2014 State of the Teeter Family Union

Photo Credit: Gideon Photography

That’s right. The Teeter Family Union. We up and got hitched, ya’ll! More details on that to follow. In the meantime, I’m here to report that marriage approval ratings for the Teeter’s have hit an all-time high. The transition into marriage hasn’t felt all that different from life before. In other words, not much has changed aside from my name on my driver’s license, including my license picture which, let’s just say, I didn’t think could be worse than my previous license picture, however it just so happened that on that fateful ‘day of the name change’ instead of worrying about how I would appear next to my new last name on my new driver’s license, I spent 20 minutes crying in the DMV parking lot over letting go of my maiden name which apparently was a greater part of my identity than even I knew. I asked the man behind the counter at the DMV if other women ever came in with tear soaked faces when making a name change, obviously trying my best to make light of a situation  that, let’s face it, shouldn’t have been as emotionally jarring as it was, nonetheless he looked at me like he was scared of me and shook his head ‘no’ then clicked my picture without any warning and definitely no re-takes. Bloodshot, puffy, tear streaked and all.  So basically, in the name of being a new wife, I deserve a second go at that driver license picture. Now that I’m more comfortable with my maiden name as my middle name thus more emotionally stable, I’m gonna to have to "lose" this license. This is one of those cases where the $18 replacement fee is tooootally worth it.

But like I said, not much has changed. Though being married does feeeeeel a little different. Different in ways like suddenly I’m guilty of google searching “how to be a great wife” or “ways to ensure a successful marriage” because why the hell not? I can! And I want to. Because I’m actually really excited to be someone’s wife. And not just anyone’s wife, mind you. I feel pretty great about my choice of husband. Hence the whole google search thing. I mean good things deserve good nurturing and care, you know?  We the Teeter’s, in order to form a more perfect union, believe in google searches and e-how tutorials and nurturing and care. Amen.

In other household news, I’ve totally and completely forgotten how to blog. Obviously.  I’ll be making a most likely sad attempt at trying to account for lost time on this blog over the course of the next few weeks but don’t hold your breath. For now, this feels good. Stretching my fingers, dusting this little blog off and letting her know, “You’re not alone, my little piece of the internet. I’m still here.” Air hug.

The truth is, 2014 has been preeeeetty full of blogable (that’s a word, right?) events. I mean I got married for crying out loud. That’s like, a really big deal. Also I became an Aunt, went on some great vacations, read some good books, listened to some intriguing podcasts, discovered some passions, learned valuable life lessons and quit a soul-sucking job. Good things. 2014 was good. The State of the Teeter Family Union is secure and thriving. Well, okay, okay, my husband might tell you that I could probably use a job. A real one. I can whip up a mean lasagna, but apparently many housewives (this one) don’t actually earn an income. Whodathunkit?  But unemployment aside, we’re strong, we’re happy, and we’re making strides towards a bright future. Long live House of Teeter. Fist pump.

Photo Credit: Gideon Photography

Thirty Before Thirty

Part of the reason I’ve been m.i.a. from this blog for so long is because I didn’t actually know how long it’d been. You see, as we grow up, nobody really prepares us for the fact that time as an adult moves at a completely different pace than time as a child. Like whoa! One minute it’s August and a couple turkeys later it’s the middle of February and I’m freezing. It just won’t slow down. And as a result, I’m “getting older”. You know, the kind of older where it’s finally time to begin coloring my virgin locks because no matter the age of my heart, the colonies of grey hairs that have claimed a New World on my scalp are certainly rubbing reality in.

It’s not alllll bad of course. I mean, I’m getting married and welcoming the next chapters of my life. And I’m excited about it. Plus let’s be honest, my youth was a wild fun one. No major regrets or injuries. That I can remember. (Kidding, Mom)

So to commemorate my twenties I’ve come up with a list of things that I’d like to accomplish before I turn thirty. Which is in approximately 20 months, so you know, these are DO-ABLE things. And since do-able doesn’t always mean they’ll get done, I’d like to reserve my right to a “roll-over plan”. So like, if 30 comes more quickly than expected (which it probably will, ohemgee), I reserve the right to roll any incomplete tasks over to my ‘35 Before 35’ list. Because what is life without a bunch o’ lists, right?!

1. Learn calligraphy
2. Hike The Narrows
3. Get scuba diving certified
4. Coachella
5. Go on a vacation alone
6. Be debt-free!
7. NYC
8. Hike to Kolob Arch
9. Read 30 books
10. New Zealand
11. Get a piano
12. Make homemade pasta
13. Drive-Inn Movie (Sean has NEVER been to a drive-inn. Should MY feelings be hurt?)
14. Get a new tattoo
15. Audition for a production
16. Chop my hair
17. Write a song
18. Perfect the homemade churro
19. Paint a picture
20. Quit my job for something better
21. Take a dance class
22. Visit my out-of-town friends
23. Go on a cruise
24. Buy a better camera
25. Minimize More!
26. Go on a backpacking trip
27. Hawai’i with Sean
28. A vacation with my family
29. Get healthy. Really healthy.
30. Save $1,000 to spend on myself on my 30th birthday  

in which I confess my love on Valentine’s Day

By now you should know that I'm completely unreliable. I also initially began this post with "I'm starting this year by..." until I realized that, oh my hell we're halfway through February!… and how embarrassing.

Anyway, let's just skip over the excuses for my absence because six months of writer's block is hardly believable and I mean, did anyone actually notice? Anyone = anyone but you, Mom :) Actually, my dear friend Christina DID notice and, let's be honest, she's the real reason I'm turning the key and revving up this engine. It was something she said…  something about how I’m the only person hurting myself by not documenting my memories and yadayadayada and  something else about how she never regrets the things she posts but always regrets the things she doesn't post, and I was like, "Stop right there. You. Are. Absolutely. Right. What is wrong with me?! No wonder my mind is so cluttered! And where is my computer?!" So, here I am. And could there be any better day than VALENTINE’S DAY to give  my Internet Home some long overdue love? I think not.

Oh, Internet Home, I love you and I’ve missed you. You and me, we’re good together, right? Yeah. I think so too.  **hugs**

There’s so much I want to tell you. So much we have to catch up on! My brain is such a mess and it will take time, but we’ll get there. We’ll work together to clean this place up. I’m just glad to be back again. You + Me & Frank and … oh, and Sean, because oh yea… he put a crystal on it…

I know!! Just the sort of thing worth documenting.

And since I can’t make my return on VALENTINE’S DAY much cheesier, I’d just like to say on record that I absolutely can’t wait to marry him. A handful of years ago I set my sights on this guy because he was fun and he was a friend and I enjoyed him and, you know, why not? And I am so very glad that a moment of “just for fun” turned into many moments of “I don’t want to be without you” because I certainly don’t want to be without him… and thank my lucky stars I don’t have to be.

Ahhhh… It feels good to be home!

xoxo

Pasadena Please

My July jetsetter to Pasadena was a quick but full weekend of good friends, good food, good hospitality, good music in a really good place. It was like, a reeeeallly good trip.

Jessica and Will were the kindest hosts and tour guides. We ate all the best food, browsed the best stores and we even got to experience Will's rustic urban office where he spends creative time designing and operating his clothing line, The West is Dead. It also happens to be where he houses his 1/2 lb. black widow, Rosie. She isn't really half a pound but girl is biiiig. We're talking like record breaking big. Like baby-got-back and all.  He feeds her crickets and actually she was quite fascinating.  We were definitely well taken care of and  finally getting to see Will and J’s cute space and life as newlyweds and Los Angelites was exciting.

 

We caught up with old friends and Laura even got us tickets to a Jay-Leno taping because she's Laura and in the going-on-twenty years I've known her it's just what she always does. She gets tickets to anything she wants. Like magic. But that's for another day. As for Jay Leno, he looked exactly like I thought he would - that chin! - except he's a little taller than television gives him credit for. And no big deal but Katy Perry was the highlight of his show. Katy Perry! I know!

And even though I totally can go teenybopper over Katy Perry and all, she just doesn't have the same physical effect on me that Justin Timberlake does, and because my sweet cousin Shaye May bought too many tickets to Justin Timberlake & Jay-Z at the Rosebowl Stadium, Laura and I got to spend an evening with a crowd of 60,000+ for their Legends of the Summer tour. I mean geeze, I'm still not entirely sure it actually happened, it was that good... except I have these mediocre iphone pictures and video clips and I won't judge you either if you replay this three, four or thirty times. You're welcome.

 

 

Santa Monica was gloomy, but is Santa Monica really ever gloomy? I mean, it's Santa Monica and no matter how much gloom hangs over the place, I'll always be glad to be in Santa Monica, don't you agree? I snuck a picture of some of Will's clothes for sale at Fred Segal. Then I was told I couldn't do that so that was that. And then of course the pier. It's not Santa Monica without that pier.

             

A quick but great weekend! Can’t wait for the next visit! (Keep that air mattress handy, J!)

The Time I Had A Blog

Oh hey! Remember me?

I have no excuse for my absence. Well, not a good one anyway. Except we’ve been having a fun and busy summer and that should at least count for something, right?? The truth is, I couldn’t blog. I don’t know why. I just couldn’t. I’ve been busy, and hot (guys, this summer is a miserable scorcher), and between summer activities and work and moving and keeping my boyfriend and my cat alive I just didn’t have it in me to blog. The crazy thing is, I’ve had so much to blog about but without a sense of purpose all that just goes out the window. Ya feel me?

Anyway, I feel somewhat rejuvenated lately. We moved apartments, literally moved to the apartment above our old one, and while it’s a great upgrade, moving, no matter how near or far, sucks. It’s draining. It’s been a month and I’ve still put nothing on our walls. Baby steps. I guess you could say I’m trying to “feel” the space out first. Whatever. I’m just tired.

Moving on… I’m trying to pull myself together. I miss my little space on the internet and I miss my friends that gather at my space and interact with me. I miss you guys. So please just bear with me while I take a deep breath and get my head back into the blogging game.

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In the meantime, I recently took some pictures of my sisters friend, Victoria, and her soon-to-be husband, Elliott. Victoria and my sister have been BFF’s since they were wearing training bras and that, coupled with the fact that Victoria, Lyndsey and myself were roommates for a while (we’ll call it a “wild adventure”), makes Victoria an honorary sister of mine so it was so fun to spend an evening taking pictures of she and Elliott making out. Haha. But seriously.

Here’s to a loving lifetime more of heavy petting and french kissing!