Moving and mystery bruises.

Hello! Hi there, I'm still here.
A hasty update on life if you don't mind. It has been a little bit! As many of you know from Instagram and Facebook, Daniel and I have made the move into our own place. And doing so, we have formed solid musings about the process. Here's a few:

// Ikea is, and never ever was, a one-time thing. Ikea happens 5 times, at least.  

// Going into stores and completely forgetting what you needed to buy is a normal occurrence by now. 

// Kitchen trash bags are expensive. 

// Couch purchases are to be done late at night, preferably on a Friday, because they're on coupon, and there's only one left in the back. And no they cannot hold it. Getting it up to the third floor also is to be done late at night -- successfully, might I add. (Thank you Dad!)

// Coffee! iTunes!! Coffee! 

// A picnic on the floor is a perfectly fine solution for being without a dining table at the moment. 

// Wanting to buy. Everything. (I am not allowed anymore house plants.) 

But we love it so. We adore living together. Hanging out with my best friend for a forever sleepover and doing things like dancing in the living room, sipping on wine while assembling furniture, asking him to get my glass tupperware because I'm just too short to reach, watching Harry Potter backwards and forwards and halfway through because cable isn't up yet. Him, being patient and a big sweetheart as I fuss around, arranging decor just so -- measuring here, marking there. Spaces and corners we can look at and feel our home.  

Anyway. The bruises! I've accumulated an adorable little collection of battle marks from moving heavy things and clumsily running into new corners that my body is unfamiliar with -- hands, thighs, toes, hips, shins. I should have photographed them. Daniel whacked his head on a shelf in the fridge on the second night. 

So, I will share more photos as our apartment comes along. It's a little piece of magic, let me tell you.

Hello! + 20 things.

I believe the number is up to 3 thus far for how many times I've been requested, or "tagged" if you will, to do this. I also believe this would be the perfect time to share 20 things about me for my new readers! And finally, I believe this should be read wrapped up in a cozy blanket with foggy windows + coffee or anything pumpkin infused poured in your favorite mug cupped closely to your body. The holidays are upon us, darlings. I digress, or a  more appropriate phrase would be dream -- anyway, here, 20! readyset!

//

The blood of nine different ethnicities sails through my veins.

I will be Mrs. Miko on July 31, 2015, and this wedding planning thing is all going by so quickly!

My entire family was born and raised in Hawaii, besides me.

I have the cutest, most precious parents in all of the land.

Extensive dog lover. Think, Elmyra Duff, in all her glory.

Soon, so soon, we will have our own baby goldendoodle and she will be the great light of our lives.

I wish, beyond many other wishes I desire, to have the time and patience, but mostly time, to read again. I miss that girl whose nose was stuck in a book wherever she went. I believe I once read through an entire family road trip.

I am rather obsessive over my skin. I probably should have become a dermatologist. Or perhaps a perfume expert -- I've a romantic love affair with fancy eau de parfums.

Introvert.

Too often am I too tired to sleep, or bring myself to sleep, which is completely counter-intuitive but I have fully embraced that I am an odd seed.

So, you can find me using lavender oil on the soles of my feet before bed.

I sleep on a Jasmine/Raja pillowcase because Aladdin is my favorite Disney movie and I can't quite give it up for adulthood's sake just yet. 

French. I want to learn French because it's beautiful.

Coffee!

Blankets, soft things of any kind!

I can be quite the sap. Things that make me blubber forth tears are: darling infants, Christmas commercials, puppies, Hallmark cards, and 90's boy-band love songs.

I have an obsessive/compulsive-esque revulsion to kitchen sinks and refrigerators that aren't mine. Ever since forever, from a little girl, probably even before, and I could never rationalize it if I tried.

I am so fond of juxtapositions. Obscenities cross-stitched on flowery hoops, for example, is my type of humor.

My fiance doubles as my best giant teddy bear and I often squeeze his middle and arms and never ever let go.

Living an intimate, healthy life -- with, of course, journals, cozy sweaters, lots of coffee, pressed flowers, crisp air, the moon, Bon Iver, favorite pens, family, and a handsome boy with the smiling eyes and long legs -- is all I'll ever ever need.

Fit for a Maid.

Over the long weekend, I asked my four best ladies to be by my side at the altar and through the wonderful journey this year will bring. My heart is so, so full knowing I have them all. My beautiful, kindhearted, precious sister is my Maid of Honor and my lovely sister-in-law + two dearest friends are bridesmaids.

I am just so excited. This is all so special to me. I'm not quite sure how to get the words from inside onto this post right now. So I have shared with you the little invitation boxes I put together for them. I poured all the bits and pieces of me into these and they turned out just how I imagined.

P.S. //  I found the dress of my absolute dreams. It was the second one I tried on and you know all that stuff you hear -- about just knowing when it's the one? All of that is real.