This week on Souris Mariage...

Really cute, vintage-inspired wedding IN A SCHOOL.

Strategies to avoid losing the ring and/or tossing it down the garbage disposal.

Random facts, fab blogs.

Gratitude for the process, and for my amazing friends and family.

Final verdict on the Dollar Dance.

Aaaand a really bad dress.

Stay tuned for venue news next week!

I'm getting contacts today. After having perfect vision for 24 years of my life, graduate school totally shredded my eyeballs. Now I can't see things far away, which is bad (street signs blurry, people unrecognizable). But no more!

Happy Birthday, Sesame Street!

This spot from Men for Women Now tickles me. Their mottos are "Save Some Boobs" and "It's A Matter of Life and Breat." How sweet is that? Sweet.

I decided to check in on the grown-up status for the day, just to see, because very grown-up things are afoot.

1. Are you wearing pants that fit and are not pajamas? (Yes! +1)
2. Did you wake up before 9:30 a.m.? (Yes! +1)
3. Did you accomplish anything this morning? (Yes, +5, because it was hard and I did it anyway.)
4. Was it work-related? (Yes, ha ha ha. +5 more)
5. What was for lunch? (See, this is where I fall off the wagon: four kinds of cheese, crackers, potato chips, and guacamole. -10)
6. What are you doing this afternoon? (Going to the bank to do scary grown-up stuff. +1)
7. Work-related scary grown up stuff? (Nope. -1)
8. Are you blogging instead of...? (Um. Yes. Blogging instead of going to the bank. -2)

Sigh. Today's a wash.

I believe that no one should have to live in fear of their future because they got sick or injured. Go read this, and then, please, write a letter to your representative advocating affordable health care for everyone.

I like this tiny cottage on Galiano Island, British Columbia. In this one, we would leave the windows cracked so we could smell the woods as winter fell. We would have a tiny fire and roast marshmallows for s'mores.* Upon venturing outside for more firewood, we would meet deer standing silent in the trees. When the snow came, we would dig out around our window so that bright wintry sunlight could splash down on our game of Scrabble.

*Proper s'mores go like this:
1. Roast marshmallow
2. Layer graham cracker, chocolate, marshmallow, chocolate, graham cracker
3. Wrap in foil
4. Put whole thing back near heat until really gooey

(Via Tiny House Blog.)

Here's a pretty good one from the Chicago DMV.
1. This man has very, very long fingers. His hands are substantially larger than his face.
2. One of his legs is clearly shorter than the other one.
3. How come he gets fingers, but no feet?

Souris Mariage week-in-review...

Somebody won a fab 1940s-style birdcage veil.

I tried on a dress that made me look shiny and flat-chested (surprise, surprise).

American Express stole my damn song.

I got all preachy about ethical ring-buying, and stupid money in general.

I decided on mismatchy, multi-shade bridesmaid dresses. I think. Maybe.

And we looked at a cute Texas wedding with sweet family heirlooms.

And NOW, it is officially Hallo-weekend! Go over to Me Melodia RIGHT NOW to laugh your buns off (hamburger buns, that is). I'm serious. Go RIGHT NOW.

((Ghost noise))

Congratulations to our Lara Miller giveaway winner, Bookbag! E-mail me for details and happy weekend!

You know how some food smells are icky* and some food smells make you run up the stairs in the front hallway, salivating with anticipation of the kettle boiling inside? This soup is the best-smelling thing I've cooked in a long time, and it's pretty tasty, too. The smell is soft and buttery, with an edge of dill and vinegar and browned meat. It lasts for about two minutes when you come into the house, and in those two minutes, you feel safe and at home.

Best-Smelling Sausage, Lentil, and Kale Soup, modified from this recipe. Takes about 45 minutes, makes a full stockpot.

• 7-inch piece smoked kielbasa, sliced thin
• Olive oil if necessary
• 6 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 small onion, sliced thin
• 1 1/2 cup lentils, picked over
• 4 1/2 cups water
• 4 1/2 cups chicken broth
• Small to medium bunch kale, stems and center ribs discarded and leaves sliced thin (about 6 cups)
• 3 Tablespoons red-wine vinegar
• Dill to taste (be generous)
• ((We were out, but next time I would add a little caraway. Tell me if you try it.)

"In a 3-quart heavy saucepan brown sausage over moderate heat and transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain. If there is more than 3 teaspoon fat in pan pour off excess; if there is less, add enough oil to measure 3 teaspoon fat. Cook garlic, stirring, until golden. Add onion and cook, stirring, until softened.

Add lentils, water, broth, and sausage and simmer, covered, 30 minutes. Add kale and simmer, uncovered, until tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in vinegar and salt and pepper to taste"** and then add lots of dill until the smell turns buttery and the broth lively.

*I'm looking at you, bacon. Good food smells do not linger about in your clothes, uninvited.
**Directions are from the original recipe at Epicurious.

I love this time of year. We're balanced on the edge between seasons, the trees aflame with color, the leaves on the ground bright, crunchy, not yet soggy with snow. Halloween is my favorite holiday because of this feeling of change, this moment of possibility. I collect the bright yellow ginkgo leaves, orange hawthorns, red maples. I iron them between pieces of waxed paper and hang them in our windows, luminous. On Saturday we will smear our mouths with pomegranate seeds and think of underworlds, we will embrace the lengthening night, we will transform ourselves in celebration of the massive transformations around us.