Lessons.

Before

After...

Hello, friends and family!  I am happy to report that I have finally climbed out from underneath stacks of architecture books and mock exams and study guides, and have returned to the real world (er, virtual world, I guess) after completing my architecture testing (for now, more on that later).  Instead of reflecting on what I've learned from countless late-night study sessions for the past 10 weeks, I would rather take a moment and reflect on a few things from the past year.   A year of beginnings, memorable firsts, and lessons.  (Oh, the lessons...)  I'm am sure all of you have already learned these - a few I thought I already knew, but somehow found myself relearning...again and again... 

1.  Forgive and move on.

2.  Time moves faster when you're married.

3.  The kitchen is messier when you're married. 

4.  Ask for forgiveness. 

5.  Don't keep score - you'll lose... no matter what the score is.

6.  Everyone says awful things when they're mad - see #1.  And especially #4.

7.  My husband knows me very well, probably better than anyone, but he still can't read my mind, nor should he be expected to.

8.  99% of the time I can read his mind.  I haven't yet decided if this is a good thing.

9.  If you want something done, you need to ask for it, politely, or do it yourself.  If you choose to do it yourself, see #5.

10.  If both of you can laugh or at least crack a smile during a fight, it's a good sign it's almost over.  If only one of you is doing that, it's not ending anytime soon.

11.  Gatorade doesn't make popsicles, but if I tell my sick husband that pedialyte popsicles are gatorade popsicles, he won't know the difference, and he will hydrate himself feeling like a man.  Everybody wins!

12.  Do NOT get in the way of a husband who needs to blow off steam.  Get out of the way and let the man go to the gym.

13.  Doing nothing together is something. 

14.  Make the effort to do something sometimes.

15.  Focus on what your husband does, versus what he doesn't.  Ehhh... sometimes what he doesn't is good too.


I asked Graham to compile a list of lessons that he has learned, and his response was "That would be an f****** long list and would take too long to complete."  Ah, well, he was on his way to the gym anyway.  Happy 1-year my love!

What are some lessons that you've learned?  Or that I should be prepared for?!

xo




slow start.

So I just realized that I am about to be as good at blogging as I am returning phone calls.  So let's put a stop to that right now.  I have been slow on the start up of this, buuuut good news!  I am awaiting a new computer so I won't have to use Graham's or sneak at work.  (Just kidding, Mom!  I don't sneak at work).  It comes next week, and I am quite excited.  I will finally have something to upload pictures to!

Still settling into the apartment (pictures to come, see above).  My next task on the to-do list is curtains.  We have dismantled out 70lbs+ closet sliding doors because 1. they weigh 70lbs+ and 2. they're alignment prohibited Graham and I from accessing our sides simultaneously, which created really unpleasant weekday mornings.  I know, I know - I don't know why we had to get in there at the same time.  We just did.

But that won't happen this weekend because this weekend is Brie's Bachelorette Party!  We are driving up to Santa Barbara on Friday and renting a huge house (there are 16 of us, lord help us) and taking a party bus wine tasting in Santa Ynez on Saturday.  The boys are having their Bachelor party this weekend as well.  Graham's the best man so he has been planning fervishly for it.  I'm looking forward to a mini vaca.  I am not looking forward to Monday.

Also I joined a new gym!  Goodbye to my pricey snobby yoga studio.  Hello Gold's Gym with lots of classes (including yoga), a swimming pool, and cinema cardio room with new releases, and a steal of a membership fee.  Gots to get into bikini shape for the upcoming trip to Costa Rica!  We have been nesting since the wedding.  Literally.  hehe.  (That joke will never get old, sorry Aftan).

Love to everyone.  I will make up my lack of pictures I promise!

Yes, please.

One puppy and one nap and that should do it for me.  Can't you just smell his little puppy breath?  Someday!  Hopefully someday sooner than later...
[image found here]

Speechless.

Yesterday, I was given one of the most amazing birthday/5mo anniversary gifts of all time.  A huge, love-filled, thank you to my best good and my best good brother-in-law!

Celebratory Lunch!

The past two weeks have been quite hectic.  A move to a different apartment, sandwiched between two very busy work weeks has made me quite frazzled and sleep deprived.  Today, not only did we submit a competition proposal (sure to win) but the rest of the upstairs office team submitted their 100% package as well.  Naturally, we went to lunch.  More accurately, we went to wine, with some lunch, at Cucina Urbana.  I ordered baked mussels with a delicious rich cream-based broth that had onion and ham bits in it.  Not only was the dish to die, but dipping the warm crusty bread in the left over broth was heaven. 

My left hand has weighed more than my right for 1 year.

And it makes me realize how fast time passes and that makes me realize just how far away I am from my loved ones! I've been wanting to start a blog for some time now as a creative outlet, for fun, and for family and friends to check up on me, since I have quite an aversion to phone-talking. Now, inspired by my beloved best good, who is so diligent with her life happenings, I'm going to give it a shot of my own.

(That's a very poor picture of the proposal site with the lighted bocce's balls that surrounded us.  [I'm not sure why this post is dated November 2009.  It was actually posted on March 5, 2010.  Bumpy start!])