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.

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.