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]

She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not

The only not so amazing part of receiving a bunch of beautiful, thoughtful gifts for all of our rooms is that we live in the West Village in a 700 square foot apartment, with not so many rooms. Receiving our shower gifts reminded me of our imminent need to relocate. I vote for LA. My fiance, more realistically, is pushing for Chelsea or the Upper West Side here in NYC. We’ll see. But in the meantime, inspired by Nora, I’ve come up with “What I Won’t Miss” and “What I Will Miss” about our little humble abode nestled in The Village.

What I Won’t Miss

The broken AC unit in our bedroom

The perpetually clogged sink in our bathroom

The always-fighting couple that lives above us (And the frequent f-bombs that come with)

The "oldness" of our apartment; it never feels squeaky clean

The tiny pieces of brick that fall from our crumbling exposed brick wall

Our serious lack of closet space

What I Will Miss

Our quiet block

Our apartment’s amazing location

The bodega around the corner that delivers us pints of ice cream

Roxy, the neighborhood Burmese Mountain Dog

The beautiful, towering tree outside our living room window

The mom & pop bookstore around the corner

The neighborhood bike shop

Our proximity to the West Side Highway (Although Justin insists we’ll be close to the Hudson River in our new spot too)

Jack's

The countless amazing restaurants within walking distance

Our exposed brick wall

Did I mention the amazing location?

A

(photo via veronica lola)