Top Ten Things I Learned My First Year of Marriage (by Kaylee)

Say hellooo to a new content series I'm starting on the ol' bloggy blog. Every month I'll have a guest author create a top ten list about any random topic they want... because a.) I love lists and b.) guest authors are fun. 

My brother married wonderful, funny, creative, expert-GIF-user Kaylee last August. She's the best sister-in-law in the world and I love her very much. In honor of their one year anniversary, I asked her to start the top ten list party with... 

The first year of our marriage was such an adventure for us with some pretty major life changes in addition to adjusting to being married and sharing a life together. It was a lot to handle! But looking back I realize that we learned a lot in the process. Here are the top 10 things I learned in my first year of marriage.

1.      There is no better feeling than waking up after your wedding and realizing that you are no longer planning a wedding. Even better? Getting to experience that relief your new husband. It’s a win-win situation.

2.      That relieved feeling all comes crashing down when you return from your honeymoon and have to fit two grown adults + all their stuff + all the amazing wedding gifts into one house. YIKES. If I could do it all over again, I would do some Marie-Kondo level purging before Daniel moved in.

3.      Cooking for two people takes more food than you think. Honestly, I am still not good at this. We always seem to run out of food on Thursday.

4.      Related: two people = twice the mess. More laundry. More dishes. Send help. 

5.      Also related: It’s okay to ask for help. I knew this intuitively, but it was/is still hard­. But when Daniel and I split up the chores, it was revolutionizing. 

6.      Being married at Christmas is next-level happiness. It’s my favorite holiday with twice as much joy. Daniel, however, was not as excited about this one because it involved watching White Christmas multiple times. SORRY NOT SORRY.

7.      Marriage helped me appreciate the small moments, like me and Daniel drinking coffee together each morning. Because everything was so new, it was special. I hope that is a perspective that I can keep with me for the rest of our lives.   

8.      Marriage is about way more than “happily ever after.” I think God uses marriages to mold people, and I know I am way more aware of my own issues and tendencies after one year of marriage than I was before. It’s humbling, for sure. But it’s worth it.

9.      Your timeline is YOUR timeline. It’s easy to fall into the comparison trap about what your marriage should look like. I think each marriage has unique highs and lows, and it’s better to not use other marriages as a yardstick for where you should be or how you should feel.

10.  Marriage is a lot more fun and joyful than I thought it would be. I am a super independent person, which made me worried about how I would adjust to being married. Marriage can be hard, but I legitimately love spending time with Daniel. He makes me laugh like no other person does, and even on our worst days I am having more fun with him than I did without him. 

Dallas Restaurant Week: Bistro 31

Dallas Restaurant Week is here! 🙌🙌🙌 This wonderful time of year is when more than 125 delicious fancy schmancy restaurants offer special 3-course prix fix dinners. As if that weren't a sweet enough deal, if you spend $25 at Central Market (which is a regular occurrence in our house), you get a voucher for a *free* 4th course too. AND, just to sweeten the deal even more, 20% from each restaurant week meal purchased will be donated to the North Texas Food Bank. Basically, you should look at this list and make a reservation now. 

Pro Tip - "restaurant week" is a tad misleading because it's actually more like "restaurant 3+ weeks" for a lot of the participating restaurants. (I guess that just didn't have the same ring to it...) Chris and I love this opportunity to try new restaurants we haven't been to yet, so we're planning to go to a different one each week of 3+ week event (which I will review in full here. You're welcome. 😘) 

Our first restaurant to try was Bistro 31 - a "specialized modern twist on classic French, Italian and Spanish cuisine" in Highland Park Village.

Sidenote - all the pretty images are from Bistro 31's FB page, just FYI. 

First course: Red Beet Cured Pacific Salmon with Potato Latkes, Sour Crème, Paddlefish Caviar. 
This was our free 4th course (thanks Central Market!), and it was delish. I'm a BIG salmon fan, so I'm always down for a new salmon dish.

Second course: Grilled Vegetable Flatbread. Fresh, light, also delish.

Entree: Marinated Lamb Chops. They were good, but my fave part was the sauteed spinach, tomatoes, golden raisins, and pine nuts. 😋

Dessert: Almond Biscotti with Vanilla Gelato. My grandma's biscotti is better, but what can ya do? 

Here's the best part of all. Because they were so busy for restaurant week, we had to wait longer than usual for our entree. We didn't complain or anything - we could tell they were busy - but they were profusely apologetic and the general manager decided to comp our entire meal! We were like ...

Overall, it was great... good food, charming atmosphere, and even though service was slow they more than made up for with good service. Two thumbs up! 

xoxo, 

Annie. 

The Big 3-1

My birthday was last week and I can thankfully report that after last year's temporary dread and despair for my birthday, I'm back to loving it again.  

Chris's birthday is 2 days before mine, so we had a fun week of celebrating. I was supposed to be in Orlando for a big client meeting on my actual birthday. I had already made peace with this unfortunate fact, but much to my surprise my boss told me 24 hours before the trip that I didn't have to go anymore. I quickly remedied my no-plans-for-my-actual- birthday by booking a blow out at Drybar and throwing together an impromptu little party at the rooftop bar at the Alamo Drafthouse. It was a fun night of great views, drinks, birthday hugs, and Cards Against Humanity. 

One of my good college friends got married in Austin on 8/13, so we continued the celebrating with a weekend getaway to that fantastic city. Highlights include: seeing besties, the original UCHI (our fave restaurant), Bananarchy, and getting impromptu foot massages at a random day spa. 

I used to make #goals for myself on my birthday, and I think it's time I revisited that fun little habit. Here are things I want to do when I'm 31...

• Send more handwritten notes. 📬
• Watch the entire Gilmore Girls series before the new episodes on Netflix in November. (Currently on season 2, episode 8)
• Have friends over for dinner at least 2 times a month. 
• Blog at least a few times a month. 
• Read more books. 
• KonMari the shiz out of my life. 
• Actually be hydrated. (I currently do nottt drink enough water and live my life in a state of perpetual dehydration). 
• Continue to learn how to be the best wife I can be. #LerouxTimesTwo
• Volunteer at my church. 
• Wear more lip color. (This was my new year's resolution and it's been a good one, so I want to keep it uppp). 💄
• Enjoy this year to the fullest. 😄

Cheers to 31! 

(And BIG THANKS to everyone who helped me get through 30 and make it my most wonderful / life-changing year ever). 

xoxo, 

Annie. 

July 8:11 Highlights

Since I'm back in action on the blog, it's time to bring back the 8:11 highlights! Here are my 11 favorite things I did at 8:11 PM in July...

8:11- Popsicles and "people vs. OJ Simpson" marathon. IT'S SO GOOD.

8:11- happy birthday@ashvandy2! Thanks for having an intense southern FEAST for your party. 🍽✨

8:11-screening of@dontthinktwicemovie + Q&A with writer/director @birbigs. Two thumbs upppp. 📽🎞👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

(More on that here.) 

8:11- brought din to these wonderful new parents tonight. 👶🏼❤️

8:11- movie niiiiight.#DaveAndMikeNeedWeddingDates is ridiculous/hilarious. 📽🌃🎞

8:11- just casually hanging out with my favorite musician of all time, nbd. 😍🎉💕🙌🏻🎉😄😜☝🏻️💕🎊💚💚💚💯🙃😝🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙆🏻🦄🌟✨🎉💛💚💟💯💯‼️‼️❕❗️

(More on that here.)

8:11- @rebekahm33's bday party included many outdoor games, water balloons, a huge slip-n-slide, and a rooftop; it was fantastic. 😄

8:11-special guest@tahitifevah (my first friend from WB!) is at#bachelorette watch party tonight! 🌹🌹🌹🌹

8:11- 📚book club📚 at@eva_louise's! This month's book: Gratitude by Oliver Sachs (which I fully recommend).

8:11- this is a SUSHI BURRITO and this is happening. 😁🌯🍣🙌🏻

8:11-date niiiight. Din at a 👍🏼👍🏼 new spot followed by a UCB SHOW! (@ucbtla is one of the things I miss most about LA so I am *very* excited for this touring show).

Excited for August (aka *BIRTHDAY MONTH*)! 

xoxo, 

Annie

Movie Review Monday: Don't Think Twice

First of all - my blog got a little makeover! Whooooo. Thanks to Angelina at skyandstars.co for the pretty updates. :)

Okay, now back to our regularly scheduled programming... 
Chris and I recently went to a screening of Don't Think Twice with a Q&A with the writer/director/lead actor Mike Birbiglia and it was fantastic. One of the best movies I've seen this year. 

• Rating on Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
• Brief Synopsis: When a member of a popular New York City improv troupe gets cast on a hit TV show, the rest of the group - all best friends - start to realize that not everyone is going to make it after all, offering a hilarious and honest look at the lives of professional funny people.
• My Thoughts:  It's an insightful, honest, hilarious  look into the world of comedy and dealing with chasing the same very-difficult-to-attain-goals as your peers. While I'm not in the improv world, I'm an huge fan and love watching it (Upright Citizens Brigade is one of my top favorite things about LA), so it made me very nostalgic for going to shows there on the reg. It has a stacked cast of super talented comedians, but it delivers a wide range of emotions along with the LOLs. Mike Birbiglia said that he can't even watch the film before the Q&A sessions because it makes him too emotional. 
• Recommendation: 👍👍 You should definitely go see this.  

Shout out to my former boss/professional mentor's husband's company - The Film Arcade - for putting out this great movie and shout out to the Magnolia Theatre for putting on cool events like this screening/QA. The Magnolia also does cool things like post letters from filmmakers on their website. They posted one such letter from Mike Birbiglia about this film, and his thoughts on his own film are obviously way more eloquent than my own, so here ya go... 

A few years ago my wife Jen came to one of my improv shows at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in New York City and made this observation:

“Everyone onstage is equally brilliant, but somehow that person is a movie star and that person is on SNL and that guy lives on an air mattress in Queens.”

I remember thinking “Not only is that an astute observation about the unfairness of life, but it’s also a movie.” I could see the whole film. A Big Chill-esque ensemble comedy set in the world of an improv theater that has just lost its lease. A group of best friends in their 30s confronting the idea that not everyone is gonna make it after all. And to me, improv is a great metaphor for life. The basic rules of improv are:

1. Say yes.

2. It’s all about the group.

3. Don’t think.

These, to me, are principles that have helped me in being a filmmaker, an artist, a parent, and a husband. So that was the jumping off point.

And then, to be honest with you, part of the reason I made the film was that it was a film I wanted to see. I feel like comedies with true drama are something of a lost art form I fell in love with films like Hannah and Her Sisters, Broadcast News, Almost Famous, and Bob & Carol and Ted and Alice. I was asked by my producers to come up with some more recent references, but there aren’t a lot. Beautiful Girls?

Anyway, when I go to the movies I want to laugh and cry and laugh and cry and then think and talk with my wife about it for a week—or a month—or for the rest of our lives. To me that’s what separates film from TV. As filmmakers we try to introduce characters, place you in their shoes as they struggle, and reach some sense of resolution. All within 90 minutes or so.

Not easy, but we took a stab at it.

Which is why I’d urge you to see the film in the theater. To laugh with strangers. To cry with strangers. Maybe bring a few friends and go out afterwards to talk about how your group of friends has aged through the years. How you feel like there are things in life that you feel like you deserve more of, or less of. If anything, it’ll be a great jumping off point for a discussion.

Life isn’t fair, but it is funny.

xoxo, 

Annie. 

Bachelorette Recap: What's Your Fan-ta-ta-syyyy?

Happy Bachelorette Finale Eve, dears! But first, here's a recap of last week to get you all caught up before the big conclusion... 

As I mentioned in the last post, the hometown dates episode with the top 4 guys annoyingly ended on a 'to be continued' and JoJo seemed super torn and distraught but I thought suuuuurely she would still send Chase or Robby home - no brainer. MUCH TO AMERICA'S SHOCK AND DISMAY, however, she sent Luke home. He was legit her ONLY good option left, so not only was he completely shocked and looked like he had been hit by a truck at this news, but pretty much all the viewers in the world were like... 

Our only consolation is that I am 99% sure he'll be the next Bachelor which hoooopefully will be announced tomorrow night on After the Final Rose. 

After JoJo's shocking and horrible decision, she takes her (lame) top 3 guys to Thailand for the *~oVeRnIgHt FaNtAsY sUiTe~* dates. Robby's is first. I don't even remember what they did on the date... I think it might have started raining and they got foot massages at one point. (ooooh - my Google image search has proved this to be correct.)

He is dropping the L-word like it's his job and she kind of wants to say it too but won't yet because that's what Ben did to her which was v misleading since he dumped her shortly thereafter. They spend the night in the fantasy suite and blissfully leave their copious amounts of room service seemingly untouched the following morning. 

Next date is Jordan - aka who she will probably choose despite his numerous red flags like previous cheating, horrible communication, and weird family issues. They go for a scenic hike on their date and it's cute and makes me want to go for a hike in the near future. 

He gladly accepts her invitation to the Fantasy Suite and they have some 'much needed' time alone and yadda yadda yadda she loves him too but doesn't want to tell him yet.


Next up is Chase (is that his name?). They have a great day frolicking on a Thai beach and he tries to amp up his non-existent personality. Things seem to be going swimmingly and she offers him the Fantasy Suite card and he accepts (duh) and then they get there and he drops the L-bomb and JoJo immediately goes from 😍 to 😕 in 0.5 seconds. She then excuses herself for a few minutes and comes back and pretty much says, "yeahh..... I know saying "I love you" is extremely difficult for you and that was a life-changing step for you but the feeling's not really mutual so can you please just leave now?" Chase immediately chugs his champagne is OBVIOUSLY v mad about this and Jojo cries and the whole situation is like 'what just happened here??!'


So the top 2 guys are Robby and Jordan - 2 douchey former professional athletes with impeccable hair and extreme red flags. (Oy veyyyy). I predict that she'll choose Jordan and they'll move to LA with the hopes of continuing their 15 minutes of fame and break up within 6 months (tops). 🙄

Excited for the finale party tomorrow! 

xoxo, 

Annie. 

Bachelorette Recap: Hometown Daaaates

Happy Monday aka Bachelorette Watch Party Day! As you might know, I'm a biggg fan of the outrageous insanity that is the Bachelor / Bachelorette franchise. I've been hosting watch parties since high school, and was even in the New York Post for my watch party one time. That said, I send out a weekly reminder / recap email to my watch party girls every Monday... so I figured, in case anyone missed last week's episode or wanted to re-live the craziness, I'd share that little recap here as well. You're welcome. ;) 

First of all, THEY DID THE ANNOYING 'TO BE CONTINUED' AT THE ROSE CEREMONY LAST EPISODE, SO WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO THE TOP 3 IS YET. Ugh abc... why you gotta be so annoying?

​

First hometown date was Chase (is that his name?). It was in beautiful snowy Colorado which was painful to watch while we're sweating to death here in this ungodly heat but that's neither here nor there. He comes from a broken family so part 1 of the day was meeting with the dad and part 2 was meeting with the rest of the fam. Key takeaway - he is a child of divorce and 'love' means a lot to him and that's why he doesn't open up much and is really boring.  

Date number 2 - Jordan (aka the probable winner). Hometown is Chico, California (not to be confused with Chino...#ILoveTheOCForever). 

​Jordan brings her to his high school to relive his glory days because that's all he has and he's still wayyyy bitter about living under his superstar brother Aaron's shadow for his entire life. Speaking of - he and his other older brother both were like 'WE DON'T LIKE TO TALK ABOUT AARON. DON'T BRING IT UP.' which was a very weird / awkward red flag that Jojo seems completely oblivious to. Oy. Also his mom as super weird and their house was neon green. 

Date 3 was to Florida for Robby's hometown. Rob continued to put off the vibe that he miiiight not really like women with a strategically one-buttoned pink shirt. 

His family was normal and great - the best fam thus far - but then his mom lets him know that his ex-girlfriend's roommate has been spreading the "rumor" that he broke up with her to go on the show, and drama ensues. 

Reminder - Robby was the dude who straight up said "i love you" on their first 1-on-1 date, which according to my unscientific estimation occurred a mere matter of weeks after he broke up with his gf of 4+ years.  * CUE RED FLAGS *

The last date was in Texas for our beloved Luke and it was PERFECT. Like straight-out-of-a-Nicholas-Sparks-movie-this-can't-be-real perfect. His family was great, his friends were great, he was great. The collective female population was completely swooning. 

I thought it was 100% obvious that she was keeping Jordan and Luke and a toss-up between Robby and Chase on who would go home... but probably Chase (is that his name?) But then something weird happened and Luke pulls her aside at the rose ceremony to tell her "hey i didn't fully say this during our impeccably perfect date yesterday, but I love you." and then she starts bawling and is like "I don't know what to doooooo." So was she going to send our boy Luke home and then this made her re-think that RIDICULOUS / COMPLETELY DUMB choice? Or was she just like 'ahhhhh my mental / emotional well-being is literally hanging on by a thread and I'm pms-ing and I just needed a good cry." 

STAY TUNED for more insanity next week. :) 

xoxox, 

Annie.