Music to my Heart

Happy Thursday, friends and loves. 

So I know tomorrow is Valentine's Day and I'm single, but that doesn't mean I can't join in on some of the fun. I've only had a few valentine's with a "somebody" and can say that the ones I've spent single have been a million times better. Yes, dates and cards and flowers are wonderful and thoughtful - but what's even better is the alleviation of the gifting pressure. 

I am a romantic at heart and believe that the way you treat your sweetheart should be the same all days of the year, not just this one. But I also believe that the day shouldn't go forgotten for your family, friends and lovers. 

Edit: Is it still a thing where you have to give every single person a valentine in elementary school? I remember how awkward it was to make sure that the most platonic, high-five and not kisses cards went to the grossest boys in class. And you'd tape on the bad candy. And you'd maybe purposefully mess up the spelling of their name. Nobody else? Anyone? 

Back to the topic that I haven't gotten to yet.

Ever since my first suitor in 5th grade gave me the Titanic Soundtrack as an "I like you a lot" gift, I have found a lot of meaning in speaking this language of love to others through songs. Curating playlists, whether they are motivational, sentimental, passive-aggressive - I always feel like my emotions are better said in a collection of songs. 

The five I'm going to share with you are love to the core, love forever, be mine always songs. You've been warned! 

Baby I Want You : Amos Lee

Wanted : Hunter Hayes

All of Me : John Legend

You're the One That I Want : Angus & Julia Stone

At Last : Etta James

Now go out there and share the love <3

Week 6: Cohabitation

I know you've missed this post topic... I've missed writing it!

I also know that you just had an earful from me yesterday about how my love for Daniel has evolved over the past few years, but that doesn't mean that there's nothing left to talk about in our adventures together with cohabitation.

First of all, Dan and I have both been working very hard lately and are finding it difficult to get everything done in the week. Looking at my running log the majority of my mileage has been on the weekends and will need to continue being that way - which really makes it difficult in this short month! Having this feeling of a time constraint made us a little reluctant to go out and celebrate so we opted for a wonderful candlelight dinner at home and made our Lent commitment that we are giving up eating dinner in front of the TV! This is a huge goal for us and I'm looking forward to making more eye contact with my sweetie and making every meal special with him.

Remember when I stood behind him saying that he could cook? Bam:

I didn't even have to lift a finger!

Other amazing eats have all taken place on the weekends and mostly in the form of breakfast. We won't be able to enjoy breakfast together this weekend unfortunately because Dan will have to go in for work one and hopefully not two days - which makes me sad. What makes me really happy was this ultra tasty scramble that again he whipped up and had ready for me on Sunday after my 10 miler.

Other eats included pancakes to celebrate national pancake day and made use of the rest of the Otto's meats that we had remaining from the Super Bowl!!

I've failed to write to one of the favorite parts of my last two weeks - last Thursday's meal with my mom, dad, Bailey and Dan. We arrived to their house in the evening after a long day of work and were instantly greeted by the smiling and silly face of sister Bailey who is in love with my man and shows no shame for it. We entered the kitchen that smelled of lasagna, there were wine glasses set at the table and tasty olive bread + salad among different serving utensils that Dan had gifted my mom for Christmas.

My mom makes the most incredible lasagna and the photo you see below does not do it justice. I couldn't even put my fork down to show you all of the wonderful layers of veggies, noodles, ricotta cheese and lean meats. I have a feeling that I'm going to need to make it for Dan soon or he will leave me to find someone else who can.

You will also see the precious face below of Miss Purple who is the current topic of conversation around the house as mom weighs out the thought of keeping Bailey as her one and only daughter living in the house or if she wants to add the beautiful half-sister of Bailey yet to be named. More to come on that - I'm waiting on the edge of my seat!

I think she'd fit in perfectly! 

Since you also haven't seen any living-together updates from me I'm happy to announce that Tiger is still lively and swimming around without a care. His favorites are displaying for Dan and I when we put our fingers over his water (flaring his gills!), sleeping on top of the heater, chasing us around for pellets, blowing bubbles and looking beautiful. Dan and I are very happy that we adopted him and think of him often.

We seem to live for the weekends lately and this is absolutely no exception. I've got some running to get after to catch up for the month, focus on some of my Eight Great Goals, catch up on some rest and do a lot more of this:

<3 JE

Throwback Thursday: Love in All the Right Places

Today is Valentine's Day and I've never been more in love. My sweetheart sent me two dozen roses in gorgeous colors to work on Tuesday and everyone in my work pod was excited, oohing and aahing and wishing they had someone in their life as sweet, thoughtful and ahead of the game like my dearest Daniel.

It's amazing to think of how we began our courtship with a playful attitude and nearly stayed in the dreaded friend-zone when things took a turn for the best and we watched our high fives turn into hugs, hugs turn into kisses and eye contact melt into deep soul contact. It's a wonderful feeling that caught me by surprise and continues to rest comfortably on my heart every day.

Something you may not know is that this is our third Valentine's day together. The very first year (2011) Dan prepared a home cooked meal that we enjoyed by candlelight with a bottle of red wine before he was even a fan and I remember being sad because I was starting to get a cold, didn't want him to get sick, and actually sat on the other couch while watching Inception for the first time. I'm sure he was disappointed but since I kept talking to him he never gave up hope.

This was his response to a silly-faced photo I sent him in May 2011

Our second Valentine's day together we went to Bugatti's in Beaverton to avoid a long wait or a pre-selected menu and enjoyed amazing bread + olive oil, a pizza and a bottle of red wine that kept us fed over the two hours we sat at the table looking into each other's eyes, giggling about it being our second valentine's together and when he could meet my little sister, Bailey! (For the record, he met miss Bailey two days later at puppy class!)

We then had an amazing year that followed, starting off by being honest with ourselves and being open to what our relationship meant to each of us. We started over, we approached each other with fresh eyes, we let the world know that we were officially a couple, we shared I love you's for the first time, spent quality time with my family and as you know, moved in together. It's been one of my greatest years yet.

Our third valentine's together is already perfect without the day even starting. We woke up early, grabbed a coffee on our way to work and I can't wait to see him again this evening. Special, just like always. I celebrate my love for him every day and wish I had the conversation hearts every day of the year too and I'm pretty confident that he feels the same way about me :)

This Throwback Thursday is brought to you by a man who borrowed my heart two years ago and I've never asked for it back:

His first V-Day card to me^

<3 JE