the privilege of growing older - true story

I am 32 years old today.  

I actually had to check.  I wasn't sure if I was turning 31 or 32.  I think that might be the definition of being old.  If you can't remember how old you actually are.

I used to lie about my age.  I started really early, like right out of high school. 

I figured if I started early people would never catch on.

On my birthday people would ask how old I was turning.  One year I'd tell them 25, the next year I'd tell the same person 24.  I figured I'd confuse them early so that when I was turning 40 or 50 down the line, no one would ever know.

It's not that I had a problem with getting older.  But whenever someone asked my age, there was always some judgment that went along with it.  Some behavior to age ratio they'd be trying to figure out.  It bothered me, the labels and judgements that went with some ages.

Then one day I flipped over this bottle cap:

Around that time a friend of mine had recently passed away.  She was 28.  

I instantly thought of her when I read this.  

And I realized how unappreciative it was for me to be so self-involved to lie about my age. I really should be incredibly grateful for each day that is given to me. So I stopped - cold turkey.  (It wasn't easy.)  

People know how old I am now.  I'm actually quite surprised how many people still ask me. But I answer.  

And I don't care what they end up thinking.

Maybe that's the definition of being old. :)

LMF

a couple of days

On Wednesday morning I was going to post about how we had booked our honeymoon and Dan had booked his bachelor party, but we had yet to confirm any other wedding details.  

We really have our priorities straight with this whole wedding thing. :)

But then Wednesday afternoon I got a call from the church, confirming our date and time. And last night I got the proposal from the venue.  

Tomorrow we have our all-day extensive pre-martial counseling class.  

In just a few days, everything fell into place.

Looks like we're really doing this.  

I hope everyone as a wonderful holiday weekend (and a bit more patience than me).

LMF

image via

wine country wedding venues {st. helena, napa, healdsburg}

We shopped for wedding venues last weekend.  I'm thinking Northern California may be one of the hardest places to do this.  

Everything is so gorgeous!  I feel like we can't make a wrong decision.  

Not a bad problem to have. :) 

Last weekend's wedding planning crew:

At possibly my most favorite restaurant.  

Seriously if you're ever anywhere even close to Napa, go here.

The prettiest little church:

We accidentally looked at one venue.  The site fees looked deceivingly low by Napa standards so I booked an appointment.  Turns out there were a few little "extras" that weren't accounted for in that number.

This is one of the "cabins" you are required to book during your wedding weekend.

 Quote from my mom: "now this is my kind of camping!"

I think here he was saying: "venue shopping is so much fun!" :)

We have a few more appointments in Sonoma this weekend and then some tough decisions will have to be made.

LMF

Savannah & Tybee Island

I hope to be back to my {semi} regular blogging soon.  

The craziness that I alluded to in February is still going on. Last week we got news of something scheduled at the end of May, coincidentally on my birthday, which hopefully means there's an end in sight. Fingers crossed that it will be great news and a wonderful birthday present!  

That, together with work being crazy busy {in a good way!} and getting engaged {!!!} and trying to plan a wedding before the end of the year, makes life a bit nutty.

For now, please enjoy some pretty photos from our weekend in Savannah.  

Also, if anyone has any tips for planning a wedding with a short engagement, please share!

This was the airport.  I knew Savannah would be adorable!

Our B&B. 

Forsyth Park

 My dream house.

My dream shop.   

My dream guy.

 

Can you tell I loved the architecture in Savannah?

 Tybee Island

$2 tall can at North Beach Bar and Grill

 I told you he's my dream guy. :)

LMF

Savannah engagement

We're back from Georgia and I've got loads of gorgeous photos that I still need to sort though.  

Probably my favorite though, is this one:

Taken right after we got ENGAGED!!!!

I didn't cry, at least not right away.  It all happened so fast.  We were taking photos of this adorable square in the middle of Savannah and then he was down on one knee.  

I didn't believe it was real.  I thought he was joking.  Literally, I asked him if he was.  And then thought, "if he is, this is a really mean joke."  

But he wasn't.  And then I said yes. :)

We've been engaged a week and random thoughts keeping popping up in my head, some are funny, some bring tears to my eyes, all make me smile.

"We get to live together!"

"I'm going to be Dan's wife!"

"We're getting married."

"Oh my gosh, I have to dance in front of tons of people!"

"We get to register!"

"My Dad's going to walk me down the aisle." Followed by: "I'm going to cry."

"I get to buy a dress!"

"I'm going to introduce him as my husband!"

Words cannot express how full my heart is and how excited I am that it's for real that I get to spend my future with this man.

I don't know how I got so lucky.

LMF

cheesecake {plain + simple}

I made a cheesecake for the first time for dessert on Easter.  I mentioned it before; it wasn't a pretty as I wanted it to be, but it tasted wonderful.

My mother used to sell hers when she catered and they always looked beautiful! I'm going to have to practice a bit to get it to look as pretty as hers.  

I wanted something simple and classic.

I feel like after big heavy holiday meals, it's not the time to try peach lemon cake with jalepeno whipped cream or key lime peanut butter pie.

I want the classics.

I based it off of Jenny's recipe here, with a simple cookie crust and served it with fresh berries.

Cheesecake {plain + simple}

Crust:

 - 1 cup flour
 - 1/4 cup sugar
 - zest from 1 small meyer lemon
 - 1/2 cup butter
 - 2 egg yolks, slightly beaten
 - 1/4 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 400F.

Combine first three ingredients in large bowl. Using pastry cutter (or fork), (or fingers), cut in butter until crumbly.  Add egg yolks one at a time and vanilla.  Pat a thin layer on the bottom of 9-inch spring-form pan, with the sides removed. You'll probably use about 1/2 the dough.  I didn't love working with this dough at first, but it tasted light and delicious, so you just have to be patient with it.

Bake until golden, about 7 minutes.  Let cool.

Attach spring-form to bottom and pat remaining dough on sides of the pan.

Filling:

 - 3 packages cream cheese (24 oz), room temperature 

 - zest from 2 small meyer lemons

 - juice from 2 small meyer lemons

 - 1 1/2 cups sugar

 - 1/4 tsp salt

 - 1/4 greek yogurt

 - 4 egg yolks

Add cream cheese to mixer bowl.  Beat until creamy.  Mix in sugar, zest, lemon juice and greek yogurt.  Add eggs one at a time, beat after each just until blended.

Turn into crust-lined pan.  Bake 55 minutes.  Let cool before removing spring-form.  Serve straight from the fridge with fresh berries.

LMF

Monday morning shopping

We're still enjoying southern life in Savannah. 

via

We're headed to Tybee Island today, but I really wanted to share my new favorite online shop: Everlane.

Every Everlane product I own, I've packed with me to Savannah.  

I have purchased tees, a cashmere sweater, men's button-down shirts (and here) and silk blouses (here and here too).  {Not all for me! Some were gifts. :)}

The tees are $15(!) and super soft and comfortable.

And the silk blouses are a steal at $80.

Next on my wish list are their new high/low belts.  Have I been in the dark, why haven't these been made before?

The low prices are because they've cut out the middleman (like retail stores) rather than having to sacrifice quality.  Thank you Everlane!

LMF