Laid-Back Anniversaries

It’s our fourth anniversary today. I know that’s not really a milestone (insofar as any year’s anniversary is one); that’ll come next year, with our fifth. But I don’t see us doing anything bigger next year than we’ll do this year. Like with everything else, Jon and I don’t make that big of a deal of our anniversary. We don’t even get each other gifts. That’s something we stopped doing before we were even married. The first year or two we were dating we got each other anniversary presents, but that ceased by the time we graduated from college. I … Continue reading

Anniversaries and Date Nights Part II

My husband and I are really horrible at taking the time to spend time together as a couple. The predominant rationalization that we make is that the cost involved with going on dates is too prohibitive. Getting a sitter, going to a moving, or going to a restaurant seem to be very cost prohibitive for our budget. It is especially hard for me to justifying eating out when we can make much higher quality and healthier foods (that in my opinion tastes much better) for a fraction of the cost than we can get at any of our local dining … Continue reading

DIY Special Event Photo Sessions

My cousin’s daughter receives the sacrament of First Holy Communion in May. Translation: My cousin has less than two months to find a photographer to snap outdoor shots of her daughter dressed in her gorgeous white Communion gown, veil and matching gloves. By May the weather in Minnesota should be conducive for an outdoor photo shoot, then again, May in Minnesota is not exactly predictable. Still, my cousin is dead set on getting outdoor shots taken, even, she claims, if she has to do it herself. After looking at the quotes from the handful of photographers who are willing to … Continue reading

The Marriage Blog Week in Review March 30th – April 7th

Where is our Marriage Blog Week in Review? Yes, we’ve been absent for a month, but here we are back and in full form – I hope. You can expect to see our Week in Reviews returning to their traditional Saturday spot. In the meanwhile, let’s do a quick rundown of the first week of April! Friday March 30th Sherry offers you some great ideas in her Four Fun Date Night Ideas and we can always use a good idea, so be sure to check that out. Sunday April 1st Did you know that a bi-partisan committee announced legislation that … Continue reading

Special Anniversaries

It’s actually kind of strange the way special anniversaries are designated. For example, there is a 52nd and 67th but the other numbers that don’t end in zero or five are not always represented. I don’t know what makes particular numbers special. Of course, most people celebrate the five and ten year marks, and certain ones have been given greater significance such as silver and golden anniversaries (the 25th and 50th respectively). There are many different lists that describe the types of gifts that should be given and the way in which specific anniversaries should be celebrated. There are traditional … Continue reading

Finding Inspiration from Valentine’s

It’s another Valentine’s Day.  I’m not sure what Jonathan and I are going to do this year; last year I wrote about how we’ve rarely, if ever, celebrated the holiday.  He doesn’t even need to find me any candy hearts, because the box he bought me last year was so big I still have some left over. This year, I do kind of feel inspired to do something special for him.  However, I’m not sure if I actually want to do it on Valentine’s Day.  I’m still not sure that I like the idea of one day set aside for … Continue reading

Document the Day

It’s a snow day around here.  And by snow day I mean, schools are closed, highways are blocked, and I am praying that the electricity stays on so that I can post this without incident. Snow and cold are nothing new in northern Wisconsin, especially in January.  However, when we get hit with a storm as massive as this one, even I venture out to document the aftermath.  Then, I do what any self-respecting scrapbook fanatic does; create a layout employing as many techniques as possible. You don’t need to wait for a major milestone to craft an eye-popping page … Continue reading

Destination Weddings: Do or Don’t?

Writing about Disney Cruise Weddings/Vow Ceremonies made me think about destination weddings.  Given that I wanted my wedding to be as small and simple as possible, it’s difficult for me to relate to those interested in having a destination wedding. For me, the concept only seems to make sense if the bride or the groom actually hails from the area in which they’re getting married.  Maybe he or she was born abroad, or on the other side of the country.  It’s one thing to ask your guests to spend a lot on travel expenses just because you want to get … Continue reading

A Year in Disney Fandom: D23 Events for 2013

Any D23 members wondering what will be on the official Disney Fan Club’s schedule for 2013 don’t need to wait any longer.  The official D23 website and the official Disney Parks blog have both posted announcements of the fan club’s 2013 events. The most exciting news to come out of D23 for 2013 is the announcement of a second year of Fanniversary.  The event, which is open to the public (but D23 members get first registration), is a must-attend celebration for any Disney fans.  It’s hours spent reveling in the best of Disney movies, history, park attractions, and more.  Special … Continue reading

Living with Engineers: Spouses, not Supervisors

Living with an engineer involves more than just having to hear the word “efficient” all of the time. A lot of engineers end up in management positions, and that means one thing: they’re bred to supervise. The word “efficient” does get bandied about, in how they think tasks ought to be accomplished. I already shared my story about measuring butter for baking, and how my husband felt about that. That’s not the only time something like that has happened. Sometimes, I find Jonathan trying to supervise me when we’re completing a project. To be fair, sometimes I ask for it. … Continue reading