one year + a giveaway

{a homemade life}

I can't believe I started this little blog one year ago today! It started out as a way to organize my wedding ideas... but it has turned into so much more than that. Now I use this blog as a place to remind myself that I am a person with ideas, passions and interests. There are so many blogs out there that constantly inspire and amaze me... I'm so glad I found this little community.

I've never done a giveaway before so bear with me... I happen to have an extra copy of the wonderful book A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg and I would love nothing more than to give it to one of you. Yes, you! I read this darling book while we were in Paris for our honeymoon and just adored it. Think of it as my little way of saying thank you for listening to me prattle on about weddings, projects and life in general. Just leave a comment below with a link to your blog or if you don't have a blog, your e-mail address so I can contact you. Good luck and thank you all for continuing to inspire me every single day.

*Brother Jared, I did not forget about your birthday. But I have a sneaking suspicion that you have never and will never read this blog. I love you anyway. Happy birthday!

**Update: According to Random.org Liz from Chic on the Cheap is the winner! Congrats lady, thanks for playing!

Hawaii, in photos...

Our trip to Hawaii was a short one {only 4 days} but we came back feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. We watched a dear friend get married, ate seafood every day and sat by the ocean reading books and drinking Mai Tais.  Life is good friends.  Life is very good.

Fill Your Year With Wonder

My darling grandfather passed away over the holidays and it's taken me a while to process the emotions that come with losing a loved one. In the midst of missing him, I often find myself thinking about what an amazing life he had. I always loved his tales of sailing ships in the Navy, traveling around South America or moving to Puerto Rico with my grandmother. When I close my eyes and remember my grandfather I think of dark roast coffee, his dusty library full of treasured tomes and I hear him playing Las Mañanitas on his old harmonica. It got me thinking about how I want my future grandchildren to remember me. What adventures and stories will I be able to share with them?

So for my resolution this year, in honor of my grandfather, I am pledging to fill my year {and life} with wonder. For me, it means planning more adventures, drinking good wine, taking risks, dancing with my husband in our living room, worrying less and finding joy in the little things. I think this quote from Ernest Hemingway says it all...

It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end

Friends, here's to an incredible journey and making every single day count. I hope 2012 brings all of you amazing things.

*Thank you to the lovely Kathryn Butler for leaving the the above message on the chalkboard wall in my kitchen. It's going to stay there for a very long time.

every day is valentine's day

This weekend was one for the books. It started out with a trip to the VNSA book sale and lunch at La Piccola Cucina. That was followed by a visit to the Willo District for their annual historical homes tour and a sweet treat at Sweet Republic. Last night we spent a quiet Valentine's Day with a heart shaped pizza, a bottle of wine and a romantic movie. Life is good friends, life is good.

*All photos taken with the Instagram app on my iphone. You can follow me at i_heart_kiwi if you like!

our wedding: very married

{he makes me laugh}

Fairy- tale (adjective): Marked by seemingly unreal beauty, perfection, luck or happiness.

That pretty much sums up how Kiwi and I felt about our engagement, wedding and honeymoon. We are so incredibly lucky to have found one another. I don't know what I would do without this man. I am so thankful, from the bottom of my heart, for our amazing family and friends that have been there for us every step of the way...I don't know what we would do without you. And thank you to all of you that we have never met, but have listened to me ramble about the whole wedding planning process... you all had such sweet and wonderful things to say. I can't wait to share our adventures in newlywed life.

"If I get married, I want to be very married."

-Audrey Hepburn

*This photo pretty much sums up our relationship.... Thank you to the incredibly talented Brittany Strebeck for so perfectly capturing all the little moments that made our wedding special. You did an amazing job!

project 365

{the lost art of postcard writing}

A photo a day, keeps the doctor away... isn't that how it goes? A friend of mine sent me the link to this fun little project. You take one photo a day for an entire year and see what happens. In the end, it not only helps you remember your year, it might just show you what's really important in your life. I'm up for the challenge, are you?

*This is my first photo... let me know if you are playing along too!

the buried life

what do you want to do before you die?

*i want to travel to all seven continents... i've only got australia and antarctica left to go! who's coming with me?

discover your world

"One must work and dare if one really wants to live."
- Vincent van Gogh

"Real success is finding your lifework in the work that you love."
- David McCullough

"Your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart give yourself to it."

- Buddha

*This post is dedicated to my friend, the lovely Kathryn Butler, who is doing something very brave and exciting today! Please send her all your happiest thoughts and good wishes as she starts a new chapter in her life! Hooray for new adventures!

animal, vegetable, miracle

I absolutely adored this book. The story follows the life of the Kingsolver family as they attempt to spend a year growing their own food or procuring it locally from neighboring farms. Thanks to Barbara Kingsolver, I'm daydreaming of sweet summer squash and raising my own Bourbon Red turkeys. Definitely a must read if you're interested in the local food movement. Below, is one of my favorite quotes from the book...

"Here I stand in the consecrated presence of all they have wished for me, and cooked for me. Right here, canning tomatoes with Camille, making egg bread with Lily. Come back, I find myself begging every memory. Come back for a potholder hug."

use your good dishes

{image found here}

One of my favorite things about summer break is that I get to spend more time with my family and friends. I love driving up to my grandma's house to have coffee and flip through all her old photo albums. Even if it's just an impromptu visit, my grandma always brings out the Haviland teacups and saucers. The delicate china has been in my family for years... and it only gets more beautiful with time. It makes the mundane feel like a special treat. My grandmother's manifesto is, "life is too short, always use your good dishes." I couldn't agree with her more.

*For more great manifestos check out Joslyn's list over at Simple Lovely. My grandmother would be proud.

a wedding blessing

Now you will feel no rain

for each of you will be

shelter to the other.

Now you will feel no cold

for each of you will be

warmth for the other.

Now there is no more loneliness

for each of you will be

companion to the other.

Now you are two bodies

but there is only one life

before you.

Go now to your dwelling place

to enter into the days

of your togetherness.

And may your days be good

and long upon the earth.

*i want to read this at our wedding. so beautiful.

(apache wedding blessing via gangsta bride image via she hit pause)

the happiness project

i first heard of the happiness project over at simple lovely... and i've been a huge fan ever since. i check in every few days and i'm always inspired. this latest post really struck a nerve with me. as someone who is soon to be married i always wonder how couples keep that adoration and spark throughout the years...

"If I’ve learned one thing from my happiness project, it’s that if I want my life to be a certain way, I must be that way myself. If I want my marriage to be tender and romantic, I must be tender and romantic."

oh i just love that. i think we get caught up in the everyday grind and forget to really treasure our loved ones. we get so busy that the time we spend together feels leftover, scraped together at the end of the week... after work and school and other responsibilities are fulfilled.

here's to being tender and romantic.

(image via le love)

the first day of forever

today i am marrying my best friend and the love of my life.

sneak peek: sydney, australia

Hi, remember me? I apologize for the lack of posting... I've been a very bad blogger! We had an amazing time on our trip but I seem to have returned with tonsillitis/glandular fever/the worst sore throat of my life. I am on the mend but I just wanted to stop in and share a few photos from our short stop in Sydney! I will be back later this week with more from Australia and lots of photos from New Zealand!

*I will also be catching up on all of your blogs. I've missed you guys!

waiting with bated breath

going to the wedding in new mexico this weekend made me realize just how excited i am to marry this man. i can't wait to start a life together.
*my excitement waned when upon returning home i discovered his new health kick involves eating cloves of raw organic garlic.
*he quickly regained my affection by doing my taxes and finishing our save the dates while i was gone. he's a keeper.

waiting on the world to change

it just hit me that my life is changing. rapidly. irrevocably.
i just turned 24. my roommate moved to boston this weekend. i'm training my replacement at work. we leave for south america in three weeks. the wedding is in five months. i start school in august. it's all happening so fast.

*whoa. deep breaths.

(image via ffffound!)

Holiday Dress Shopping: Madewell Style

Okay, I know I say this every. single. year. but I feel like I blinked and it was December.  If you are anything like me, I always find myself in a panic trying to find a last minute dress to wear to holiday functions.  This year I decided I would simplify my life and plan my outfits ahead of time.  I spotted this dress at Madewell and had to try it on.  To put it simply, I didn't want to take it off.  Simple, festive and flattering, this dress made me feel like a million bucks.  I liked it so much I bought it in red and black.  I wore the black version to a friend's wedding rehearsal and again at Thanksgiving dinner with tights and boots.  I'm saving the red one for a few Christmas functions and can't wait to wear it with heels and a statement necklace.  Holiday dress shopping, done!  

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}

the world is yours

*let's make the most of each brand new day. with all the crazy things happening all around us, i am still just pretty darn excited about life.

(via ffffound!)

tour de thailand

{phang nga bay}

{james bond island}

{sea kayaking}

{exploring the coves}

{this is the life}

{tiny muay thai fighters}

{nothing like a cold chang}

{kiwi, sunset swimming}

{soft shell crab in tamarind sauce}

{stairway to heaven}

{the grand palace}

Our trip continued as we made our way to Phuket, Thailand. We stayed at the beautiful Kamala Beach Resort and spent many a lazy day by the pool or getting Thai massages. We watched Muay Thai kickboxing and went sea kayaking in Phang Nga Bay. We were all very sad to leave Phuket, but there was more to see in Bangkok!

Bangkok is a city like no other, we were in awe of the sheer number of people bustling around the streets. We shopped at the weekend market, toured the Grand Palace and ate ourselves silly. Our favorite restaurant in Bangkok was Nara and I could have eaten there every. single. night. I still dream about the soft shell crab in tamarind sauce. It's without a doubt the most delicious thing I've ever eaten. We had such an amazing time in Thailand and we can't wait to go back!

*Update: According to Random.org Aubrey is the winner of the Thailand giveaway. Thank you all for playing!