We moved into the new house on Wednesday of last week and since then it's been a frenzy of boxes and carloads of random things that were in a closet of our apartment and so many recipes for this cookbook I'm so close to finishing. 

Usually when we move it's the only thing on my plate, and I tend to be super sentimental and need time to process change. But this time we moved in and kept hurtling forward, so every now and again, in a quiet afternoon moment I'll find myself feeling sad that I'm not sitting in our South End apartment with the big bathroom and the grey granite countertops and the super bright bedroom with a citrus-green wall. I'll be sitting at the kitchen table in a sunny room full of light that I dreamed of for months and wish, not to be back at the apartment, but for something.

I keep forgetting how long it takes for a place to feel like home, and even though I love the house and the yard and the big open kitchen I suddenly feel nostalgic when Rob walks through the door after work and Ender isn't quite sure where to greet him. This is our first move from one place to another in the same city, and I almost feel like I'm channeling some of those new state vibes, even though we've been in Charlotte for almost two years and only moved ten minutes down the street. We had such a routine in the apartment, and now we're in the house but only slightly unpacked, so it feels like a great many different things, and none of them are really home yet.

Also, I'm tired.

I have written 118 pages in three weeks and I can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel. What an opportunity though, to write a book--as soon as I catch my breath I'll take the time to properly acknowledge the fact that one of my most passionate dreams came true.

Until then, some thoughts from a woman up to her elbows in Brussels sprouts and boxes, for you on a Tuesday. 

Two years ago this week, we were in Virginia getting ready for our wedding.

It had rained Monday through Thursday and I was trying not to panic about our outdoor ceremony being muddy. It ended up being one of those perfect spring weekends, though, where the rain cools everything down and then clears up and it's 70 degrees and sunny and the whole world smells like fresh-cut grass and rainfall. 

This weekend it rained again. We packed. I wrote for hours. We spent two hours loading the car and bringing things over to our new house. And then we returned to the apartment, popped a small bottle of Veuve Clicquot, poured two glasses, and got ready for dinner at Kindred, our favorite place in North Carolina. We ordered drinks and tore into the best bread you could imagine and giggled as our server brought out plate after plate: a beautiful little salad, duck fat potatoes, crispy fried oysters, beef tartare, and homemade pasta.

We left the restaurant in the rain and drove about 15 minutes down the road to where my mom was for the weekend. A quick hug on the sidewalk, and then it was back to Kindred to sit at the bar for a pisco sour and a slice of cake, which came out with a lit candle. I blew it out with Rob's hand in mine and thought about what wishes I could possibly even have at this point.

We have so many changes and transitions coming up that at times it feels like I can't keep my head above water, but we have a happy, healthy family; a sweet pup that brightens our day, exciting job opportunities presenting themselves to us regularly, and; no matter what, each other.

On Sunday we drove over to our new place and I cooked lunch and dinner in the kitchen. Rob sat at the kitchen table watching the NBA Playoff and my mom puttered around, unpacking dishes and folding linens. Ender went in and out as he pleased, frolicking through the fenced-in backyard like he couldn't even believe his luck.

May really can be magical.

Our second wedding anniversary is coming up next week and I can hardly believe it. It feels like just yesterday that I was in Minneapolis, packing up for a week in Virginia followed by a week in the Dominican Republic. So much has happened in the past twenty-four months and I am so excited for the road ahead--but my super nostalgia-loving self will be spending the days leading up to our anniversary reflecting back on the fun we had planning our wedding and celebrating with all our family and friends.

It was kind of a fun coincidence that Helen from Borrowed & Blue, a wedding resource with some great information on North Carolina weddings checked in with me to see if I'd be willing to answer some questions about our (Virginia) wedding, blogging, and living in Charlotte! Here's what she had to say:

“The moment I caught a glimpse of Freckled Italian, I knew I’d found my new favorite blog. There are so many things to love about Megan’s work. First, she is an adorable, genuine person, and it comes across in her writing. Whether she’s talking about the latest recipe she made or about her silly pup and husband duo, I find myself totally immersed in her world! I could hardly wait to sit Megan down to ask her about her aesthetic, life in North Carolina, and some fun wedding questions, just in time for her wedding anniversary! While Borrowed & Blue is the insider guide to finding your wedding vendors and inspiration, there’s nothing better than reaching out to wedded experts, like Megan, for some real reflections on life, post-nuptials. I’m thrilled for everyone to read Megan’s thoughts!”

— Helen, Borrowed & Blue's North Carolina Market Specialist

Here's my Q&A with Borrowed & Blue:

For friends who might be reading your blog for the first time, describe your style in six words.

Straightforward, simple, comfortable, neutral, and fun.

Can you give us a bit of background about how you got into blogging?

Sure! I started my blog in 2008 and it was mostly just an online journal (shout out to any of you who have been reading Freckled Italian since it was "some things about megan"). I wrote about my time in college, and then as I started working and going to graduate school I slowly turned it into the site it is today!

Before we get into wedding questions: Megan, you are one savvy, adorable lady. Who/what are some of your style inspirations?

That is so kind of you to say, thank you! I have a big style crush on Regina Spektor--I like how she manages to be classic and quirky at once; and I've gathered a lot of capsule wardrobe inspiration from Caroline of Unfancy.

Happy anniversary to you and Rob! How did you two meet?

Thank you so much! We met at a Halloween party in college. I was dressed as a sailor and he was Waldo. We both went to high school in the same city but didn't meet until college, so we had a lot of friends in common.

What was the most memorable aspect of your wedding?

I will never forget how cool it was to see all of our friends and family in one place--one of my favorite parts of our wedding video is this very small clip where one of Rob's friends is shaking hands with someone before he sits down at his table. I just loved seeing everyone and it was so humbling to have our marriage be the catalyst that brought all of our people together.

As far as details go, I think wearing my mom's dress will always be the most memorable aspect. We spent a lot of time on the details and so many family heirlooms and symbols made their way into our ceremony and reception.

When you and Rob were deciding what you wanted your wedding to be like, what was your North Star--in other words, what was most important to you, and how did you keep that in mind throughout the planning process?

We just wanted it to be relaxing and fun, which is what we kept coming back to. An outdoor ceremony and reception, vintage but non-fussy details, and a gorgeous buffet dinner helped make that happen. We knew we had pulled it off when all our guests started letting loose on the dance floor.

One last wedding question: Do you have any post-nuptial advice you'd like to share? 

It's easier said than done, but don't sweat the small stuff. Get as organized as you can from the start and the rest of the wedding planning will go smoothly. Take time to really enjoy being engaged and planning the wedding--it's a once in a lifetime privilege and you want to be able to look back on it and smile.

You're really interested in cooking and I've loved reading through your recipes and recaps of dishes you've cooked. What draws you towards cooking for others, and food writing, in particular? 

I come from a family where food matters. My mom instilled a love of cooking in me and my brother from a young age, and my brother is one of the best cooks I know. We never got to know our grandpa Albino but apparently he knew his stuff in the kitchen, so my brother and I always like to say that feeding and entertaining people is our way of communing with him.

And I love food writing because it combines two of my biggest passions--writing and eating. I really enjoy sharing recipes because it gives me the opportunity to help someone make something delicious for people they love.

Charlotte is chock full of great restaurants! Do you have any particular favorites that you'd like to share with us? 

Yes it is! My favorite places are Customshop (get the Brussles sprouts and the bread pudding) and Soul Gastrolounge (hard to get into but if you get a table make sure to order the pork belly tacos). We also go to Bakersfield a lot, and I'm a huge fan of Not Just Coffee. If you're anywhere near Davidson, North Carolina (about half an hour north of Charlotte), please go to Kindred and just get one of everything.

Describe something that sets Charlotte apart from other places you've lived. 

Charlotte is a great city because it's still trying to figure out what it is. This bothered me a lot when we first moved here from Minneapolis, but I decided to be open-minded and realized that while at first glance Charlotte feels brand new and awfully corporate, there is actually a really awesome food scene and creative community here. It's a big city with a small-town feel, and I'm constantly running into people at the grocery store or coffee shop, which I love.

Thanks so much for the interview, Helen! If you're planning a wedding in North Carolina, make sure to check out Borrowed & Blue sometime!