THE Journal (love letters, continued)

You know that little book I made Matthew for Valentine's day?? Well, it was nothing compared to what he had given me for my previous birthday.

We had been dating about a month when my birthday rolled around - a birthday I would be spending hiking a 20 mile section of the Appalachian Trail with my good friend, my brother, and my dad. A birthday miles away from computers, cell phone reception, and showers. An amazing way to turn 22 (but that's a different story).

About a week before we left, he gave me this little waterproof case (and yes, he made the stencil on the front. he is amazing). 

Inside was this book:

He had taken the pages out and stitched in pages made of recycled paper bags. 

Each set of pages had pictures he had taken and found places... notes he had written and scraps of paper he had found.

I was able to write my many, many thoughts each day on a lovely backdrop.

my favorite page:

(the typed lyrics from our song)

Um yeah. I should have known as soon as I opened the journal that he was the man I would marry. A Jerry Maguire moment: "You had me at journal..."

(oh, and I'm debating... do you want to see a couple more love letters? this one pretty much takes the cake, everything else pales in comparison! but i was awfully excited and i love bragging about my man!)

52 Reasons (love notes, continued)

Matthew isn't the only one who can write sweet notes of endearment. 

For Valentine's day last year, I made him this little book full of love. I took a deck of cards (complete with jokers for the front and back covers) and wrote something I loved about him on each page. 

(how do i love thee? let me count the ways...)

I loved thinking of 52 things I loved about him... they ranged from the goofy to emotional to sassy...and illustrating each page was fun, too. Oh, how I love this boy...

I really want to do something creative this year, but hiding projects is much more complicated now that we live together! Plus, I have to finish something in one sitting because I always rush to show it to him as soon as it's done :)

Love Letters

Hubby and I are people-people. We love good stories and talking and meeting others. We also love creating things out of odds and ends. We've slapped our little place together with string, scotch tape, and found/unwanted treasures. 

He doesn't give flowers. I don't give ties. We aren't big on buying new things for each other. 

What we do like, though, is a good love note. Especially one that combines art and the written word.

This week being full of love and pink and all things gushy as we head into that oh-so-romantic Valentine's day,  I thought I'd share some of the sweet little things we've exchanged during our time together.

(I promise to try not to be too sappy...)

Matthew is the first boy to ever leave me love letters. I found both of these notes, on separate days, waiting for me in my mailbox. It was the early days of our movement from friendship to dating, and I literally swooned when I opened the handmade envelopes and read the little typewritten messages.

Re-reading them today brings me right back to those days of giddiness and anticipation, the butterflies and the sliding into love...

Stay tuned for an easy book of love notes - my favorite valentine's gift I've given.

Swap Love!

I got my book swap package today! It seriously made my afternoon so amazing...

pretty package...

with TWO books inside!! How amazing! They are Love Walked In and Belong to Me (the sequel to Love Walked In) by Marisa de Los Santos! I haven't read either, and can't wait to start them. Thank you so much, Elizabeth*.

Here's what I sent:

A card, a little pin, and The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides.

I love this book to pieces - it captures so much angst and love and Michigan goodness, and I hope my lovely swap friend enjoys it!

Valentine's Swap Update:

I love to see everyone working so hard on their cards. Want a little sneak peek??

Micaela worked hard on her movie romance valentines. And Caitlin over at maybe i'm an orange peel blogged about loving hers.

And sweet Erin of Pugh's News broke out all her supplies and got creative with her two cuties. 

Look at Lauren's pretty envelopes!! They hold love notes :)

I'm so excited to see what everyone else is working on! Keep the pictures coming, lovelies... my favorite part of the swap process is seeing how much the recievers swoon over their goodies. You are all creative, wonderful people. Thanks so much for joining the fun!

P.S. - Thanks too every one who left nice notes the other day. Reading your comments and your blogs makes me smile every day. I am thankful everyday for such a wonderful blogging community! (hope that wasn't too cheesy for you!)

*Elizabeth, I don't have your blog address, so if you read this, please let me know! I'd love to come visit and thank you again and get to know you a little bit.

in the sea

maggie and milly and molly and may
went down to the beach (to play one day)

and maggie discovered a shell that sang
so sweetly she couldn’t remember her troubles,and

milly befriended a stranded star
whose rays five languid fingers were;

and molly was chased by a horrible thing
which raced sideways while blowing bubbles:and

may came home with a smooth round stone
as small as a world and as large as alone.

For whatever we lose(like a you or a me)
it’s always ourselves we find in the sea

-e.e.cummings-

(this is one of my favorite picture of my parents - they are 21 and on their honeymoon and completely in love. i love that they are gazing out over the water... facing their future together. and i love that when we took a gigantic trip back to california when i was in high school, we went back to the beach where this photo was taken, so they could find another log and gaze out at the water together.)

if you can't tell, i'm still longing for sunshine and warmth. if you have some, please send it my way. then maybe i can get out of this funk!

The perfect combo for a restful Sunday night: 

too much pizza

lots of cuddles

and the first season of 30 Rock

(seriously, people, how did we miss this show??)

the newest addition...

...will be added to matthew's arm soon. my man sure loves his tattoos. this will go right below his trees and mountains on his arm - completing his sleeve. isn't it an awesome sketch??

 i never imagined i'd marry a man covered in tattoos. but each one of matt's tattoos tell a story about him and his life. this one fully encompasses his love for urban life, complete with public transportation and government, a church and a park by the water. my outdoorsy man with a passion for good architecture. 

can you tell i love his tattoos? and him??

(although my favorite is the one that we share...)

Do you have a tattoo? Does it mean anything special??