It didn't stop me from always trying to catch a glimpse of this gorgeous man; I always hoped he'd see me, but I never seemed lucky enough. After about 6 months I switched to a different apartment in the building, so my daily hunt ended.
I didn't think too much of it, until I discovered that one of my close friends was moving into HIS apartment. Apparently, he had broken up with his boyfriend, and the boyfriend had moved back to Texas. He no longer needed that apartment, so he moved into something smaller within the building. I had no idea where he had moved, but liked the idea that he was still here (AND single!)
After a night out with friends and talking about boys, I was dared to somehow strike up a conversation with my apartment-crush. Since I hadn't seen him in awhile and hadn't a clue where he lived, I tried something borderline stalker-ish. I scribbled a quick note on a napkin which said "Hey, I think you're cute. Would love to hang out with you some time. Xoxo, your secret admirer." and left it on his car parked in the garage. I'm not sure what I was thinking, as this was a large complex and trying to figure out who his secret admirer would have been similar to finding a needle in a haystack.
Since my note was general, I attempted by writing another. This time I left my name, apartment, and phone number. I couldn't believe I went through with this, but I figured what the hell?! Within a few days I received a text from him, and before you know it we were chatting.
For two weeks we were texting back and forth so I finally said "So are we ever going to actually meet, or continue to play this game?" and he responded by setting a date. Simple and easy, a BBQ date up on the roof. I was a little nervous, but was excited to meet him. I didn't actually think I stood a chance with him, but was stoked to see what would happen.
The evening of our "date" was perfect timing for me. I had just ended a disastrous friendship/relationship so I was excited for some type of distraction. I'll never forget when Chace and I actually met. I opened the door to the rooftop, and there he was. The look on his face was priceless... it was as if I stopped him dead in his tracks.
The first date was slightly awkward, as first dates tend to be. I quickly discovered why he had initially reacted the way he had. Turns out I wasn't the only one that was doing some "stalking."
While Chace was living in the courtyard, he remembered seeing this cute guy walk by, and hoped to get his attention, but ended up unsuccessful. One night while he was out walking his dog he glanced up at his building and noticed this guy wearing nothing but a towel; he had just discovered where the boy lived and was intrigued. While he was in his apartment he was always hoping to catch a glimpse of the boy walking past the courtyard, and while he was walking his dog he hoped to see him in his apartment. Suddenly, the boy had moved away, and he had figured his fantasy was over.
Boy was he wrong, because he was having a BBQ with that same boy! The date went well and we've been together ever since!
Not everyone can be in touch with their feelings of warmth as Simply Luxurious is and I love how she translates it into these luxurious romance shots. Thank you SL for all of your well wishes and I am in love with your love roll. Tell us sweetie, which picture is your favorite? I think I have two or three! ~ There is something contagious about romance when one sits down to compose a piece with love as the centerpiece. I couldn’t help but smile a bit more, become evermore filled with hope, and reflect on wonderful memories I’ve shared.
There truly is something intoxicating about love, and while Laura and Honey are away allowing themselves to be immersed in such an enthralling emotion, I thought I’d bring a little love to the blogosphere today by sharing a handful of photographs that made me grab my very own pair of rose colored glasses.
Here’s to the lovers, the dreamers and me! (View Kermit’s adorable version of the aforementioned song by clicking here.)
Thank you Brandi for guest posting today and I am proud to call you a blogging friend. I love your pictures, honesty and pictures on your blog. And I also love getting your comments and feedback. We are ready for you to share your bliss with us. Take it away Brandi! ~ Hi everyone! I’m Brandi from Not Your Average Ordinary and I’m so honored to be guest posting for Laura while she’s off on her honeymoon. I thought I’d tell you all a little about my love story.
My boyfriend M and I met in Astrophysics class. (Yes, we are that geeky.) He was working on his Masters in teaching; I was finishing up a second Bachelors degree.
I never expected to fall in love. At that point in my life, I had begun to believe that “being in love” with someone was something I’d only know in movies and books. I thought it was one giant mass hallucination. M proved me so wrong.
We’re currently in a long distance relationship: he’s on the East Coast, I’m on the West Coast. There’s 2,776 miles between us. It’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it.
Last August, we drove that distance together, and I discovered not only America but how much he had changed me. I learned that even though what you do in your life is important, who you do it with means so very much.
What lessons has love taught you?
{first image from the is found photography, second image from flickr user avec fleur, third image via weheartit}
Introducing Miss Joanie who is going to guest post for us. I love how real Joanie is with her words and thoughts. I always feel like I know her and can imagine her stories. When she read that I was looking for "calling all love stories" while I'm away on my Honeymoon and she sent this right over. Thanx Joanie! ~ Have I mentioned that John and I met on the internet? Well, we sure did! When my marriage broke up, I was a little bit insane. I was married 23 years and we were together a total of 27 years. I didn't know how to NOT be married. Some months after the break-up, when I was finally convinced that he wasn't going to "come to his senses and come home", I started joining online dating services hoping to meet someone. I met a few guys and I'm surprised I didn't join a convent!
I was resigning myself to spending the rest of my life alone. Then one day I ended up on this site, I found this one called True Beginnings. John and I exchange info about ourselves over the course of the next couple of weeks and we learn that we have so much in common it's scary! He's 4th of 7 kids, raised Catholic in Philly, graduated from Cardinal Dougherty High School in 1971. I'm 4th of 8 kids, raised Catholic in the suburbs of Philly and graduated from Cardinal O'Hara High School in 1973. He's retired military, 3 of my 4 brothers, my sister's husband and my nephew are all military, 3 of whom made careers in the Army and Marines. I have 2 girls, 1 boy; he has 2 boys, 1 girl, neither of us has grandchildren yet. The similarities just kept coming and coming.
We finally decided it was time to meet in person. So I told him where I worked as a waitress. So one Saturday, the hostess comes up and says you have a request and there he is!! John sat in my section and ordered food and asked me to go dinner and a movie with him.
Did I mention that I broke all the rules with him? First, I told him where I work. Then, I allowed him to follow me home so I can get changed. I gave him a Diet Coke and I went upstairs to take a shower!!! So we go to Red Lobster and then a movie afterwards (we saw The Night Talker with Robin Williams). Afterwards, we went back to my place and he comes in and we watched a movie (V For Vendetta). This is where I made a BIG mistake.... I should have known better to introduce my teenager to my new "friend". And it didn't help much that she caught us smooching. If I had to do it all over again, I'd have kept John out of the house for a while before introducing them. Although I have a feeling it wouldn't have made a difference.
We have a lot in common and we also have many differences. He thinks the Catholic Church should still be saying Mass in Latin, I don't agree. I was in a bowling league for years, I like to play cards, he plays Dungeons and Dragons and Chess.
So there you have it! John and I have been together since August of 2006. We had some challenges, like when he was diagnosed with cancer less than a year after we met and I told him I wasn't going to leave him. And dealing with my youngest child not liking him. I had a cervical cancer scare (I didn't have it, thank God!) before he had his cancer and he stood by me.
I'm not sure if we'll ever get married, and it's me dragging my feet. I don't want to lose my spousal support (that's what they call alimony in PA) and I get it until Dec 2014 and I earned every single penny of that money! And I also discovered I'll be eligible for my ex's social security if I don't remarry before I turn 60 (which will be 9 months after my support ends), and my ex makes a LOT more money than either of us do! My not wanting to get married really surprised me! I was DESPERATE to be married, yet when the possibility arose, I said no way! Go figure.
What a doll Red Vines for Breakfast is and what a cute name! She contacted me with lovely things to say and wanted to share her love story with us. I love learning about how people met and find their mate and on today the day of Honey and my wedding, I thought this post to be perfect! Enjoy sweeties... ~ Take it away Red Vines for Breakfast: I was 20 years old and a college junior on Spring break in Cabo San Lucas Mexico with all my girlfriends. A few of us split up for the day and some of my girlfriends met some guys from Colorado at the beach while I was spending the day walking around town. Well, one of my girlfriends was interested in one of these CO guys and we decided to meet up with them later that night for a drink. We walked into the restaurant and I was immediately drawn to one of them and chatted with him all evening. We had so much in common and I remember laughing until my stomach hurt from his infectious sense of humor. His smile lit up the room and we had so much fun together.
He called my hotel room the next day and wanted to hang out again. So for the rest of our trip, my friends and his friends continued to spend time together- on the beach, getting happy hour drinks, lunches at The Office, etc. Before leaving to return to Los Angeles, I said my goodbyes thinking I'd never see him again. I mean, he lived in Colorado and was 26 (what I thought was too old for me at the time). He did ask for my home phone number before leaving and when I returned home he called all the time! I really liked him but I didn't understand what he wanted to come of this. Soon after, he came to visit LA to interview for a job and we had our first real date. It was perfect, but I got the distinct feeling that he was interested in getting married and having kids soon (although I realize I was way off on that) and I officially decided he was too old for me and we lost touch for a while. I moved to San Francisco after graduating and he moved to Los Angeles to take the job for which he had been interviewing. I thought of him fondly from time to time, but never expected to see him again.
More time passed and I eventually moved back to LA. Five years after our initial meeting on Spring break, I ran into him at a happy hour in Venice Beach! We were both single at the time and things just progressed smoothly from there. Now we've been together for 5 years and married for 2 and things couldn't be more wonderful. Sometimes we still cannot believe that we met on Spring Break in Cabo and 10 years later we're happily married. ~ Lovelies here is my fav wedding day movie quote, "And he's this completely wonderful, wonderful, amazing man, and...well, we starting seeing each other, a lot...and, um...we fell in love. Ha! Ha! It actually happened! And, uh, we've decided to get married...which means that, I'm engaged! Ha! I'm engaged! I'm getting married!" (Father of the Bride) ~Laura
Today we got legally hitched! OK by California, but we went this morning to City Hall and got our marriage license. It felt like we were in a scene in a movie and with two weeks to go to our BIG DAY all of our hard work, love and care will soon all come together.
Our San Francisco City Hall experience began at 8:00am where we met our Best Man who was our witness and photographer. Honey and I were both excited and happy. I really felt like a tourist in our own city. The SF City Hall is so magnificent and beautiful and I was snapping pics away.
While we were all waiting in line to fill out the necessary paperwork, I noticed a beautiful Asian woman standing with her family carrying a bouquet of red roses. What stood out to me was how flustered she looked and frantically on her cell phone. I told Honey that I thought her Groom hadn’t arrived yet.
Honey, our Best Man and I walked over to a bench to fill out our paperwork. And suddenly out of the corner of my eye, a man was running down the very long hallway of City Hall. I nudged Honey, “See that’s the Groom.” And then they embraced and got married.
What an experience! We took our paperwork into the clerk’s office and with our Best Man we swore that all of the information was correct. Holding both of our right hands up, we took the first step to our married life.
It was only fitting that the San Francisco fog rolled in. And in the middle of May, I was wearing a scarf. After we got our license the three of us went to breakfast at a Vietnamese restaurant.
Today I feel very lucky to be marrying Honey and seem to be beaming from ear to ear. Life surprises me so many times. I never thought I would see my wedding day; marriage was always for everyone else. And as I move into the next chapter, I thank you for coming along for the ride lovelies!
My three girlfriends and I were recently sitting at a coffee shop when the topic of our relationships came up. Doesn’t it always? I quickly realized that all three of us were all in different stages. One was living with her girlfriend, another engaged etc. Sure I made a joke about how my stock was about to go down, but it was my friend who needed the advice about her non-boyfriend that she’s been seeing for almost a year.
Yup her non-boyfriend that she sees every weekend, most nights, they spend weekend getaways together and have been each other’s plus one at work events. And then I laughed out loud when she called herself a cougar because of their age difference.
I suggested that, “She wasn’t a cougar, but a puma.” Don’t you agree? A cougar is a woman who is in there forties and hunting for twenty year olds. A puma is a (cougar-in-training) woman in her thirties dating a younger man. And I’m so glad my girlfriend laughed.
With her new puma status she seemed to carry herself a little stronger and sit up a little straighter in her chair. Never mind she was caring for someone that wasn’t giving back the way she wanted.
'Puma' seemed to make her feel better. It seemed confusing to be seeing someone she cared about and yet they checked in periodically to make sure that the other one hadn’t fallen in love because of their ‘understanding’. I encouraged her to break up from her non-boyfriend and find someone who deserves her time, energy and care. Maybe she just feels the puma pull to being free and unattached. Or is this a myth as she seems attached to me?
Pumas are cougars in training, but where does the training come from if you have a broken heart. I hope she gets this non-boyfriend out of her system soon and see’s how wonderful she is. So lovelies do you agree or disagree with my advice? And just remember she’s probably reading this post…
What kind of weekend did you have? Was it peaceful and restful, filled with errands and running around or did something touch you deep inside forever? My weekend was a combo of all three. I was touched by many people and reminded that life is short and wonderful all at the same time. No wonder I feel tired today...
Sometimes I wish my mornings could start off like this. Just lounging in bathrobes while someone else makes breakfast. And yet I love to feel the dance of cooking. I feel useful and proud of what I create in the kitchen.
And my bridal shower was yesterday and it was lovely. Women, men and children (even my goddaughter who calls me her Fairy godmother) all came together to celebrate in the moment of Honey and I getting married. The flowers, boutique cake and thoughtful gifts just made me smile.
I loved how my best friend, who'd also a fourth grade teacher, created the bridal games. I looked up to see my future mother in law and cousin trying to guess my favorite actor or shoe size. Plus some of my loved ones got competitive. It was a lot of fun! (For shower ideas try here ClassyBride.com)
The stars must have aligned as we all bonded and got to know one another.
It didn't matter what background, city you were raised, thoughts about cultures blending were. All that mattered was love, warmth and care.
And so my lovely readers, with only 8 weeks to go to our wedding I'm getting very excited to see all the people we love in one room. So this is what they mean when they described unconditional love. How was your weekend sweetie?
