Mac-A-Roli

Or "Why I Need a Food Intervention--Stat"

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Look at that smiley-faced raviolo,up there. That teeny, delicious, S.O.B.  I'll miss that little guy.  


When the Bear deployed, I did my best to stay in my routine.  I tried so damn hard to act like everything was fine.  To be honest, I was trying to convince everyone that I was fine.  Fine. Fine. Fine.  It all boiled down to the fact that I was scared to let people down, and I didn't want to look weak.  It all sounds melodramatic now, but there still is some truth to it.  No one likes to see someone struggle to adjust, and frankly, I don't like to let anyone see me struggle.  But I did.  And you know who was there to help me out, when I refused to communicate that anxiety?


That delicious little bugger, right up there.  Yep.  Mac-o-roli. Actually, I'm not gonna lie.  This is some seriously good stuff.   It is macaroni and cheese, stuffed into a  bite sized piece of junk food heaven, and you can microwave it(!!). Nuke it for two minutes and enjoy.  And when the Bear left, there was 20 bags of this in my freezer.  My mom found them on sale, and stocked up.  Know what else was on sale that same week?

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And this my friends, was my perfect storm.  

I gave my self a week or two to eat like there was no tomorrow--full bag of mac-a-roli (650 calories,15g saturated fat,825mg sodium--so good), washed down with a Klondike Bar...And where did it get me? You don't wanna know.  Actually, I didn't want to know.  Until I went to the doctor's office, and they weighed me.  I tried to keep my eyes closed, but I peeked.  Wish I hadn't done that, because I learned that I was (am, maybe?) two pounds away from my heaviest weight. 

This is no good.  I did this to myself, and I'm gonna have to kick my ass to get out of it.  I've banished ice cream and pasta from the house.  I'm committed to working out 4-5 times a week.  And I'm not going to weigh myself.  

So, goodbye old friends.  You were tasty, but I'm gonna have to go find a better way to cope.  Peace!

Mich 

An Inspiration Shoot & A Game Changer

That's what this beautiful shoot is for me, a major game changer.  I came across this via Snippet & Ink, and then Grey Likes Weddings.  Each time I look at it, I am floored by the gorgeous images, and the elements that make them up.


I was set on the overall look and feel of our decor--I wanted a clean and crisp look made up of white and sea glass.  This is not it:

And what is it with me and stone fruit all of a sudden?  Cherries?  Brilliant!  Now I'm into nectarines and plums?  


I want a cake like this.  Nothing too fussy.  Nothing that contains fondant, or gum paste, or supports made of "crispy rice treats."  I want a cake that just looks delicious and doesn't require a pastry chef to cut it.  Just like this:

Then there's the added element of print thrown into the party, adding a bold touch.  Didn't I say I wanted to add sheet music and books into our decor?  Yes I did.  And then the lovely stylists took that a step further.  Touché.  

The panels could certainly be used to serve another purpose--maybe a new spin on a guestbook?  Or table assignments?

I didn't mention that they not only managed to incorporate red, but they added lavender and a brightly colored cocktail.  Now the wheels are turning.

The bouquet is perfect--like all the florals featured in the shoot, the flowers are loosely arranged.  Nothing too architectural or forced.  I could be very happy with a bouquet like this since it doesn't look like I'm going to be able to get my hands on some lily of the valley. I'd probably ask for a little less purple.  

I'm still working on our reception site.  But where ever it is, I hope to have a moment like that with the Bear, to make a toast to the day (hopefully around a bonfire).

Yes, this is me and I'm clearly living in a fantasy world.  This amazing shoot took me from "we're not doing flowers" to "oh my goodness, how do I get romantic and lush arrangements like those" in the blink of an eye (or a couple clicks of a mouse, as the case were).  

This has to be another symptom of bridal-itis.  Symptoms include: acute inability to make decisions,  insatiable appetite for items that are over budget and out of reach, and repetitive list-making that is a direct correlate to the neglect of said lists.  

Please, please, let this thing only last until the wedding.  Or tomorrow. I'll be bookmarking these pages while I wait for it to pass.

Hello, Vera!

It was bound to happen. Who was I to think that I wouldn't like any gowns in Vera Wang's collection? No really, I always thought that her designs were lovely and sophisticated, but I didn't even bother looking at her latest line. The reason? Because I didn't want to fall head over heels for a dress that is way over my budget.


You know where this is going. So, meet Evelyn.

Image via MarthaStewartWeddings.com

There she is: simple, sophisticated, romantic, form fitting, and different from the more popular wedding gowns of late.


I want to try her on. I want to march right into the nearest Vera Wang boutique (with an appointment, of course) and take this gown for a little spin.


But there are two reasons that stop me in my tracks; I have no idea what this gown costs. And as BM Lil' $is so kindly put it, I have hips while this lovely model does not. She's right, it might not be the best silhouette for me (which is what BM Lil $is was trying to say).  Choosing a dress from a picture alone, is probably not the best idea.  But my common sense is being overpowered by my fashion sense.  




So am I just headed for a major disappointment?




Did you find that the dresses you tried on looked different on you  versus how they looked on the model?  Did that change the direction of your bridal gown shopping?

Mix Tape #2: The Love Continues

Here's the next "mix tape" I made for the Bear. 

It's a little off-kilter as far as playlists go.  I go from Empire of the Sun to Jason Mraz--start to finish.  Never thought I'd mention both of them in the same breath, but there they are nonetheless.  Each and every song on this list represents a moment, a memory, a piece of our relationship.  So while they don't fit together on the surface, they come together to form the narrative of the past few years for us. 


Take "Lucky" by Jason Mraz for example, I avoid it at all costs on the radio.  For one, it was played way too many times on the radio for my sanity's sake.  And two, I didn't want to hear it so much that I lost the connection to it's significance.  One lazy day in Texas, I lounged on Bear's bed and surfed the internet to pass the time, while he cleaned his room.  I was checking out some newly released albums from the week, when I came across a preview of "We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things," and I reluctantly started listening to it.  While I've always had a soft spot for singer/songwriters, I tried to stay away from most new music in that genre (note: past tense, I'm over that now).  I clicked around on the internet until we came to #6.  I gasped and stood up just a few seconds into the song.  Bear stopped what he was doing when he heard the lyrics, and scooped me up.  Just like that we started dancing, listening to a song that pretty much summed up the beginning our our relationship. He had just returned from Iraq, we'd just fallen in love. Pretty perfect if you ask me. 


Anyway, enjoy!

Labor Day

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Hope everyone is able to take a moment to relax today.   I'm in Vermont on a camping trip, my first since I was eight years old.  For many reasons, I wish the Bear was with us.  We're all going to miss his presence and of course his expertise this weekend, that's for sure.  


Happy Labor Day!