Mr. & Mrs.

We are home! from the destination wedding to end all destination weddings, so perfect was every moment, and while there are piles of laundry sitting about (and, in my defense, myriad in the process of being washed and folded, too), and suitcases still needing to be fully unpacked, over the past two days I have managed to (sleep, and shower, and miss clam chowder, and) traipse through a good portion of the millions of pictures taken since last we met.

Pictures from pre-wedding Wednesday and Thursday are here, mostly in order along with the pictures I’ve managed to upload from the much anticipated day of vow-taking itself. There are (amazing, better edited) pictures on Chris’ photostream, and more coming soon.

A huge Mr. & Mrs. thank you! to everyone who emailed and commented and texted well-wishes and congratulations. While I feel like I am mostly good at responding to comments in a timely fashion, I am admittedly a bit buried in my inbox at the moment, but please know that both Chris and I read every single comment, every single email and text, and we are grateful and giddy and fully aware of how lucky we are to have such a stellar support network both online and off.

I’ve tried writing this entry over and over in my head, and while I could recount every moment of every day (something I did in a journal-a real! journal filled with my very own handwriting!-during our trek up and down the Oregon Coast) I think I would probably lose most of you after the first two days. It was a lot of walking, a lot of driving, a lot of photo-snapping, plenty of sunset smooching, and even more cooing and smiling at each other while the rest of the coast dissolved into a euphoric blur of newlywed bliss.

It’s more than easy and completely honest to say that I have never been happier. Not ever. Even easier and more truthful is the realization that this trip will forever be the most important, the most beautiful, the most amazing, the most sea lion-laden one I’ve ever taken.

This was my aisle:

Chris was waiting for me on the other side:

It was surprisingly perfect on all accounts, probably because it started in Cannon Beach and ended in Portland, and every little coastal city we wandered into along the way was each interesting and memorable in its own sandy way. Add a full week of unabashed sunshine, an unexpected upgrade to the most incredible honeymoon suite ever, family and friends who stand miles above the greatest expectations by simply existing, copious bowls of coastal clam chowder (say that! five times fast), and a husband who made every moment of our journey more fun than I could have imagined, and you have the giddy outline of the story of the past ten days.

I fully intend on writing about all of it more and with greater detail (and thus, greater length) in the days and weeks and months to come, but I am still playing with different ideas on how and where and when to do all of that, and so, until I can make a more concrete composition decision, on we go! to the pictures you have all been so patiently waiting for (How many of you already scrolled ahead to the pictures? You are totally busted. Also: I would have done the same thing.):

(The full set is here.)

Weekend Update, Leprechaun Edition

I haven’t run a 5k since 2005, when my sister and I signed up to “trot” a Race for the Cure in Portland and then on race day, about twenty minutes before we were set to briskly walk with the rest of the meanders, she asked if we could run. We have different memories of this day, but I remember knowing we would run even though we had said we were going to walk. I also remember that while she → Read more...

Things I’m Contemplating As I Enter This, My Superhero(ine) Phase

This post inspired by my friend and Patron Saint of Divorce Redemption.

We’ve all heard about the five (or seven) stages of grief, the designated personal places you must traipse within and for yourself to be able to stand tall on the other side of whatever loss you are suffering. Stages you need to fight your way through surviving, and really processing, to be able to find yourself again.

In my head I liken the five stages of divorce to a wily → Read more...

Do A Big Sister A Favor?

Today is babycarrot sister’s 26th! Day of Cake. Being that my sister happens to be (awesome, yes! and) one of my favorite people on the planet, I think instead of being here, you should go here, and read all about what made her day great. (Seeing as how we’re all very visual learners around these parts, I will tell you that there are most definitely pictures. Of cake, even!)

You could even wish her a happy! birthday. You know, if you → Read more...

My Heart Is A Nautical-Themed Pashmina Afghan

We interrupt copious amounts of Asia recapping this broadcast for a maritime digression of sorts.

You see, I’ve been a lover of the ocean, and of all things aquatic and nautical-inspired, ever since I can remember.

My love for sea-faring-everything might very well have been fostered during the myriad spring breaks spent exploring quaint coastal communities in and around Port Ludlow, Washington. Some of my fondest childhood memories spring forth from days spent poking my curious face into every trinket shop in → Read more...