Yesterday, this little marriage I'm in turned two years old.

Awwwww!

It's true! It's starting to walk and grow teeth and everything. Bless!

To celebrate this most glorious occasion, Iain and I went ice skating at Hampton Court Palace. (With approximately 454 other families.)

We've never really been a cheesy, "do what yer 'sposed-ta" couple, so sleeping in, grabbing a Starbucks and then driving over to a palace to do an hour of ice skating was the perfect day for us.

This was taken right before an Ice Marshal came over and told us to put our phones and cameras away. OooOoOo! Scary ICE MARSHAL! Your authority frightens me!

Ice Skating @ Hampton Court Palace

I actually surprised myself at how well I skated, considering I have not thrown myself on the ice whilst wearing tiny blades for about a decade. I wasn't doing triple sow cows or anything, but I didn't fall. Not once.

Iain did alright. He maaaaay have been wizzing in and out of families and adults and, you know, not falling and generally going faster than anyone else on the rink - but let's focus on the fact that I didn't fall and that I looked nice.

Seeing as the Ice Marshal completely scared us with his authoritative manner of skating, and - you know - marshalling the ice, we couldn't take any photos of us TOGETHER whilst skating, so we had to opt for taking Myspace-style photos off the ice.

They turned out like this.

Blurry, Crappy Photo

Which looks frighteningly like this:

Wedding Night in front of our Hotel...Yes, we're drunk...

Out of focus? Check. Blurry? Check. Nighttime? Check. Glowing building behind us? Checkity check check.

Also, you'll be pleased to know that in two years of marriage I have been wearing the same ear muffs that I bought on our "honeymoon" in Brighton:

Then...

Honeymoon in Brighton

Now...

My Pink, Blurry Palace

Nice? I'm glad that I care enough to update my wardrobe and accessories enough to try and keep things *exciting*.

Instead of going out to dinner, we decided to have a cozy night in.

Iain made Toad in the Hole....

Toad in the Hole

The stellar camera on Iain's Blackberry Bold makes this look like a giant ham, but it's not. And it was freaking amazing, as well.

I baked a Lemon Drizzle Cake....

And then we sat around stuffing our faces, watching Batman Begins (all the while going, "Why the hell didn't we ask for Dark Knight for Christmas!?") and sucking down Asti Martini.

...Which I now call Astin Martin, totally on accident. I think I definitely watch too much Top Gear.

I really did mean to give you an update on what I think about marriage...but I'm too tired and grumpy for that. I believe tomorrow we're getting up early to go to the gym, so I best wrap this up.

I may not be dieting all that hard, but we are working out. And technically, an hour's worth of brisk ice skating is difficult on the ass, and therefore exercise.

Anyway....

It doesn't feel like we've been married for 2 years. It still feels like a strange mixture of everything we've been through and done feeling like it was yesterday...and yet a thousand years ago at the same time.

And we're happy. And we still like each other. Sometimes we even hold hands and go to second base.

I'm not sure what else a girl could ask for.

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The Beatles-Good Day Sunshine

Tomorrow morning the sun will come up at about 7:00am.

The alarm will go off.

We'll hit snooze.

It'll go off again.

Iain will get up. I'll hear the kettle go. The refrigerator will open, and once the milk poured, close again.

I'll hear a teaspoon dinging the inside of a teacup and then softly hit the counter top.

Footsteps down the hall.

The running of the bath, the swishing of bubbles.

And then more footsteps down the hall.

Except on this particular morning, there won't be any kisses goodbye.

Or me hollering: "Do you have your wallet? Keys? Oyster card?" down the stairs as I've done so many times since I moved here.

On this particular morning, we'll be sitting in the office together. Working on the same project...

It's going to be a little strange, and I know it's going to take us a while to truly get in a groove and figure out a good routine of doing things.

It's a new chapter. We have know idea how things are going to happen or what exactly is going to happen, but I know that it's something good.

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On Saturday morning I was greeted with this beautiful care package from the ever fabulous LeendaDLL.

LeendaDLL is the breast!

Obviously, LeendaDLL knows everything that is important to me in life: greeting cards with cupakes and cute dogs; Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing (in cups, and in a bottle); Girl Scout Cookies in both Thin Mint and Peanut Butter flavors and Lucky Charms for Iain. (I've also been sharing my cookies with him. And the Ranch. I'm not that selfish.)

And let us not forget...

Cupcake Magnets!

Cupcake magnets.

LeendaDLL, you made my day, my weekend, and quite possibly my whole month. Thank you so much! Goodies from the UK will be on their way to you shortly!

Every time I dip a slice of pizza into a Ranch Cup, retrieve a Thin Mint from the freezer, and smell Lucky Charms on Iain's breath, I'll think of you.

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At ze Beach!

Today, Iain and I drove to the sea topless.

Until you've driven around sans top, eating an ice cream and blasting Sugarland, I'm pretty sure you've never known happiness.

(Finally, our decision to buy a convertible in England makes perfect sense!)

I used to point and laugh at the good folks of the UK whenever the sun decided to come out. It could be barely 20 degrees Celsius, and they'll all be outside, drenched in SPF 50 and standing in line at an ice cream van discussing their evening plans for a BBQ.

Me, hailing from a town where it's likely to get up to 110 Fahrenheit in July, would roll my eyes and mock them endlessly.

Now, I am one of the assholes drenched in SPF 50 standing outside a que of 20 or more people, just to get a freakin' Cornetto so I can sit outside under the sun. The first summer I came to the UK I was shocked by how warm it was. Apparently it was the hottest July they've ever had, and I felt right at home.

Sadly, this past summer was the exact opposite. We saw the sun for about two weeks at best, and then all it did was piss down with rain. And be cloudy. And then hail. And then rain some more.

I no longer laugh at how giddy this country gets when the sun is out. I get it. I totally get it.

Therefore, instead of staying at home watching old episodes of Smallville and only leaving the house to walk down to Starbucks this Sunday, Iain and I left the house with one goal: TO GET AS MUCH SUN AS POSSIBLE.

We started the day off by driving to Box Hill, where we stood in a line of 20 or more people, just to buy two Cornettos and a bottle of water. The view at Box Hill is gorgeous, so if you have yet to go there, I suggest you do next time the sun is out.

We sat for a good hour, judging everyone near us and enjoying the view. The woman flying a kite in a really annoying fashion, the gay couple in front of us with the cute puppies who rudely didn't offer us any of their picnic, and all the pasty, sunken-chested men with their shirts off made for excellent conversation and people watching.

Then! Iain surprised me by driving us out to Worthing. The sea was gorgeous, the cocktail I had at a bar by the shore was amazing, but the people we saw...I won't even go into it. All I'm going to say is that they were unique, and we probably will never go back there. (But really it was lovely.)

On another note, things are doing very well over here in The Home Offices Of CupCate. We have some very exciting prospects, which, to say the least, is very comforting. Thank you all again for your encouragement and the birthday wishes.
 

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J'dore...

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Two very white people at a Buddhist temple

I'm slowly but surely running out of ways to express how amazing each things have been here in Tokyo.

The time we spent yesterday in Shinjuku Gyoen National Park, sitting under the cherry blossoms was incredible - and I am so pleased to report that today was even better.

Ayako from Six Apart's Tokyo office took us around today, and I have to say, I don't ever think I could ever thank her enough. She not only went with us on a Hato Bus tour of Tokyo Tower (which is 333 meters off the ground - my lucky number and the time I was born) and the Sensoji Temple - but she also took us out for a Kushikatsu lunch, and then on to Roppongi and to the National Art Center.

I cannot tell you what a massive difference it makes to have someone show you around, help you out with the language, and help explain what it is your eating (and how to eat it) makes. Ayako, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. This has been one of the best days, and I will never forget it!

The Sensoji Temple is AMAZING and we're actually thinking of going back again tomorrow afternoon to take some more pictures, and spend some more money on over priced souvenirs. The atmosphere is so amazing that you almost don't even notice how crowded it is, especially on a weekend.

I have so much to tell you, and so any Western tourists to complain about but for now, I think we need some rest. Jet lag, you win. Okay? YOU WIN!

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Cherry blossoms

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On our first day on the world tour, five minutes after we arrived we were informed that they were having a complimentary wine and beer reception at our hotel. YES PLEASE. We sat by the fire for an hour, and I sipped red wine and caught up on all my Hillary news...

Clinton & Wine

For dinner, we sat on top of Macy's at the Cheesecake Factory roof terrace. We enjoyed $10 cocktails, outdoor heaters and one of the most amazing views I've seen in a long time. We were laughing and smiling and drinking and for one of the first times in a long time, something strange happened -  I relaxed.

Flying Gorilla

 

I think this is the start of something good...

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Scotchie's Party!

Hi all!

Sorry it's been so long since I've updated! I've been busy partying with a certain someone, hanging out with my dogs, and we drove up to Lake Tahoe on Thursday.

Currently I'm hanging out in my mom's hotel room at Heavenly Village while Iain and my Uncles/Cousins ski and my brain is MELTING watching white trash less fortunate people get makeovers or try to buy/sell/decorate houses on TLC. Seriously WHO THE HELL ARE THESE PEOPLE!!?!?

Honestly, a couple just held up a blue, paisley throw pillow and said into the camera, "See this pillow? This represents our style." WHAT?

Anyway, I went skiing yesterday and...well....it was an event, to say the least. I did pretty well until I psyched myself out going down a blue run with Iain. The poor guy had to coax me down a mountain as I slid, cried, whined, bitched, cursed and fell for a straight HOUR. He has the patience of a God and I have no idea why he didn't call up United and book a flight home for himself right there on the slope.

Dude. Seriously. Thank you for not killing me.

BUT! The cool news is that we start our WORLD TOUR ON MONDAY!!!!

Thank you all for your suggestions of what to do in Paris and Tokyo! Keep 'em coming!

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Ding Ding!

Hi all!

We flew into San Francisco last night! I apologize if this post doesn't make much sense, as I think I lost my brain somewhere between London and San Francisco. Maybe it was when we were on a 4 hour domestic flight without any on-flight entertainment, and the only amusement I found was peeking in between the seats in front of us and reading over some bald dude's Word document on Geology, and some pretentious dude in a suit's Forbes and Golf Digest. (Seriously. Who reads Golf Digest?)

(Sorry if you do.)

We'll be in town for a couple days, visiting some friends and meeting up with some girl crushes. We're not on The Tour yet, though, as we're going home for Easter (because I'm so religious) and will be hanging out in Sacramento all week (aka Watch TV on my mom's couch), and then heading up to Lake Tahoe for the weekend. (aka Drinking in the snow.)

Then! We'll be back in San Francisco from March 31st to the 3rd of April before heading off to TOKYO and PARIS! Woot!

I need suggestions of where to go in Paris and Tokyo! Help a pastry out! Where should we go? What should we do?

Also, I'm in the The Guardian today giving terribly authoritative quotes on Dollymix and why women's blogs are better than fashion magazines.

Viv Groskop reports on the boom in women's websites | Media | The Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/...

In the US earlier this month, a group of women announced that they were launching a website for women over 40, called wowowow.com (a play on "women on the web" — an address that, tellingly, they had to buy from a porn site). There can be no doubt about the power of these women. The five founders include Joni Evans, former president of the publishing house Simon & Schuster, and Peggy Noonan, a columnist and former presidential speechwriter. There can also be no mistaking how serious they are about making the site a success. Each founder has contributed $200,000 (£100,000) , they have hired five full-time, web-savvy members of staff , and bloggers on the site include Lily Tomlin, Whoopi Goldberg and Candice Bergen.

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