100 Photos: Day 33

Last night Edie got into some glitter. We were trying to take some pictures of her sparkly face but Jus just made her look silly instead.

Love Stories: Charity & Nick (Cole's Parents)

My parents have one of the best relationships I've ever known. They work together all day every day and go home and still love each other. They've set the standard high and are a great example of love. I asked my mom to play along so here goes.

How old are you and Nick?

I'm 49 and Dad is 54.

What are your occupations?

Restaurant owners (Note from Cole:VERY SUCCESSFUL restaurant owners, they were on Food Network!)

How did you meet?

Our families were both in the antiques business for years, my family had known your dad since he was a little boy. My mom and I were traveling from Florida to Texas for an antique show and on the way my mom told me that I was about to meet a boy that I would love, was she right! We were setting up the show and your father arrived. My mom called his name and he turned. When he first saw me he dropped his briefcase, it was so cute.

We spent a lot of time together that week. We found out we had a lot in common, we had dinner together every night after the show and my mother also loved him so it was fun and easy to get to know him. When the show was over we said our goodbyes. Two weeks later we met again at another antique show in Nashville. That's where the sparks really flew! (Ha) We had so much fun together! From then on we spoke daily on the phone, he was in Philadelphia and I was in Florida.

About a month after the Nashville show he flew to Florida and we drove a truck load to Dallas for my mother. The trip was supposed to take 2 days but it took us 5! The first day we didn't even get our of Florida! We stopped at a lot of bars and restaurants along the way. We had a great two weeks. We rode mechanical bulls and drank bottles of champagne by the year. We would go to lunch and come back 4 hours later after drinking vodka gimlets and stealing balloons from a bank, it was a crazy fun courtship!

It sealed the relationship and about 4 months later I moved to Pennsylvania and we've been together ever since.

How did you get engaged?

It was my birthday. I had to go on a scavenger hunt with clues that ended up in our bedroom, my gift, my ring, was under the mattress. Then Dad asked me to marry him.

Tell us about your wedding day (not necessarily elements but feelings too)

We went to the justice of the peace, Dad bought me a bouquet. I was very nervous and shaking. It was wonderful.

Define Love:

It's caring and thinking about the other person's needs and wants. It's not selfish. It's doing special things like I love you gifts for each other.

What's the toughest part of being in a committed relationship?

Putting up with things that the other person does that bug you.

What is the best part?

It's comfortable and secure being with someone so long. It's great knowing someone so well.

What is the best day you and Dad have had together?

The days you and your sister were born.

What makes you different from other couples?

We can work all day together and come home and still be loving and understanding. We spend so much time together and truly love it.

What is the most essential element of making it?

Patience, kindness, forgiveness, making each other laugh. If you say or do something that is painful to your partner apologize right away. You don't want to hurt each other.

What is your favorite thing to do together?

At this point in our life it's going to the lake to relax.

Do you have a song?

Jeffery Osbourne "Let's Spend the Night Together"

What are your hopes for the future?

For us all to be happy and live a long life together.

Anything else the world needs to know about love?

The grass is not greener on the other side. It's a wonderful feeling growing old together.

Love Stories: Danielle & Chris

Danielle at Dinosaur Toes was an obvious choice as someone to choose to include in this series. My mom once read one of her wish list Wednesdays and said "she sounds just like you." Danielle, Chris & the parrot, Flojo, have so much fun together, they are definitely some more "wish we could be friends." Plus Danielle & Chris are pros at being married, they're celebrating their 10th anniversary this September!

How old are you and your husband?

I'm 27 and he's 31.

What are your occupations?

Chris is an architectural designer, but off the clock he pretty much does anything. He really likes building things, whether it's fabricated from metal, wood, or anything else he can find, he just likes building! I'm an advertising sales rep part time (don't ask me how I got into that field when I'm so shy). Every other hour of my day is spent making things to sell in (and outside of) my Etsy shop, and doing some web design.

How did you meet?

It's so embarrassing, and I don't really tell anyone, but we actually met via the good ole world wide web. It was sort of an accident since I was supposed to be talking to a friend from work (it was in a local chat since my stepmom blocked IM's).

How did you get engaged?

Chris and I had never seen a sunset together, so we decided we'd go to the Blue Ridge Parkway one evening to finally watch it. He handed me a single rosebud, knowing that I would sniff it, and when I did, I saw a diamond inside! He asked me if I'd spend the rest of my life with him, and after I said yes he gave me 2 dozen roses. We took pictures, watched the sunset, then called everyone we knew!

Tell us about your wedding day (not necessarily elements but feelings too)

It was stressful! Chris had pleurisy and was so medicated he can't remember some parts! It was a busy morning with so many pictures, and all I wanted to do was see Chris!

When it was finally time for Dad to walk me down the aisle, he started crying and asked, "You know those glow in the dark boxers you got me?" "Yes," I said, getting sniffly myself. "Well, I'm wearing them." Then we both started crying and laughing and had to walk down the aisle like that! I have to admit, I don't really remember what the preacher said because I just wanted to hug Chris so badly, but I do remember that once he was finished talking, he never said, "You may now kiss the bride." So Chris asked if he could kiss me, everyone laughed, then we had our first married kiss!

During the reception, I nearly dropped a meatball on my dress, but the rest was pretty fun!

Define Love:

In a single word: work. It's fun and silly and sometimes ridiculously difficult, but it's also the best thing you could ever hope for! I think that if a relationship doesn't require any work, then it isn't as deep as it should be.

What's the toughest part of being in a committed relationship?

Always needing to remember and consider his wants and needs. it's so easy when you're dating or single to do what you want when you want, but once you're married, it isn't only about you anymore, and it can be a difficult adjustment, even after several years!

What is the best part?

Knowing that you're always with the person who knows, understand and accepts you better than anyone else.

What is the best day you and your husband have had together?

There are two days that really stand out. One is a morning several years ago when we went to breakfast together before going Christmas shopping, and we sat there talking until they switched to lunch. We just sort of got lost in conversation and the other people and noise just seemed to disappear. The other time, I can't even remember when it was, we took a long walk through the woods and sat to take a break under some pines. The sun was so warm, and we just laid there for what must have been hours talking and relaxing.

What makes you different from other couples?

I'd say it's our playfulness. We love to play fight and wrestle, and his mom says that if we don't stop before we have kids, they'll end up being bullies because of the way they see us playing. One of our favorite playful things is when Chris (who is really tall) will hold onto my hands and swing me down toward the floor (feet first) and under his legs, sort of like a swing dancing move!

What is the most essential element of making it?

Compromise. It's so easy to be stubborn, but you really have to give in, even though you may not want to. Chris and I have gotten a lot better than we used to be, but it's still so hard to give in and get past something when you just want to be right. Sometimes it just isn't worth the fuss.

What is your favorite thing to do together?

We really like going for rides on the motorcycle when the weather is nice, and we'll stop along the way to just sit and talk. We like going for walks through the woods and watching the birds. We also like playing tennis together, but by the time we leave, we're a little irritated...in a good, laugh at each other kind of way, though!

Do you have a song?

Hmmmm, we don't have a romantic song or anything, but when we were dating Chris always had a Filter CD playing, and the song "Take a Picture" is sort of nostalgic. Also, "Song 2" by Blur is a special song for silly reasons. Chris does a voice that sounds like it should be on a cartoon, and he always sings that song in his voice to make me laugh.

What are your hopes for the future?

For Chris, this answer would be children. I think I'm still too scared of that, so my hope would be that we would own our own business in the next few years.

Anything else the world needs to know about love?

That it isn't what it looks like in the movies, so don't be fooled!

(Note from Cole: These pictures were taken Friday when Chris & Danielle were snowed in, kinda makes me want to get a headdress just in case I ever need it)

Two Things I Love Around My Home: Love Style

I'm glad you're enjoying the love stories series as much as I have been. I've got some great posts for later today and the rest of the week and am so excited to keep sharing them with you.

I wanted to participate in Kassi's Two Things Around My Home again this week and thought I'd stick to the topic of love.

The first thing is actually two things. I love my little heart wall in our kitchen. The heart on the left is from a horse bridle and my mom gave it to me for Christmas last year. The heart in hand on the right is actually a bottle opener and I got it for Christmas this year. I hope to keep adding heart related things on this wall (I have little collections like this all around the house and love it).

The second thing I'm loving lately are these little Lovebird salt & pepper shakers. I picked them up at Target a couple of weeks ago in their dollar section and I think they are so sweet. I also think it's sweet that Jus didn't know they were lovebirds at first, he's so cute. I have a feeling you could pick up a set of these if you'd like, Target's cool like that.

Be sure to head on over to BacWoods Fern and play along! But be sure to leave a comment telling me you did, I love seeing the little things that make your house a home.

Stay tuned at 10 & 3 today, I've got some great guest blogs lined up!

Love Stories: Kassi & Dan

I'm so excited to be able to share Kassi's answers with you. She is the woman behind BacWoods Fern and her blog is a wonderful look at a happy family. She and Dan also have the three cutest kids you could ask for and having a mother and wife answer these questions are even more insightful.

How old are you and Daniel?

Daniel and I are both 29. He will be 30 in march and I will be 30 in April!

What are your occupations?

Dan is an enterprise account manager (sales rep) for an IT company here in Orange County. I am a stay at home mom and trying to make enough pretty things to open up an etsy store by April.

How did you meet?

Dan and I were set up on a blind date by a mutual friend... turns out he had dated that mutual friend... haha. We met in a neighboring town and had our first date at a restaurant followed by some gambling at our local casino-it was so fun. On our first date he said to me "If I ask you out on a second date then you'll most likely end up being my wife" and he was right!

How did you get engaged?

Dan proposed to me six months after our first date. He did a scavenger hunt using cards and roses at some different places (his apartment, car, Starbucks, a friends house) when I got to the final location he and his friends had decorated the whole house with 100's of tea light candles, rose petals and white Christmas lights. He played me a song he had written, washed my feet and gave me a wonderful spiel of how he would love, honor and serve me the rest of my days. We then walked down to the beach in the rain where he got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. We then celebrated with champagne. It was magic.

Tell us about your wedding day (not necessarily elements but feelings too)

Our wedding day was great. Casual elegance in a picture perfect vineyard. I was super nervous but not about marrying Daniel...I was nervous about walking down the aisle in front of 300 guests. We hammed it up and barely listened to our pastors marrying us. So bad... but it was fun. I don't remember much except the feeling of being so excited to marry my best friend and the man that I knew God had planned for me.

Define Love:

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

What's the toughest part of being in a committed relationship?

The toughest part is getting used to sharing everything. For me, it is money and not having my own money anymore...it took me over a year to combine our bank accounts! I'm also pretty stubborn so it can get hard for me to not be selfish and demand my way in things. ;-) marriage is about sacrifice and selfishness seems to get the best of us at times.

What is the best part?

The best part is having my best friend to share my life with...the joys, the sorrows, waking up every day to him and kissing him goodnight every night. raising our three children together is wonderful too!

What is the best day you and Daniel have had together?

Gosh, that's hard. We've been together a while and have had a lot of great days. Our wedding was wonderful. The day that Dan adopted Tyler (I had him before he and I were married) was amazing. The birth of our two daughters was amazing. But most recently we went up to Big Sur to celebrate our sixth anniversary-we stayed at the most intimate cabin amongst the redwoods and it was pure bliss. We laughed, ate good food, surfed (he did, I laid out...sharky water scares me) and I enjoyed him playing his guitar around our bon fire. A wonderful place and our most favorite anniversary so far.

What makes you different from other couples?

We are so much alike! People always say I am the girl version of Dan...I would say our sense of humor makes us different than other couples. We laugh a lot and can say/do some pretty off the wall things-our friends think we're nuts. We also tell each other pretty much everything. There is no holding back with us!

What is the most essential element of making it?

Knowing that love is a choice and choosing to love one another even when we may not 'like' each other. Also, we choose to put God first in our marriage and for us, that is key.

What is your favorite thing to do together?

We enjoy just talking at night...sounds boring but it's true. We love alone time... going to the beach, camping...even if it's watching a movie...we just really enjoy being with one another. We're BFF's as my daughter would say. :-)

Do you have a song?

We have many songs-David Gray songs...Arcade Fire songs...Postal Service songs...We haven't narrowed it down to just one.

What are your hopes for the future?

Right now, my hope is to get Dan healthy (he's had a lot of health issues over the last year) and to grow more in love with one another daily and to be good examples to our children. Personal hopes...we want to somehow be able to bring in 10 grand monthly without having to work...haha and to just laze around the beach all day long.

Anything else the world needs to know about love?

I really just think that people need to know that love is not a feeling alone...you'll have those butterflies in the beginning but that fades...after a while love needs to become a choice that you and your spouse make on a daily basis. Otherwise, it will fail. I believe that is why so many marriages end up in divorce...people are simply giving up. Do not give up!

100 Photos: Day 32

I had been wanting to make a new garland and had been struggling with what to make then I was inspired by Melanie to make one with these doilies. I love the extra love.

Love Stories: Camilla & Damir

The first guest blogger that I'm featuring this week is Camilla from Champagne Bubbles. Champagne Bubbles is a wonderful blog and Camilla is darling (and she & Damir make such a gorgeous couple-can you imagine what their babies will look like?)!

So without further ado...

How old are you & Damir?

I am 22 and he is 21 but we're turning 23 and 22, respectively, this month! Our birthdays are 2 days apart :)

How did you meet?

We met in the athletic department on campus at U.C. Berkeley.

(Note from Cole: Camilla and Damir's story was originally posted on My Teacups in Peony and it was just too great to not include, even if it looks a tad long, I promise it's worth it.)

Let me start by saying that I was in NO way looking for a boyfriend. In fact, I was kind of opposed to the idea and thinking that it'd probably be okay if I was single forever.
I had seen this incredibly tall man once or twice walking around campus - clearly on the swim team (you know how swimmers just have that build?), and I did find him seriously gorgeous but I kind of brushed the thought out of my head and forgot about him. One of my best friends even took me aside and said, "Camilla, I really think you'd like this guy...you should go for it". But I didn't care. I was too emotionally exhausted from my previous relationship and focused on my school work so I didn't even give him the time of day. Besides, I was sure he had no idea who I was anyways.
One afternoon I was doing some work on my computer when I got a facebook friend request from this tall swimmer boy. I was so surprised I sat there for a few minutes wondering why he would ask ME to be friends and convinced myself that it was an accident and he thought I was someone else. I don't know what possessed me but I decided to send him a message. I wrote, "Hi!". That's all...what was I thinking? Why did I write that?? Within minutes I had a reply back from him and our little facebook messaging commenced. (I later found out he was sitting in front of the computer at the same time trying to figure out what to say to me when he got my first message). I found out that his English was so-so, that he came from a country called Slovenia, was 2 years behind me in school and indeed was a swimmer. After a brief flirtation, during which he said I looked like a mannequin (he meant model) and when we hung out tried to shake my hand goodbye, we kind of stopped talking, and I went about my life once again convinced that I would never be able to find the guy for me. Months went by and we only communicated once or twice.
Suddenly we started talking and messaging more and I would get beyond excited every time he'd contact me. While he was competing in the Olympics in Beijing we started to talk everyday. I stayed up until 4 am waiting for him to come online and he would stay in his hotel room to talk to me. It was like this great friendship was building and we really enjoyed one another's conversation. But still, nothing had ever been said that suggested we had more than platonic relationship (even though if a girl wrote on his facebook wall I would get completely jealous and maybe even try to translate it into english - I know, crazy girl).
One day, I just blurted out that I missed him and I knew it was weird because we barely knew each other. I couldn't wait till he came home. He said he missed me too and he was so excited to come home to me. I remember showing my sister his picture and I said "I don't know, I just have a feeling about him. There's something special about him". We started realizing that we had some really random and important things in common, especially our views on family and religion. I still didn't know what was going to happen when he came back but I could...not...wait. The day we were both back in Berkeley, he walked 25 minutes up a giant hill to my work and we sat outside nervously talking. Since that moment we've been inseparable.
1 year and 3 months later we are the best of friends. We do everything together and we really enjoy every minute of it. We like to cook, dance in the middle of campus, build forts (see my blog if you don't believe me), and even play video/computer games together. The language barrier can be frustrating sometimes but it also provides many hilarious moments for us both. I can't believe that I continue to fall more and more in love with him everyday that I spend with him and I actually feel like I might explode some day. I was lucky enough to visit his family in Slovenia and Bosnia and get a taste of how he grew up.
We're waiting until after he's done with college and probably the next Olympics in London to move in together and get married (I secretly wish we could just get married now), but I very much feel like he is my soulmate and my partner already. I cannot wait to start a family with him because I know he's gonna be the best father ever. I don't know where I would be without him, and I am so glad that even though I resisted for months, God stepped in and helped me to open my heart to this perfect man.

What is the toughest part of being in a committed relationship?

For us the toughest part has proven to be learning to deal with each other's quirks and little issues. For example, I'm kinda crazy about keeping a tidy and clean apartment and he can play video games all day everyday if I let him. Then again, those little arguments can be fun sometimes.

What is the best part?

The best part is being able to spend everyday with my best friend; the one person who really gets my sense of humor and who I can tell anything and everything to; the person I have the most fun with in the world. I feel so completely blessed that I get to call this man mine...it's actually hard for me to believe.

What is the best day the two of you have spent together?

I struggle to find just one best day...one of my favorites would have to be the day we drove from Bosnia to Croatia. It was just so fun to be in a car with him for that long in a new place. We got to talk for hours and hours and hours and got to know each other even more (even though we had been dating for almost a year at the time). We stopped at little shops and got lots of yummy treats. We finally made it to Croatia, got on a car ferry, then drove an hour and a half across a gorgeous island to the hotel we were staying at. and it was perfect. it was a dream.

What makes you different from other couples?

I guess what could make is different is that we love to play together. We play board games together (we get way competitive with Yahtzee), we play tennis and video games, we slow dance at night in the middle of campus...random, silly things like that.

We're also truly best friends. and we really really LIKE each other.

What is the most essential element of making it?

I think just that. Love is wonderful and important but I think to make it -- and we're not engaged yet or anything so I could be totally wrong -- but I think its very very important to really LIKE the other person; to truly ENJOY their company...not just the lovey dovey part.

What are your hopes for the future?

I hope for many things in the future. A magical marriage to Damir (not sure about the wedding part though), two babies (he wants twins -- is he crazy?). I hope to play board games and tennis and video games and slow dance in the middle of the night forever and ever and ever.

Anything else the world needs to know about love?

Do it. Love someone. Let yourself be open to it and when you find it, don't let go of it.