Where to begin?! When I look back on this year, I honestly feel so content. 2017 was an amazing year - I got married, opened the shop, and had such an incredible year, so I was interested to see how 2018 could ever top it. 2018 hasn't had quite as much of the excitement, but it has been filled with self-improvement, accomplished goals, exciting travel, and time spent with family. It's been a building year - building my business, my marriage, etc. There were some definite low points - but I'm thankful that the good outweighed the bad. Here's a look back at some of the favorites.
Favorite Travels:
This year, I was lucky enough to take several fun trips. From Key West to New York City, it's safe to say I loved every second.
February - Charlottesville, VA
I kicked off 2018 travels with a girls' trip to Charlottesville with my friends Shelby and Taylor-Rae. You can read all about it here but it was so fun to get together with my two favorite bloggers who are also two great friends.
March - New York City
Mom and I headed to NYC for Coterie and it was our first time at this show. The first day was crazy overwhelming, but the second day was a blast. The Javits Center is huge so having that many vendors to choose from when ordering for future seasons is overwhelming but fun.
June - Atlanta
June held another trip for market, but this time to Atlanta! Mom and I hit the road late one evening (never again) and we snagged some goodies for fall and holiday for the shop.
July - Key West
In the middle of the summer, I headed to Key West with the best group of girls for my cousin's bachelorette trip. We had the absolute best time! I planned to recap that trip as we had a great experience (maybe one day!). Regan is getting married in February, so I'm excited for all the girls to be together again.
August - Charlottesville, VA
For Labor Day Weekend, I headed back to Charlottesville, but this time for a fun bachelorette trip to celebrate my friend Cameron! We had the best time, stayed in the cutest little townhouse, and drank and ate our way through Charlottesville.
September - Outer Banks
In September, it was time to celebrate my friends Cameron and Brad! They had an absolutely amazing wedding week and it's a time with friends I will cherish forever.
Other Favorite Memories:
I think one of the things I truly loved most about this year were the little moments. Days on the boat with my family, grilling out in our backyard with Steve, nights hibernating in the fall watching Game of Thrones together, friend time. Here are some other memorable moments:
Snow in Wilmington - On January 4th, it snowed in Wilmington! Coastal snow is so magical so waking up to a winter wonderland (that stuck around for a few days) was so much fun.
27th Birthday - I turned 27 this year, and we spent Memorial Day Weekend at the beach house! I love spending our summers there and kicking it off with birthday celebrations was the best.
Celebrating Our 1st Anniversary - We celebrated our first year of marriage with a staycation at the beach house and honestly, it was one of my favorite memories of 2018. We did our favorite things, just the two of us, and it was so nice to just unwind and not be in such a rush. You can read about our staycation here.
Reader Favorites:
So what did SS readers love this year?! These were the top products:
Ruffle Strap Tank: This top is one of my top 5 purchases of the year. It was such a steal and I have worn it countless times. It was also a SS favorite and featured by the liketoknow.it app, which was a highlight for my Instagram this summer. It goes in and out of stock, so it's never a bad idea to check in from time to time to see if it's available in your size! It's also available in this pretty pink. Click here to shop!
Shona Joy Wrap Dress: This dress will never get old! It continues to be my most pinned look on Pinterest and my most read blog post. It comes in so many gorgeous colors, but my favorite is Seaweed.
Roll Sleeve Tunic: I've had this tunic for 3 years and it's my go-to piece for when I don't know what to wear. I love it front-tucked with jeans or on it's own with my favorite faux-feather leggings! And it's such a great price point.
Oh Hello Door Mat: Our front door mat has been another reader favorite! I have it layered over this one from Wayfair, and I love the combination!
Cowl Neck Sweater: This sweater is hands-down my favorite one I own! I bought it in dove grey last Christmas while in NYC, and I've worn it so much that it's definitely seen better days! I also snagged it in a camel color and love rotating the two.
Top 5 Blog Posts:
I always enjoy looking back to see what SS readers checked out the most. These were this year's top 5:
+ That One Dress
This post was written in 2016, but it still is a reader favorite.
+ A Girlfriends' Guide to Charlottesville
This trip was such a fun way to kick off 2018 travels. Be sure to check it out here!
+ On the Eve of Hurricane Florence
My emotions were so high as we prepared to evacuate for the storm. I was so overwhelmed with emotion, but putting my thoughts here on the blog seemed to calm me down.
+ #NSALE - Nordstrom Sale Early Access
This post is another one that was originally written in 2016, but each year during the Nordstrom sale, it gets a ton of traffic. I keep it updated with that year's sale so all content is relevant!
+ Wedding Planning Tips & Tricks
I still get a good amount of questions about our wedding, so this little list is an overview of what worked for me!
My heart is so happy thinking about this year, but don't get me wrong - there were some lows. Some very, very low lows. At various points during the year, I developed anxiety that would leave me feeling incredibly overwhelmed or even physically sick. I was in a car accident on Father's Day, and the thought of driving was very overwhelming at times. I remember the first time I drove a group of gals post-accident and I was so anxious before we left because I was terrified that something would happen while I was driving.
Hurricane Florence also brought on a kind of anxiety I've never felt before. Weather has never scared me, but the night before we evacuated, I was literally hysterical. I couldn't even look around our house without instantly crying and I was checking the weather non-stop, praying it would downgrade. Over the course of the next week, the anxiety only got worse as several situations made it so I couldn't eat without feeling sick. Slowly, the anxiety crept away when I was able to get back home and to my "safe" place, but I've experienced that kind of emotions very few times in my life.
I share those moments to be transparent. Every year isn't perfect. When I go through certain emotions, it feels like nothing will ever get better, but time passes on, and things do in fact get better. Those difficult moments are stepping stones to something more, and more often than not, something better. So if 2018 was a rough year for you, I hope and pray that 2019 brings blessings to your life!
Hurricane Florence also brought on a kind of anxiety I've never felt before. Weather has never scared me, but the night before we evacuated, I was literally hysterical. I couldn't even look around our house without instantly crying and I was checking the weather non-stop, praying it would downgrade. Over the course of the next week, the anxiety only got worse as several situations made it so I couldn't eat without feeling sick. Slowly, the anxiety crept away when I was able to get back home and to my "safe" place, but I've experienced that kind of emotions very few times in my life.
I share those moments to be transparent. Every year isn't perfect. When I go through certain emotions, it feels like nothing will ever get better, but time passes on, and things do in fact get better. Those difficult moments are stepping stones to something more, and more often than not, something better. So if 2018 was a rough year for you, I hope and pray that 2019 brings blessings to your life!
I also want to say THANK YOU to everyone who continues to read my blog, shop with me, and support the brands I collaborate. I treasure this creative space and the relationships that have stemmed from it. Cheers to 2018 and hello 2019!
Happy Monday! Today, I'm excited to start a little Q+A that stems from questions I receive via email, InstaStories, messages, and more. I love Instagram's question feature on Stories, but it's also fun to share some of those questions right here on Southern Style.
How many kids do you and Stephen want?
I interestingly enough get this question quite a bit! I think we're both on the same page in that two kids would be a perfect fit for our family, but I wouldn't be surprised if we had one and stopped there. We'll just have to see!
Who does your lash extensions?
I see Maari at Beauty Bar Boutique! BB3 is salon located in the same shopping center as my shop, so it's nice that it's so convenient and also that I can support another local business.
What kind of foundation do you use?
I'm going to share a detailed post on this soon! I've used Estee Lauder's DoubleWear for years and years. But about 2 weeks ago, my face just seemed like it was over it, which has never happened with that makeup before. I purchased the Too Faced Peach Perfect over the weekend and I immediately loved it. I'm going to give it a little time before I give a full review but so far, it's a winner.
How do you manage time between your business/blogging/personal life?
I'm still trying to figure this out! When I first started blogging, this space was a creative outlet. My current career in owning and operating a business requires so much creativity and brain power, so the blog sometimes takes a backseat as the store always has to come first. In the beginning, I was going in super early and working late and then constantly on my computer and phone when I got home. I do tend to spend an hour or two on my computer each night, but it works well with our evening routine as Steve normally turns on a movie and I work on emails, the blog, or the store website.
What made you get into blogging?
I just wanted a little creative space! Wednesday makes 6 years of Southern Style, which is so hard to believe! In the beginning, I shared different things I found interesting that I saw on TV or on Pinterest, etc. About a year in, I shared my first style post and from there, it just seemed to spin into a style blog.
I'll be continuing this series at least once a month, so feel free to leave a question in the comments, email me, or message me on Instagram!
Shop the Post:
Not a day goes by that I don't admire my engagement ring and wedding bands. My husband Stephen picked out my engagement ring and it could not have been more perfect, down to every little detail! I love the simplicity of a solitaire as it's classic, but also because you can do so many creative things with your ring throughout the years!
I often get asked about my ring stack - I have my engagement ring, my wedding band, and then a diamond band that Stephen gave me as a wedding day gift. We've talked about adding to that stack as the years go by - whether it be for an anniversary, a push present or something of the sort.
I had the opportunity to go by Perry's Emporium, a family owned and operated jewelry store, and check out their incredible selection of fine jewelry, including their beautiful Hearts on Fire collection. Perry's is the only local option for Hearts on Fire jewelry, so getting to see it in person instead of just in advertising gave me all the heart eyes!
Josh Perry (one of owner Alan Perry's sons) gave me recommendations on what he would suggest in regards to stacking a Hearts on Fire band with my current wedding set. We looked at white gold, rose gold, and yellow gold options, and to be honest, I loved them all! One of the most popular bands is the Lorelai, and though I tried all metal options and I love the idea of mixing and matching, there is something I love about keeping a coherent look and doing all white gold.
One thing I learned about the Hearts on Fire collection is the cut and perfection of the diamonds. The HOF cut is cut to 100x magnification, which is 10x industry standard. I checked out a few different Hearts on Fire diamonds under the microscope and they all have the same gorgeous quality. You can actually see their signature Hearts & Fireburst pattern in each diamond, no matter the size. It's safe to say that I loved all of the pieces (including the Lorelai Floral Open Ring that my mom tried on below!).
One thing I learned about the Hearts on Fire collection is the cut and perfection of the diamonds. The HOF cut is cut to 100x magnification, which is 10x industry standard. I checked out a few different Hearts on Fire diamonds under the microscope and they all have the same gorgeous quality. You can actually see their signature Hearts & Fireburst pattern in each diamond, no matter the size. It's safe to say that I loved all of the pieces (including the Lorelai Floral Open Ring that my mom tried on below!).
While I was looking at gorgeous bridal and fashion jewelry from some of their other collections, Mr. Perry's other son Jordan took my rings back for a trip to the "spa." My diamonds were tightened, cleaned and polished, and I can honestly say that my ring set has not looked this good since the day I got engaged!
If you're in the Wilmington area, consider stopping by Perry's on Thursday, November 15th for their Carats & Cocktails event! Fill out your Christmas Wish List at this gals' night out event!
Thank you to Perry's Emporium for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own.
In a world of gorgeous modern furniture, traditional china cabinets are often a thing of the past. But from the time we started receiving our wedding gifts, I knew I wanted a piece that showcased some of those things. I'm sure there are a million different ways to showcase your china cabinet, but for me, I had a few priorities: storage for those items not always used; display for our pretty pieces that I wanted to see without cluttering up our counters; and protection for all of those breakables!
When we registered for our wedding, we opted to do mix-and-match china vs. a full set of fine and everyday dishes. For us, it was what made the most sense as I love switching out things for the holidays and various seasons. We ended up going with a fine china (the Raynaud Argent White from The Fisherman's Wife) as our every day dinner plate, and I still love them when I heat up a piece of pizza on them as I did the first night I cooked in our home as a married couple.
We have a fun Vietri Christmas pattern that we'll be breaking out soon, but for now, our china cabinet holds a few of our dinner plates that aren't regularly used, this fun accent plate, and these adorable little bread and butter plates! I think the Anna Weatherley plates are some of our favorites despite the fact that we rarely use them.
We purchased our cabinet from Stephen's great uncle, and for us, it's a treasure as it's a traditional piece that we know has held a lot of memories. For most of the last year, it's held our items, but not quite the way I wanted. Then, in preparation of Hurricane Florence, I moved a lot of our items out as it's near a wall of windows and we weren't sure what the storm would bring. I finally decided a few weeks ago that it was time to get everything in order, and it has made such a difference in how that area feels now that it has a more styled affect.
We keep most of our dinner plates in our kitchen cabinets, but the rest are displayed here along with our Vietri chargers, champagne flutes, and other special pieces. In the cabinets below, I keep our larger serving pieces, napkins, and seasonal items. I also just snagged a gorgeous new piece of oyster art from Airlie Moon, so once I have that framed, I'll add that to my display as well.
One thing that has helped our display is these little acrylic stands. They're great for dishes (I can fit all three plates in one stand) but would be great stands for other things in your home as well. I like that the acrylic blends into the dishes instead of adding a clunky affect.
What's funny about our china cabinet is what people see when they come in our home. For most, it's just a cabinet filled with plates. And that's true - but it's also a cabinet full of memories: our first married dinner at home, a hand-calligraphy keepsake, a hand-painted ornament of our beloved Sophie, our champagne flutes that we toasted at our wedding, and gifts from those who helped us celebrate.
I've seen a million gorgeous china displays - on book shelves, in glass door cabinets, etc. Do you collect china? Do you have your pieces on display? I'd love to see how you style yours!
Shop the Post:
'Tis the season to do something with all of those iPhone photos, right?! I've had plans since we got married to create a yearbook of sorts of our first year of marriage and every year after, and the matte layflat photo album from Snapfish ended up being the perfect way to document that.
As of late, I've realized that I have way too many photos on my phone. I've backed them up to my computer and the cloud, but I wanted a way to display and share our favorite photos without having a million frames around our house. I've now created an album on my phone that I add favorites to so that next year, when it's time to make another yearbook of our second year of marriage, I can just upload those directly to Snapfish!
For this yearbook, I used the Simple theme - while I customized some of the pages to make them work for my photos, the theme was the perfect set up to include studio-style photos with small captions documenting the place and date. I love having that "written down." I know as the years progress, I'll be thankful I documented our travels and memories of our first married year.
It's also so crazy to me that we're already quickly approaching the holiday season! For Father's Day, I gifted my dad a photobook of some of our favorite memories together (you can read that here), so this Christmas, I know I'll be utilizing all of the DIY photo projects that Snapfish has to offer! From photo mugs and kitchen towels to beautiful photo books and more, there are so many great DIY gift options for your family and friends. After all, grandparents especially love a photo gift! And the best news? Snapfish is offering 40% off crafty projects now through December 31st, which gives you plenty of time to get your personalized gifts ready for the holiday season. Be sure to use code CRAFTY40 at checkout to get your discount!
Thanks to Snapfish for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own.
I'm excited to introduce a new series on SS - #SSFavorites! There are a few online resources that I use quite regularly, whether it's for the store, for our home, or for personal use!
Amazon is something I order from almost weekly, especially for the store! Especially for bulk supplies that we need often at the store (paper towels, Swiffer pads, labels, etc.), I find Amazon so easy to use and so convenient as we receive most items within two days right to the door. As a business owner, I've found that time is everything, and so the convenience of door delivery is so nice!
Though I mostly use it for supplies, I've found quite a few great items that I absolutely love, including those below.
Favorites:
+ Beveled Mirror: This is a store purchase but something I would get for our home as well. I ordered this mirrors for my dressing rooms at ZIA and love how they look!
+ Fitbit Alta HR: I tried out my sister's Apple Watch and though I loved it, I found that I missed wearing my other watch and I didn't utilize nearly enough of the features to make it worth it. I decided to get the Fitbit Alta HR because I can wear it on my right arm and it still alerts me when texts come in, tracks my steps, heart beat for working out, etc. I also snagged this gold band for it as well.
+ Noteworthy Planner: I'll share more in detail about my planner in another post but I can't speak highly enough about this one! I love the monthly view, weekly view, and space for notes in each week.
+ Curling Iron: I get asked a lot about what curling iron I use. I snagged this one from Amazon and it has been the best! It works especially well with my shorter hair.
+ 7-Drawer Cabinet: I could benefit from this at my house but I got it for the store! I will say it was quite the pain to put together (I enlisted my husband's help), but the final product has been a huge help at the store! It was the perfect addition to my office and wrangled a lot of supplies that had no real home.
+ Elta MD Moisturizer: This moisturizer is a good one! It's definitely a heavier option so if you have oily skin, it's not for you. I switch between this one and my favorite from itCosmetics.
+ Coffee Table Book: If you're looking for a good selection of books for your home book display, I'd definitely check out Amazon! I found this one as well as a few others online and it's the perfect fit in our living room.
Purchased Recently:
Today, I'm excited to share my new list of 101 things in 1,001 days! I recently shared my completed list, and while I had quite a few things left to cross off, I'm proud of what I accomplished! My new list is an evolution of the last one. Some things that I never completed are no longer relevant, others I've added to this, and even more are new goals of mine to reach!
If you have your own list, I'd love to read it!
Start Date: October 15th, 2018 - End Date: July 11th, 2021
Personal
Read 50 books
- The Perfect Couple - Elin Hilderbrand
- The Hurricane Sisters - Dorothea Benton Frank
- Sisters First - Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Pierce Bush
- Where the Crawdads Sing - Delia Owens
- Educated: A Memoir - Tara Westover
- Blue Bistro - Elin Hilderbrand
- Same Beach, Next Year - Dorothea Benton Frank
- The Southern Side of Paradise - Kristy Woodson Harvey
- The Lemon Sisters - Jill Shalvis
- Winter in Paradise - Elin Hilderbrand
- Every Breath - Nicholas Sparks
- Feels Like Falling - Kristy Woodson Harvey
- Dear Carolina - Kristy Woodson Harvey
- Beautiful Ruins - Jess Walter
- Summer Sisters - Holly Chamberlin
- The Castaways - Elin Hilderbrand
- Surfside Sisters - Nancy Thayer
- 28 Summers - Elin Hilderbrand
- The Lies that Bind - Emily Giffin
Finish my book draft
Renew my passport
Clean out my camera roll on my phone
"Unplug" for the weekend
Do a no-spend month
Unsubscribe to all unwanted emails
Health
Try a new workout - Burn Boot Camp, March 2019
Walk 10,000 steps every day for a week
No fast food for a month
Drink 80 ounces of water every day for a week
Try a cycling class - January 2020
Try hot yoga - January 2020
Get back to my goal weight
No eating out for a week
Go to bed before 10 every night for a week - the flu will do this to you! January 2020
Do allergy testing
Do a week-long sugar detox
Walk 10,000 steps every day for a week
No fast food for a month
Drink 80 ounces of water every day for a week
Get back to my goal weight
No eating out for a week
Do allergy testing
Do a week-long sugar detox
Professional
Reach 10,000 followers on the ZIA Instagram
Ship orders to at least 25 different states
Visit a new-to-me apparel market
Update my store office - October 2019
Host an innovative event
Do some freelance writing
Update my resume
Read a business book
Complete Continued Education for real estate license - May 2019 (but this has to be done yearly)
Reach 10,000 followers on the ZIA Instagram
Visit a new-to-me apparel market
Host an innovative event
Do some freelance writing
Update my resume
Read a business book
Blog
Switch to Wordpress
Share a complete home tour
Share a living room home tour
Share a kitchen before and after (post-cabinet painting) - read it here!
Reach 50k followers on Instagram
Host a blogger get-together
Attend another blogging conference
Attend at least one blogger event
Switch to Wordpress
Share a complete home tour
Share a living room home tour
Reach 50k followers on Instagram
Host a blogger get-together
Attend another blogging conference
Attend at least one blogger event
Marriage
Change my last name - finally completed January 2019
Plan a belated anniversary trip
Order our wedding album - completed November 2018
Preserve my wedding dress
Send out Christmas cards each year (see 2018 here)
Celebrate our two-year anniversary (August 2019)
Plan a surprise date night
Celebrate our three-year anniversary (August 2020)
Celebrate Stephen's 30th birthday (December 27th, 2020)
Celebrate my 30th birthday (May 25th, 2021)
Plan a belated anniversary trip
Preserve my wedding dress
Send out Christmas cards each year (see 2018 here)
Plan a surprise date night
Celebrate our three-year anniversary (August 2020)
Celebrate Stephen's 30th birthday (December 27th, 2020)
Celebrate my 30th birthday (May 25th, 2021)
Home
Order our first "yearbook" photo album (did this collab with Snapfish which worked out great!)
Organize our home office and share on blog
Paint kitchen cabinets - had them painted in May 2020! Read about it here.
Update living room light fixture - completed November 2018. We went with this one from West Elm!
Mount our TV on our living room wall - February 2019 - Stephen surprised me with this!
Update downstairs guest room
Participate in the One Room Challenge
Organize our upstairs closets
Move our pink couch to our office
Find the perfect artwork for our downstairs powder room - completed November 2019
Continue our Mackenzie Childs Christmas ornament collection
Do a declutter challenge
Find the perfect porch swing - purchased in April 2019
Frame more of our family photos
Update our master bathroom cabinets - September 2019
Organize our home office and share on blog
Update downstairs guest room
Participate in the One Room Challenge
Organize our upstairs closets
Continue our Mackenzie Childs Christmas ornament collection
Do a declutter challenge
Frame more of our family photos
Wilmington
Try 10 new-to-me restaurants
Create a Wilmington City Guide
Go to 5 local events
- Italian Bistro - November 2018
- True Blue - December 2018
- Skytown Beer & BBQ - December 2018
- Kornerstone Bistro - January 2019
- Port City Cheesesteaks - March 2019
- Board & Barrel - April 2019
- Oceanic - June 2019 - technically, it's not new but it has reopened and rebranded!
- Roko - August 2019
- The Brasserie - I'm not sure why I had never been here but we went with friends and loved it!
- Shark Bar - February 2020
Create a Wilmington City Guide
Go to 5 local events
- NC Azalea Princess Pageant
- NC Azalea Festival
North Carolina
Visit the mountains in all four seasons
See the fall foliage in the mountains - October 2019
Visit a new coastal NC town
Go to the state fair
Stay at a famous bed & breakfast
Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway
Go to a Panthers game
Visit the mountains in all four seasons
Visit a new coastal NC town
Go to the state fair
Stay at a famous bed & breakfast
Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway
Go to a Panthers game
Family & Friends
Host a girls' weekend at our house
Send 5 just-because gifts
Host Easter lunch again - April 2019 (read about our tablescape here)
Host a girls' weekend at our house
Send 5 just-because gifts
Travel
Visit 3 new countries
Visit 3 new states
Visit Colorado - January 2020 - check out our Breckenridge Travel Guide here!
Go skiing out west - January 2020
Take a couples' trip - Charleston, May 2019
Go sailing
See a new-to-me Broadway show - February 2019 - Mean Girls with my mom in NYC for market!
Plan another Christmastime NYC trip
Take a weekend trip to Charleston - May 2019 (read about it here)
Visit Maine
Go to Banff, Canada
Visit 3 new countries
Visit 3 new states
- Colorado
Go sailing
Plan another Christmastime NYC trip
Visit Maine
Go to Banff, Canada
All the Fun
Host a holiday party at our house - we hosted Christmas Eve at our house in 2018
Throw a surprise party
Go to 5 concerts
Purchase AirPods - June 2019
Host supper club
Go ice skating
Host an ornament exchange - December 2018
Try 10 new recipes
Dress up for Halloween
Buy coffee for the person behind me
Send 10 pieces of "snail-mail"
Start a new 101 list
Throw a surprise party
Go to 5 concerts
Host supper club
Go ice skating
Try 10 new recipes
Dress up for Halloween
Buy coffee for the person behind me
Send 10 pieces of "snail-mail"
Start a new 101 list
I've been lucky enough to have a pretty incredible relationship with one of our local publications, Focus on the Coast Weddings. I first wrote an article about planning our wedding, which was followed by a write-up on our wedding. FOTC Weddings then featured my rehearsal dinner dress (my mom's wedding gown) and now, I've had the opportunity to write one more little piece for them on our first year of marriage.
This publication is an incredible one. It is filled with incredible vendors and collaborators, and I feel honored to get to participate every so often! ZIA has also worked with the magazine on a few styled shoots as well, and it's fun to see the staff's vision come to life.
Check out the article below on our first year of marriage!
It is so hard to believe that Stephen and I have already celebrated our first anniversary! This first year of marriage has flown by and in some ways, it feels like we just got married yesterday, while in others, it seems like we’ve been doing this forever - and in the best possible way.
By the time Stephen and I said “I do” last August, we were approaching 7 years of dating. We had already been through quite a few highs and lows of life together: college, graduation, the loss of a beloved grandparent, finding and celebrating our first jobs, moving and settling into careers. On top of that, I opened my own business in September, so by month one of marriage, it seemed like we had been through it all.
I wasn’t sure what to expect in our first year of marriage, but I did know how excited I was to start this adventure with Stephen. Despite being together for quite some time, we took a more traditional route and chose not to live together until after we got married, so I’ll never forget how fun that first month was. Of course, there’s always an adjustment when you add a roommate to the list, especially when it’s a guy, but we’ve found our rhythm for what makes our household work.
I got very lucky in the fact that my husband loves to joke around. I’m very much a type-A person that lets the little things cause stress, and he has been the balancing factor in my life, and especially in this last year. Even in those moments I get frustrated with Stephen - because let’s face it, we all get frustrated with our spouses from time to time - he ends up making me laugh and I’ve soon forgotten what I was upset about in the beginning.
The biggest thing I can reflect on from our first year of marriage is that it’s so important to enjoy the blessing that is marriage. It is so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day stress that can easily overcome us, but living with your best friend makes life more fun than you could imagine.
photography by Drewe + Kate. Photos shot for publication in Focus on the Coast Weddings
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