Happy Anniversary. (almost) 11 years Married. Happy.

Just finished my little creative card thingy for Keith, my husband of nearly 11 years. Friday, the 23rd is the actual anniversary date. This Weekend we'll have a date, eat good food. We'll get to hang out just the two of us. I totally look forward to it.

old scanned photo. bad quality. here we are in 1996 though.

 I love this guy. We met in 1996, well, 1995 really, but more officially in 1996. He's my best friend. I adore his being. I hate when he is not around. The life we have is good, happy, loving. 

But, when anniversary time rolls around I always stress over what to write, make, or do. As I finished this year's card I was thinking it wasn't expressive enough. I can't ever get OUT what I want to SAY. I know it's cliche but you just can't put it into words. Or maybe it's just my lack of college degree. probably. I should read more.

really though, I want to give this man the universe. I really do. Stressing over a card and how I'll make it witty or creative and romantic is, well, not really worth all that much. Certainly not the universe. What I really need to do, what I must strive for as our years of marriage continue is being in the moment with this man more.

Less: "Shit, can you grab a pack of toilet paper?!?!" more: looking into his eyes. (I am literally sideways smiling about thinking about that right now)

I think this photo was on another blog post but I love it so here it is again.

Less: "Goddammit we have ANTS!" more: paying attention to the temperature & feel of the skin on his hand while we sit next to each other.

New Years Eve 2010.

Less: "I guess I am the only one that can fill a Brita pitcher in this house" more: thank yous, for the multitude of things he does for me, for us, for our family. 

Less: hurried smooches and quick "I love yous" in passing. More: hugs goodbye like the ones on super duper bad days, but on the days that are good too.

At Longwood Gardens, Last month.

I need to embrace this man's soul (wait that sounds creepy) AH crap, I need to be more in the moment with him. And that's what my 11th anniversary gift should be. Will be.

Fairy Tales and Shadow Boxes

Hey, just wanted to say, I am a hopeless romantic. 110%.
I believe in fairytale endings and if they don't happen I am sad/pissed/disgruntled.

My husband, Keith and I were a "fix up" couple. I was hesitant to meet him, this was certainly not how I pictured a fairy tale to play out.

He was enamoured with me months before, but I was 'taken' at the time. I was sitting in a basement at a punk rock show, his brother's first show actually. I had a grumpy look on my face. I had fought with my, then, live in boyfriend the whole way to this show, who knows about what? doesn't matter, we always fought. Keith was apparently staring at me the whole time. I didn't know it.

Fast forward 5 months. Live in beau & I are split. I live alone, paying rent with my credit card. I am SO over men & relationships. I am giving up on fairy tales. I vow to just be alone, and am liking it! (despite not being able to pay my bills appropriately). I just did not want to meet him.

Begrudgingly, I decided to go ahead and meet Keith. He greeted me with a black eye and a brown UPS tee. He looked right in my eyes a few times lending pure electric. He said goodbye with a hug... and I was a goner.



From there we got to know one another through a long distance relationship. For a year we wrote (real paper snail mail) letters and had a nice long phone conversation once a week. This was LONG before email and cell phones. I adored the letters. I looked forward to the phone talks. One of us would travel the 4 hours to visit one another every other week. After a year of bliss, we moved in together in the outskirts of Pittsburgh. In another year we moved back "home" to Lancaster County together.

I could go through our history in more detail, but just know this:
I still believe in fairy tales. We have evolved ours to not have a happy ending but a happy eternity.

On our first wedding anniversary we put together a shadow box. The box, from Ikea. Inside are flowers from my wedding bouquet, A wedding program & invitation. A few photos of us on our Wedding day. A pack of matches with one of the phrases we used in our vows "this day i will marry my friend" It was given to us from a close friend, and Usher in the wedding. We did this as part of our one year anniversary "date". We also ate our cake top with was still really friggin' good!!

Since filling the interior of the Shadow box I have added various things on top. The candle was the first gift Keith ever gave me. The change purse, from our Honeymoon in Vegas. The cork from our 9th anniversary dinner. The card, one of many Keith has made for me over the years.





So are you a romantic? I'm a sucker for a good love story!

In addition, Have no idea what to do on your anniversary? Need a special handmade gift idea? Do a shadow box. they look great hanging, you can stuff them full of meaning. And, after plucking out bits and pieces of things you are saving, you can toss the larger part and de-clutter in the process.