Archive for the ‘Wedding’ Category

All About…Daisy

Aug 14th, 10 / 5 Comments

Daisy, circa 1985

I know, right? I write a blog all about my life and now I’m going to write a post all about me.  I’m just that self-centered! Perhaps I’ve done this before but frankly, I’m too lazy to look into my archives so here we go again. New readers: enjoy! Old readers: I hope I’m not boring you. Mom: hush.

1. I’ve lived in: Washington, Idaho, Arizona (twice), Virginia, Alabama, Utah, Dallas, New Orleans and Chicago. I also spent eight years overseas, living in England and Germany. My Mom and & Dad both grew up in California but my Dad’s family was from the South (Georgia) which is where we spent a lot of my summers as a kid. Now my Dad’s family is spread out all over the South while my Mom’s family is in California.

2. While I consider myself to be from the South, I live in Chicago and I’m married to a man who was born and raised in Detroit which is where my desire to make pot roast in December comes from. They don’t really make pot roast in the South, but my husband definitely endures a lot of grits for breakfast. He’d never had grits until we got married. Blasphemy. My point being: we love both cheese curds & cheese straws.

3. I have one birth mark, it is on the bottom of my right foot.

4. I have blonde curly hair but tragically didn’t really realize it was curly until I was about 16. That explains why my photos from age 10 to 16 are so……awkward. And poofy. I want to reach in with a straight iron and fix all those yearbook shots.

5. In high school I was on the cheerleading squad and the debate team. (I think this is where my Gemini personality comes in.) I was a better debator than cheerleader, which is why I’m now a lawyer and not in Dallas dancing for the Cowboys. Nothing shouts “cool kid” like showing up 5 minutes late to a football game and tying your ribbons in your hair as you run on the field because your debate tournament ran late. Nothing.

6.  I moved to Chicago from New Orleans 2 months before Hurricane Katrina hit. That storm is one of the defining moments of my life and I still cry when I see images from it.

7. I started blogging in law school when I needed an outlet from the absurdity of the gunners, the library, the final exams from hell and people with Supreme Court Justice aspirations (hint: it isn’t going to happen, idiot). After I became a grown-up lawyer I moved to this space, where I like to think I’m slightly more mature. In reality, I think I just swear a little bit less.

8. I cook, a lot. My baking skills are mediocre (I’m not big on measuring) but I’m slowly working on that as well. My husband’s most requested meal is pork tenderloin, goat cheese mashed potatoes and veggies. My favorite meal to make is risotto & I think that I have finally perfected the art of a roasted chicken and a homemade cheesecake. Typically not for the same meal.

9. I live in the city of Chicago but I work in a suburb 29.6 miles from my house. This means I spend about 3 hours a day in the car commuting, even though I leave my house at 6 in the morning and I leave the office at 3 in the afternoon to try and avoid peak traffic times. In other news: when I’m wealthy, my first splurge is going to be on a driver.

10. I have an obsession with dishes and china that you can read about here. I make no apologies, but if I invite you over for dinner, please feel free to request a certain pattern. I’m happy to oblige.

11. One day B and I will have kids, but right now we are enjoying our newlywed life. We got married a year ago in October in Savannah, Georgia. (10-10-2009) It was everything we wanted and more, especially the food. We served heavy appetizers and had food stations instead of a plated dinner and it was easily the best decision of our wedding. Bonus? I didn’t have to create a seating chart. Win-win! 

12. We have a beagle, Rhett Butler, who makes coming home from work even more fun. His hijinks are featured regularly here. We also have a nephew, Baby Z, whom we love dearly but don’t get to see nearly enough.

13. I have one brother and B has no siblings which means our future kids will not grow up like I did, with 12 aunts and uncles and cousins galore. This makes me a little sad, but I have no doubt I’ll assuage that guilt with extra trips to Disney World.

14. I’m a klutz, I often speak before I think, I chatter aimlessly when I am nervous and I have a constant case of foot-in-mouth syndrome. If you can get past these things, we will probably be good friends.

15. I am training for a 109 mile bike race that I’m riding in November of 2011. I am reminded daily of what a silly decision this was, normally when I’m putting on my compression fit biking shorts with the padded ass.

16. I monogram everything. It is how I do things.

Baby Z, Bicycle, Chicago, Married Life, New Orleans, Rhett Butler, Wedding

Wherein I Talk About Myself

May 25th, 10 / 6 Comments

Questions and answers! Lets get going. If you are still here at the end of this post I’ll be handing out energy bars & champagne.

What country did I have a visitor from that surprised me the most?

  • China. Mostly because I hear they frown on blogs, humor, lawyers & anything that might be considered “fun” over there. (I’m only kind of kidding. Their internet “rules” bother me to no end.)

Did I wear a shrug over my wedding dress?

  • I think it is more appropriately described as a “bolero” but yes, I did! The church we were married in has very strict rules (I had to submit photos of my dress and my bridesmaids dresses to make sure that we were dressed like ladies and not Ladies of the Night) and I had to have my shoulders covered in the church. When I ordered my dress I ordered two yards of fabric from the same bolts used on my dress and had a seamstress make my jacket. I took it off for the reception. Now, let me bore you with some of my wedding photos – again!

 

 

moosh2dressbustle

Did you always want to be a lawyer?

  • When I was 8 I had a brief stint (along with every other girl my age) of wanting to be a marine biologist so I could “study the dolphins” (cue Lisa Frank Trapper Keeper with dolphin envy!) and for about two years I was really convinced I was going to medical school instead of law school, strengths & skills be-damned. Then I realized I chemistry and I were long-lost bitter enemies so I went back to dream numero uno: being a lawyer. I figured I’d wear sassy suits & put bad guys in jail. It didn’t go according to plan, but I’m still a lawyer anyway.

Describe your sense of style (go to wardrobe pieces/jewelry)

  • I am so boring. I wear a lot of navy, black, white and grey with occasional pops of red, pink and green. I like polos and oxfords, blazers, ballet flats, seer sucker, cardigans, anything on the Kate Spade website (I’d only wear Kate Spade if my budget allowed) and generally things that are preppy. I own multiple pairs of Sperry’s and I wear Seven jeans all the time- worth the splurge! I’ve recently discovered an unhealthy obsession with Lands’ End Canvas where the prices are more my style. I also wear the same jewelry just about every day: wedding/engagement ring, a tasteful ladies watch (navy face with sterling and white gold band), a David Yurman bracelet & diamond studs. Every. Single. Day. Sometimes I get crazy and wear pearls.

How did you pick Rhett Butler’s name & what are your favorite and least favorite parts of being a doggy parent?

  • RB’s name at the shelter was one he didn’t respond to because he didn’t have tags when he was found on the street. (Cue: waterworks) They named him Sean which I found to be a pathetic name. We had about 2 seconds to name him for his microchip and our two favorite dog names (after USC & Michigan football coaches, natch….) didn’t fit our newly discovered Beagle. So I said “Rhett Butler” and B agreed. He now spends his days rolling his eyes when people gasp “RHETT BUTLER? AS IN GONE WITH THE WIND?” and then he says “Yes. Can you tell my wife named him?”. …. (Also, this weekend at the dog park some lady kept hopefully asking me “So. You just call him Rhett, right?” and I’d shake my head and say “No. His name is Rhett BUTLER.” She seemed very confused and then purse her lips and ask again “But. You only call him Rhett at home, right?” and then she’d hopefully stare at me. I think she was an idiot.) (Oh! And! Two weeks after we got him, The Namby Pamby asked me in all seriousness: ”So, what is the dog’s real name?” thinking that Rhett Butler was his blog name. Bwahaha. GOT YOU NAMBY.)
  •  Best part of dog ownership: his love and kisses when we walk in the door, even if we only went outside to take the trash out. The worst part: remebering to buy him kibble. I never seem to remember until it is do-or-die. That and being worried when he seems sick. He rarely is, but still. I worry.

Favorite law school class:

  • Tie between Illinois Civil Procedure and Genetics and the Law. Yes, I’m a nerd.

Do you have any bad habits? 

  • I pick at my face (I KNOW) and I am addicted to St. Ives peach scrub which is apparently the worst thing in the entire world for your face other than straight battery acid. Whatever. I like it. I also am really bad about turning lights off, although I’m TRYING to remember to turn them off.  I hate flossing my teeth so I only get to it once or twice a week. (I do however brush them 3 times a day.) I also hate going to the post office so while I’m really good at buying birthday cards and gifts they are always late becuase I mail them way after the fact. Whoops.

Do you argue outside of work?

  • I plead the 5th. Lets put it this way: I’m a lawyer who is married to a lawyer. We’ll invite you over for dinner but bring your own gavel.

I ate this AMAZING macaroni and cheese over the weekend and it made me think of you. It also made me wonder how anyone could eat just mac and cheese for a meal. How do you manage that?

  • My macaroni & cheese calls for cream, creme fraiche, prosciutto, bacon & gruerye cheese. I rationalize it as just a decadantscoop (or five) of lasagna.

What household chores are the exclusive realm of you and B? E.g., C never has to clean litter boxes and I never have to take out the trash. Are we strange or is this normal?

  • Totally normal. B does all the dishes (he says I do them wrong, I say whatever SUCKA) and takes out the trash, 90% of the time. 90% of the time I do all the laundry sorting & bathroom cleaning and meal preparation. The other 10% of the time is when B goes out of town for work and I let the trash pile up until 10 minutes before he is due home and then I run it downstairs, feeling guilty the entire time. I also give RB most of his baths and I’m responsible for giving him any food or medication. It prevents two doses of yummy antibiotics (yes… he likes them…) or the dog managing to convince *someone* cough, cough, that he hasen’t eaten dinner and is currently STARVING TO DEATH. Cue hound-dog eyes.

Rhett

 

How are you training RB? Doggy school? Or are you doing it yourself?

  • We have done some training on our own but we are planning on taking a small refresher course this summer that is offered by a local shelter. He can sit and come but he isn’t so good with the “stay” or “lie down” which is what we’d like to work on. He doesn’t understand “no” but he responds very quickly to “stop” which is fine by us.

What would you do if you saw an old guy doing Tai Chi in his driveway, wearing cut-offs, athletic socks, and a headband, and you were without your phone or camera and all alone? How would you celebrate this horror/awesomeness/hilarity?

  • I’d treat my readers to a blog post of epic proportions complete with stick-figure drawings.

What are your favorite Chicago restaurants/bars?

  • English, Weathermark Tavern, Emitts, DOC Wine Bar (mmmm their burgers are SO GOOD), Rockit, Rosebud on Rush, Hugo’s Frog Bar, Zapatista, Cooper’s and Fox & Obelcafe are my go-to spot for good food or cocktails (or both!)

What are your top 5 pantry staples?

  • Black beans, fresh garlic, goat cheese, fresh basil, canned diced/no sodium tomatoes, whole wheat pasta, quiona and spinach- I will always have that in my pantry/fridge. Always. (I know- technically more than 5, but I’m being honest.)

What are your top 5 must-haves in the kitchen?

  • A 4 quart pan - this is my kitchen work horse. I use a pan like this  preparing almost every meal I make.
  • A great chef’s knife- whether you are a Wusthof, Global or Henkel’s aficionado (or perhaps something even more exotic!) a great chef’s knife that you properly store & get sharpened professionally (about $5 per blade, once or twice a year depending on how much you use it) will get you more mileage than 20 cheap knives. From dicing onions to chopping carrots to slicing sandwiches in half, a good chef’s knife is the backbone of kitchen prep work.
  • A great cutting board that isn’t glass – glass cutting boards might be pretty (and sanitary) but they will ruin your knives. A small collection of thick plastic cutting boards that can be put in the dishwasher and nice wooden carving block will keep your knives in MUCH better shape and will give you a great prep area that is easy to clean.
  • A food processor – I’ve been getting by for 3+ years with an inexpensive combo food processor/blender from Bed Bath & Beyond that I use all the time for all kinds of jobs- grating cheese in large quantities (taco parties, lasagna, enchiladas), making all kinds of sauces & spreads, even herb butter. Once you’ve lived with a food processor you’ll never go back!
  • A salt pig- a salt pig will not only encourage you to “splurge” and buy some artisanal sea salts (I say splurge because at $5 or so a box they really are not that pricey) but when it is sitting by your cook station you’ll remember to season your food. A few pinches of high-end sea salt lead to lower sodium content overall and delicious finished products. You’ll surprise yourself with the results!

What is your favorite wine $15 or less?

What one piece of marriage advice would you give to someone married to a lawyer?

  • Remember that: the law is a jealous mistress & keeping that in mind, maximize every ounce of together-time you have. A night at home is made better when you both agree to put your cell phones away for an hour & sit at the dining room table and talk over dinner (even if it is take out) and you’ll remember why you got married in the first place- even if some horrible contract agreement is the one paying the bills.

 

What is the worst job you’ve ever had? What was suckiest about it? How did you deal?

  • I worked at a kiosk in a crappy mall selling cell phones. It required badgering people and selling a cell phone service I didn’t even use. I dealt by treating myself to Chik-Fil-A as often as possible in the food court. It was actually worse than the summer I spent as a sales associate for Victoria’s Secret, which in Utah meant I had to deal with protesters trying to spray paint over our window-ads. TRUE. STORY. (Also: complaints about our pornographic magazines. Mmm hmmm crazy lady, mmhmm. I’m SURE your 15 year old son was in tears over it.)

I think toothpaste is the only household item for which there is no recommendation from you. Favorite toothpaste?

  • Easy peasy: Crest Pro-Health. I try to only use toothpaste that is approved by the American Dental Association which regulates claims on toothpaste boxes. I’m not always succesful, but I try. (The Crest Pro-Health night paste is EVEN BETTER but it isn’t approved by the ADA, sigh.)

And we are done! Whew! Thanks for sticking with me…champagne anyone? Crudite?

Chicago, Domesticity Win, Lawyers, Married Life, Rhett Butler, Wedding

First Comes Love

May 12th, 10 / 19 Comments

For many people life is a list of milestones that one is meant to check off in successive order. After The Man imposed hierarchy of grade-school-middle-school-high-school many move on to college, graduate school, love, marriage, baby carriage, retirement, blah blah blah. A punch list. A neatly numbered “To Do” entry in life’s log.

 

This weekend I attended a baby shower (twin girls! nom nom nom!) and it was full of pink and swirls and cupcakes and happiness. And while it was oh-so happy and lovely I found this little part of my brain thinking “Yeah this cupcake is gonna be reaaaal helpful at that 3 am feeding in a few months….enjoy it now… while another part of my brain was thinking “Babies! Nom Nom NOM! Must have one or ten of MY VERY OWN!”

 

 (You can see how I spend good parts of my days in conflict, no?)

 

Recently I’ve noticed a few bloggers (about my age or somewhat in the vicinity) who have written about their decision to not have children. I can honestly say that I 100% support their decision. Kids are not….a requirement. They are an obligation, that many people take on happily (others perhaps not so much, but uh, I don’t have all day here) but I’m finding more and more people that I know who are choosing other things. Travel, cars, charity work, animals, friends, family. They are simply choosing to devote their time and money to other endeavors they find fulfilling.

 

When B & I went through our pre-marital counseling, our pastor (who is married, happily with five kids) said something that stuck with me: “Don’t wait to have children. By far the hardest guidance I have to provide isn’t to couples who have gone through death in the family or are considering divorce, but married couples who struggle with infertility, especially when age is a factor. The guilt is enormous.” It seemed..sincere. Realistic. Thought-provoking.

 

I’ve known, without a doubt, for my entire life that I wanted children. A gaggle of them. Games of tag, hand drawn birthday cards, farewell parties when the oldest goes to college, giant celebrations when the youngest graduates. I want a nest filled with chickadees who turn into wonderful people with lives and interests, who perhaps have my curls or huge teeth but hopefully not my musical talent (read: NONE). Maybe I’ll have a little girl who tries to-out princess my younger days (read: IMPOSSIBLE) or a boy who idolizes astronauts.

 

B grew up an only child and I think I can simply say he has no wish for a gaggle. Sure, he’s happy with the idea of a kid or maybe even two (but as someone who enjoyed being an only child, the idea of Just One is ok with him too) but he feels no need to help set up the neighborhood soccer team. Besides, he reminds me, have you noticed how expensive kids are? Car seats and high chairs and sailing lessons and field trip fees and private school (we live in the city…) tuition and college, which incidentally, my goodness! Why so pricey Mr. Higher Education?

Right now I have a husband, a life, a fledgling career. I have student loans that can only be described as “An Assload of Debt” and a car that we’d like to replace sooner rather than later. We have an itinerary in Europe this fall, and are trying to find a few days to sneak back to Napa Valley for more wine and breathtaking views. We have date nights that require no babysitter payment and our dog, while awfully whiny at times, has yet to announce “I HATE YOU” and stomp off to his room to listen to something angsty at a volume that bothers the neighbors. I worry about my grocery list but not if I signed a field-trip permission slip & when something bad happens in the world I have no little ears to explain it to.

I suppose what I’m saying is, for a girl who had a Plan and Timeline for everything in life, this one seems bigger than just me and B. It changes everything, it re-centers our world, tilting our axis to a degree we didn’t know existed. Some days I think I just can’t wait another moment for a little Baby B and then in in an instant, or on long days, I find myself sighing in relief that we have a little more time to plan something else, even if it is just the great bottle of wine that will pair nicely with our homemade pasta on a Friday night.

 

(Discussion welcome, all thoughts allowed.)

Career Advice, Education, Family, Married Life, Travel, Wedding