7 Years

On Friday October 10th, Greg and I celebrated 7 years of marriage!  (Woah).  Each time we celebrate an anniversary I am reminded just how far we have come and how much our lives have changed since we met each other.

Greg and I met and fell in love under the easiest of circumstances: easy, low-stress jobs with zero outside-of-work responsibilities, living rent-free (me) or close to rent-free (him), having entirely disposable incomes with only a few places we wanted to spend it (bars! clothes! casinos), and our main focus was always on each other.  

Over the past 7 years of marriage our lives have changed so much.  Our priorities have shifted drastically and our responsibilities have increased about a zillion percent.  It can be challenging at times to remember to focus on (and have patience with) one another like we used to because we now have so many other things requiring our attention.  But as we grow and change and learn about ourselves and one another I'm reminded that this really is what marriage is all about.  Having that other person to rely on (which we do, tremendously, in all aspects of life).  To appreciate the little, small things we do for one another each and every day.  And to learn to keep our eyes focused on our family and our goals we have set for it.

I do understand very much when people tell you that marriage takes work - and I feel lucky and happy and satisfied that I'm with the person who (more than) deserves this effort and who I love to live, laugh, eat, drink, and parent with :)

With both of us feeling pretty proud of our 7 year accomplishment, we wanted to celebrate in our favorite way:

FOOD AND WINE!

We FINALLY got the chance to eat at Staple & Fancy, which immediately became our favorite restaurant and favorite meal EVER.

At the urging of others we have talked to who have dined here, we opted for the family-style kitchen prepared menu and were blown away by the four courses presented to us.

I'm sure I'm remembering some of this menu incorrectly or incompletely, but this is a taste of what we had:

• figs and house-made lemon ricotta
• fried oysters with chipolte aioli
• beef tartar
• blackened octopus with avocado cream and radishes
• wedge salad with buttermilk ranch dressing
• charcuterie
• butternut squash soup with hazelnuts
• ravioli stuffed with goat cheese and hazelnut cream
• rib eye with a wine reduction sauce with chantrelle mushrooms and brussels sprouts
• dense chocolate cake with mocha icecream and a salted caramel sauce

HOLLA.  When we left, I declared that we will now embark on an Ethan Stowell restaurant tour over the next few years.  Next up, Red Cow or Mkt. for my birthday.  :)

CHEERS to Greg for being a great spouse for 7 years.  I love you!