the drake

as you may know, T and i celebrated our one year anniversary over the weekend. there were of course sweet gifts, love notes, a couple of romantic dates, and one epic indiana jones marathon (i love the classics). one of my favorite dates from that weekend was to check out the newly opened seafood + oysterette restaurant, the drake. 

the setting? classic '60s interior and decor. a place that could very easily be the set for an episode of mad men. the service? personal, attentive, and nothing short of stellar. the food? fresh, inventive, and delicious.

[some of the best oysters i've ever had]

[thirst-quenching spanish wine]

[black mac]

[the infamous lemon cloud pie]

a big thanks to the drake for the cherry on top of an already beautiful anniversary weekend. we can't wait to come back! 

swing dress

have you ever found a piece of clothing that was so well fitted and so unbelievably comfortable that you wanted to wear it all the time? this dress is that one for me. it honestly feels like i'm wearing a worn-in tee with the most dynamite fit. plus, it has the added benefit of being in my favorite shade of crimson. i can't wait to see how creatively i can style it this fall to get the most use out of it :)

[swing dresses always need a good twirl]

year one

the best piece of advice i heard about marriage: marriage does take work but, it's good work. this year, we focused on our relationship as husband and wife. aside from the challenge of the flood (which ended up being a blessing in disguise), we kept things simple by enjoying quiet dinners together, popping out for mini getaways, exploring new local spots, and savoring lazy sundays with a good movie marathon (my favorite tradition we've started). it's crazy to think how quickly the details of the big day fade considering all the planning it takes. i can at least take solace that i still have several moments (big and small) that i will carry with me always. 

te amo para siempre querido.

should you be interested in the details of our big day, see the following links:

top five, decor + details, our look + bridal party, ceremony + reception 

under construction: den update

so, i realized it had been a couple of months since i'd posted an update on our den. since my last post, here's what has happened...

once the floor completely dried, T worked with our contractor to seal it. at first we weren't sure if the solution was to tear up the floor and re-do it since it had cracks in it. but, our contractor assured us that as the ground moves and the concrete ages, this is typical. plus, none of the cracks were large enough so, the best solution was to seal them up. this involved deep cleaning the floor, letting it dry, applying the sealant and keep it damp for four days to let is set properly. after that, it was primed and ready for the next step.

prior to tiling, T and i cleaned the floor of any excess sealant residue so it was ready to go. then, the hiccup came...our floor wasn't completely level. thankfully, our contractor again reassured us that this too is common and there is a very simple way to fix it (see the blue and orange plastic tags above). it just meant that it would take a little more time to complete since it had to be done in stages. 

then, once the tiling was complete, came the grouting. we found out T is pretty great at it but, it is incredibly tedious and messy so, there were lots of expletives used in the process. afterwards, we cleaned the concrete residue, our contractor sealed it and....drum roll please...here's the finished product (below)!  

i mean, how great is that?! we love it so much and couldn't be happier with how it turned out. and while i initially thought carpet was the best way to go, i'm happy T and our contractor stuck to their guns on switching to tile.

now comes decorating :)

awesome and awkward

[patio drinks]

awesome:

• i recently watched the documentary jiro dreams of sushi. not only was it fascinating to hear how he found his love for sushi as well as his craft but, the following quotes really stuck with me: "in order to make delicious food, you must eat delicious food...without good taste, you can't make good food...if your sense of taste is lower than that of the customer, how will you impress them?"
• as a sweet treat for our house sitter, i made strawberry ice cream. by some miracle, there was still some left so, i got to try it. turns out, homemade strawberry ice cream is a one of my favorite flavors! funny thing, is that before making it from scratch, i couldn't stand the taste of store-bought strawberry ice cream. 
• T and i have started watching the wire and love it (yes, i know we are way behind and people still can't stop talking about it). 

awkward:

• during hot yoga, the instructor was guiding our class through an intense stretch. at one point she stated we needed to activate a particular muscle in order to do it correctly. as she looked around the room, her eyes locked on my face which must have looked like i was deep in thought (read: confused). she immediately lost her train of thought and started laughing uncontrollably. by time everyone else turned to see what she was laughing at, my face changed to like a deer in headlights. note to self: try to not convey thoughts too easily on my face. 
• at an event, i noticed a woman looking at me and smiling. she vaguely looked like someone i had met so, when she waved, i waved back...and not the small wave. we are talking, hey you over there, kind of wave. her face dropped and the person she was really waving to stepped out from behind me. they both made a face at each other, then looked back at me, and walked away.  

[old cookbook notes]

[salad to take to a family dinner]

street art

for as long as i can remember, i have had a big-time love of street art, in any and all forms...from sculptures to graffiti to murals to light installations. it is so much more uninhibited and raw, almost as if you were getting an uncensored viewing of the artists' creative process. after several new pieces sprung up around okc, i decided it was high time i saw them in person. so, on the most recent trek my 'rents made to see us, i sweet-talked my mom to coming with me.

cultivation by jason pawley

by far one of the most unique pieces i've come across. this one kept us on our toes since it completely changed based on what side of the street you were on, the amount of daylight in each spot, as well as the contrast of colors. it was nothing short of stunning and turns this underpass into a local gem.

[my favorite wall]

terra by orly genger

this one i'd been so anxious to see as it reminded me of red vines. i was so surprised to find it was lobster fishing ropes tied together and painted. how great is that? plus, it made for a great backdrop for a friend's engagement photos :)

braid by kris kanaly, yatika starr fields, and dylan bradway

a collaboration that brought new life to 9th street as well as the building itself. weaving all three artists' styles together made for a piece that was not only eye-catching but, the perfect addition to the area.  

the womb art gallery

provacative, fun, and a feast for the eyes. in one train of thought my mom stated how much she loved the colors and then asked if there was sperm swimming out of that eye (above). i loved it, absolutely loved it.

[just melting away]

[oddly specific]

beach-bound vacation

a week filled with salt air blowing through my hair, sunshine on my face, white sand between my toes, and ocean water filling my spirit with glee. there are few things that compare to my love for the sand and sea. so, i of course returned with several snapshots to recap our gorgeous time away...have a great weekend!

[beach-side home base]

[kitschy tropical patterns] 

[daily shell catches]

[T & i's turn to make dindin]

[T catching a good wave to ride in]

[me and my merman]

[dad's sandcastles]

[grandpa's infamous salsa...yum]

[sunset harbor walks]

[catching a little sun]

[brotherly love in the form of a stank face]

[reflections]

[pineapple martini...so, so good]

[am beach yoga]

[crystal clear waters]

[T's birthday]

[baewatch]

[shrimp boil]