Sedona: Anniversary Getaway

I can't believe Kiwi and I have been married for 2 years! To celebrate our second anniversary, we headed up to the red rocks of Sedona for some eating, drinking, hiking and relaxing. It's cliche but true, time flies when you're having fun. Happy two years my love!

*Kiwi would like me to clarify that by hiking, I mean stopping every five seconds to take photos while he patiently waits for me. Folks, I've got myself a keeper.

New Zealand Here We Come!

Well friends, Kiwi and I are off on another adventure! We are heading to New Zealand to visit Kiwi's family and to check out a few of the Rugby World Cup games. Also on the agenda: bungee jumping, black water rafting and zorbing! I'll try and post a few photos and updates while we are away. See you guys in a few weeks!

*Images by Andrew Smith found here.

photo fun with aimee hill

My sweet friend Aimee is a fabulous photographer. So when she was looking for couples to do a few fun photo shoots, we volunteered ASAP. The shoot coincided with our paper anniversary so we had some fun with fortune cookies and the fuji instax mini. You can check out her website and more of her darling photos here. Thanks Aimee! We had a blast and the photos are gorgeous. You rock.

*I promise we will return to regularly scheduled (non-anniversary related) programming, effective immediately after this post. Thanks for humoring me guys.

an airborne anniversary

{i heart hot air balloon rides}

{setting up}

{away we go}

{arizona from the air}

{hold on tight}

{blue skies}

{cheers to a wonderful anniversary}

Kiwi surprised me with a hot air balloon ride for our anniversary! It was so peaceful and still floating up in the air.... I didn't want to come down. Up, up and away!

this marriage

{photo by Brittany Strebeck}

May these vows and this marriage be blessed.

May it be sweet milk, this marriage, like wine and halvah.

May this marriage offer fruit and shade like the date palm.

May this marriage be full of laughter, our every day a day in paradise.

May this marriage be a sign of compassion,

a seal of happiness here and hereafter.

May this marriage have a fair face and a good name,

an omen as welcome as the moon in a clear blue sky.

I am out of words to describe how spirit mingles in this marriage.

-Rumi

Happy one year anniversary my love.

let there be light

{image via we heart it}

We have been without power for just over 24 hours. Why you ask? Because my darling husband forgot to pay our electricity bill. The poor man just totally forgot {in his defense, he's been crazy busy at work lately}... We quickly corrected the mistake, but it took another 12 hours for them to come turn our power back on. Who is in charge of paying bills in your household? Kiwi and I obviously need to work on our system.

*Kiwi and I decided I would make a terrible pioneer woman. It's so good to have my hair dryer back.

it's wedding season!

A close friend of Kiwi's is getting married on Saturday and I am so excited for the bride and groom. It's going to be a multicultural, Indian and Christian ceremony and I just know it will be beautiful... I went to the shower a few weeks ago and loved seeing all the Indian women in their gorgeous saris and jewels. I can't wait to eat delicious Indian food and show off my Bollywood dance moves! I heart weddings.

*Now I just have to figure out what I'm going to wear...

happy birthday kiwi

{photo by Brittany Strebeck}

Happy birthday handsome. Every day I get to spend with you is a gift.

I love you more than rainbows.

what a difference a year makes...

{his and hers}

{our engagement spot}

{new zealand is for lovers}

One year ago today... the love of my life asked me to marry him.

I said yes, a thousand times, yes.

{Photos taken after Kiwi proposed in Raglan, New Zealand}

a moveable feast

{coquilles st jacques}

{market bounty}

{fresh sea urchin}

{fromage}

{clementines}

Our first day in Paris we signed up for a market walk with the lovely Meg Zimbeck and Context Travel. Meg introduced us to the wonders of Ble Sucre {the most amazing bakery} and Le Baron Rouge {a fabulous local oyster and wine bar}. We even sampled some fresh sea urchin, straight from the shell!

To top off our amazing tour she took a moment to write down the names and addresses of her favorite restaurants in Paris. Kiwi and I loved all of her picks... We had the best meal of our trip at Chez Janou {the scallops were to die for} per her fabulous recommendation. Thank you for a wonderful tour Meg, it was the perfect way to kick off our honeymoon!

"If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast."

-Ernest Hemingway

*Kiwi and I chose to take Mr. Hemingway literally on this one... Paris did not disappoint.

it's official

we are the proud owners of one bona fide marriage license. i suppose this means we are pretty official. for some reason i got really giggly when they asked us to raise our right hands and read the affidavit. kiwi answered with a solemn i do and i went with a nervous yes and turned bright red.

*i'm going to be a mess during the vows. just warning you.

(image via siete camelias)

better to give than receive

i'm working on a little wedding gift for kiwi... i want him to have something special to commemorate the big day. there is nothing better than planning a surprise for someone you love.

*check out this amazing bride's gift for some major gift giving inspiration.

(via simple lovely)

with this ring

we ordered kiwi's wedding band on etsy this weekend! he picked it out himself. it's made from coyol seed with recycled sterling silver. it really is beautiful.

*as it turns out kiwi has a little streak of green in him... who knew?

(images via naturaleza)

hey mr. postman

kiwi and i finally sent out our wedding invitations... it was one of our first whoa, this is really happening moments.

*we were thisclose to sending out elopement letters instead. here goes nothing!

speaking of suits...

what do we think of kiwi in a lovely grey suit for the wedding? so timeless... and i love the brown shoes.

(via the sartorialist... obvi.)

if you're into it...

I see you standing all alone by the stereo.

I dim the lights down to very low, here we go.

You're so beautiful.You could be a waitress.

You're so beautiful.You could be a air hostess in the 60s.

You're so beautiful.You could be a part-time model.

But then I seal the deal, I do my moves.

I do my dance moves.

kiwi and i are going to see flight of the conchords tonight! i am stoked... my little brother hayden is also a fan of the HBO show and even learned how to play their songs on the guitar. my personal favorites are the most beautiful girl and i'm not crying. seriously hilarious.

(image found here)

obama-rama

kiwi and i are going to see president obama speak at brother jared's graduation today! they are expecting 71,000 people and the lines are going to be intense, but i think it will be worth it. this is an opportunity you just can't pass up. i'm so excited.
*did i mention it is supposed to be 103 degrees today...and the ceremony is outside.
(image found here)

OMG shoes!

i ordered these sassy little jeffrey campbell numbers a while back and i just love them. they are so soft and lovely and turquoise. since kiwi decided to totally veto the cowboy boots idea i'm thinking of sporting the jc pair instead. wouldn't they look amazing with this dress and these flowers? i tried it on this weekend and loved it. the girls at uptown bridal call it the senorita dress which i pretty much adore.

*for more unconventional bridal footwear, check this out.

do you yudu?

for some reason kiwi has always been fascinated with screen printing. it started with this book and just didn't stop. so for his birthday i decided to surprise him with his very own personal screen printing machine... the yudu. i read an awesome review on design mom and i just couldn't resist. the sad thing is, we've been so busy lately we have yet to take it out of the box (his birthday was march 9th) maybe this weekend instead of doing home projects we can let our creative juices flow! any ideas for a rockin' t-shirt motif? let's get excited and make things!

(images found here and here)

good luck!

kiwi is starting a new job today! i keep asking him if he is nervous or excited, but he just plays it cool and says he is not worried. i would be a nervous wreck, it's like the first day of school all over again. good luck kiwi, i know you'll be great.
(image via we heart it)