Although our six year anniversary was about one month ago, at the time, my husband was in Beijing, so there was very little celebrating going on over here. Although he did send me a gorgeous bouquet of flowers from our local florist, who has been known to come up with some very, very interesting arrangements. Absolutely gorgeous, but so unexpected. They remind me so much of the bouquets that he would send me from Takashimaya, when we lived in NYC and were in the ‘courtship’ phase of our relationship. I think the word you would use is exquisite .

I should also add here that I’m not a particularly sentimental gal. Valentine’s Day? Don’t bother. Anniversary? “Hey, look at us. Six years. High-five.” It’s just not my thing. And maybe that’s why I’m always just in awe of the gifts that my awesomely astute husband gives me. He gets me.

Yesterday, there were two enormous boxes sitting in the kitchen. And I just knew. And I was right. Inside? The most amazing and amusing works of art, so thrillingly thumbing their noses at ‘mountain timber design.’ Seriously, what is it with mountain towns of the American west? Must everyone have an antler chandelier in the dining room? Antique wooden skis hanging on the wall of the den? Leather couches with brass studs all along the seams? Mounted stags? Overkill, in my humble opinion.

I know a thing or two about design. It’s inevitable when you grow up with a mother who is an uber-successful interior designer. But my own personal design aesthetic? Well, let’s just say that since moving here to Utah, it’s been turned on it’s ear. What I thought was my style? My taste? Turns out it was all my mother’s. Myself? I’m evolving. Growing. Expanding. But the one aspect that hasn’t changed? I actually learned from my mother. “Don’t take yourself so seriously, Mel.” And she was onto something.

Because as I opened those boxes? My heart nearly stopped beating. How does he get me so well? How? How how how?

This. And this. They are mine. All mine. Made-to-order. And chosen by my most perfect husband. For our anniversary. The first one? My favorite colors. My color palette. The second one? Both of my girls are obsessed with butterflies. And so these two guys? Will have a proud, albeit slightly irreverent, home. Above the fireplace in our great room. Cheeky. Clever. Unexpected. Tongue-in-cheek. Saucily mocking.

Thanks, honey. You just so get me. Even when I’m not quite sure who me is…