3 Year Anniversary

3 years of marriage + 7 years of dating = a third of our lives together! So that would make us … [if you do the math, then keep the numbers to yourself!]. We celebrated the 17th here since that would officially be the 16th in the US where we were married. The time difference is very complicated šŸ˜‰

We decided to go low key this anniversary. After all, we did just move half way across the world and we have some grand plans for trips and vacations to come. So in the spirit of celebrating, I stated that I would make a special dinner.

Ben asked what “special” meant. It was a fair question with our belongings – which include the better part of our kitchenware – still in limbo. Apparently, it has all arrived here in Melbourne and has passed customs but still no word on any arrangements for delivery. Grrrrr.

This means that all these weeks I’ve been “roughing it” in terms of cooking. We have a single non-stick fry pan and a small 3-pot kit we bought at Ikea which reminds me of the camping cooking gear you buy to make quick meals in the wilderness. There are no mixing bowls and nothing I can truly cook with in the oven aside from make-shifting a pan from aluminum foil. I have one chef’s knife which I packed in our checked luggage but no utensils other than the two forks and two spoons we bought to eat with.Ā Not to mention I don’t have a single baking instrument.

Even with this however, Ben has gotten extremely spoiled with home cooked meals almost every night. I can get by well enough when I keep it simple and think through one pan for meat or a primary vegetable and another for sides. When the ingredients are fresh and of great quality, thankfully, you don’t have to do much to make them tasty!

So in this case “special” simply meant more thought out. Here was the resulting menu:

  • Appetizer: seared scallops with an orange-ginger sauce
  • Salad: spring mix with marinated artichoke hearts, avocado, shaved Parmesan and homemade vinaigrette
  • Main: pan seared porterhouse steak, oven roasted shrimp scampi, mashed potatos and wilted spinach
  • Dessert: blueberry apple crumble + cookies and cream cheesecake (both bought from a local bakery)

To add to our “simple life” we still don’t have any furnitureĀ (purchased but not delivered). Since it didn’t seem romantic to eat standing up at the kitchen counterĀ alongside the cooking prep, I created little make-shift tables by wrapping appliance boxes with our beach towels.

All in all it was a success and sort of reminded me of what a newly wed couple should be living like if we were in a romantic comedy. Something to look back at fondly when we are old – sitting on the floor eating our anniversary dinner off of appliance boxes.

I think it’s worth mentioning that growing up, I never wanted to get married. I never saw myself with a traditional family. I did see myself traveling the world and taking adventures. That part so much has been true and SO much better than I could have dreamed having my best friend and husband along with me for the ride. Sometimes the things you don’t plan are the sweetest in life – and that’s saying a lot from this type-A personality!

Happy anniversary my love!!! Here’s to designing our life together and making dreams that we haven’t even dreamed up yet come true!

8 thoughts on “3 Year Anniversary

  • September 18, 2014 at 1:14 am
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    you are adorable x2

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    • September 18, 2014 at 9:54 am
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      šŸ™‚ Miss you!!!

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  • September 18, 2014 at 3:40 am
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    You two are “adorbs” :-p So happy the day you walked into the center May! I am blessed to have you two in my orbit <3

    Happy Anniversary and thank you for sharing your adventure!!
    S

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    • September 18, 2014 at 9:54 am
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      Thanks Stevy! Hope you had a wonderful birthday!

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  • September 18, 2014 at 8:55 am
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    May and Benjamin – Happy Anniversary! We so enjoyed your wedding and I am enjoying your adventures in Australia. I have gotten hooked on several Australian T.V. series that are on Hulu and it is great to see some of the places in your pictures. May, from the pictures you did a wonderful job on that meal and you are right that box table anniversary celebration will one day hold a special place in your heart. Keep the adventures and stories coming, we love you and thanks for bringing us along on your wonderful Australian adventure.

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    • September 18, 2014 at 9:56 am
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      Thank you Angie for your kind words! If there is ever a particular place you’d like us to check out and send you pics of, let us know! I’m curious to know what shows you are watching.

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  • September 19, 2014 at 12:50 am
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    I’m totally impressed! Also, the post nearly made me cry. So sweet. We love y’all!

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    • September 19, 2014 at 12:30 pm
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      Thanks Brittany! It makes us feel a little closer to home being able to share with you guys!

      Reply

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