2 Year Anniversary

Alex and I celebrated our two year anniversary today. Two years that have gone by too fast. Two years that have allowed us both to learn more about each other, to grow together and to love together. Again, this year has brought challenges, happiness and sadness but the important thing is that we got through all of it together and stronger at the end.
We celebrated today very simply because I was not feeling too well. Alex gave me two white roses in a bouquet of baby's breath and a very sweet card. He made me breakfast and we relaxed all morning and afternoon watching movies and playing games. For dinner we drove to Cheesecake Factory and got a couple pieces to take home and then dinner take-out from Macaroni Grill. We took Arrow Hwy. all the way to the mall just for the ride and listened to our Third Eye Blind CD. I couldn't help but feel such emotion for the day. I remembered our first "big date" to the Third Eye Blind concert in San Francisco in March '07 and how I felt that night. Nervous, excited, I felt like I was in a dream. It was such a fun night! One of my favorite bands, in San Francisco, one of my favorite cities with a date who treated me so well and whom I could tell cared so much for me so early on. Every song on their self titled CD makes me think of that concert. In fact I just looked it up on YouTube and found it. I know that Alex and I are in that crowd singing along. Our first date is somewhat preserved and I can't help but want to jump into the screen again and relive those feelings in real time again. Ahhh, such a great memory.
As we were on our drive tonight I couldn't help but think about how blessed I was to get everything I ever wanted when I least, and I mean least, expected it! I could have never dreamed that Alex and I would get married and go onto be what we are today. Our life isn't perfect and it's not all diamonds and jewels but it is worth so much more than that. I am so proud of us, so proud of our accomplishments and our love for each other.
So tonight as we celebrate with take-out and our favorite music I am reminded of how much I have to be thankful for, how much we have to be thankful for. We have so much ahead of us, our future is so bright and the best thing is knowing that even if there come a few dark days we will walk through them together, always.

Summer Lovin'

Great summer evening tonight. Nothing special, just Alex and I grabbin' a cone at Rite-Aid. Music playing on K-EARTH 101. Jackson 5 - Never Can Say Good-bye came on and we turned it up and enjoyed the summer breeze. You just have to sway with that song. For a few moments everything was perfect in the world. This is going to be a big year and we can't wait!


***Oh, and we saved a little dog on the way home!

Music is what feelings sound like.

Music has always been a big part of my soul. I can listen to and enjoy pretty much any kind of music and whats more, I can appreciate it. As a kid and teenager growing up I played clarinet and came to have a great appreciation for all things music. I enjoyed listening to whatever my parents were listening to with a sprinkling of what was popular for my own age group. Recently I was visiting my parents on a day that had been particularly rough on me and that evening I sat and watched three DVD concerts with my parents, The Bee Gees, Christ Botti and Neil Young. I didn't really know to many Neil Young songs, in fact I really only knew Heart of Gold and now I love all of them. Now the songs have a precious memory attached to it. A day that started off not so great turned into an evening I will never forget. Young sang about memories and life; you could see in his expressions his feelings.
All the music that means so much to me is attached to some feeling or memory, good or bad they're there. Sometimes the song can bring back a feeling you haven't felt in years and some songs can completely turn the day around (Michael Franks - Antonio's Song, just makes you feel like melting into a vodka tonic and a poolside chair).
I remember being very broken hearted in high school, probably about a boy, probably Alex, and my Papa said, "I know it seems like every sad song on the radio is being played for you, and that just means that other people have felt the way you do." I always remembered that. Music and lyrics are like a quick trip down memory lane for your heart.
Music can also stop the hands of time, again, your right back in a certain place, a certain time. The Leonardo DiCaprio/Claire Danes version of Romeo and Juliet Soundtrack can take me right back to Alex and I's first date at the Mission Inn, Des'ree - Kissing You from that same soundtrack also takes me to the Sacramento Airport waiting for my flight back to Ontario after my first visit there to visit him. I can close my eyes and remember looking at my carry on, seeing the now, dehydrated roses, he brought me when he greeted me and feeling such a mix of emotions. I could cry tears of happiness now just thinking of it.
There are songs that I remember listening to over and over and over again because it was the only way I could hear CLEARLY what I was feeling (Alanis Morissette - That Particular Time)
There are songs that remind me of a carefree time in my life, no serious concerns and feeling like nothing could go wrong. (Kenny Chesney - She's From Boston, Young, Summertime)
There are even old songs that have so much meaning to me now (Connie Francis - Wedding Cake) Knowing that through the years people have felt the same way and that some things don't change and that's ok! That's life, 'que sera sera'!
I could go on and list hundreds of songs along with a memory or feeling.
So, tonight I looked up Neil Young on You Tube and came upon some of his performances from the early 70's. He sounds the same, but of course look older, his expressions are the same 40 years later. I bet he sees himself in '71 and feels a lot of those same feelings he felt then. I bet he knows that feeling of being transported through notes and lyrics. Now, his songs will always remind me of my father and that evening we spent watching him sing.
When I get old I just want to sit and listen to my iPod and remember my life.

Sisters are different flowers from the same garden. ~Author Unknown

Having sisters is such a blessing.


Last night was my father's birthday and we all got together to celebrate with him. After the party had died down a bit we all snuck away to Clara's 'music room' and sang some songs while Clara played her guitar. She has taught herself how to play and read chords; we are very proud of her.

Recently there have been a few little quarrels and disagreements between a couple of us and sometimes all four of us, well our whole life we've had quarrels, we're sisters! Haven't you heard that quote, "If you don't understand how a woman could both love her sister dearly and want to wring her neck at the same time, then you were probably an only child." ~Linda Sunshine (or maybe you had a brother) But last night during that half an hour of sister time everything was perfect as it should be with sisters. We laughed and joked with each other and acted like little girls again. Amanda's son, Nathan, was in the room with us for a little while and it was such a joy to watch him watch his Mama sing like she did when she was a little girl. He loves music too; he must have inherited that gene. He swayed and bounced around as we all tried to do our best impression of Ingrid Michelson.

Its evenings like this one that I feel so incredibly blessed to have three best friends that will always be there and who know that I will always be there for them.

How do people make it through life without a sister? ~Sara Corpening

'Give a little whistle'........or phone call........

My parents have been gone on vacation for the past five days and won't be back for another five days. I can't tell you how many times I have had to remind myself that they are 'unavailable'. I can call them, but #1 - I wouldn't want to bug them on their trip with my everyday boring questions and #2 - it's expensive to call international. Over the last five days I have realized how much I depend on my parents opinions and how much their advice influences decisions we make. I realized how much I consider my mother to be one of my best friends. How I missed being able to call her and tell her about something cool I found at Marshall's! And this has just been five days!

Alex and I have had some pretty important decisions to make this week about his college education and work. Today we had to come to a conclusion and make a decision that would affect the next few years of our life and while we sat their contemplating our options, I wanted to call my dad. I wanted to tell him our options and see what he thought. I think he would agree with our decision but I wanted to confirm my choice with him; not to get his approval but to get my own approval!I know that he would have just the thing to say to make both of us feel that much more at ease about the road we are choosing.

This 'real adult decision' Alex and I discussed today made me feel like a real married couple. A full circle moment. We talked out our choices, made a pro/con list, I told him I would support him in whatever he decided but I also felt comfortable to tell him my opinion. For a moment after we made our choice I think we both felt that, 'I hope we're making the right decision' feeling, but really, I think we did. It was kind of like a moment when your 16 and you're parents say you can't do something and you think (or say), "I'm 16 I can make my own decisions!" Only now, we really can....and now we have 30+ years to back up our decision and yet somehow now that doesn't seem like enough.

I feel my input into the discussion came from what I've learned from my dad. Again, I wanted to call him and ask him....in fact I almost did, I figured this was a big thing, I super value his opinion and I had to make sure we considered all aspects! But I didn't. I told myself that this is one of those times where we will have to use our best judgment. We had to 'let our conscious be our guide' so to speak. So I put my phone away.

I'm sure my parents would be proud and happy to know that we need them so much still. At least I hope they will be...It's true no matter how old you get you still need your parents. You need their love, their support and their wisdom when you sometimes doubt your own. I guess that's one of the most sought after result in parenting, that children be able to make their own decisions, based on what their parents taught them and the morals and values exemplified and instilled by them.

Faith has also been ever so present at this time in our marriage and lives together. Another lesson passed down from our parents and grandparents. God will guide us, He is present in our lives and hears all our prayers. That is all we can do, put our faith in Him and He will guide us.

I can only hope that one day our children will feel the same way we do about our parents. I hope they value our opinion, seek our advice and know that God will guide them.

proud parents

proud children

Don't worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you.  

~Robert Fulghum

Goin' to the Chapel in Vintage Red & Blue

Recently I had the privilege of making some personalized bridal shower supplies for an old friend and a shower she was hosting! She contacted me to make a banner for the bride-to-be featuring their initials and wedding date, along with cupcake picks and tags for shower favors. I had so much fun designing the items and working with these colors! Here are some pictures to enjoy.
If you are interested in ordering some items for your special event, please contact me via e-mail at badame1225@yahoo.com. Thank you!

Thank you again Katie for the opportunity!

"You Have My Heart" - Cupcake Picks

Personalizes Favor Tags

The banner featured quotes on marriage, heart die-cuts, eight different prints and patterns in coordinating wedding colors and vintage boy and girl profile die-cuts. Total of 11 panels measuring 5"x7" each.

Ready to ship out!

Dreams do come true

Today was one of those regular old days when nothing was super eventful but everything seemed perfect. Alex slept in pretty late while I cleaned up the house and watched my Royal Wedding coverage. I made breakfast, we went to Lowe's, he hung up our flat screen wall mount, I cleaned the patio and planted my rescued clearance plants I bought at Lowe's. We...well, I made dinner, and ate in on our nicely cleaned patio with a faint smell of citronella in the air. The perfect end to a perfect day being husband and wife.

About an hour ago I decided (after much debate) to go to Baskin Robbins for their 31 cent night. It was such a nice spring evening, we drove with the windows down. When we got there, of course, there was a long line, so we stood in it and just told jokes to each other and had fun. On the way home I actually was able to keep the radio on KFRG (Alex is not a fan of country!) and Rascall Flatts came on Fast Cars and Freedom, I exclaimed, "I haven't heard this song in so long!" I hadn't, in fact I hadn't listened to country period. in a long time. I'm trying to slowly introduce Alex to the genre and am hoping he will start to like it... As I listened to the song, I thought to myself, before I was was married or even engaged I had always wished for those sappy country love songs to come true in my life. I mean, after all, I had had my fair share, if not more, of the sappy sad, he's cheatin' and lyin' songs come true, so I really wanted to be the girl, the wife that her husband sees out of the corner of his eye or across a room and just falls more in love with each time. All that time, I thought, some day... right? I was right! In the Rascall Flatts song the begining line is:

'Starin' at you takin' off your makeup
Wondering why you even put it on
I know you think you do but baby you don't need it
Wish that you could see what I see it when it's gone'

Sometimes I'll catch Alex watching me, or he'll just tell me I'm beautiful or how lucky he is and it makes me blush and giggle I and think, now I know. I know what it feels like to have a husband who loves me so much. Now I get to play that part in those songs! I am so blessed to have a husband who expresses his feelings, happy or sad. He knows he can trust me and I know I can trust him. Our hearts are safe with each other.

That song has a little extra meaning to us also because we dated in high school, for those of you who don't know.  I was 16 and he was 18, we went to homecoming together, he was my first 'car date'...and we were late getting home, and I got in trouble, but that's another story....Anyway, I love to hear Alex tell me the story about when we met again ten years later, his feelings driving to Mammoth. I like to hear him admit he made a mistake dumping me!....LOL. But hey, that's the way it was meant to be...In the Rascall Flatts song they sing, "You don't look a day over fast cars and freedom..." and now that I'm 30 (ugh) and some days feel old, he still sees me as 16, and that makes me feel good :) I hope that lasts a long time!

Sometimes it's weird to think that he turned out to be the one! He really broke my heart back then! And now, here I am, living one of those sappy country love songs. Love it!

cutest couple, circa 1997