Moments of Musing

A good person

Filed Under: Marriage //

I recently got into a debate (with a man). The topic of our discussion was whether a wife should be expected to cater to her husband, i.e. cook for him, serve his dinner, iron for him, pack for him, etc. 

(Note: if you are a wife and you enjoy doing these things for your husband, that’s great. Expectation is very different from desire.)

When I expressed concern over having been told (by other people previously, not by the man) what I, in order to be a good wife, ought to do for my husband, the man said (not verbatim) that it’s okay for a girl to be raised to be a good wife because it’s sometimes necessary in order to hold on to a good man. 

I let that digest for a few seconds. And then I explained that I grew up striving to be a good woman, and a mom. 

I might have grown up in a romanticized world and I might have always wanted to get married, but until I got married I had never centered my life around becoming a good wife. How could I even be a good wife if I am not a good woman?

Then, I thought to myself: even more than a good woman– I want to be a good person. I want to live life to the fullest, I hope to help others, I desire to be a kind and compassionate person. 

Don’t get me wrong–I love my husband deeply. I have served Mr. L dinner. And I’ve also ironed for him, I’ve done his laundry, cooked for him. He’s also done the same for me. Mutuality is our key. I hope we always practice it and I hope we can show our children just how important that balance is. 

Anniversary photo shoot previews

Filed Under: anniversary, love, Marriage, wedding //

“Wedding days are beautiful and meaningful and they mark what’s considerably the happiest day of each couples life. But the aftermath of a wedding is many, many happy days that aren’t as loud, or as profound as the actual day itself, but they’re just as meaningful if not more. Anniversary sessions say ‘We still do.’ And isn’t that what it’s all about? Looking at each other and still wanting to say I do, over and over again.” – Hayley of Hay Alexandra Photo

When I first had the idea of doing a First Anniversary Shoot (a month early for weather reasons), I said I wouldn’t share the photos because some people think it’s weird to wear your wedding dress again. Well let me tell you, brides– PUT THE DRESS ON AGAIN! 
Seeing my husband look at me and tell me how beautiful I looked in the dress brought back all of our wedding day memories, but even more special than that was the reminder of how happy I am to be married to the love of my life… Plus, I’ve gotten more wear of the most beautiful (and expensive) item of clothing I’ve owned.
The shoot itself was so much fun. It was 3.5 hours of traditional and non-traditional locations and poses. Our photographer, the super sweet and talented Jen Larsen of Jennifer Larsen Photography, even sent us a preview Saturday afternoon, a mere few hours after the shoot! Imagine my thrill in the middle of an apple tree farm. 
Without further ado, here are a few previews:

If you’re in the NY/NJ area and you’re in the market for a photog, you should really consider her!!

To Travel and Beyond

Bermuda… BAHAMAS … Come on pretty mama

Filed Under: Uncategorized //

Last week we booked our most impromptu vacation yet. It’s not for another 70-something days but it was definitely not on our radar. Our family got a great deal and we couldn’t pass up another family vacation to the Bahamas (we didn’t go with them in June). . . So Mr. L and I are headed to paradise early next year!
So what am I excited for? 
To see what all the talk about Atlantis is. It has been on my hotel bucketlist for a bit now. 
To frolick in a bikini and summery clothes. I know by then we’ll be ready to escape the cold winter. 
To make new memories with Mr. L and family. There’s nothing like being on an island together to foster bonding time. 
To see the clear, blue ocean. There’s something about (clean and clear) ocean water that is just so soothing. 
Have you been to Atlantis? What are your recommendations/ suggestions?

Wearing the dress again

Filed Under: Uncategorized //


wedding dress, wedding, dress, wedding gown, allure wedding gown, allure wedding dress
I can’t be the only bride who dreams of wearing my wedding dress again. 

A lot of girls grow up dreaming of their wedding day. You want to meet the perfect man for you to marry and live happily ever after. And you can’t wait to find your dress that’ll make you feel the most beautiful you’ve ever felt in your life.

Then, the wedding day comes and goes. You’re happily married but you find yourself having to part from the dress. It might have gotten a little dirty or ripped and a decision has to be made: to preserve or not to preserve. 

The preservation process not only cleans the dress but requires it to be placed into a sealed container. The dress is only supposed to be handled with gloves and to check for damages and/or yellowing. The process is quite costly. 

What if I told you I preserved my dress shortly after our wedding, only to take it out and wear it again?

Well, I have and I am — for our Anniversary Photo Shoot. You see, our wedding photographer failed to capture photos of us in front of our church and outdoors during the daytime and I really want those photos. And what better way to commemorate our FIRST anniversary than a photo shoot featuring some of our wedding day memorabilia. 

We were going to get them done in June but then we found ourselves with just 3 weeks to move so the shoot just wasn’t a priority. This way it’s closer to our anniversary and will be taken at our church. 

Some people, including family and friends, think it’s a little wacky. I appreciate their opinions but I am so excited for the shoot that it doesn’t really bother me. Plus, this type of shoot, including the wedding dress, is becoming more popular. 

Because I’m not the only bride who dreams of wearing the dress again. 

What do you think about wearing it again? Thoughts?

Stop & smell the roses

Filed Under: Uncategorized //

Showing Tim around NYC has given me the best excuse to be a tourist in my own city. I’ve grown up here but I’m almost embarrassed to admit that I’ve never been to the top of the Empire State Buildng (I have been to the Top of the Rock); I’ve never visited Ellis Island to see the Statue of Liberty up close; and I have yet to venture to Fire Island like I’ve always said I want to. 

So on Monday, since my dad and I had off, we ventured to the Botanic Garden. It might have been my first time there, too. I took in deep breaths as we were all surrounded by Mother Nature right in the middle of the city. 
I think it’s important to let go of technology for a bit and to step outside. To appreciate where we are and to respect our earth. Nature really is so beautiful. We ought to stop and smell the roses a little more.