The Day We Got Married.

I woke up without an alarm. The sunshine peeking through the blinds just after 8:00. And even in those groggy morning moments, it was already just the way I hoped our wedding day would feel - happy, natural, and relaxed.

Later that morning, we went for a brisk walk around our new neighborhood. Arm in arm. Trying to stay warm. Came home and sat on the couch in our sweats, eating breakfast and watching Friends.

A little while later, Weston left with his suit in his hands and I kissed him goodbye before submerging myself in a hot bath. I got ready in my bedroom with my mom, Weston's sister Taryn, and the two talented ladies who did my hair and makeup - my friends Bianca and Diana. I helped my mom apply her makeup, laughed with Taryn over her constant teary eyes that day, and then we got in the car and headed to Malibu.

The boys all arrived a little early to set up our arbor, lanterns, and the little DIY backdrop of paper cones.

Initially, my dream was to elope in Big Sur. When we decided to have our parents and siblings in attendance at our ceremony, the cost of a destination wedding quickly added up and we decided to look for a place that would have a similar feel without the additional travel costs.

When we met with the family who owns this property in Malibu we were blown away by their kindness, graciousness, and care-free attitude. And as for the canopy of trees in their forest? We just loved it. It encompassed everything we were hoping for in a location. There was a small, enclosed gazebo near the main property that the owners let us use, so when we arrived, my mom, Taryn, and I headed inside for a few finishing touches and to slip into my dress.

I will never forget how excited my mom was before the ceremony. Love her!

After I was dressed, I finally started to feel a little bit anxious. The whole day I'd been so calm but when I knew we were only a few moments away, I just wanted to stop waiting and see Weston! We met up with my dad and then he, my mom and I stood just outside of the woods, waiting not-so-patiently for our cue to start walking….

When I heard my uncle whistle, a million butterflies took flight in my stomach. My dad squeezed my arm and the three of us started walking around the bend. As soon as I heard my friend Tristen's faint guitar picking in the distance (he played this song by Bibio) I felt myself start to cry. And as we got closer to Weston and I could see his face more clearly - and he was crying and smiling… Well, that's something I'll never forget.

From the start, we wanted to have someone that really knows us officiate our ceremony. After considering a couple people, we both thought of my Uncle Pete. He is the lead singer of my dad's band and not at all lacking in personality, he's the fire chief in his town so he is known for his charisma and steadfastness in nerve wracking situations, he loves God and has a successful marriage of his own that we admire, and of course he knows us better than most. We couldn't think of anyone better suited for the job.

So a few months before our ceremony, I called him and with a shaky, nervous voice, asked if he would consider getting licensed and saying our wedding for us. Thankfully, he graciously accepted the job. We couldn't have asked for a more perfect and memorable officiant. One of my favorite parts of the ceremony was when he shared words that our families had given to him to describe us as a couple. It was sweet, encouraging, and a wonderful surprise when he started reading them one by one.

Weston and I wrote our vows the day before the wedding - haha. I feel like… until the day before, it just didn't feel like there was any rush and then suddenly it was like "oh, we should probably figure out what we are going to say tomorrow." I was working on mine upstairs, he was writing his downstairs when he called up to me, "Are we allowed to make jokes in the vows?!" 

Weston is quiet and definitely not the type of person who goes around baring his soul in public and after he asked me that question, I assumed the vows would be brief and lighthearted, which is just like Weston. But when it came time to share them, Weston almost couldn't get the words out. And once he did, I was blown away by the eloquent, heartfelt, and beautiful sentiments that he shared in front of our families. Favorite part of the day. (and who am I kidding - favorite part of my life!)

After the emotional vows, Pete asked us to hold hands and prepare to exchange our rings. Weston's face went white and his eyes widened. He started mouthing something to me while Pete began to talk about the rings and suddenly I realized what he was saying… "Your ring is in the car!"

Our Elopement Video.

Two weekends ago, Weston and I got married.

Our elopement-style ceremony was everything we had wanted and then some. Just seven guests in attendance - our parents and siblings. My friend Tristen played acoustic guitar as my mom and dad walked me down the "aisle" and my Uncle Pete said the ceremony for us in a beautiful Malibu forest on November 28th.

We spent the morning of our wedding together as well, which was time with Weston I wouldn't trade for the world and it actually kept me from getting too nervous or anxious. It all felt really normal and natural - we went for a walk through the neighborhood, watched Friends and ate breakfast together, then split up to get ready for the ceremony.

I will share more details and pictures of the day soon, but for now I'll leave this little glimpse here.

I hope you are all having a wonderful time preparing for the holidays!

All my love,
Mrs. Amaro

Me Want Cookie.

I started thinking about Halloween pretty early this year. Our school puts on a costume parade each fall and I always try to think of an outfit that will be a) recognizable to 5-year-olds, b) comfortable enough to work in throughout the day, and c) kind of cute.

This year, I dressed up as everyone's favorite, cookie obsessed, Sesame Street monster and I convinced my co-teacher and our assistant to join in on the neighborhood fun by being Elmo and Oscar the Grouch! The kids were really excited to see us this morning and we got lots of compliments on our little costume trio. Not too shabby for a $10 DIY!

I bought a blue t-shirt for $3, two blue feather boas, two styrofoam balls to create the eyes, and some felt to cut out the cookies. I safety pinned the cookies and boa to a skirt I already have and love to wear to work, and hot glued part of the boa and the eyes to a cheap headband. 

Glad to retire my go-to Minnie Mouse outfit this year for something fresh and new. 

Plus, I got to eat as many cookies as I wanted during our class party. ;)

The cookie nails were a hit too. I didn't even think the kids would notice but they pointed them out right when I walked in! So funny what they notice! 

Here's the rest of the crew. ;)

What are you dressing up as this weekend?

Have a fun and safe Halloween!

Twenty-Five.

It started with kindergarten birthday greetings, shouted at 8:30. Playdough shaped like tulips on the table, a colorful banner above my things. Handmade cards and a happy chapel. A mid-morning visit that let us take a break from ten frames in favor of playing with Toby. Freshly baked gluten-free cookies and brownies at snack time from the world's best co-teacher. A cold Starbucks delivery during recess. An armful of flowers as I left our classroom. A breezy, sunny afternoon drive home. Laughing over old home movies with my brother.

Sometimes, bodies aren't aware that there should be a celebration going on so they shut down a little bit. Mine is notorious for this, so I haven't been able to taste any of this beautiful, mom-made cake yet, but hopefully soon! And speaking of being "Grown Up"… I actually acquired another cake last night from two very special realtors, as well as the keys to our newly purchased home! :')

Twenty-four was monumental for sure…
but twenty-five is already one for the books.

Tunes : For Autumn

I'm realizing how quickly fall passes through Southern California. It takes until the beginning of November for it to make an appearance and just a few short weeks after that, everything is covered with Christmas decorations and autumn kind of falls second fiddle to the 'holiday' season.

In a way, maybe that's why it feels so special while it's here.

Here are a few of the songs that give me that refreshing "fall" feeling.
To me, they sound like warm apple cider, crunchy leaves, brisk cloudy mornings, and warm knit scarves. ;)

♫ listen on spotify

There has always been this one beloved tree, a Liquidambar, in our front yard. It was probably the only indication of seasons on our block. In the summer, the next-door-neighbor kids and I would picnic underneath it's huge green leaves. In the fall, it was only tree that shed it's red, yellow, and orange leaves, which we'd sweep and rake into a giant pile to jump in. In the winter it was bare, and I would look out my bedroom window, right through it's empty branches in anticipation of the first little green buds that would appear. We even "decorated" it for Christmas many times - with hula hoop ornaments and jump rope garlands. In the spring, it's little flowers would fall, giving us plenty of ingredients to make pretend "pea soup" in our sand buckets with it's green powder and some good ol' hose water.

A few weeks ago, the tree got cut down. It wasn't producing any more leaves and it's insides were being chewed up by insects so it was only a matter of time. My next door neighbor had planted it 24 years ago, around the time his son was born, and I think all of us probably feel that same little sadness when we look at the stump that is left there. It feels like the end of The Giving Tree.

But I'm so thankful for the tree that gave me the slightest glimpse of seasons as a kid.
Even here in the suburbs of sunny Southern California.

What songs make you feel like fall?
I'd love some new additions to my playlist. Send a suggestion or two my way!

Orchards.

In the last few months, I've caught myself nestled deep in a creative slump. Between all my other priorities and responsibilities, I find myself struggling to come up with content for this blog that didn't come from my iPhone and get clumped into some, large, "catch-up" post about what I've been up to after disappearing for months. What I'm trying to say is : it felt really good to have my camera in hand last weekend and I'm so excited to be sharing these pictures with you… If anyone is still reading this thing… Hello out there!

On Sunday, Weston and I drove out to Oak Glen to spend a brisk, cloudy afternoon exploring the orchards. As a born-and-raised Southern Californian, the slightest glimpse of fall excites the heck out of me, so as soon as red and yellow leaves started making appearances on the trees we drove past, I was pumped. This year, we made it in time to actually see some apples still hanging in the orchards too! Which was a success in comparison to our last apple picking attempt, ha! We browsed around a few different orchards and I even convinced Weston to stalk (get it?!) through an overpriced corn maze with me. Anything in the name of autumn, right?

^ the "my hands are freezing" pose ^

That last picture of me and Weston is proof that if some random mom, struggling to keep her two children from wringing each other's necks offers to take your picture as you walk back to your car…. you should say yes. No matter how awkward it is to smile at her while her boys literally throw each other in the street during a game of those-are-my-apples-no-they-are-mine. Because she may surprise you by taking a pretty good picture! 

Our first, highly anticipated, glimpse of the season has been wonderful. 

My room is always the coldest in our house (not to mention, I'm always the coldest person in our house anyway) and after our day in Oak Glen, I actually pulled my heated blanket out of storage! It is probably my favorite thing during this time of year. I mean, preheated sheets?! Come on! Keeps my little icicle toes warm all night! ;) 

Please, oh please, stay for a while, Fall.

No more heat-waves. I love you so.