a post about love, and about a blog about love

I've been reading lots about love and marriage lately. Not sure why these things keep popping up on my radar, but they have been, so I'm embracing the knowledge being showered upon me.

One of my favorite bits of advice is to hang out without other couples {double dates!}. Experts {i.e. authors I've been reading} say that you can learn a lot from your friends' relationships. Watch how they interact - do they hold hands? Are they quick to apologize to each other? Are they polite to one another? Even if they're having a not-so-wonderful night, you can learn from that, too - how not to act, perhaps. Either way, it can strengthen your relationship, and it's fun to spend time with friends!

Another thing I've learned? Appreciate the little things. And make sure your partner knows you appreciate and love them.

One of my new favorite blogs - A Blog About Love - posted on that very thing recently. It's too good not to share with you. While in the story, the author had originally written the advice as six things to always say to your spouse, I think it's applicable to your friends and maybe even yourself, too.

~via~

happy hearts day

Yesterday, my mailman (mailwoman? mailcarrier.) delivered a sweet little package.

And inside, was this sweet little treat from my sweet friend.

It made my heart smile.

I hope you have someone who makes your heart shine - a friend, a significant other, someone special, a child or even a pet.

Happy Valentine's Day

a sweet six months

Today marks six months of marriage for Mark and me. Hooray! To celebrate, I visited our wedding website and watched the save the date video Mark created. I love it and it always makes me smile.

Check it out here.

~photo from our amazing photographers~

hooray for 2012!

I've been hibernating from the blog and spending loads of time with friends and family. But now that 2012 is here, I'm refreshed and rejuvenated and ready to take on the world!

Who's with me?

~via~

breakfast of champions

Last week, Mark got up with me and made me a protein smoothie for breakfast. So sweet {both him and the drink}.

wedded bliss

You are just going to die when you see the images from Amy's amazing wedding, so I won't keep you waiting with a verbose introduction. On to the photos!

a surprise, personalized mrs. vericker hanger

prepping the ceremony site

guest book of wishes

some of the hundreds of handmade flowers painstakingly created by Amy's lovely mother, Renee

a dessert buffet in the making

pick your poison

so many good ideas

the handsome husband-to-be

groomsmen tying raffia bows

setting up the snack bar

centerpiece pefection

signature cocktail

cutting the {bundt} cake

family dance

 the keeper of the garter belt

groomsmen {plus two}

and they lived happily ever after

lovesong

The Cure's "Lovesong" is one of my all-time favorite songs, and thanks to Adele, I've fallen in love with it all over again. As most of my friends can attest, if I'm obsessed with a song, I'll play ad nauseum.

This song is no exception.

long distance love

Mark is back in Virginia, so our conversations are back to taking place over text, phone and Skype. And picture messages from work.

love shack

My sweet Valentine's Day gift.

happy hearts

Happy Valentine's Day, my lovelies! 

pasta perfection {and a bruschetta fail}

One of my favorite Sunday traditions is to make pasta carbonara with Mark {and watch Mad Men when it's on}. Since this past Sunday was Super Bowl Sunday, we switched up our tradition and whipped up dinner on Saturday. 

For lunch, while running wedding errands, we stopped by Pane Bianco, had lunch and picked up a loaf of their homemade rustic bread.

~best. bread. ever.~

~bedhead~

~a yummy mix of bacon, garlic and peas~

~finished with a bit of shaved parmesan~

And the epic bruschetta fail... too much oil and extra watery tomatoes do not make a delicious side.