My New Part-Time Job

So, basically wedding planning is my new part-time job. For some reason, in all these years of dreaming of someday getting married the actually planning part of it wasn't very defined. It was more like I meet the guy, fall in love, get engaged and get married. Ta-dah! Life is a bit more complicated than that.

We're really wanting to avoid the whole wedding trap that seems to be par for the course nowadays. Meaning, spending $25,000+ for a one day gathering. Yes, it is an extremely important day but we've both struggled with how commercialized it has become. When I was a kid, a wedding meant everyone in the church was invited and we all ate cake and punch in the fellowship hall afterward. Now it is a day fit for a Martha Stewart spread...even the DYI weddings have so much (expensive) detail it is astounding--a hand-bound letterpress booklet for the invite, a vintage photo booth for the guests to take pictures, hundreds of jars of homemade jam as favors...lovely touches, but hmmm...

I'm learning it is better for me to avoid the oncewed sites (though, man, i love that site; it is so beautiful!) and to create a day that is us. Honestly, our desire is to have a day with our family and friends where we can be together. We want to create a space for conversation and laughter and memory-making...

I'm looking forward to this...can hardly believe it is only 3 1/2 months away!

Fussamus

One of my friends nicknamed her baby Fussamus because he thinks he must fuss all the time. She's really an amazing mom--not taking the whole baby crying and having colic to heart at all, but rather rolling her eyes and laughing, "oh, you just like to cry, don't you?" I made her a onesie in honor of his nickname and true to form, he started crying after wearing it for a couple of minutes. He sure is adorable, though. Love that Fussamus!!

:)

This picture just makes me happy. Love this cat.

Rest

We went to the beach last weekend to read and rest. It was such a beautiful day. We needed that. Finished the afternoon by going over to Urth Cafe to sip on Americanos and share a flourless chocolate cake that nearly killed us with goodness. Mmmmm

L.A. River

The L.A. River bike trail leaves a lot to be desired in that there is rarely a spot without graffiti. The 'parks' noted on the trail's website are so small we passed most of them before we realized, 'Oh, that bench is the park.' Most of them were around 200 square feet or so. However, the trail is well-paved and we had a great morning of riding. It was surprising to see the trees and birds in the middle of the river. We tried to imagine what it must have been like when it flooded every year (hence the concrete). It would have poured over the 5 freeway on this particular stretch.