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!

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.

60 years and counting...

Happy anniversary Grandma and Grandpa.

60 years and counting!

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.

i heart kiwi and rugby

{love}

Every year Kiwi and I spend Valentine's weekend at the IRB Sevens international rugby tournament... Nothing says I love you like two days of eating, drinking and rugby watching. Kiwi's beloved New Zealand lost to Samoa in the final, but we still had an amazing time in Las Vegas. What did you do this Valentine's Day?

What on earth is rugby you ask? Check out this video... and yes, rugby men are extremely handsome and they have accents.

*In case you were wondering about the spending hiatus... I didn't buy any overpriced souvenir junk or gamble a single penny. Impressed?

I thought you might be.

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}

it's friday, i'm in love

(image via the lovely jen gotch, lyrics via the cure)

"monday you can hold your head

tuesday wednesday stay in bed

or thursday watch the walls instead

it's friday i'm in love."

happy happy weekend.

happily ever after

the wedding was amazing... everything we could have ever dreamed of and more. kiwi and i are so lucky to have such wonderful family and friends. i can't wait to share the details... the mountains, mexican food, photo booth, sangria and breakdancing, just to name a few. but for now, we are loving married life.

the first day of forever

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

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)

love and marriage

happy anniversary mom and dad. thank you for showing me the good, the bad and the absolutely worth it sides of marriage. i love you.

*i have seen my mom give my dad that look hundreds of times... some things never change.

(photo of their wedding at my grandparent's house. aren't they adorable?)

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)

sweet dreams

wouldn't it be wonderful to wake up to this every morning? a daily reminder of how much your husband loves you. swoon.
(via design sponge, naturally)

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)

i believe

"i believe in love. i believe people make mistakes. i believe people are selfish and generous at the same time. i believe in happy endings."

*i read this quote in the february issue of vogue. i liked it so much, i tore it out and have been carrying it around in my wallet.

*for more wise words, check out simple lovely.

(image via le love)

what's in a name?

an adorable little husband and wife came into the office today... after 50 years of marriage he still calls her, his little flower. how sweet is that?
(photo via jen gotch and her lovely flickr stream)

mojo and a movie

date night with kiwi. mojo and a movie. just perfect.
(photo via a cup of jo)

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.