2014

I don’t make New Year’s Resolutions any more. Those clichéd self-promises don’t stick. They’re silly. Instead, I’m being a yogi regarding The New Year. I’m taking some time to reflect on 2013 and I’m setting some intentions for going forward. But my most important intention of all: to be present through it all.

2013 was a big year.

I married my best friend.

I traveled to Napa (twice!) and Jamaica.

We went on an amazing honeymoon. (Blog posts to come.)

I went on my first safari and visited South Africa and Mauritius for the first time. (See above.)

I earned a promotion at work.

A MUSE BOUCHE got lots of love on social media here and here. (Thank you fans.)

I embraced Instagram (@amyesinger).

I watched Breaking Bad, in an embarrassingly short period of time.

I changed my name.

I taught myself how to make homemade chicken salad and used those skills to make many packed lunches for my hubby and me.

I learned how to make homemade sushi; thanks to our amazing NYE hosts Megan & Ryan.

My husband and I started cooking dinner, often.

[Wedding Photo by Carlie Statsky, Napa, CA]

[Cape Town, South Africa]

[Sabi Sands in Kruger National Park, South Africa]

2014 is going to be a big year.

I want to try a cooking class.

I’m going to continue cooking and brown bagging my lunch.

I plan to find an apartment spacious enough for a kitchen table. (Only in NYC, friends.)

I want to host dinner parties, or at least more parties, for my friends.

I plan to post a new blog at least once/week.

I’m going to work on my book, seriously.

I will travel more with my hubby.

I intend to unplug more, always during meals.

I want to clean out the clutter in my personal space, in my email and in life.

I will continue to enjoy the little things, like snuggling up under some Faux Fur with my husband on a frigid winter day.

A

a rosenthal by any other name

Before Justin and I started talking about getting married, I had always planned on keeping my last name. I’m an independent, Aquarius woman! And I like having the same last name as my Grandpa whom I clearly adore, along with my father and two brothers. I mean, check out this Rosenthal crew:

But it’s important to my man. In fact, he used to joke that he wasn’t going to propose to me unless I agreed to take his last name. Justin can be very traditional. It’s cute. So I conceded. Or at least I’m in the process.

Our marriage license lists my new last name: Singer. I have a new social security card with the name Amy Singer. And my new passport is in the mail.* I still have to get a new driver’s license, and then a new e-mail address. (But FYI in a totally lovey dovey and contradictory-to-everything-I’m-saying-here way I do confess I tried to sign up for amysinger@gmail.com like three years ago. It was already taken. This of course is the modern day equivalent to scribbling AE + JB = LOVE in a notebook.)

Anyway, I digress. I’m halfway there. And I’m in name change limbo. And it feels so weird. But fortunately, it’s good weird. Like calling Justin “my husband” is still SO weird, in the best possible way. I giggle every time. I’m not over it. And I’ll never get over it. But perhaps I’ll get used to my new name.

AS

*Justin and I recently decided to go to Tulum, Mexico for an upcoming trip in February. I hadn’t done anything proactive to officially change my name yet, i.e. get a new SS card or passport. I had been procrastinating. So Justin quite strategically booked my flight under Amy Singer, so that I had to change my name in a timely manner. And it clearly worked.

[Photo by Carlie Statsky]

Wedding Gifts

My friend Danny recently asked me and Justin for wedding gift ideas. Danny was brainstorming a gift for his brother and new sister-in-law, and he was stumped. He said our ideas, based on some awesome gifts we were fortunate enough to receive and also feedback from other married friends, were helpful. Below are some favorites:

Coravin

Before my brother Todd called to ask if we would want a Coravin, Justin and I had never heard of it. (Todd is always ahead of the curve when it comes to tech, gadgets, wine, etc.) I was skeptical at first. The Coravin is an instrument that removes a small amount of wine from a wine bottle, without having to uncork the bottle. It’s mind-blowing. It’s revolutionary. I don’t get it. But Todd assured me it would work, and it does. And it’s perfect when you want just a glass of wine, but don’t want to open a good bottle.

Faux Fur Throw

As discussed here, our new faux fur throw is awesome.

Personalized Map Print

My sister and brother-in-law got us a thoughtful piece of wall art. It’s a cutout of a United States map with delicate hearts placed in Wisconsin (where Justin and I met at college and became close friends), New York (where we currently reside) and California (where we got married). The print lists our wedding date below the map image. It’s a wonderful addition to our embarrassingly mostly bare walls.

Ketubah (Obviously for Jewish couples only)

Justin and I picked out and purchased our own Ketubah, but my bestie Rachel has a beautiful tradition among her siblings: They give each other Ketubahs as wedding presents. What makes a wedding contract more special than it already is? If it’s a gift from family (or friends). And Ketubahs can be pretty pricey, so if people pitch in it can make a really great gift.

Anything off a Wedding Registry

While towels may not turn you on, a couple registers for what they want (and need). My brother Todd said he didn’t want to get us anything remotely domestic (in his eyes, lame), and I’m happy he didn’t. (I’m currently sipping on a Coravin-ed glass of wine.) But in general couples are thrilled to receive items off their registries.

Anything off a Honeymoon Registry

Justin and I didn’t do a honeymoon registry, but some recently marrieds recommend it. Friends and family can order the happy couple anything from a romantic dinner to a snorkel trip, and the bride & groom end up getting the funds to use as they see fit.

A

P.S.  Read about engagement gifts here. 

[Photo via Jose Villa/Style Me Pretty]

The Band

One incredibly important wedding vendor I didn’t touch on previously is the band -- not because they weren’t amazing, but because my husband did the dirty work when it came to researching and working closely with the band/manager. The band’s manger even joked that Justin would make a great music producer. I agree. We wanted to host an amazing dance party, and we did, thanks to Justin’s input.

Below is the “playlist” of our processional:

Can’t You See, The Marshall Tucker Band > Here Comes the Sun, The Beatles > Canon in D, Pachelbel

For our recessional the band busted out a trumpet and played Here I Am Baby (Come and Take Me) by Al Green.

For our courtyard cocktail hour a member of the band played acoustic guitar.

Justin and I entered the reception to Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out by Bruce Springsteen. (We had to bring a little Jersey to Cali.) And our first song was Al Green’s Let’s Stay Together, a song Justin once played on a jukebox for me back in college.

We enlisted a ten-piece band for the party. They played a lot of oldies but goodies, and lots of current tunes as well. For us they learned the songs of the summer: Blurred Lines and Get Lucky. And Justin even surprise serenaded me with a special rendition of Paul Simon’s Late in the Evening, with our friend Charlie on guitar.

Our wedding reception was a magical dance party, thanks to an amazing band and an amazing producer, the Groom.

 

[Cocktail Hour]

[Reception Entrance]

[Surprise Serenade]

A

P.S. Our friends Fallon and Even got married in October and they surprised everyone (including the Groom himself!) with an acapella group. As the Bride and Groom began their recession post ceremony, one man stood up, then another, then another – all singing Happy Together. At first we were all confused, like who are these crazy relatives singing in the audience? (They were sitting randomly throughout.) But then it became clear that this was a planned acapella performance, and it was beautiful. And the element of surprise made it all the more fun.

P.P.S. My friend Julie, married last October, gave me some of the best wedding advice ever. She told me to stay on the dance floor all night, and that’s where guests will want to be. Fortunately we had spoken to everyone at our Welcome Dinner the night before, and throughout our wedding cocktail hour, so Justin and I didn’t need to go around to each table. We were able to dance the night away, just as Julie had recommended. And I wouldn’t change a thing. 

(Photos by Carlie Statsky)