Love story

Yesterday marked 9 years (!!!) from the day that Zac asked me to be his girlfriend! I remember it like, well, not yesterday, but maybe like, last month. We had been dating a week (a WEEK!), I was definitely not expecting this sort of question so soon, but out it came! Zac says he knew what he wanted and didn't want to risk waiting.. (how sweet, and confident!). So I replied with a surprised but happy "sure" to the guy I had a crush on for months.. and here we are, 9 years later. It's hard to believe. It's not always easy meeting the love of your life at 18, but I did, and I won't complain. But here's the question of the day- for those of you married people out there, or just people who think about marriage, do you (or will you) celebrate those beginning anniversaries after you get married, and have a new "day" to celebrate? Our new day is October 3rd, but every February 28th, I remember that day he asked me to be his girl. We're celebrating by driving to Pasadena this weekend and getting my favorite bagel. It's the little things, right?

(picture from May 2004, a little over a year in:)

Christmas came late this year!

Ok, maybe it is almost March. And maybe you can't see the great-ness of this bag from the silly photo I took on my phone. But yesterday

I received my long awaited Christmas present! Ok, so my husband didn't read the "will ship February 26th" fine print when he bought this is December, but nobody's perfect! Have you ever received a ridiculously late gift? Were you mad when you found out it was (or would be) late? Or did you get all giddy because it's kind of like getting two birthdays (or Christmases) that way? I'd have to say, I experienced a bit of both. But in the end, it was the thought that counted of course. Thank you Zachary :) (bag from Madwell)

Do you sleep with a stuffed animal?

I was listening to the radio the other day, and heard a staggering statistic. One in 4 men travel with a stuffed animal! Not making fun of course, I think it's fabulous. But I'm curious, do you travel with a stuffed animal? How about vs. sleeping with one nightly? One of my dearest friends, who will remain nameless, prides herself in her stuffed travel companions. But up until this point, I think she thought she was an oddball, but according to the statistics, 25% isn't all that odd! So, embrace those stuffed pieces of love!

I have 3 stuffed guys that live on my bed, one is fairly new (above, in Disneyland) and I love him to death. BUT, a queen bed isn't big enough for the 5 of us, so the toys get the boot at nighttime. Occasionally, I bring one on a trip if I'm feeling like I need a little added security. So there it is, my confession! ;)

I want to go to there.

Since traveling is one of my all-time favorite things to do, check out this web page on how to travel all year for $17,000 (or less). Would you ever do this? Does it sound fun to you to house sit, dog watch, sail, and couch surf as a means to your traveling end? Sounds like a blast to me! But given some of the things I'm into at the moment, I think I'll have to stick with my every other month adventures. Next up, a wedding on St. Patrick's Day in beautiful Northern California, and the Final Four NCAA basketball championship in New Orleans! I can't wait!

Have a beautiful Sunday ya'll.

(image from my honeymoon in Costa Rica's famously ex-pat inhabited town, Puerto Viejo, swoon).

Name sakes

Choosing a name for a blog is hard. I chose Living Proper because it represents both parts of me.. Living is short for my maiden name Livingston, and Proper is short for my married name, Propersi (pro-purs-ee). Deciding to take my husband's name was a hard one because Livingston is close to my heart for many reasons, of course. I thought making Livingston my middle name allowed me to somehow merge both parts of myself, which in a way is kind of what marriage is, right?

The ironic part is that "Living Proper" doesn't sound like something I would choose at all. I'm all about being improper, and being yourself, and trying not to judge, because really, who wants to be judged? My mom still says to me "we don't need to keep up with the Jones', we are the Jones'". I think she means, let's pave our own path, and who cares what other people think is 'popular', or Proper, if you will. But alas, I, like many others, strive for a life well lived.. and I often can get stuck in that ever-disappointing trend of perfectionism, and being too hard on myself when I feel it hasn't been reached.

So, I want you all to know that this blog is dedicated to Living Proper. But here, that means, following your own path, paving your own way, and accepting yourself, and others. Because that's all anybody ever wants anyway, isn't it? To be accepted, respected, and loved.. sounds like a good life to me. So here's to Living Proper.
<3

(image from my wedding, when I officially became a Propersi)

A new chapter

Do you ever write something ten times, and then erase what you wrote, and try again? I have been waiting to begin this new chapter in my life, this blog, because I think I'm scared of it not turning out right. And so I think this is a fitting topic for my first post. Do you ever think about doing something for so long, it almost seems silly to actually do it? It's almost like we're more accustom to daydreaming than actually doing sometimes. But then again, daydreaming can be more fun, can't it?

Welcome. I'm glad you're here. Here's to going for it.

(image via gsuchialpha)