The Wisdom of Six Years

Today I met with a student who could possibly fit our empty slot in the Michigan in Washington program. It was so enjoyable to talk to her! We spent a full 45 minutes discussing the program and her life goals. It's amazing how you can just instantly click with some people. This student was one of these people. As she recounted her dashed hopes for attending law school and the resulting malaise of having your life plan pulled out from under you, I could not help but think of myself at that age. I grew up believing I would be a politician or a lawyer. After interning in DC and taking a practice LSAT, I knew that these two options were not the best for me. I know what I am doing is what I should be doing, but I remember the effects of starting all over. Confronting the reality that who you think you should be isn't who you will end up being is difficult to say the least. There may be no more central question than that regarding identity, and if you have already envisioned yourself to be one thing, having that identity wrestled away from you leaves you wondering who you are.

Finding My Inner Domestic Goddess

It is official: I am Mrs. Miller.  I did not take Dan's last name. In fact, I told him there were only a few discrete circumstances under which I would take my husband's last name. First, his last name would have to be undeniably awesome. Like "Edge" (this Dan's mother's maiden name). That is a kick-ass last name. Wait, that is the only circumstance under which I would take his last name. In fact, most of my married friends have kept their last names. I know of only three that have changed theirs, compared to many who have kept theirs. Goodness knows I am not one to rock the boat!

The wedding was a huge success! I did not know one is supposed to have so much fun at her own wedding! Everything worked out: the weather, the food, and even the cheesy music!

In other news, I have a new goal for the summer. I am going to unleash my inner domestic goddess! Let's face it: I can't cook, I am not neat and tidy and my idea of decorating is slapping a poster haphazardly on a blank wall. In fact, my utter lack of domesticity was the fodder for my father's toast at the wedding reception. So each week I will embark on a new project. Tonight I am cooking (with the help of my friend Cassie). Pictures and stories will ensue. Below is a picture of me in a properly domestic outfit (I can't seem to get the picture to flip the right way--sad).

Warm April Snow

I'm back. I haven't been blogging because I have nary a thing to write. Seeing that there is nothing to recap, I will dive right in. Oh wait! Yes, I do have something to share. I picked out my shoes for the wedding (see below). They are the Augusta peep toes in faded aqua, from J. Crew. They are exquisite and I have been traipsing through the house in them. Undoubtedly, if I were swimming in money, I would splurge on quality shoes. Alas,  I am not. 

I am torn as to what to wear for the rehearsal dinner. I have a classic black Givenchy dress (one of my purchases at the Rack in Scottsdale), but I am afraid that the color and fabric are wrong for Cuernavaca, Mexico, at the end of May.

Okay, I have to confess: I am slightly hurt that no one on my father's side of the family will be attending my nuptials. Many who said they were coming have been scared off by the reports of violence in Mexico. Yet my family assures me that everything is fine in Mexico City and Cuernavaca. The fighting is contained to the border region, which is thousands of miles away. While I didn't want a huge wedding, I did think some of the people on my dad's side would come. Alas, it will be a small and intimate wedding.  

Beyond that, I have a poster presentation to prepare in two weeks. My advisor specifically said that he would like to see results. Essentially, Mama has a lot of work to do. 

Happy New Year!

Dear readers! It has been too long. I can't offer a bouquet of excuses, just simply the truth. I had nothing to write about nor did I feel like writing. Now I am in Starbucks in Scottsdale, Arizona, working. I am wearing a heather gray, sleeveless Yves Saint Laurent vest, belted, (as seen here)  and black patent Ferragamo loafers. Thank you sales! Dan and I have been taking full advantage of the retail malaise and have ransacked Nordstrom Rack. We have also been eating, a lot. Now it is the New Year and I have a wedding that I need to get serious about. Dan and I just fully realized how much planning there was still left to do. We are woefully behind. I am hoping that we can pull it together. So far, January looks like it will be a pretty busy month. In full anticipation of this, I have been reading fiction, soaking every minute I have left of this break. I finally capitulated, and read Twilight. This was after Dan's sister, her friend, and I went to see the film. It was so cheesy and awesome that I would be willing to see it again. Any takers? I bought the cheap paperback soon after and loved every word in the purple prose. I don't know if I will read the rest of these books, as I heard that the main characters become incredibly annoying. Any thoughts? And on that note, I will return to my work.