Cheese wedding cakes

For you cheese enthusiasts out there: How amazing are these stinky cheese wedding cakes?! I wish I had known about these when we tied the knot!

Max Wanger

Max Wanger (who took our wedding and engagement photos, luckily for us) just launched his new website and shop. They look fabulous and reminded me of the jaw-droppingly beautiful photos he always takes. Congrats, Max, we love you! xo

P.S. Cute.

Engagement ring

How *gorgeous* is this ring? Swooning.

I'd love to ask you, my darlings: What's your relationship status? Are you married, engaged, dating, single, it's complicated? Just curious. :) I'd love to hear...

Dunton Hot Springs wedding

Remember Dunton Hot Springs, the Colorado ghost town tucked into an alpine valley? Well, lucky couple Victoria and Sean just got married there! Check out the amazing photos of their wedding, complete with a pig roast, hot springs, wildflowers and s'mores. And those views are incredible!

(Photos by the amazing Max Wanger, of course)

Happy 60th birthday, Dad!

My dad turns 60 today! This is a photo of his family when he was growing up--he's the oldest of six kids, and you can see him at the top (in his rad roll-neck sweater).

Dad, we love you so much! You light up a room; you're always up for anything, from rainy bike rides to museum adventures to rousing games of Taboo; and, most of all, you make us all feel so safe and protected. (Maybe it's that whole James Bond thing.) I feel so lucky to be both your daughter and your friend.

Happy birthday, Dad! See you soon!!!

Breezy wedding dress

Brides-to-be! Do you remember this breezy Swedish island wedding? Well, I just saw the dress over on OnceWed's boutique. Ahhh, I want to get married again and wear it.

(Photos by Mikael Olsson)

On relationships

My sweets, I LOVE doing Motherhood Mondays and talking openly about all things parenthood. Thank you so much for the fascinating discussions and eye-opening comments.

So, I had an idea! I'd like to start a new series: Relationship Thursdays. (Is there a catchier name?:) I keep thinking of relationship-y things that I'd love to discuss, but so far, there hasn't really been a place on the blog for that. So, now, we can talk in honest and fun ways about everything from first dates and break-ups to weddings and spouses, as well as other relationships, like those with friends, parents and siblings.

What do you think? I'm excited. Let me know if you have anything in particular that you'd want to talk about! xoxoxo

(Top photo by Corey Arnold; bottom photo of the sweet Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward)

Star projector

Picture this: Your crush invites you over for dinner, and, when you arrive, you're greeted with a glass of wine, Sigur Ros on the iPod, and this star projector. How amazing would that be?

I'd love it for quiet married nights at home, too. Would be a fun way to eat burritos and watch Curb your Enthusiasm, haha.

My parents

A few weeks ago, I linked to this hilarious ad for Canadian whisky...

Shortly afterward, my mom sent me this photo of my parents in college in Virginia. They had been dating for a year. It's basically the same photo! (Did everyone sit like that in 1972?) It's so funny to see your parents when they were young, before a bunch of rowdy kids came along. My dad had a thick English accent and my mom was from Alabama.

P.S. My Parents Were Awesome and Dads Are the Original Hipsters.

Who was your first love?

The new French movie Goodbye, First Love looks heartbreakingly romantic and rings true--the 15-year-old protagonist takes her first relationship so seriously, without being guarded or jaded. It's raw and beautiful, and the film was a huge hit at film festivals. Really looking forward to seeing it.

Who was your first love? Where is he or she now?

The Bachelor

Have you been watching The Bachelor? I'm totally addicted. The show is pretty bad, but I've gotten sucked in. Even my mom watches it now. Do you watch it?

Ps. Kacie B. for the win.

Are Frank Ocean & Willy Cartier Making Their Love Official?

Frank Ocean recently posted up a photo of himself on Instagram hugged up with french model, Willy Cartier, with the caption "Archives" along with it. And although Willy Cartier has stated that he is NOT dating Frank Ocean and is a straight man (in an interview with Hint magazine), others are saying the photo above is proof that Willy Cartier and Frank Ocean are indeed in a loving relationship together.


According to RollingOut.com, Frank Ocean sent Instagram into a frenzy after the above photo was posted. Click on the "Read More" button to read the rest:

For weeks, people have been wondering about what’s really going on between Frank Ocean and now-famous French model Willy Cartier. Are they working together? Are they dating? Are they just friends or what? As expected, Ocean hasn’t been forthcoming with any answers, on Dec. 3, he sent the internet into a frenzy when he released an intimate photo of himself and Cartier.


Shortly after midnight, Ocean posted an Instagram photo of a video still of Cartier standing behind him, hugging him gently, in front of what appears to be a scenic view from a hilltop.


Ocean captioned the photo, “Archives.”


Although many are assuming that the photo is proof that Cartier is indeed Ocean’s boyfriend, it may actually be proof of the opposite.


According to an article from Hint Magazine that was published around the time of the initial Ocean-Cartier dating rumors, Cartier is reportedly straight and not dating Ocean. The article also reveals that Ocean and Cartier met through a mutual friend, who helped Cartier set up a deal to appear in an upcoming music video from Ocean.


There’s no word yet on which Channel Orange track the video was shot for, but we expect that it will boast even more gossip-worthy scenes between the two men.

So what do you guys think? Does Frank Ocean and Willy Cartier have something going on? Or is this all just a ploy to bring some attention to Frank Ocean's new video? I'll hold for your answers!

Christina Milian Says All She Knows Is That Karrueche Tran Is Chris Brown's Girlfriend!!

On a recent guest appearance on the "Wendy Williams Show", Christina Milian was thrust into a conversation about her friendship with Karrueche Tran (who we all know as Chris Brown's ex-girlfriend) and if she had any information on the status of Karrueche and Chris Brown's relationship. Christina's response?


Christina said she didn't know any intimate details about the status of the twos relationship, but she did say that what she did know was that Karrueche Tran was still Chris Brown's girlfriend. o_O Can someone please send that memo to Rihanna then? Cuz that's not what we're hearing.


Anywho, Wendy Williams proceeded to tell Christina Milian that Chris Brown and Rihanna were telling folks to save the date in regards to a New Years Eve party they might be having together and Christina blurted out that Karrueche Tran just might be there. Double o_O

Now, watch for yourselves as Christina serves tea when you click on that "Read More" button below:








I'll hold for your thoughts!

What are three things you're grateful for?

So, I have a confession: Pregnancy hormones make me crazy. During the day, I feel pretty happy-go-lucky, but as Alex and I lie down at night, my mind starts spinning. Every night, I'm plagued by a new random worry: Is Toby a happy child? Does he feel loved? Does he eat enough fish? Do I eat enough fish? Did I lock my bike? Will the new baby be okay? Is the living-room power strip a fire hazard?! No, seriously, Alex, will you go check the power strip?!!

You name it, I've stressed out about it. :)

In the brilliant Happy documentary, researchers revealed that one way to help increase happiness is to keep a gratitude journal. Even the small act of writing down three things per week can substantially boost your happiness. So, let's do it! What are three things you're grateful for today? I would say: Trader Joe's chocolate covered almonds, early spring days, and chatting with my mom on the phone. Also, the etiquette section of the New York Times. Double dates. Whispering in bed before falling asleep. Swimming at night. Toddlers' beautiful round bellies.

What about you?

(This is what I look like at night.)

P.S. Words of encouragement, and a genius trick for worriers.

(Top photo by First Sight Daily and winter blues illustration by Gemma Correll, for sale here)

Brilliant speech

Ash Beckham recently spoke in Boulder about not using the word "gay" pejoratively (as in, "This homework assignment is so gay"). The video is fantastic and definitely worth watching.

(Thanks, Lucy!)

What annoys you about your significant other?

I recently got an email from a reader, who was stressed because her boyfriend gets on her nerves. "I love him, but sometimes he really bugs me," she said. "Does Alex ever annoy you?" Here's my answer...
Read More >

Future Says Ciara Makes Him Happy!!

Future keeps it as funky as possible when he was asked about his relationship with Ciara by Atlanta radio host Posterchild J-1. To say that Future complimented Ciara up the wazoo is an understatement, but I loved how he kept it real classy and smooth!


Although he never confirmed or denied that there was any sort of relationship, Future did have this to say about his relationship with Ciara below:

“She’s a beautiful woman, amazing, incredible…..everything that comes along with those words, that’s what she represents.


I can tell you everything, all the negativity that comes along with me and her is not true.


What you see is what you get. We’re at a place in time where I’m on Epic[Records], she’s on Epic, we love music, we love being in the studio with each other, we love being around each other and that’s just what it is.


The chemistry is amazing….she makes me happy and I make her smile.”

~Quote spotted on Bossip.com

And just in case the quote wasn't good enough for some of you guys, you can check out the interview in its entirety when you click on that "Read More" button below:



The deets start around the 7:35 mark:

 






I'm sure Future didn't want to give off the wrong impression because he needs love and affection! Ha! What are your thoughts on this news? I'll hold!

Is 50 Cent Afraid of Love? Ciara Seems To Think So!

Ciara recently visited the "Rickey Smiley Morning Show" and talked about a number of things from the types of men she likes, what her relationship with Bow Wow is like now that they are no longer together, and whether her new song “Sorry” was about 50 Cent. Ciara also goes into detail about why her and 50 Cent are no longer together and her quote about it is below:

"He’s obviously far from afraid of anything that he can control…without a problem. But at the same time…the one thing that he is afraid of is love, and with that being said, in a sense he’s afraid of me.”

Now check out Ciara's entire interview for yourselves when you click on that "Read More" button below:




Could this mean 50 Cent is still in love with Ciara and afraid to be with her? Or is Ciara making this more than what it is? I'll hold for your thoughts!