happy living!

[two volumes of one book]

2011-06-07T23:44:00.001-04:00

do you know "that couple?"

that couple whose faces light up whenever they see each other,

the partners who are always there for each other, through thick and thin,
the pretty pair who quietly just L O O K at each other and
you can see just how much
they are IN LOVE?

the best friends who notice the simple, little things that make the other happy,

the dynamic duo who is constantly praising one another ~

...encouragement, support, J O Y, and kindness

s p i l l i n g out of their souls and

overwhelming their actions

as he gently holds her, makes her laugh,

and she tilts her chin to better see the man who's captured her heart...

you know, THAT COUPLE? ♥

this past weekend, the WEDDING of such a tender twosome was celebrated JOVIALLY by family and friends alike as we watched the gorgeous bride

{so elegant in her gown & her flower-adorned blonde locks}

marry her prince - her music man - her husband

{standing so tall and proud, so handsome in his tux}
beneath the ornate gazebo at the marriott rivercenter
...

...
~and then PARTY! and DANCE! the night away
at the exquisitely decorated ballroom at the grand
where SWAGG rocked out
(and a carefree and jaunty group dared to perform a FLASH MOB!)
HA!
oh yeah.
{can't wait to see the video.}

in all honesty, i am OVER THE MOON for these two
whose adventures have been so fabulous and fun to witness over the past few years...
...i am so excited to "read" what crazy stories they'll "write" together from now on,
(as i'm sure they are, too) ^_~
::the blank pages of their marital book of bliss
to be filled with tales of
gaiety and triumphs and passion::

CONGRATS, NEWLYWEDS!!
:)

xoxo,

Laura Love

to go to TOGO {carpe diem!}

2011-06-01T16:31:00.000-04:00

to go to Togo? my husband will go

as it suits his zealous soul;

for a man who knows that it's time to g r o w

will certainly rock and ROLL!

"rocked to the core" will this trek for him be

in ways we can't imagine.

the people he'll meet and the sights he'll see

will bury deep within him.

expectations gone and answers unknown

can be unnerving to feel;

and yet, hasn't the sun forever shown?

don't we continue to heal?

let not fear interfere a JOYOUS day

filled with promises galore!

so long as courage and hope pave the way

m u c h will be unearthed and more!

[carpe diem] is a latin expression that means "seize the day."
~carpe diem poems have the theme of living for today!

xoxo,

Laura Love

{glee gazette} #8

2011-05-31T16:18:00.001-04:00

"there is no cosmetic for beauty like happiness." ~lady blessington

i. le salon

LOVE my monthly hair trims and deep conditioner treatments by the sweetest stylist!

ii. visit to friend's house

the simple joy of just sitting and connecting with a friend --while also entertaining her tiny tot. :)

iii. friends HH

brothers on the levee, girlfriends and guyfriends alike, plus some mid-week merriment!

iv. montgomery inn boathouse

AMAZING view along the river with local family & friends and out-of-town family & friends!

v. game night with fruit & wine

a self-explanatory double-date night... and completely AWESOME! :)

vi. first visit to primavista

GORGEOUS view of cincinnati from the west side, & a birthday celebration for a gorgeous lady!

vii. at home HH and newborn baby visit

WELCOME to the WORLD, baby V! you are so lucky to have such a beautiful, loving mama. ♥

viii. hubby date night

spending time with my mister before he leaves for togo! [arthur's (yum) and saw hangover 2!]

ix. engagement party/cook-out

L O V E is in the air, and two fun friends are now engaged to be wed! congrats, love birds! :)

"happiness is the meaning and purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence." ~aristotle

xoxo,

Laura Love

{little loves}

2011-05-24T19:47:00.002-04:00

irises (1889) vincent van gogh

life can be so INTOXICATING! ♥

and i'm not just talking about the star occasions and grand events...

...but the little ~ the littlest ~ things.

the {l i t t l e l o v e s}

liiiiike...

the many variations of blue-green colors {teal, aqua, turquoise, cyan...};

painted toenails with open-toed shoes;

doggy kisses;

opening windows so that the outdoor breeze sweeps through the home;

listening to birds sing and trees rustle;

the fact that i'm married to one of the sweetest men ever

who - after almost 4 years of marriage - still massages my head and

plays with my hair

every night

until i fall asleep;

flower blossoms;

mango sushi;

peacock feathers;

laughter with friends - so hard that your cheeks hurt

your stomach aches

and tears form at the corners of your eyes;

felt-tip pens;

juno and her birds (1887) walter crane

the fragrance of coconut - or lavender - or vanilla - or fillintheblank;

being complimented and flattered by a stranger;

BIG HUGS,

hearing your parents say, "i'm proud of you;"

finding a penny heads up;

the gratifying satisfaction felt after cleaning like a fiend;

trying a new food or drink -- and loving it;

reconnecting with an old friend

and making a new one;

not having to set your alarm;

doing something nice for someone - without expecting anything in return;

butterfly wings;

paper lanterns;

fortune cookie fortunes;

...and i'll stop there.

i could easily continue on... and on... and on...

as i'm pretty sure that the littlest moments - these little loves - comprise 90% of our lives.

(although i haven't done the math)

so notice them. inhale them. and smile. :)

the tree of life (1909) gustav klimt

xoxo,

Laura Love

recipe esprit: {salmon & spaghetti}

2011-05-22T12:44:00.002-04:00

{disclaimer: when it comes to cooking, i am an "amateur" in every sense of the word. however, that does not mean i do not enjoy it - i love food, i love to eat, and i love to [trytobe] healthy. ha. ^_^}

with that said, here is {one of several variations of} a quick and easy healthy recipe:

SALMON AND SPAGHETTI.

it seems like i do most of my cooking on the weekends as i strive to make enough food that will serve as lunches for the rest of the week. pastas with fish or chicken are often my "go to" lunch meals-- packaged in tupperware containers, stacked in the fridge: accessible for the quick "GRAB AND GO" mentality i have during early workday mornings.

W H A T - Y O U - N E E D

~ whole grain(!) pasta [for this example, i've used spaghetti]

~ your choice of veggies [i chose red bell pepper]

~ an omnivore? chicken or fish [my fave: salmon!]

FIRST, i added lemon juice and lemon pepper to my salmon before baking it for 15 minutes.

SECOND, while the salmon was baking, that gave me time to boil my water and cook my spaghetti.

(suggestion: add olive oil & a pinch of kosher salt to your bubbling water)

THIRD, chopped up my red bell pepper (after removing the seeds) and added it to the mix.

FOURTH, parsley flakes for garnish and taste!

yum! ate with a side of sliced apples. :) [granny smiths, anyone?]

succeeding my satisfied stomach, i baked another fillet (topped with lemon juice and lemon peppers, too) and chopped it up, adding it to the leftover peppered spaghetti for this week's midday meals.

{also makes for a happy hubby!} ♥

that's it! good carbs, protein, veggies, and fruit!

and don't cha feel so much happier when you're being good to your body?

xoxo,

Laura Love

{glee gazette} #7

2011-05-16T16:08:00.001-04:00

i. sweet tooth with hubby's fam

ice cream and in-laws? love.

ii. impromptu sleepover

falling asleep plus waking up with 2 dear hearts equals one of the simplest pleasures.

iii. thai food, sushi, & ice cream

sometimes stressful work weeks warrant trips to mt. adams treasures like, oh, teak and UDF. :)

iv. cinco de mayo fun

what better way to celebrate an americanized mexican holiday than at rio grande?

v. lovely lady's b.day

dancing & dresses on derby day for an ivory & not-so-innocent babe's b.day. ;)

vi. cinema time

watching "water for elephants" with other beautiful book worms ~ superb rendition.

vii. sis-in-law's college graduation

a trip to virginia to celebrate hubby's sis's {oneofmany} momentous moments in life!

viii. mammoth date

treats, talking, organizing our lives on laptops -- coffee-shop cuties.

***

on a more somber note, (as {it} always seems to happens in 3's) this past week has been a difficult one for 3 dear friends of mine as each has suffered a loss -- a grandfather, a father, and an uncle. my love goes out to each of them. ♥

"somebody should tell us, right at the start of our lives, that we are dying. then we might live life to the limit, every minute of every day. 'do it,' i say! whatever you want to do, do it now! there are only so many tomorrows."

~ pope paul vi

xoxo,

Laura Love

literary recommendation: {a visit from the goon squad}

2011-05-15T17:32:00.009-04:00

"poets claim that we recapture for a moment the self that we were long ago when we enter some house or garden in which we used to live in our youth. but these are most hazardous pilgrimages, which end as often in disappointment as in success. it is in ourselves that we should rather seek to find those fixed places, contemporaneous with different years...

...the unknown element in the lives of other people is like that of nature, which each fresh scientific discovery merely reduces but does not abolish."

~marcel proust, in search of lost time

this insightful quote by proust is how ms. jennifer egan has chosen to open her book {A VISIT FROM THE GOON SQUAD} as it summarizes perfectly the greater significance behind her unconventional stories of aging punk rockers, aimless graduate students, beautiful but lonely women, and many more eccentric characters who - on the surface - very few people may think they'd be able to relate to, but the truth is... they (ALL of them) are very much like us, and probably more so than most would like to admit.

after all - when you break it all down - we're all just "X's and O's," right?
[character reference: scotty]

egan has an unorthodox, but genius way of writing that leaves you hungering for more. there is a chapter written entirely as a PowerPoint slideshow as well as another written as an academic article complete with footnotes. composed with a discontinuous sequence, the time periods are constantly shifting with no real pattern between the modern day and the erratic 1960's. moreover, as the time periods shift, so does the focus of the characters. however, as you continue to read, with each page you learn a little bit more of how this mess of fabricated individuals directly or indirectly are linked to each other... and while some questions are eventually answered, others are not.

the lives you read about range from the most flashy and exciting to the most mundane and tedious --some are extraordinarily successful while others are struggling on a daily basis to make ends meet. nevertheless, despite how each person appears on the surface, how they are on the inside is all the same: they are troubled and lost, unsure of which path to take next while internally battling with who they are and what their lives mean.

and haven't we all been there before? mapping out our lives and setting goals for ourselves in an attempt to give our lives purpose-- through family, career, religion, travel, friendship... all the while understanding that we're in a race, a race with TIME, to complete as much as possible by certain deadlines? and yet, there are ALWAYS unexpected turns of events ~which we do justify in order to make ourselves feel better... but, when things don't go "according to plan," we can't help but feel somewhat sad as well, as if we have failed at simply LIVING.

of course, these feelings are inevitable when one gauges their happiness based on their external circumstances as opposed to their internal lives. such is the suffering of man...

...and while some of egan's characters ARE tragic characters, they are also realistic characters-- although you are left feeling uncertain about many of their futures, there is that one key element that keeps them {and yourself} afloat: HOPE. F A I T H. ~ the reason we don't completely abandon these fictional people as well as the people in our lives and ourselves. the belief that, somehow, things have a way of working out... (right?)

jennifer egan = perceptive & brilliant

{gorgeous, isn't she? and just look are those striking almond-shaped eyes-- it's as if she's leering deep into your soul and analyzing every inch of your being; as if she can read you like a book.}

so, while reading this book and upon reflection -- when you are simultaneously aging, exploring, loving, hurting, rising, falling, sharing, trying... try not to lose sight of the silliness of how seriously we take ourselves because after all
...
TIME IS A GOON. ;)

[character reference: bennie]

xoxo,

Laura Love

{queen of the nile!}

2011-05-07T15:25:00.005-04:00

last week, i was gifted quite the goodie when my father and sister {who is jetting off to grad school in london!} traveled down to cincy for a visit which embodied stimulating conversation, dinner out, a walk through town {preston enjoyed this one the most}, and a day spent at the cincinnati museum center for the CLEOPATRA EXHIBIT! the search for the last queen of egypt!

a M U S T for history buffs, this show displays over a hundred and fifty artifacts and relics discovered by the french archaeologist, frank goddio, and his team that have been lost to the depths of the ocean for almost two thousand years. as you walk through the immaculately curated exhibit, you view archaic jewelry, coins, statuary {including 2 impressive pieces of cleopatra and the ptolemy king weighing thousands of pounds}, and more while you listen to the re-telling of her triumphant and tragic, short yet incredible life though the queen's first-person point-of-view.

it'll be in town until early september, but don't let time slip away! so, go -- enjoy -- and absorb what makes the last pharaoh of egypt so brilliant, beautiful, mesmerizing, and unforgettable. :)

xoxo,

Laura Love

me and my hippy heart.

2011-05-02T17:14:00.007-04:00

i went to bed early last (sunday) night...

...and therefore was not aware of the news of osama bin laden's death until this morning.

when the headlines flooded my monitor's screen at work, my honest-to-goodness reaction was this:

"wait - really? oh. okay."

and that was that. movin' right along.

...

however, i quickly realized that not everyone was as lackadaisical about this information as i...

(c'mon, laura, are you really that naïve? this is "amurrica," after all.)

...and of course, then it began:

the chanting. the cheering. the fist-pumping and high-fiving.

the appalling, revolting images overwhelming the web,

and the nasty comments made in passing,

that make my insides recoil in disgust

and my skin bristle.

i don't care how evil, malicious, or vile the man was,

in my humble opinion... his death does not warrant these hateful jubilations.

in fact, behaving as such is a crime against - what should be - our decent HUMANITY.

he is now a SYMBOL of hatred,
yet such wicked men and women still live

and will continue to live~

~at least, until, EVERYONE can learn

how to turn the other cheek.

how to live by the golden rule.

how to forgive and love not only our family and friends,

but the ones who have hurt us the most --those who have done us wrong--

for those who act with anger

FEEL ANGER

which means they are suffering

and deserve compassion and loving-kindness.

that's not to mean there are not consequences, punishment, and karma.

this does not mean we should be BFF with our enemies

nor should we forget.

rather, compassion is something we F E E L ~

something our enemies may be completely unaware of

{clueless}

or DISMISS.

we cannot control them. we can only control ourselves --
our thoughts, our feelings, our actions.

and likewise, i cannot control your beliefs
for i am not writing to debate.
i have my values to which i steadfastly stick~
and chances are, if you've read this far, you either already agree with me
or at least are open to this nonviolent notion.
[thank you]♥
hopefully, at least, i've given you something to think about,
and that's a start.
...
a student came to me earlier this morning:
"mrs. R, did you hear about bin laden?"
"i did, s----... what do you think about it?"
*she bites her lip before speaking*
"well, i know he was horrible and all...
but the idea of celebrating someone's death just feels...
icky."

thank goodness for insightful 15-year-olds.

{happy living!}
*

{glee gazette} #6

2011-04-26T21:35:00.005-04:00

1] girlfriend time ♥

as much as i adore the male species (my husband, my father, my guyfriends... my dog...), my girlfriends and their friendship are definitely one of the most beautiful gifts i've ever been given. we go on gym dates, lunch dates (like to the bellevue bistro!), walk and park dates (often with my pup in tow), happy hour & dinner dates (brio, brothers, hofbrauhaus, b&n...), or just dates on the couch complete with food & wine, movies & games, and sweet conversation! :)

2] oakwood friends ♥

aside from the wondrous trip down to chattanooga, tennessee for our friend's gorgeous wedding with my high school friends, *happy sigh* mister and i were delighted to meet up with my beautiful h.s. girlfriend and her new hubby (june will mark their 1 year anniversary!) at the hofbrauhaus for dinner and drinks when they came into town from further north to cheer on the cincinnati reds. :)

3] good students & spring break

about a month ago, i wrote about a fundraiser my homeroom was partaking in and just how well they were doing... turns out, we won & raised the most money! hurrah! our reward was a catered lunch from the olive garden. :) nevertheless, as much as i adore them, having a full week off for spring break to do things like sleep in, read books, enjoy hobbies, spring clean, see friends, etc. was also wonderful. ;)

4] taste of summer!

despite the insanely massive amount of rainfall we've accumulated this past month, i have still managed to venture outdoors, delight in the fresh air, and sip a taste of summer! hubby and i were able to get out on the motorcycle one gloriously sunny afternoon, and the season for cincinnati's party in the park has began! (followed by j.hall's legendary wednesdays!) ah sunshine and blue skies, where art thou?

5] bridal shower-rama ♥

as june approaches, one of my dear, beautiful friends is excitedly anticipating her wedding to a wonderful man --and we celebrated this up-and-coming, jubilant occasion with a bridal shower in her honor! surrounded by fabulous ladies, we drank and dined, played games, chatted endlessly, and pretty much just fawned over the blushing bride-to-be with gifts, hugs, and lots of love. :)

6] workin' on my fitness.

it's a pretty cool and triumphant feeling when one realizes they're in the best shape they've ever been... and while i accredit much of this ongoing accomplishment to myself, of course, much of my newfound fitness and health knowledge is thanks to my terrific trainer --and although i'm mostly found at the urban active in bellevue, i did venture to florence... and was introduced to TRX suspension straps! fun!

7] family time ♥

easter weekend this year also happened to include my mother's birthday and my sister-in-law's birthday --so there was much celebrating to be had! so time was had with my parents and sweet lil' sis in my lovely home suburb of oakwood, ohio, hubby and i spent hours with his side of the family back in the NKY, and it all was topped off with a b.day treat for his lil' sis at carrabbas. yum!

{happy living!}

takin' it back!

2011-04-21T16:32:00.000-04:00

i am quite excited to volunteer for the

TAKE BACK THE NIGHT

organization in cincinnati this year. :)
~of course, it’s important to bring awareness of sexual violence in the community; however,

i am also a s u r v i v o r.

{wow. i can’t believe i just wrote that.}

it’s been years since it last happened, and yet –the moment i decided to once and for all – to FINALLY – face my fear and write out my testament…

i. was. terrified.

even now as i write, my eyes are filling up with tears; my fingers are trembling, and i’m really, truly realizing just how much pain and suffering i’ve been keeping locked up inside of me.

-----------------

it happened twice. the first time was in high school. the second time, in college.

both times, i was left feeling--

disgraceful. ashamed. enraged. depressed. vile. sleazy.

absolutely, flat-out miserable --i would spend my days sleeping to forget the pain. my nights awake to avoid the mental pictures that overwhelmed me. my appetite disappeared. i skipped classes. i ostracized myself and thus lost friends. i abused various substances to distract my mind, hurt my body, and cheapened myself...

but thankfully, there are a lot of good, golden people on this earth... and i quickly came to realize this truth when true friends - despite my privacy - were there for me. when my family - despite my clandestinity - took care of me. when my teachers - despite my secrecy - helped me. when real men -- despite my self-deprivation - loved me.

and then, like all things, over time with the help of these loved ones and my heightened involvement in such things like sports, school, clubs, and social events, these dark feelings, thoughts, and habits seemed to just... disappear.

and i was reawakened to the girl people used to know when i was young... and the young woman i am now. the person who loves to be outside, laugh and smile, dance, and be silly. the person who adores flowers, bright colors, sunshine, and butterflies. the person who likes to be active, involved, and busy with hobbies, people, and work.

i am very much THIS person {bubbly, cheerful, optimistic},

but recently -- through self-reflection and meditation -- i've come to find that

THAT person {morbid, somber, dour}

has in fact not disappeared, and rather... has been repressed and hidden.

so one day, i decided (when simultaneously filled with a burst of courage and quivering dread) to unlock this nebulous box buried deep within and sift through each item carefully, calmly, compassionately...

...which i continue to do daily, one little bit at a time. and although it may take years to uncover each piece and set it free, the time and perseverance are well worth the results.

i'm taking it back. :)

my peace and dignity. my self-love and spirit. my inner strength and poise.

i know i haven't spoken much about TBTN... or this issue in general...

(because [let's be serious] it's a difficult topic to bring up... well, at least for me)

...and for many of you reading this, this is the first time you've heard of my situation...

and for that i'm sorry.

but please understand,

i am awkward, after all. ;)

and writing is more comfortable... and comforting.

so if you're available this friday {april 29} eve, come on down to sawyer point at 6:30pm.

we will march across the bridge to the peace bell in newport,

where local musicians will play and a survivor will speak out!

we'll wrap it up with a candlelight vigil back to the serpentine wall. ♥

[and if you can't make it, at least give to the worthy cause!]

{and then feel free to join a party over in mainstrasse,

in celebration of a radiant, radical redhead's birthday!} ^_~

woohoo!

and remember ~ "to forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you." (lewis b. smedes)

{happy living!}

movie recommendation: {127 hours}

2011-04-17T18:16:00.003-04:00

although my husband and i rented this flick a couple of weeks ago, i still wanted to share and recommend this beautiful film {127 HOURS} to those who have not yet seen it. following the true story of aron ralston (played by james franco), director danny boyle immediately sweeps you into aron's world as an adventurous, independent weekend-explorer --hiking, climbing, jumping, and swimming through the great canyons of utah he evidently knows so well; however, despite his skills and expertise, he quickly finds himself in a life-threatening, perilous situation when his arm is crushed by a boulder, and he is trapped, ALONE, ISOLATED, and MILES AWAY from any other living souls.

thus begins the introspective look into aron's psyche as he struggles to survive with the petty items in his pack and reflects on memories of his past --primarily his relationships with his family and previous lovers. as you are stuck in that chamber with him, you witness the growth and change aron undergoes. his emotions - the fear, the anxiety, the questions he faces, and his flippant optimism/hopelessness - are incredibly conveyed as he flails back forth between glimmers of strength and defeated panic. you cannot help but empathize strongly with this tenacious yet vulnerable young man; moreover, you wind up picturing yourself in this same scenario... pondering over the delicate and powerful will of humanity when aron's brilliant, desperate mind exhausts all other options and succumbs to the most drastic choice of all...

...after seeing a reason to keep on living.

BEWITCHING. DYNAMIC. VICTORIOUS.

{rated R for language and some disturbing/violent images.}

[james franco as aron ralston]

[the real aron ralston]

{happy living!}

literary recommendation: {water for elephants}

2011-04-06T17:14:00.012-04:00

I LOVE BOOKS. :)

i love to read. and i love hard-cover, paperback books-- books with pages you can tangibly touch and flip through as you bend the binding to get a better grip while your eyes scan printed text and your hand scribbles notes in the margins... and when you take a break (if you can bear to tear yourself away), you mark your spot with a thin sliver of parchment (often adorned with a silky tassel).

recently, i finished [while sitting outside, on the deck... ahhhh, spring] WATER FOR ELEPHANTS by sara gruen. take a look at the cover art above: the denver post exclaims it is "a rich surprise, a delightful gem," and that is EXACTLY what it is... and so much more. without giving away any spoilers, the story begins with a 93 (or is it 90?) year old man who reflects on his life as a young cornel-educated student with a background in veterinary medicine who finds himself working for a circus taking care of animals. on the road, he makes friends as well as enemies, and it's difficult for him - as well as the reader - to always decipher who can and cannot be trusted... but in order to survive, he has to form some strong bonds, unearth some dark secrets, and keep others discreetly hidden.

there's a messy romance, glitz & glamour, danger & adventure, unexpected twists & turns~ the definition of a real "page turner." i flew through my copy of 426 pages in an instant, salivating the whole time... bug-eyed (i'm sure) and anxious to find out what would happen next. and yes, i will admit, there were parts that made me cry as well as shout and squeal in horror/shock/exasperation/glee... (i tend to get emotionally attached to really good stories.)

LET'S JUST HOPE THIS UPCOMING FLICK DOES THE BOOK JUSTICE!

*fingers crossed*

if anything, at least there will be robert pattinson to fawn over... ;)

{happy living!}

[whole hearts for a whole life]

2011-04-03T15:01:00.005-04:00

there are so many reasons to absolutely ADORE weddings!

the personal touches, the beautiful bride and her dress, the flower arrangements, the music & dancing...

but my all time FAVORITE things about weddings are

the interactions between the new husband and wife.

for example:

the twinkle in the groom's eyes as he watches his bride walk down the aisle;

the bright, beaming smile on the bride's face while she dances with her new husband;

the infectious laughter between the two as they whisper to each other, paying no mind to anything else~

and i muse over how magnificent it is when two people truly

C O N N E C T.

this past weekend was filled with such glorious delights when my oakwood high school girlfriends and i

road-tripped to the enchanting chattanooga, tennessee

for a lovely friend's wedding! :)

{simple and elegant with a vintage flair}; we watched her recite her vows to her blue-eyed beau

while draped in a gorgeous silk dress (handmade by her brilliant mother),

illuminated by purple stained-glass windows,

and flickering candles.

outside the chapel they posed beneath blooming, flowering trees and

the historic yet modern downtown cityscape served as a fabulous backdrop.

the couple then reveled with family and friends aboard the delta queen riverboat

on the north shore of the tennessee river.

with clear skies and bright sun overhead,

and lush, colorful mountains in the background,

the atmosphere of the vibrant riverwalk and coolidge park was filled with such gaiety like

flying kites and sidewalk chalk and frolicking children and tight-rope walkers

and an organ playing with synchronized smoking pipes;

we even rode a carousel!

i've been to a lot of unique, exquisite weddings,

but this one kicked off the wedding season so perfectly,

and it was so PERFECT for such a perfect couple who is perfect for each other. :)

CONGRATULATIONS, YOU TWO! ♥

{happy living!}

{glee gazette} #5

2011-03-28T19:17:00.002-04:00

1] my new license

~*~

thanks to a friendly bank teller who asked to see my license when i was making a withdrawal, i was made aware that this is the year i renew my kentucky driver's license! 8 days after its expiration date (oops), i waltzed into the DMV and - TADA! i have a super cute license photo [until 2015]! FINALLY! it's so cute, i just want to hug it. it's so dang cute, i want to make it my facebook profile picture. it's so stinkin' cute, i wanna write it a fan letter covered in hearts and "XOXO." yep, it's that cute! lucky, huh?

2] LOL-worthy

~*~

instead of opting for a movie one night, hubby and i decided to gather a couple of friends and enjoy some live entertainment down on the levee at the the funny bone! and as luck would have it, it was a night for an amazing headliner as well as a fantastic opener! i'm picky about my humor; i like it clever and witty. i despise rude and crude. truly veracious humor has an air of intelligence to it, and that is exactly what you'll get when you encounter the whimsical wendy liebman and wisecrackin' warren b. hall!

3] vietnamese yum-ness!

~*~

i really, really, really miss việt nam. :'( 7 months later, i am still awaiting a time when i can reflect back on my 2010 summer without a painful stab in the heart. i do intend to return there ~someday. until then, i can at least get my vietnamese cuisine fix at the new OTR gem: pho lang tang! apricot mimosas, gỏi cuốn, chả giò, bún thịt bò nướng, and cà phê sữa đá are some of my faves! moreover, it tastes so amazingly delicious and authentic ['cause it is!]-- and they serve complimentary water in glass jars. :P

4] market shopping

~*~

after our scrumptious vietnamese meal, hubby and i continued to explore findlay market --strolling ~arm in arm~ through the aisles of various crafts, produce, flowers, and other goods (while live bongo music played on), we eventually settled at charles bare meats for filets, colonel de for spices, silverglade's for cheese, and even pet wants for gourmet, organic doggie treats for our sweet pup. enviously, i looked on as hubby delighted in a cup of gelato at dojo gelato. *sigh* can't wait for the farmer's market in the spring!

5] birthday celebrations

~*~

as you already know, hubby celebrated 31 years of life this past weekend! moreover, a lovely girlfriend of ours also celebrated her birthday on the same day! they're long lost twins! not really. ;) but the two blue-eyed birthday babes enjoyed a plethora of friends and fun at jefferson hall as we all danced and carried on until the wee hours of the morning whilst also enjoying the live music of the band, swagg! this was only my second time seeing them perform, but i'm already a fan. :)

6] i heart food

~*~

in addition to reveling the night away, my mister and i also celebrated his "birthday weekend" with some fabulous friends at his favorite burger joint (where else? terry's, of course), and then with his family at one of the most amazing seafood locations, pappadeaux. needless to say, our bellies were quite full (and happy!) come the end of the weekend. i've discovered a new favorite beverage i often get at terry's (hopslam!), and tried food at pappadeaux i never imagined tasting: alligator and crawfish! (mmm!)

7] go big blue!

~*~

finally, hubby's b.day weekend started off right and ended right with 2 wins from his alma mater: the UK wildcats! i'm not a huge sports person, but march madness fever is contagious even for me, especially when your home team makes it to the final four! surrounded by uproarious, excited fans, we watched them beat OSU at the swanky lunar lounge downtown and then win against NC at the awesome b-list in bellevue! 4 years in kentucky now; maybe i should finally invest in UK gear!

fun fun fun, busy busy busy! lookin' forward to some much needed shut-eye tonight! ^_^

{happy living!}

{a birthday acrostic!}

2011-03-26T11:55:00.000-04:00

Tenderly, he welcomed me into

His world;

Into a

Realm filled with

Treasures and triumphs, tranquility and true love...

Yes.

One

Notably noble,

Extraordinary gentleman.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY HANDSOME HUBBY!! :D

{31!}

[an acrostic] focuses on a specific word, using the letters of that word for

the first letter of each line to further describe a related subject.

{happy living!}

recipe esprit: {steak dinner!}

2011-03-22T19:40:00.005-04:00

for random occasions ~ instead of just "special ones" ~ hubby and i like to team up and cook a delicious, gourmet dinner... just because! and then while we're eating, we'll muse over silly little reasons to justify why this night is a perfect night for a fantastic feast:

("it's so sunny and warm out today," "it was a good day at work," or "it's monday!")

one of our FAVORITE things to cook is STEAK.

{yup, this former vegetarian is cooking steak in her own home~ and lovin' it. feel free to thank the mister for ending what he calls my "eight-year flavor-fast."}

so without further ado, our recent epicurean excursion:

*[the steak!]*

take some...

olive oil

freshly cracked pepper

freshly cracked montreal steak seasoning

garlic powder

onion powder

...mix it all up in a hot pan, and then lay the filets on top, searing each side for however long you like to cook your meat! (hubby and i like 'em pretty RARE... so we opt for about 4 minutes on each side.) :)P

*[the creamy, cheesy sauce!]*

we got ourselves some toxford & tebbits stilton cheese (yummmm)

--in a pot, toss in:

butter

flour

heavy whipping cream

the cheese

and chopped parsley.

melt in the butter and the cheese first, then stir in the rest, and mix until congealed.

*[the toppings!]*

for 12 minutes, caramelize in a pan...

shallots

sweet red peppers

butter

a pinch of freshly cracked pepper

a pinch of onion powder and garlic powder

and about a 1/4 cup of brown sugar

put it all together on your plate and bon appétit!

my mister and i also ate kroger pre-made crab cakes alongside our steaks and a red sicilian wine: villa pozzi (2009) nero d'avola. {oh so good!}

[note: my apologies if you're frustrated by the lack of "measurements." we didn't follow a recipe. rather, when cooking, we're fans of tasting as you go, eying amounts, and just learning what flavors mesh well together!]

{happy living!}

one proud {partner!}

2011-03-17T15:28:00.000-04:00

do i have permission to tout my husband's awesomeness...?

...because here i go. :)

for one, i would like to eminently announce that - since NYE - hubby has lost over

40 POUNDS! :D

no gimmicks, no tricks, no magic pills, no diet fads...

just good ol' fashioned working out and eating right. :)

[we've gotta go pants shopping!]

secondly, the man is making W A V E S at his new company,

even though it's just been [almost] 5 months since he started~

he works so hard and is so genuine and open-minded and bright...

so they're realizing he's a keeper!

[but i could've told them that at the beginning.] ;)

- the great wave of kanagawa, circa 1825, hokusai katsushika -

now last, but certainly not least, my mister will be VOLUNTEERING this summer in

AFRICA!!

{TOGO, to be exact!}

too cool, right?? he and his father plus some other benevolent fellows will be constructing and designing and engineering various projects in order to reach out and help out

wherever and with whatever is needed~

selfless. generous. chivalrous.

my lion-heart.♥

...oh, and by the way,

i'm off to enjoy some green beverages and a gleeful time with some gorgeous girls! ♣

{happy living!}

{glee gazette} #4

2011-03-16T16:16:00.002-04:00

~ l a * v i t a * è * b e l l a ~

1] crêpes & decor!

i love learning of and going to new restaurants! one of my delightfully beautiful friends is well aware of that fact so she introduced me to the modestly-designed and yet oh-so-tasty treat that is it's just crêpes in crescent springs during one of our girly dinner dates! to!die!for! this was also after i got a charming tour of her new place of work-- which i'm going to also shamelessly plug here: signature hardware. if you are looking to remodel or spruce up your home, CHECK 'EM OUT! :D

2] new, fun exercises!

okay, so i think by now it's known that i work-out... a lot. sure, i want to be healthy~ sure, i want to look good~ but i also do it because i find it fun! so that i don't get bored and my body doesn't become complacent, i love to "change it up" every once in awhile; hence, my beautiful trainer who is a wealth of knowledge. i recently took a spinning class from her and LOVED IT! in addition, a beautiful girlfriend of mine has also started teaching zumba classes in newport! FUN GALORE! [see details below]

3] babes who brunch!

is it just me or is "brunch" a classic female pastime? personally, i've never heard my husband (or any other man) say, "hey, i'm gonna go meet up with the guys; we're doin' brunch." however, i tend to tell my husband quite a bit, "i'm meeting up with the girls, we're having brunch." :) there are a few core places we enjoy revisiting, but this time my beauties and i decided to try virgil's cafe in bellevue (YUM-O!) before trekking down to a local marina to see just how much the ohio river has flooded.

4] date nights ♥

a few nights ago, when hubby and i were pondering, "what should we do tonight? who should we see?" we decided to scrap the idea of hanging out with friends and just hang out with each other-- a spontaneous, unplanned date night. :) we donned "on-the-verge-of-spring" outfits (as it was in the glorious 60s!) and ventured out to our favorite local burger joint, terry's turf club! eating, laughing, and playful teasing ensued... as well as live jazz and "night-at-the-roxbury" head bobbing. beautiful!

5] girly time ♥

jammy bottoms? check! blankets and couches? indeed! chick flicks + romantic comedies on netflix queue? yes ma'am! a bottle of vino? you betcha! toss in some beautiful ladies cuddled up together for a chill, relaxing night, and you've got yourself some quality "girly time." ;) granted, nights in like these do sound reminiscent of elementary school years, although now movies are often interrupted by our talking and instead of sneaking candy from under our pillows, we're sneaking extra sips of pinot.

6] sturdy HH staples ;)

aside from exploring different diners and dives and watering holes and cafés, sometimes it's also nice to partake in some HH time with beautiful people at familiar places~ where the waitstaff knows your name + face, and you know the menu + prices like the back of your hand. so what are some of my "sturdy HH staples" in northern kentucky? definitely brio and brothers, both found on the levee. (oh, and if you don't already know, HH is an alliterated acronym for "happy hour.") ;)

7] park puppies & double datin' ♥

until hubby and i meet and radiantly greet the day we become parents, our sweet, beautiful little cavachon is our "baby boy." and boy oh boy, do we spoil that boy. of late, he enjoyed a romp at our local dog park with a little fur-friend whose beautiful "parents" happen to live just a few blocks away! our dogs love their play-dates~ just like we love our double dates! so after we dropped the "babies" off at home, we enjoyed some "grown-up time" catching up over cajun cuisine at {lo and behold} virgil's!

so there you have it! yup, LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL. O:)

i also just realized i've been doing lotsa EATING lately [yum]~

~an in-the-making amateur foodie??

naw. maybe? in any case, check out my friends' actual amateur foodies blog!

[they are also beautiful.] :)

{happy living!}

"couple's quirks" :]

2011-03-13T09:51:00.002-04:00

okay, i'll admit it: i'm q u i r k y.

and i know you are, too.

{everyone i know as their own special quirks!}

and i know quite a lot of people...

- the city of drawers, 1936, salvador dalí -

inevitably, when quirky people befriend and romanticize other quirky people...

...you're bound to end up with an abundance of whimsical, eccentric idiosyncrasies.

{so fun! so entertaining!}

exampli gratia: me and mister hubby.

not surprisingly, our relationship is filled with a myriad of quirks. ♥

- the lovers, 1928, rené magritte -

we talk to our dog-- carrying on quite the complex conversations; not only that, but we also refer to ourselves in the third-person as "momma and daddy" ...as well as make-believe that he is talking back to us. (don't judge.)

we will narrate our actions whilst engaging in the most humdrum of tasks (like: making a sandwich, taking out the garbage, or getting dressed in the morning)... in song! sometimes to the tune of a popular ditty; other times creating our own melody~

[think: marshall from HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER]

...and then we'll stop what we're doing and sporadically start dancing to break these tedious routines --badly, on purpose. [hubby has these awesome moves that i have affectionally named "the dancing bear" which cause me to double-over in laughter.] :P

does anyone have that ONE word that, for whatever reason, induces a fit of giggles? i sure do. {i'm giggling right now just thinking about it!} out-of-the-blue, hubby never fails to look at me with a straight face and (in the most monotonous of monotones) say, "snarf" and i get w e a k!

- the creation of man, circa 1956, marc chagall -

we not-so-secretly find fart noises and fart jokes hilarious. (yes, we both tend to regress to the maturity and mentality of 8-year-olds.) ~

when we're holding hands, he will - randomly - shake my hand and say (in a voice that i can only describe as GOOFY), "aw shucks, nice to meet you!" ~

we say dorky call-and-respond phrases like, (me) "later, gator..." - (him) "after awhile, crocodile!" and (him) "brown chicken..." - (me) "brown cow!"

...and that's probably not even an eighth of it!

essentially, our "married world" is filled with a lot of light-hearts and laughter. :)

and by the way,

I LOVE QUIRKY. :D

(hope you've enjoyed the delightfully quirky artwork, as well!)

- harlequin's carnival, circa 1924, joan miró -

{happy living!}

capriciously catholic

2011-03-09T09:23:00.014-05:00

hope everyone had a fabulous mardi gras or "fat tuesday!" :)

i am not catholic, even though i had a catholic background when i was a kid.

sunday mornings, mom and dad would escort lil' sis and i to one-of-many ornate, gorgeous, grandiose old churches in dayton, ohio.

we'd stand and sing and kneel and pray.

sis and i were baptized in pretty, frilly dresses; we wore white veils during first communion.

we volunteered as altar girls; we played the piano at christmas shows.

we made friends in religious education [aka RE] classes--

-- but it was pretty spiritually superficial.

so why did we go?

we are descended from european, anglo-saxon cultures, after all.

dad was raised catholic; he's first generation american.

...but he and my mother are also unconventional nonconformists.

["intellectual neo-hippies," if you will.] ♥

this commercial had me rolling with laughter - tears streaming down my cheeks - when i first saw it as it is an exaggerated depiction of my folks... and the "old money" suburb that is my hometown!

as lil' sis and i grew - and began questioning everything and anything - mom and dad shed light on their alter-spiritual selves; particularly my father, who introduced us to places like tri-state dharma and bhavana society as we explored theravada buddhism and vipassana meditation. --and although teachings about attachment and forgiveness and loving-kindness and suffering are found in all religions, the way it was presented during these retreats, in the books i read, and from the discussions we had... made so much sense to me. it fit, nestling in my spirit so comfortably~ even as a rebellious, alternative, semi-flaky teenager, i began the journey of attaining "inner peace" ~ enlightenment.

nevertheless, i have decided to participate in LENT this year.

[buddhists are all about freeing oneself from attachments, right?]

when it comes to food, my greatest vice is sugar.

candy, pastries, soda pop, ice cream...

46 days with zero "dessert-sugar!"

since living in việt nam, i've weeded soda out of my diet 95%... so that part should be easy.

cupcakes and chocolate, however?? that will be quite the challenge --and accomplishment!

woohoo! :)

(those cadbury eggs on easter will be deliciously deserved!)

{happy living!}

{haiku}

2011-03-07T14:45:00.006-05:00

blades of grass wedge deep

'tween my toes as my naked

paws lustfully roam.

[haiku] is a japanese poem composed of three unrhymed lines of five, seven, and five syllables. haiku poetry originated in the sixteenth century, reflects on some aspect of nature, and invokes images/senses.

{happy living!}

recipe esprit: {cheesecake squares!}

2011-03-06T17:27:00.006-05:00

i love to bake. :)

certainly, the final products are tremendously tasty! :P

however, the meditative, creative hands-on process of

{kneading, whisking, sifting, et cetera}

makes my heart SO happy. :D

indubitably, baking can also be extremely time consuming.

~and when time is of the essence...

...and yet one is unwilling to sacrifice taste and presentation--

i've gotta recipe for you!

CHEESECAKE SQUARES!

a party fave! ~perfect for group soirees!

you will need:

2 packages of crescent rolls

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 tablespoon of cinnamon

1 stick of butter or margarine

1 tablespoon of vanilla

2 packages of [room temperature] cream cheese

a 9"x13" pan

now, regale in the simplicity of this modus operandi:

1) preheat your oven at 350 degrees and grease your pan.

2) mix a 1/2 cup of sugar and tablespoon of cinnamon together in a small bowl ...set aside.

3) then mix the 2 packages of cream cheese, 1 cup of sugar, and tablespoon of vanilla together in a much LARGER bowl. [bust out your electric mixer!]

4) place one package of crescent rolls on the bottom of the pan ~smooth out evenly. (crescent rolls do have those perforated cuts slashed across them-- i like to gently mesh them together with my fingertips [like you would with clay in a ceramics class] to have one solid foundation.)

5) pour cream cheese mixture over crescent rolls and level with a rubber spatula.

6) next, place the second package of crescent rolls on top.

7) pour the 1/2 a stick of melted margarine/butter on top ...use a brush to spread thoroughly.

8) sprinkle gingerly the cinnamon and sugar concoction, followed by the other melted half of margarine/butter.

9) bake for only 30 minutes!

10) cool completely and then cut into squares. best serve if chilled. :)

and there you have it!

voilà!

{Mmmmmmmmmm, yum-O!}

have fun garnishing your pastries with chunks of fruit, drizzling them with jelly, adorning them with candy pieces...

i made a batch earlier today for my homeroom/1st bell students.

last month, they generously donated a whopping amount of cash to a fundraiser at our school,

but because of our small class size, it's highly unlikely we will win the competition~

(even though we DID win the thanksgiving food drive... so there's a chance!)

--nevertheless, they deserve these: for their donations as well as all of the growth they've made since the beginning of the year. these kids are H A R D W O R K E R S.

and this teacher is extremely appreciative. ♥

{happy living!}

beatin' those blues!

2011-03-02T21:12:00.003-05:00

hooray for march!

hooray for sunshine and robins and blue heavens and imminent springtime!

and goodbye WINTER BLUES.

goodbye gray snow and dark skies and bitter temperatures and chilling winds...

goodbye blue MOODS!

yup, ya heard me.

i get B L U E during those frigid months~

(undiagnosed seasonal affective disorder? i think so.)

"you, laura?? with all of the blessings in your life, you still get depressed??"

urm, yeah. i don't get it either.

in any case, i've learned some ways to beat the blues. ♥

so-- what to do when you're sad due to SAD?

{or... due to any other reason, for that matter!}

{1} go outside!

~ cabin fever anyone? yes siree, feeling cooped up indoors can take a toll on anyone's mental health! of course, it's not as lovely to go outdoors in the winter as it is during the sunny summer, but a brisk walk in the cool air or frolicking in the snow can be extremely enjoyable-- and reinvigorating!

{2} be productive... or just let go!

~ 50% of the time, if i worry, i am worrying about something i cannot control. and what's the point of that? as ewan mcgregor and nicole kidman croon, "come what may." and with the other 50% of things i can control, i head my father's timeless advice: "don't think and just DO!"

{3} get moving!

~ endorphins, endorphins, endorphins... they truly, legitimately exist. and whether i'm simply at the gym sweating through an intense work-out, out dancing with my friends, biking along the streets, or going on an outdoor adventure, "getting physical" inevitably elevates my spirit!

{4} accomplish something!

~ okay, what if you are stuck in your home? or at an arduous day at work? personally, i love my "to-do" lists --making them and then crossing things off! organizing papers, art projects, household chores, trying new recipes, lesson planning... all keep me feeling valuable and my mind in the present.

{5} surround yourself with your loved ones!

~ this is definitely the most precious, treasured bit... 100%! going outside with loved ones, being productive with loved ones, moving about with loved ones, accomplishing things with loved ones-- friends, family, husband and, yes, even doggie, make me the happiest of all!

* ...and when all else fails, just remember this quintessential buddhist notion:

NOTHING IS PERMANENT. :)

{and then channel your inner darkness into some cultivating, poetic craft à la picasso's blue period.} ;)

{happy living!}

{glee gazette} #3

2011-02-27T19:20:00.006-05:00

1] "just dance!"

swaying your body to pulsating beats... completely losing yourself to the music... the feeling of sheer freedom~ i looooove dancing! i love just "letting go" -- feeling airy and ethereal and light on my feet... *huge grin* there are lots of fun dance spots in the area, but some recent excursions have been longworth's in mount adams and bartini's downtown. :D

[johnnyfitzall.]

2] bambina shower

awwww, baby girls! there is such a sweet, special bond between mothers and daughters {if you're lucky.} and i am so happy to have celebrated with a lovely soon-to-be-mama at one of the most beautiful showers i've ever been to: paper flowers, martha stewart recipes, mimosas, creatively hilarious games... oh, and lots of darling, frou-frou girliness. ♥

[scissorless media.]

3] ladies nights

...absolutely, dancing {see above #1} is included in ladies night outings! so are scrumptious dinners at fancy restaurants, such as mccormick & schmick's downtown. we love our men, but it's also stimulating to surround oneself with other beautiful ladies and dish and catch-up and just behave in ultra feminine, girlish ways. ;)

[clayton junior woman's club.]

4] double-dating

okay, so as i do indeed LOVE my man, and we love spending time together~ it's also lovely when we find other couples with whom we enjoy spending time together! regardless of what we are doing (playing games, going out, dining in, et cetera), it is stupendous{!}... because it is all about the company~ and the positive energy. :)

[123rf.]

5] perfect teefers

["teefers" --noun. 1) slang for teeth.] so i won't say i actually enjoy going to the dentist... even though my dentist is a good friend of hubby's and an awesome guy... but i do enjoy being told i have an "immaculate smile." 26 years old and still not a single cavity! *knocks on wood* wondering how long i can keep that up!

[wpix.]

6] gym dates

there are times when i definitely enjoy working out by myself: i become extremely focused and use it as a time for reflection and meditation. however, i also value working out with others and scheduling "gym dates" with friends. in addition to my personal trainer, i adore learning new exercises and stretches from them-- keeps the body {and mind} fresh!

[alaska in pictures.]

7] new {good} music

you know those songs you come across that just automatically grab your attention-- and then they creep into your mind constantly? you find yourself absentmindedly humming the tune and cannot wait to download it onto your ipod... my current fave is adele's "rolling in the deep." her voice is so unique & soulful and the song just oozes "cool."

{happy living!} *