You know those days. We all have them. Today was one for me – too much seemed to press on me, overwhelming me into auto-pilot.

I’m fortunate to end such a day with the love of a man who stopped his short to stay with me and bring me into the sunshine.  We took my favorite route to walk along the water and watched the boats go by.  All along the way he reminded me how all the things I was sad about… it was not my fault. And it never was. Ah, I really love this man. I feel like I have a very big secret if you don’t know my husband – the best secret I’ve never wanted to keep. (How did I get so lucky??) I wish you all get a chance to know him in your lifetime. He’s changed mine for the very best, in every way possible. So you can run and tell that, homeboy.

We had a little time to kill before seeing Iron Man 2 on the IMAX screen last night (date night!) and so Mars and I goofed around the Seattle Center enjoying the perfect summer-like weather together.  What I wanted to show you:  I was wearing my Leica D-LUX 4 camera case that I use to carry my iphone.  I love the elegant look and the retro feel, (that Leica logo!) plus I appreciate that it’s a really sturdy hardcase made to last out of leather, yet it’s so lightweight too.  It’s made for a Leica digital, but I’ve found all kinds of uses for it…

When I slip my phone inside, it’s the exact length to fit and even has a little extra room in there for a few photos, cards and a lipstick too.  Isn’t it genius? I can’t totally take credit though. A few months ago, Lucky ran a little feature on the idea – and I had a good feeling about this one and went for it.

I truly haven’t stopped tossing it across my body since it arrived in the mail.  Some things are a classic. p.s. Mars took all these shots with his iphone camera (just the regular camera setting) and then I had some fun collaging them.

So.  I totally spaced polaroid week.  Okay, that’s a lie, I may have fit in a few shots, but still, after that I disappeared.  But I have a totally valid excuse.

Marcela was in town! We in the Vorwaller family love that a good rotation of friends are always staying in our home.  Feels as necessary as food!  I only wish that we had ten times the space making for more generous accommodations because I love being a hostess with the mostess.  (How do you spell most-est, anyway?)

Our latest treat was having my best friend (the above mentioned lovely Marcela) come all the way from Buenos Aires and as an added bonus her mother, Alicia, also came to stay with us too!  These women are truly family to me, and so now that they’ve left I’m still feeling a bit lost without them here, especially in the late hours of the night when we should be up laughing and talking.

It was just was non-stop action while they were here and we literally spent every waking minute together having fun, hanging out just like the good old days when we shared the same city.  The best thing about our friendship is that we fell in step with each other the moment we met and it’s been that way since – no distance or time between us ever matters.

P.S. I now gleefully have an explosion of spanish going off in my head and my craving for paying a return visit to our “home” in Buenos Aires is hitting me stronger than ever… !

Weekend, you finally made it. Time to do some of the following…
+ Hang out with my guys (see irresistibleness above)
+ Get a massage, or at least book it!
+ Pick up an easel I found on craigslist
+ Paint Paint Paint
+ Drop off all my rolls of film to get developed
+ Find some spiritual renewal at church
+ Finalize ring choices. (And no, it won’t be from Tiffany’s. It’s way better!)

Sneaking in a few minutes that I don’t have to share a little excitement bubbling inside of me.  The boys treated me to some major shopping for my big day, (woot!) and while we walked around in and out of shops feeling the sunshine on our faces, my thoughts kept turning giddy for the surprise Mars gave me earlier that morning.  A new wedding band to replace the ones that I no longer have.

If you didn’t hear the story: one was stolen by a heartless thief who broke into our (very safe and guarded) home in Uruguay while we were vacationing in Rio de Janeiro – the rascal(s?) ransacked our home and took everything, and sadly, my engagement band and his wedding band were part of that!  Then, to add to my bad luck, my wedding band was lost in the depths of heavy snow in Jackson Hole later that same winter while I was making giant forts and snowmen.  Never to be found.

You can imagine the kind of emotional significance that I attach to this object… what it represents, what it means to us.  Since then, I’ve just been sporting something temporary, switching between inexpensive costume jewelry that could pass as a band and having fun with the different ring personalities.  I never thought twice about getting a new one anytime soon.  He really surprised me.  We’re picking out something special and lasting and can’t wait to see it on my hand.

Have you ever lost jewelry that was meaningful to you? Would you be willing to share your story? I have a new project under wraps but I’m going to risk a little leak here by this call for stories- if you would like to be a part of it by sharing, let me know.

Okay. After a rough week, I’m ready for a weekend of festivities!  My twin brother is in town with his adorable family, so we get to celebrate our birthday together. Yes, our birthday.  I haven’t had a joint party with him since we were kids!  And if you are wondering, growing up with a twin brother was awesome.  Besides sharing auburn locks and birthdays, we get a kick out of intelligent, highly educated people asking the question, “Oh! You have a twin brother? Are you identical?”

Wait for it… Wait for it…

*

(p.s. Above photo is not new, but one of my favorites because of the special people around me at the time.  It is of Abby, at Cori’s place, holding a melt in our mouth mini cupcake by Nicolle.)

I love that the love of my life appreciates me so much.

I am pressed to think of a time when I have not felt validated in what I do, even when it may seem like no one else close to me is saying it, he will.

So back to resoluting.  Tonight I will let the sparkle of midnight be in celebration of growth.

“Keep your eyes on your dreams, however distant and far away. Live to see the miracles of repentance and forgiveness, of trust and divine love that will transform your life today, tomorrow, and forever.” -Jeffrey R. Holland

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Mars has many nicknames for me.  I love it when he chooses one of his many sweet synonyms for my real name and just throws it into conversation, as if they were my real identity, fact not fiction.  Say something often enough to a person and they may begin to believe it, I’ve heard, but I still can’t believe it.  I am his angel, he affectionately tells me.  And then he slips on a gold necklace to symbolize it.  I might never take these off.

What he doesn’t realize that this isn’t the first time he has given me wings.

Elias & I managed our first walk together at two and a half weeks old of teensy tiny-ness!

You are all so incredible, thank you.

I hope I don’t peak too much curiosity by posting such vague idea of what happened, I’ve really only told the story twice, and between all the changes of doctors, operating and exam and recovery rooms, nurses and procedures, I’m really the only one who rode through it all, who knows all the details in full effect – and yet even from this first person perspective I had, it was too surreal and so hard to believe that I don’t really know how to share it.  Plus, it’s super gory.   I’m a little faint just thinking of it.  My eyes were swollen shut by the end of it from crying so much from the pain, the fear of the unknown, etc. So I feel like I didn’t even “see” every moment of it, but experienced it from some other level that I didn’t know I had in me.

Being home with Elias from day one, my first thought was LET’S DO IT AGAIN. (How many new Moms think that way, seriously? Hahaha.)  And you know what? I still feel that enthusiasm.  Making babies and art, it’s what I love in all chambers of my soul, it’s what I was made for.  I am blessed to have such a connection with this new baby and able to anticipate and read his needs, he’s been so easy, the labor and delivery was so wonderful, I don’t think this aspect is a coincidence, after all, he is our miracle baby.

I posted about the traumatic experience here because it felt like I would be ignoring it if I didn’t, and from previous experience, repressing situations like this extends them for longer periods of time, and I don’t want that! But I do feel ready to move on now, I already am. I don’t want to dwell on it.  I guess maybe others in my situation would take more comfort in retelling the experience as much as possible, but I feel like I’ve gotten that out of my system pretty quickly, hopefully not too quickly.  Like all horrific things in life, my mind is already blocking it all out! I think that’s probably a good thing.

So I felt I needed to post here not to get everyone all curious, but to help me move on.  There is a lot more writing going on, constantly, day and night, in my own journal, and it’s really getting me through this.  And I can’t say it enough, a super thanks for all your words of encouragement and visits and notes and love, it means so much to me, you guys might not ever know how much.  I’m happy to be in the moment, today, right now.

So next, onto more lighthearted, regular programming…

♥ Besos.