"I don't know this sea of neon, thousand surfers, whiffs of freon"

Whoops! Had some iPhone troubles (honestly, how many times has this happened to me? Not helping me turn pro-Apple Ms. iPhone, not at all!) so I'm squeezing this post in today instead of this past Monday. We had a biiiiiig holiday weekend. In terms of guests, it was just us and the two furballs. Turkey day was a lovely little hang-around the house day and our dinner was made up of:

- A single turkey breast roasted with an orange brown sugar glaze (Not bad, surprised it had very little of that burnt sugar taste I kind of like)

-Brussel sprouts (plain and simple, no egg or bacon like the delicious Animal version we had with Ck)

-Mashed potatoes. I'm a huge sucker for the traditional, and I'm majorly into that Kerrygold butter right now. I did manage to fall short of the Joel Robuchon levels of butter but that didn't make it any less delicious! Ok maybe just a little less delicious...

-Boxed stuffing and gravy. Yes, embarrassingly lazy but it tasted just fine in that it satisfied our craving and didn't leave us with a huge amount of leftovers. That was essentially our rule of thumb this time around. We two people should only be eating so much so let's not make enough for an army... which is what I would do if left to my own devices!

-Pumpkin pie, cause it ain't a full Turkey day without pie!

- Homemade cranberry sauce. Wait, can I just say how mad I am that I had no idea how easy, cheap and delicious homemade cranberry sauce is? And I'm not talking fancy at all (which I've tried and hated, i.e. last year's disastrous ginger/orange/cranberry slop), I'm talking this recipe right here that made me want to holler into the sky, 'Why did no one tell me about this earlier?!?!' How have I not been doing this all my life? Fellow cranberry lovers, you should adopt this now. Think of all the can-related chemicals you can avoid! And doesn't everyone feel good making things from scratch? Even two ingredient things that are fail proof? Action it people.

We sustained ourselves on season 1 of Modern Family, Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter, Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, and Prometheus. Seeking a friend was probably my favorite. Funny, unnerving and thoughtful, I'd recommend it to people that liked The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson. Good non-bloody or overly dramatic end of the world stories. My favorite line was Connie Britton's response to being called someone's wife days away from the end of humanity: "Nobody's anybody's anything anymore."

Finding ourselves without real plans, we decided we'd finally take a trip down to Monterey to check out some of the sights and enjoy a little tour of the mountains and the coastline. It was pretty much everything we hoped for, including the breath-taking jellyfish exhibition. As you can see from the pictures below, I was overly enamored with Ed's least favorite creature on Earth.

These guys were teeny little circles, about the size of my thumb-nail and dancing around like crazy. The blurry one closest to the camera was puttin' on a show.

There were seahorses in here but they were pissing me off being impossible to photograph. Plus, these little guys were the most beautiful shade of red so I gave them the limelight.

More teeny tiny sea horses! There are 4 on here I think...

These baby sea horses were soooo tiny. I had to hold up my hand for comparison.

These jellyfish just looked like art! It was incredible.

After finishing up at the Aquarium we headed out to check out the bay and Cannery Row shops before making our way to 17 Mile Drive.

Monterey Bay - we live just a little over those mountains in the distance

17-Mile Drive - We actually drove right past the turn for this because fun fact, 17 Mile Drive actually extends into normal neighborhoods before you get to the park part!

If I told you this was called Seal Rock would you believe me? It was noisy!

Poor little lone Cyprus!

I think this picture looks photo-shopped thanks to the light balance differences. What you don't believe we live here? :-P

So, after our lovely little escape down the coast, we came back and decided to try a couple more new things to tie up our holiday weekend.

1. Remedy the 'Rosie is a huge jerk in the morning' problem. Below you can see Rosie's lovely new front claw covers. Don't worry, they aren't painted, they are just vinyl caps glued on with non-toxic glue that fall off in a couple weeks. It has made life so. much. better. And we can play with her a bit more hands on now thanks to her inability to draw blood! She seems to not care one way or another about them but it has been a bit of a learning curve for her and jumping onto fabric things and sliding right off. (Fun fact related to earlier in this post - thanks to Rosie's bad harassing behavior, Ed calls her his 'favorite jellyfish') For some cat vs. dog related humor this made me giggle.

2. Try Psycho Donuts!!!! I've been really excited about this. I'm a big donut person so finding out the Bay Area has it's own little odd donut shop was pretty much the best news ever. We decided to try three different kinds. In the first picture you have "Butter MILF" on the left and "Dessert Island" on the right. In the second picture we have "Strawberry Fields." Dessert Island was hands down my favorite, toasted brown sugar and cinnamon coconut goodness through and through. Ed liked Butter MILF the best. It was pretty delicious - a very Entenmanns like glazed, mini-pound cake of buttermilk and vanilla extract. You had to have a glass of milk with it, there was no way around it. Strawberry fields? Pretty good. I love strawberry donuts, but this one had a bit too much going on for my tastes. I'm kind of a loser when it comes to trying really elaborate stuff. I'll take interesting ingredients (see the sweetbreads and oyster dinner we had the other night - so good I could eat 10 plates of it), but for whatever reason I like some things very simple. I cite our Thanksgiving meal to rest my case. We'll be back for more Psycho Donuts, and yes, I'll be taking many more pictures :)

3. Run. I've started running again and it feels good. I'm still slow and I've been wearing my knee brace and that seems to help. I haven't faced real steep hills or descents which is where my real problems have been lately (and will be on the mountain race....) But I'm staying positive and feeling good.

4. Celebrating my sister's engagement! Joe did reeeeeal good with her ring. I've only seen it through pictures and facetime, but boy is that thing sparkly and gorgeous and perfect for Carolyne. Ck I'm so happy for you! I can't wait to help out in any way you need. Except for planning. That's all you :) But you just wait! Man, I better get on planning your bachelorette party....

Ed's out for a men only weekend away in San Antonio with his friend, so prepare yourself for a Monday post on all the Carly-happy-making-activities! Read: I'll finally go see Twilight :)

Wedding Part 1 - Getting Ready & Ceremony

I just went through my catalog of posts and updated a couple that I hadn't labeled. When I finished labeling, I realized my last couple posts, when not about the wedding, were all about the following three things: Reading. Running. Cooking.

Now, loyal reader of one... Just kidding, I know it's more than one. To my three loyal readers: I know you probably don't read, cook or run as much as I do (because you're probably luckily employed and don't have endless hours to devote to inessentials so I'm sure I'm testing your patience with repeating the same activities over and over. Today I am determined to talk about something else! ...How about that wedding? I know, I know, I talked about it non-stop for a whole year you'd think I could let it die. But I received my professional pictures from Debi Parker Photography and now I'd love to run through the day for those of you who weren't there. Wait who am I kidding, the three of you that read this were definitely there. :)

First things first, lemme just say, it. was. hot. And threatening to rain like you wouldn't believe. (We're talking raindrops during family picture time) It is a miracle it all came off without many hitches and that everyone survived.

My wonderful make-up artist was Allison from The Shop Salon in Bethesda. It's a fantastic place and she did a great job. For those of you that don't know I used to think I might become a make-up artist, (I used to harass all my friends with make-overs from Kevyn Aucoin's book Making Faces), so I adore when other people do my makeup. Ck and I used to have a trade where she would do my hair for a concert if I would do her makeup for going out. Of course now she's surpassed me in training by far, but we both love talking about new products every chance we get. Anyways, it was awesome having my makeup handled by a pro.

We had stayed up late the night before making flowers so the morning after called for super classy cupped mimosas, courtesy of Lizzy. We all were having our hair done by my sister (who is currently at The Fig on Third which is a fantastic salon in Hollywood I just recently got my hair done at, see the last post on this blog) and her friend from childhood Mikyla (also at the Shop Salon!)... in fact right at the beginning of the day we actually blew a fuse with all the hair dryers running :)

For the bridesmaids gifts, I bought each of the girls a different locket. In each locket, I put a small colored paper backing and then attached a folded up quotation that reminded me of them and a brief personal message. I also gave them each a note all fancy written with one of those old fashioned quills I'm obsessed with and sealed them with wax. Of course I made one for my mom too!

Michelle was the first to break, but I yelled at her to stop crying. Her makeup was too pretty to mess up so early :) Love you Michelle!

The pictures below are my favorite of the getting ready pictures. I feel like we look like The Beatles Abbey Road.

My family surprised the heck out of me by arranging for this car to transport me up the hill to the wedding site. It's carried a whole bunch of important people, including World War I veterans... but I was the first bride! I even got to drive it myself. I'm a modern woman, I am!

This picture below is my favorite of them all. The colors, sunflowers, my face, Ed holding me. I just love it.

I'd say it was a sign that the goats came up and posed with us, but really, they were just hungry. It's like saying my cats like me when they jump on my face at 5 a.m. I do not mistakenly interpret that as love.

Ya'll it is AMAZING that these pictures look as good as they do. And by that I mean, it is amazing you cannot see the waterfall of sweat on both of us. We were melting. Debi was wonderful and pep talked us through having to cuddle eachother in 100% humidity and layers and layers of heavy clothes for us both. 

I loved my downtown abbey shoes.... I hope I have occasion to wear them again!

All my little program babies. Super easy to make, found them here 

Each cup had a straw and a red tag label I wrote out names on so everyone would hold onto their glass as an additional souvenir. 

I wanted to give out favors, but not anything throw-away. So I thought, hey, food would be great! So I found this seller on Etsy that has handmade lollipops with all sorts of delicious flavors, Leccare Lollipops. We picked out: Green Eggs & Ham (Pink Himalayan salt and green apple caramel), peach cobbler, ginger & blueberry, and rose & honey. There was a variety of each at each table.

So many people helped put everything together (thank you guys a million times over). The burlap runners had to be cut and ironed, the mason jars wrapped in burlap and lace, filled with water balls, flowers arranged, wood table numbers cut, chargers cut, lace doilies borrowed.... it was all so much and it was done with so much help.

The table settings were really simple and easy, biodegradable cutlery packed into those stamped silverware envelopes, biodegradable cloth napkins (as seen in Martha Stewart's Living), and biodegradable plates. Yes, it's intentionally not fancy. It ain't about the stuff right? It's about the party!

These flower arrangements below were my contribution to the flower arrangement party. I loved them the most, especially in their little white milk pitchers. My Uncle Tom created alllllll the wood chargers and the sign of our names below. Also you can see the bunting, mostly cut out by me, with much help at the end, and then sewed together by family. My attempts to sew, no matter how determined I was, were futile. Womp womp!

This picture is my Omi's family, her mother and father and all 8 kids. I look like I could stand at the end of the line and fit right in with them. They've got some good strong genes. Sadly, only two of the siblings are alive today, but very happily, they were both at my wedding. Thank you for coming Omi (second from the right standing) and Aunt Dolly (last on the left standing)!

This is the farmhouse I cooled off in several times. Thank god for that.

My handsome man :)

 My mother-in-law Susan was completely, and I mean completely, responsible for all the wonderful boutineers and bouquets for the bridesmaids and me. She arranged them and wrapped them, with some of the bridesmaids as her minions. It was a beautiful contribution.

Ed's old friend Patrick played guitar for us, "God Only Knows" for everyone walking down the aisle, and then "Let My Love Open the Door" for the recessional. 

Lizzy read from From The Feast of Love by Charles Baxter

Here’s a profundity, the best I can do: sometimes you just know… You just know when two people belong together. I had never really experienced that odd happenstance before, but this time, with her, I did. Before, I was always trying to make my relationships work by means of willpower and forced affability. This time I didn’t have to strive for anything. A quality of ease spread over us. Whatever I was, well, that was apparently what she wanted… To this day I don’t know exactly what she loves about me and that’s because I don’t have to know. She just does. It was the entire menu of myself. She ordered all of it.

Michelle read from The Last Good Time by Richard Bausch

There was a lovely time, long ago, too private to tell anyone, or too ordinary. It had nothing to do with anything, really: it was almost embarrassingly humble. One December night, unable to sleep, he had glanced out the bedroom window to discover that it had snowed. He woke his wife and made her come to the window, and the surprise of it delighted her as it had delighted him.
They dressed and bundled the baby up and took a walk, and watched the dawn arrive, and when they returned to the house, he took the day off. They played with the baby, cooked dinner, and baked bread. They listened to the baby playing in his playpen, and they talked idly about anything that came into their minds, and that evening, late, they lay whispering to each other about what a beautiful day it had been.
He thought about all this on his way down to the grocery store. The memory of it came through him like a breath, and then he was savoring it, basking in its warmth. And he thought that this is what love really meant: this very ordinary memory. That love was easy and plentiful as grass, and as still, as calm somehow.

After the readings my Uncle John, who was officiating, did a "hands ritual" I found online, (sorry can't remember where, apologies if you're the one who wrote it, just let me know and I'll give you credit!) that went as follows:

“Carly, please face Ed, and hold his hands, palms up, so you may see the gift that they are to you. 

These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day as he promises to love you today, tomorrow and forever.

These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as together you build your future, as you laugh and cry, as you share your innermost secrets and dreams.

These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes: tears of sorrow and tears of joy.

These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times.

These are the hands that will lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into eyes that are filled with overwhelming love for you.

And these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.

Ed, please hold Carly’s hands, palms up, where you may see the gift that they are to you.

These are the hands of your best friend, smooth, young and carefree, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as she pledges her love and commitment to you all the days of her life.

These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times.

These are the hands that will comfort you when you are sick, or console you when you are grieving.

They are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.

These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it.

And these are the hands that will give you support as she encourages you to chase down your dreams. Together as a team, everything you wish for can be realized.”

And then we were married! Yay!

I nearly ran off without my bouquet. I was just so excited no one passed out, no one died of heat stroke, and now we could get to the festivities! Also didn't hurt that I knew back inside was air conditioned... just kidding :) 

Happy newlyweds!

Next post will be part 2 with posed pictures and the reception! Prepare yourself for some trippy, psychedelic stuff....