Jan 7, 2011
Green Tea Nemesis
I am an avid green tea drinker. I'll drink it decaf, flavored, or traditional. Only now along with the glass of wine, I will be phasing out the tea drinking since it may be linked to reducing the absorption of the folic acid that I am taking. It's a sad day.
Jan 5, 2011
The In-Between
My friend Marianne gave us a handmade and bound notebook with our wedding colors and a Japanese-themed cover as a wedding gift. It was simple, nice, and truly heartfelt. She said to use it for whatever--first-year journey into marriage, travels, etc., as we build our life together. Well, the first three plus months have come and gone and I didn't record anything about them. I have photographs from some occasions, but it seems a little odd to write about them in retrospect here. It was whirlwind, yet nothing monumental happened.
We seem to be in an in-between phase; the wedding planning is over finally, and we can begin to think about our marriage. Do we want to start the joint checking account? And if so, where? What kind of coffee table do we want? Should it be casual or match a new entertainment center? What bedroom furniture do we want? Will it signify the grownup aspect of us (getting rid of my Ikea stuff)? Do we want to start our family traditions now, or wait until our family grows? Will our family grow?
Sure, we've only been married three months, but I ain't no spring chicken and my next birthday is coming up in less than half a year (so I'll be a year older before a baby conceived now will even be born). This thought has been on my mind for over a year and partially the goal I set for when I did get married. But as the months have passed since I made the decision, we've both been a little slack on getting with the program.
First of all, if we seriously want to begin a family, we need to cut back on some indulgent behavior. Beyond spending on things and places, we need to keep better track of the food we eat and drink. Like maybe our wine club shipment might need to get a little dusty and the dude at the corner store can forget where he knows us from. In addition to the cutback on alcohol consumption, soy products need to be monitored and maybe noticing that the cheese-covered spinach dish might contain iron and calcium but one may cancel the other out in vitamin absorption. And I need to stop eating refined sugars and try to lower my cholesterol. Better finish those brownies soon, I guess.
With the holidays finally over, I can begin to focus on the phase out of those indulgences in honest. It was hard when parties and libations abound in December. I even bought and took my first supplement toward prenatal care: the folic acid tablet. I bought 400mg tablets to take with my regular Women's One a Day. When my regular vitamins end, I will start the special (and expensive for the doses) prenatal BellyBar chewables. I worry that new vitamins will make me sick, which I read being the case.
So as I record my daily temp and weight and going-ons in the paper journal, I'll try to remember to post some updates on this blog. Hope you join us on this next chapter of our lives.
--signed a 36-year-old newlywed
We seem to be in an in-between phase; the wedding planning is over finally, and we can begin to think about our marriage. Do we want to start the joint checking account? And if so, where? What kind of coffee table do we want? Should it be casual or match a new entertainment center? What bedroom furniture do we want? Will it signify the grownup aspect of us (getting rid of my Ikea stuff)? Do we want to start our family traditions now, or wait until our family grows? Will our family grow?
Sure, we've only been married three months, but I ain't no spring chicken and my next birthday is coming up in less than half a year (so I'll be a year older before a baby conceived now will even be born). This thought has been on my mind for over a year and partially the goal I set for when I did get married. But as the months have passed since I made the decision, we've both been a little slack on getting with the program.
First of all, if we seriously want to begin a family, we need to cut back on some indulgent behavior. Beyond spending on things and places, we need to keep better track of the food we eat and drink. Like maybe our wine club shipment might need to get a little dusty and the dude at the corner store can forget where he knows us from. In addition to the cutback on alcohol consumption, soy products need to be monitored and maybe noticing that the cheese-covered spinach dish might contain iron and calcium but one may cancel the other out in vitamin absorption. And I need to stop eating refined sugars and try to lower my cholesterol. Better finish those brownies soon, I guess.
With the holidays finally over, I can begin to focus on the phase out of those indulgences in honest. It was hard when parties and libations abound in December. I even bought and took my first supplement toward prenatal care: the folic acid tablet. I bought 400mg tablets to take with my regular Women's One a Day. When my regular vitamins end, I will start the special (and expensive for the doses) prenatal BellyBar chewables. I worry that new vitamins will make me sick, which I read being the case.
So as I record my daily temp and weight and going-ons in the paper journal, I'll try to remember to post some updates on this blog. Hope you join us on this next chapter of our lives.
--signed a 36-year-old newlywed
Jan 4, 2011
New Jersey Reception and Philadelphia sights
On November 13, 2010, J and I had another reception in NJ to celebrate our marriage with family and friends that could not make it to CA. It was a whirlwind long weekend, leaving for PA on Veterans Day and staying in Philly on Thursday and Friday nights. The Club Quarters hotel near Rittenhouse Square was our home base when we arrived late Thursday. We had just enough time to check-in and grab a drink at a few watering holes in the neighborhood, settling at the Good Dog Bar. The hotel was noisy with the students from across the river making their way home after closing time. The sound echoed up the side of the building. I didn't sleep very well that night.
The next day we grabbed a pastry and coffee and walked to the City Hall area to explore the city. We visited "Love Park" and the art on the plaza across from City Hall (the art is based on childhood game pieces, like the wheelbarrow from Monopoly or the pieces from Sorry!). Pretty cool. From there we admired the architecture of City Hall and William Penn atop of it. We walked to the Reading Terminal and browsed the Amish faire. Had we not just eaten a pastry from Au Bon Pain, we would have partaked in the breakfast. Alas, we continued to Market Street, heading "downtown to the Gallery Mall" (passing underneath a walkway but not actually going in, but I had "Parents Just Don't Understand" in my head the whole time). We then walked to Independence Mall Park and got tickets for a big red open air bus tour and a tour of Independence Hall. The bus tour began within minutes and we were on our way, map in hand. Saw the sights we just went to, and then continued to Logan Circle and beyond, where on the way back from the Please Touch Museum our big red bus broke down in Fairmount Park. It was a nice, but chilly day. Unfortunately, we had a timed tour to get to and hadn't eaten lunch yet. Once we were rescued and we got back to the Mall, we grabbed another fast bite and got in line to see the rooms where the history took place. We walked around the Olde City some more (had a cheesesteak) and tried some bars in the area before heading back to Rittenhouse Square and walking around the actual square. I really like Philly.
The next day we got up and headed with our wedding gear to South Jersey for the ceremony and reception. My mother and her friends did an amazing job of reusing the cranes we had at our CA wedding and reception as well as having a nice spread of food--including Italian hoagies that I requested. No pizza though. The ceremony was brief but nice I think. I didn't want it to be just gathering at the church to eat. My bridesmaid Jeannie gave the toast, we cut the sheet cake from Century Bakery, smashed a little in each other's face, and did an abbreviated first dance to Foo Fighters' "Everlong". It ended at 3 pm and the day was clear, cool, and sunny.
Sunday we had breakfast at the hotel next door to where we stayed in Vineland with family and local friends. I got to hang out even more with my friend Marianne who flew in from MN to be a part of my NJ ceremony. She was the maid of honor that day which was great. :-)
Afterwards we went back to Philly with my cousin Denise. We visited the Eastern State Pen and had dinner at the City Tavern in Olde City. We went for a walk along the river and then went to a bar where we had to wait for Denise to come back to Philly because she had left an important item by mistake in our hotel room at Independence Park. All turned out well, but it was a long day and night. Monday we caught our flight home.
The next day we grabbed a pastry and coffee and walked to the City Hall area to explore the city. We visited "Love Park" and the art on the plaza across from City Hall (the art is based on childhood game pieces, like the wheelbarrow from Monopoly or the pieces from Sorry!). Pretty cool. From there we admired the architecture of City Hall and William Penn atop of it. We walked to the Reading Terminal and browsed the Amish faire. Had we not just eaten a pastry from Au Bon Pain, we would have partaked in the breakfast. Alas, we continued to Market Street, heading "downtown to the Gallery Mall" (passing underneath a walkway but not actually going in, but I had "Parents Just Don't Understand" in my head the whole time). We then walked to Independence Mall Park and got tickets for a big red open air bus tour and a tour of Independence Hall. The bus tour began within minutes and we were on our way, map in hand. Saw the sights we just went to, and then continued to Logan Circle and beyond, where on the way back from the Please Touch Museum our big red bus broke down in Fairmount Park. It was a nice, but chilly day. Unfortunately, we had a timed tour to get to and hadn't eaten lunch yet. Once we were rescued and we got back to the Mall, we grabbed another fast bite and got in line to see the rooms where the history took place. We walked around the Olde City some more (had a cheesesteak) and tried some bars in the area before heading back to Rittenhouse Square and walking around the actual square. I really like Philly.
The next day we got up and headed with our wedding gear to South Jersey for the ceremony and reception. My mother and her friends did an amazing job of reusing the cranes we had at our CA wedding and reception as well as having a nice spread of food--including Italian hoagies that I requested. No pizza though. The ceremony was brief but nice I think. I didn't want it to be just gathering at the church to eat. My bridesmaid Jeannie gave the toast, we cut the sheet cake from Century Bakery, smashed a little in each other's face, and did an abbreviated first dance to Foo Fighters' "Everlong". It ended at 3 pm and the day was clear, cool, and sunny.
Sunday we had breakfast at the hotel next door to where we stayed in Vineland with family and local friends. I got to hang out even more with my friend Marianne who flew in from MN to be a part of my NJ ceremony. She was the maid of honor that day which was great. :-)
Afterwards we went back to Philly with my cousin Denise. We visited the Eastern State Pen and had dinner at the City Tavern in Olde City. We went for a walk along the river and then went to a bar where we had to wait for Denise to come back to Philly because she had left an important item by mistake in our hotel room at Independence Park. All turned out well, but it was a long day and night. Monday we caught our flight home.
Nov 22, 2010
Nov 10, 2010
South Jersey Fare
For our second ceremony, we'll have Italian sub sandwiches, baked ziti, mashed potatoes, and green salad. My mom is also getting a crudite platter and providing birch beer soda. She will making the party favors with our neighbor, and saved the cranes from our wedding to use at this event. With our sheet cake from my favorite bakery in Bridgeton, Century Bakery, the afternoon will be a yummy time!
Nov 4, 2010
Countdown to Reception Number Two
We'll be having our NJ reception for family and friends on the East Coast soon. People that will be coming are those we couldn't invite or could not make it to California in September. This reception will be less formal (Italian subs, pizza, salad). I don't even know if there will be table cloths!
We need to pick up my wedding dress and his suit from the cleaners. Other than those items, and a few cranes that made it to NJ with my mother, the look of the day will be completely different. It may be rainy and cold, compared to the beautiful outdoorsy weather we had for our wedding. I'm not carrying any flowers. I'm not having a bridal party. We are walking down the aisle together hand in hand. We will face each other and the minister's assistant will congratulate us on our marriage, affirm our values (Buddhist on my side), and send us on our way to a happy life together. Short and sweet.
I'm looking forward to meeting some more of J's family and friends on the East Coast as well as hanging out with a dear friend that is flying in from the Mid-West to make it.
We need to pick up my wedding dress and his suit from the cleaners. Other than those items, and a few cranes that made it to NJ with my mother, the look of the day will be completely different. It may be rainy and cold, compared to the beautiful outdoorsy weather we had for our wedding. I'm not carrying any flowers. I'm not having a bridal party. We are walking down the aisle together hand in hand. We will face each other and the minister's assistant will congratulate us on our marriage, affirm our values (Buddhist on my side), and send us on our way to a happy life together. Short and sweet.
I'm looking forward to meeting some more of J's family and friends on the East Coast as well as hanging out with a dear friend that is flying in from the Mid-West to make it.
Oct 7, 2010
On to the Next Reception
Now that our California wedding and the wonderful honeymoon are over, I am on to planning for our New Jersey reception in November. I sent out the invites the other day after talking with my mom, who was wondering when the invites would go out so she could order the food.
There will be a short ceremony to "bless" the marriage and then a lunch reception featuring Italian subs and pizza and whatever else my mom plans on having. There will be cake, too. And maybe taiko drummers.
We need to make our hotel reservations for the nights we will be there. We decided against going to a concert or hockey game in Philly because that is the only night that we could spend extra time in NJ with friends and family.
My mom saved some of the origami cranes from the CA wedding reception to use at the NJ ones. I wonder how that will work since I am not gathering branches for this one!
There will be a short ceremony to "bless" the marriage and then a lunch reception featuring Italian subs and pizza and whatever else my mom plans on having. There will be cake, too. And maybe taiko drummers.
We need to make our hotel reservations for the nights we will be there. We decided against going to a concert or hockey game in Philly because that is the only night that we could spend extra time in NJ with friends and family.
My mom saved some of the origami cranes from the CA wedding reception to use at the NJ ones. I wonder how that will work since I am not gathering branches for this one!
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