Hi, I'm Jennie

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    "I used to fear this life, this suburban mortgage and white fence and a baby on my hip. I want more, I used to think. I wanted Spain and novels and wild loves and adventures.

    I met your dad and instantly wanted you."

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  • If you have a topic you'd like to see discussed in a future Real Marriages post, please email me at shelikespurple@gmail.com.

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Things I want to do in 2010


  • 1. Throw a mimosa brunch for my friends. (Photos here.)
    2. Edited: Spend a night in College Station with Mike.
    3. Take a few steps in the right direction of starting an organization that provides resources, encouragement and support to new moms.
    4. Put together a book of memories I've been meaning to make for a special someone.
    5. Run a 5K (Austin's Zooma Relay), then a 10K, then a half-marathon.
    6. Host a holiday ornament exchange and cookie decorating party.
    7. Make great strides in being the kind of friend who remembers and acknowledges birthdays better.
    8. Edited: Introduce Kyle to family he hasn't gotten to meet yet. (my grandma; Mike's grandparents)
    9. Own a great pair of investment jeans.
    10. Take a vacation, no matter to where or when, with just my husband. We've earned it.
    11. Read at least 20 books. (1. The Help 2. The Brightest Star in the Sky 3. Her Fearful Symmetry 4. This is Where I Leave You 5. Little Bee 6. Living Dead in Dallas 7. One Day 8. The Hunger Games)
    12. Write all my addresses into my file box.
    13. Buy nightstands for our bedroom.
    14. Let only good, genuine things motivate me more often.
    15. Throw Kyle a kick-ass birthday party (making the invitations and a banner by hand) (Also made: a crown and his thank-you cards.)
    16. Make fitness and health a priority.
    17. Buy a pretty dress and wear it out on the town, with my husband on my arm. (I bought this dress from Modcloth and can be seen wearing it here.)
    18. Continue creating awesome, fun and inspiring content on Style Lush. (With the help of the incredible writers.) Also, host a Style Lush edited: happy hour at BlogHer 2010.
    19. Make a dentist appointment.
    20. Make crab cakes, chicken masala and cinnamon buns (from scratch).
    21. Look fabulous at my 10-year high school reunion.
    22. Buy some art for our walls.
    23. Take Kyle to an A&M football game.
    24. Learn to drive a stick.
    25. Watch The Wire.
    Added:
    26. Make (with my own hands) an advent calendar for Christmas 2010.
    27. Start planning a 2011 family reunion.
    28. Buy a wall map and fill it with map pins.
    29. Spend time volunteering at Jonathan's Place.
    30. Finish my blogroll.
    31. Go to the movies alone. ("It's Complicated")
    32. Make Kyle's baby blanket (from his old clothes.)
    33. Stick to a budget better than years past.
    34. Learn to properly pronounce the word Worcestershire
    35. See all the nominees for Best Picture (Oscars): 1. Avatar 2. The Blind Side 3. District 9 4. An Education 5. The Hurt Locker 6. Inglorious Basterds 7. Precious 8. A Serious Man 9. Up 10. Up in the Air
    36. Discover a new artist/band once a month. (January: Eric Hutchinson
    February: Denison Witmer
    March: Tristan Prettyman
    April: Patrick Park
    May: Boyce Avenue
    June: The New Amsterdams
    July: Leona Naess
    August: Mumford & Sons)
    37. Eat at 10 new restaurants this year. (1. Brio, 2. Jack's Porch 3. La Duni 4. Classic Cafe 5. Manuel's 6. South Congress Cafe 7. Wild Sushi 8. MoMo's 9. Gerhard's 10. Taverna 11. Craft 12. Cowtown Sushi 13. Mercer Kitchen 14. Les Halles 15. All Star Sandwich Bar 16. La Peep 17. Farina's Winery 18. Ten 01 19. The Farm Cafe 20. Fenouil 21. The Field 22. C Level 23. Cafe Coyote 24. Casellula 25. Mercury Chophouse 26. Hully & Mo)
    38. Get a bikini wax.
    39. Enroll and finish a boot camp class, through our local rec.
    40. Take Kyle to the Fort Worth zoo.
    41. Read one classic book and watch one classic movie.
    42. Take a cooking class at Central Market (Sushi Class, June 30, 2010)
    43. Go to a concert. (Greenday)
    44. Take Kyle to the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens.
    45. Make 10 items from Food Network shows I watch. (1. Caesar spaghetti from 30 Minute Meals 2. Grilled cheese sandwich with red onion jam from What Would Brian Boitano Make? 3. Florentine mac and cheese with chicken meatballs from 30 Minute Meals 4. Corn and Mascarpone Mini Lasagnas from Giada at Home. 5. Braised Paprkia Chicken from Ask Aida 6. Pizzagna from 30 Minute Meals 7. Pork Milanese with Creamy Lemon Caper Sauce from Everyday Italian)
    46. Take a dance class.
    47. Visit one new state. (Massachusetts)
    48. Count to ten more often before speaking when frustrated/upset/angry.
    49. Go a month without: meat, alcohol and shopping (March)
    50. Learn some calligraphy.
    51. Run 25 miles (total) in one month. (June)
    52. Go 5 days without checking my personal email.
    53. Start a recipe collection.
    54. Learn how to poach an egg.
    55. Make one new friend in the neighborhood.
    56. Host a play date at our house.
    57. Make the perfect Bloody Mary.
    58. Participate in DFW's Restaurant Week. (Mercury Chophouse)

    Post-additions
    58. Take Kyle to Sea World
    59. Eat dinner in a restaurant alone.
    60. Attend Comic-Con

« Good morning? | Main | Just like that »

Monday, November 09, 2009

Whenever days get overwhelming...

...I search out photos from our honeymoon, a nine-day vacation on the island of St. John over two years ago.

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This is where we stayed, a sweet little villa that was so secluded and private, we felt alone on the island for much of our week away. We got pruney in the hot tub, grilled burgers outside, napped and relaxed. 

We also enjoyed the views.

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I read somewhere, ages and ages ago, that Trunk Bay (the above beach) was once on a list of the top ten beaches in the world. I was easily convinced.

We're dealing with some money woes -- nothing too bad, just ordinary day-care-is-HOW-MUCH? concerns -- and we're juggling a lot at work and home, too. That's just how it goes as working, breathing adults. Nothing we can't handle, but still a lot that's bringing on early worry lines.

It's nice to have a happy place to go back to when stresses add up at home.

It was on that trip we decided having a baby would be fun. I even thought I might have gotten pregnant one drunken night during the trip. I didn't and wouldn't for almost another year, but I sometimes like to believe even though Kyle wasn't created on that trip, his spirit was, or our desire for him was, at least. I like to think he was there with us, in some way. I felt so connected to Mike during those nine days, it's nice to think Kyle was somehow born of that time, even though it's a stretch, I know.

Regardless, it's nice to have such a perfect place in our memories that reminds us why we work so hard the rest of the time.

Posted at 06:47 PM in Adulthood, Celebrating, Globetrotting, Kyle, Mike, Parenthood, Travel |

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Comments

I'm glad you have a happy place to go to mentally when things get to be a bit much. I hope life calms down for you soon.

Posted by: Jess | Monday, November 09, 2009 at 09:06 PM

Looks lovely! If I could go back in time I would definitely have had a more official and much longer honeymoon!

Posted by: Manda | Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 03:36 AM

Oh, I loved St. John. I think Waterlemon Cay was my favorite spot (there were some wild donkeys nearby).

Posted by: Pickles & Dimes | Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 09:36 AM

It looks like a lovely place. All those day-to-day woes will hopefully calm down soon enough.

Posted by: Kristie | Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 05:03 PM

Looks, like an amazing 9 days. I get what you are saying about Kyle's spirit.

Posted by: Bobbi Janay | Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at 10:16 AM

These are the really exciting one which I think should be enjoyable and celebrated best of all.

Posted by: Corporate christmast gifts delivered | Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 03:28 AM

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