Eat, Drink, and Be Ugly

Friday Night Framily Dinner turned Ugly!

A new tradition is born!

Friends, appetizers, and ugly sweaters.

I can't wait to see how this evolves over the years.

All calories were removed before serving, so enjoy seconds and thirds if you please.

Who has the ugliest sweater?

Such a cute ugly couple

...and the winner is...

The ugliest sweater is homemade by me and all goodies were found at Goodwill!

Merry Christmas!

xoxo

Lights, Tigers, and Bears...Oh my!

The Christmas Season is one of my most favorite seasons.

This time is so magical and a beautiful way to wrap up the year.

Christmas lights are probably my favorite part of the season.

Three years and counting it is now tradition to visit Christmas at the Zoo 

for the best display of lights, hands down.

{Tip: visit with your besties to make the trip even more memorable}

A few of the many attempts to get the perfect selfie

My most favorite part...

Being able to begin the tradition with my husband!
After 3 years of spending the Holidays in two different countries
we are finally together for our very first Christmas together.

Most animals were cuddled up and sleeping but we sure enjoyed the thousands of lights that lit up our way from one end of the zoo to the other.

Well, hello there Big Ben, am I in London again?

I promise that is Andrew and I and not just a random couple

Every year there is this tree and it is always one of my favorites.
Isn't it just beautiful?

We couldn't leave without going to see Santa {from afar} and
decorating cookies in Mrs. Claus' kitchen

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Hope everyone found the magic in the season and their hearts were warmed with family, friends and so much love.

xoxo

Made With Studio

Look for this

Photography + Design = Studio

I LOVE this app.  I simply can't get enough.

Studio makes sharing a photo on social media more fun.

Be sure to use #madewithstudio

Here is a look at a few of my favorites...
{All designed by me}

  

General American Donut Company {Best donuts in Indy}

Wales to America {September 10, 2014}

Datingversary!

Favorite Season.  Hands down!

The best mess to make is in the kitchen.  #madewithlove

Days are better with happiness

Travel.  Explore.  Learn.  Repeat.  

The only way to be

Always.  Love is the answer

Thanksgiving 2013 {South Bend, IN}

Monday and every day!

Success!

It is about embracing all moments

Happy 2 Months Today! {Photographer Shelby Chari}

 Find me on Studio and let's share designs! I promise you won't be disappointed.  

xoxo

12.13.14 - THIRTY!

I turned the big 3-0!

It is a new decade sure to be full of adventure, love and blessings.  

Of course I celebrated all weekend.  What else would you expect?

The celebration began on Friday with the best framily a girl could ask for.  The night was complete with yummy food, good laughs, lots of love, and ice cream cake {my absolute favorite}! 

The celebration continued on Saturday {my actual birthday}, where I learned so much about my strength and the love that I hold in my heart.  It might not have been the 30th birthday I was dreaming about but, I believe everything happens for a reason and that I was in the right place at the right time.  I started this new decade with more strength than I ever thought I had and I see that as a blessing that will take me far in this next decade of life.  

#madewithstudio

Sunday was a beautiful day.  

A day I will forever hold close to me.  

Wine Shake at Hopwood with my love

Amazing dinner at California Pizza Kitchen

Love. Christmas Lights.  Downtown Indy

The night ended with birthday treats and a Christmas movie on the couch!

#madewithstudio

This.  Summarizes me perfectly!

Thank you to everyone that made my day and weekend one to remember.  

Here is to a new decade and new adventures.

Thirty is going to be amazing, because I will personally make sure of that!

xoxo

The Ugly Truth

#madewithstudio

These are my thoughts, feelings, and opinions based off of my personal experience. No studies or {official} facts are attached to anything because sometimes hearing ugly truths {no sugar coats here} from a real person and not some fancy or accredited article/magazine makes you feel less crazy and that is why I choose to share.  My hope is that someone else finds comfort in knowing they are not alone.     

Marriage is hard work - but a constant learning process that should be fun, so be patient.  

Perfection is a perception - be happy with your perfection and STOP trying to be someone else.

Sorry is often said as an instinct - and not with a understanding that one will in fact try to do better 

Keeping score is not for couples - compromise and LOTS of communication are better strategies.  

Home is where you live with the ones you love - this can be anywhere nothing more is needed

It isn't your place to judge others - you don't know what battles they are fighting

Everyone has a different patience level - be understanding, always!

God - the one that is always there, always listening, and always amazing  

Forgiveness should be practiced - but not to be expected 

Friends are Family - never under estimate their powers

When Goodnight Replaces Goodbye

In October {2013} Andrew came to visit for 8 days and this was our last visit before Andrew moved to the States in September 2014! This was our last goodbye...ever, after this we would only have to say good night.

#madewithstudio

For this visit I had a theme for everyday {see number 6 here}...

  Sunday: #SunshineSunday - A welcome (home) bag full of sunshine yellow things!

Monday: #ManCrushMonday - Man Movie, M&Ms and a basketball Magazine

Tuesday: #TakeOutTuesday

Wednesday: #WilliamsWednesday - We celebrated Andrew's birthday a few months late

New {Rock Star} Blanket made by me

Andrew picked a movie 

Thursday: #ThrowBackThursday - Andrew picked an activity we have done before to do again

Friday: #FreakyFriday - Everything Fall and/or Halloween related today

Cout Chocula for breakfast?! YES, please!

Apple Picking

The shirts are the best!

Saturday: #SmoreSaturday - Dinner and S'mores with our friends
{Everything is S'more fun with you}

Sunday: #StormCloudSunday - Andrew's last day :(

"Who ate your bowl of SUNSHINE this morning, Thundercloud?"

Crafting together

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass it's about learning to dance in the rain"

We had so much fun with our activities and time together these 8 days.  We headed to Chicago early so we could head into the city for dinner before his flight later that evening.  When we finally made it to the airport for Andrew to check-in things just didn't seem right.  Things were quite and calm, has not been my experience before but I didn't think much of it until Andrew came back from the desk and told me that his flight had been delayed due to weather.  Andrew was not happy, and actually quite frustrated.  I saw it as a blessing.  God gave us one more night together, knowing this was the last time for a long time. 

I was not prepared to stay the night in Chicago but I made due with what I had and just enjoyed the night in Andrew's arms for one more night.  It isn't always so easy to find the positive in a frustrating or difficult situation, but I sure try.  

Andrew got on his flight the next morning and made it home safely.  Even though things didn't go as planned and things were out of our control, God was showing us to just trust him and everything would work out in perfect timing...His timing and not ours.  Let Him and he will not disappoint.

When this appeared on my Timehop this morning....

I couldn't believe that a year ago on this day I submitted the paperwork for Andrew's Fiance Visa. Only about a month after saying "goodbye" to him for the last time.  It was this moment that starting the ball rolling, and OH MY did things roll so very fast.  It is amazing to look back and realize just how quickly things went.  It was a whirlwind, a whirlwind that I will post more about later.  

We have come a long way in a year, and still so much to do.  Thank you immigration!

Forward is the only way we will go and NO ONE or ANYTHING will keep us from being together.  

Here is to the future!

xoxo