Previously Recorded: Holiday Chaos of 2017

So I wasn't going to post this... but I want to remember it.  And I haven't posted anything since we got married, so....


The holidays are a flop, bust, epic failure around our house. Zero holiday spirit.  Except for my shopping is almost done!

Last year we did it all.  Tasteful outdoor lights, real garland around the windows and openings inside the house.  Our beautiful tree, carefully decorated in our front window.  Picture perfect, fresh and excited homeowners.

But this year....

If you follow me on Instagram, you know we have been renovating our kitchen.  Since October...

The refrigerator is still in my living room, and pieces of furniture have been displaced all over the house.  There is a huge box containing the range hood hanging out in the middle of the floor, and the dining room is a chaotic mess of tools, materials, and all the things that belong IN the kitchen.  We make coffee every morning in the living room, on the coffee table (fitting), because it's the closest available outlet.  I've been doing dishes in the bathroom for the last two months, and I already have a new rug in waiting because the one we have now is completely destroyed, despite every effort to keep up on the cleaning.

We have tried to keep the dust to a minimum- but now, we will use it as a guide to know what hasn't been cleaned yet when this whole process is over.

We've gone back and forth about shoving more furniture to the side to fit a Christmas tree in the corner of the living room.  Do we decorate the whole thing, or just the front half?  Is it even worth it?  Should we just put the top half of the tree up and have a mini tree?  Yes, do it, we need a place to put presents.  No, it's not worth it.  It always comes down to whether we want more clutter in an already cramped space at this point. And I don't- I desperately want it all to just go away. I've thought about buying a small (like really small), real tree just for ambiance- but then remember that that would be bringing more stuff IN... and I'd have to water it.

We went for a walk in the blizzard the other night.  Admiring our neighbors decorations.  And then there was our house... so dark and spiritless.  Maybe I'll get a wreath for the front door and call it good...

I know, I know- whine whine whine (I'd really like wine, wine, wine)

I was driving to work today, thinking about putting any holiday decor out at all... Thinking how someday this could be a good teaching moment for our nonexistent children.  A tree is a luxury.  If we don't have a tree this year, I can really say to them- "You know kids, one year your dad and I didn't even have a Christmas tree up" (I sort of chuckle at this because for us, it's a choice to put up a tree or not- but also totally something my parents would have said to us to scare us into being good, or make us feel bad for them)- and then I can whip out the book I am going to make of all the photos from start to finish and show them how lucky we were- tree or not- to be renovating our kitchen. And how lucky they are to still have married parents after the whole ordeal.  The End.

What's the point? I don't know.  Maybe it's all once step further to skipping the stuff and spending holidays with family, without all the hoopla.  Being together is what matters most.  Although, I wouldn't want ANYONE to enter my chaotic home at this point to spend time with me.  There's no place for you to sit anyway.  So decorate your tree's folks- We're coming over!

Cabinets go in Monday, and we probably won't have a tree up this year. Bah Humbug

Update: We did not put up a tree and THE REFRIGERATOR IS OUT OF THE LIVING ROOM.  Woo hoo!

So it really wasn't as bad as I made it seem in the 'post' above. We had a great holiday season with family and friends.

We are so close to finishing this epic renovation, and I think I'll do a post once we are all done showing the whole process.

I hope your 2018 is off to an amazing start.  Our motto this year: Anytime something goes our way- no matter how big or small- "2018 is going (or "still going") to be a great year"! 😂 So original...

Anyway, hope you got a chuckle out of that nonsense up there.

Cheers to the Best Day Ever

So married life is pretty great.  Not too many surprises after 7 years together- but it's like we've fallen in love all over again.  It's cloud nine.  In fact, it's probably better than the first time we fell in love. Call it the honeymoon phase, but I hope each new chapter in our lives brings this much happiness and joy.  

We got a preview of our photos and I can't stop looking at them with a giant smile on my face.  Like giddy to have them and relive the most amazing day of my life. ** Update: We finally got the original files to print, post, and plaster all over the house!**

I have been wanting to write a post to capture the day, but I'm not sure I can put it into words.  Words just won't do it justice.  Just like my words won't do most of the vendors we worked with justice- we are so appreciative to them all.  We couldn't have gotten luckier in being able to work with some of the best in Northern Michigan. But here it goes- before it becomes any less clear in my mind...

It was a day of magic and rain.  I woke excited and calm and ready.  There were a few hiccups, but it wouldn't have been OUR perfect day without them.  It rained and the wind was blowing snot.  The plan was to go to the Grand Traverse lighthouse for our first look before the ceremony.  I'll be honest, a quick thought crossed my mind and I almost decided not to do it.  But I said screw it, and off we went in the wind and rain.  We drove in separate cars and the rain subsided just as we arrived.  The wind did not however.  Luke was already waiting for me- I was standing on the side of the lighthouse sheltered from the wind, and I can say I almost didn't want to leave the safety of the large building blocking the wind, but I did and I nearly blew away.  But the look on his face- pure happiness, was all worth it.  We were wet and windblown by the time we left but I'm so glad we didn't pass up the amazing opportunity.  

We arrived early to the church, and from the first day we met our Pastor he told us that the wedding begins when the bride is ready (no matter what time it's really supposed to start).  Well guests hadn't even arrived yet and I was ready.  So excited to meet my groom at the altar and vow to forever.

I thought I would cry a lot more on this momentous day- I certainly cried a lot leading up to it.  All happy tears of course, and tears of joyful anticipation.  A few frustrated tears- but not as many as some experience I'm sure ;)

As I walked down the aisle, in a hurry- my dad had to remind me to slow down (according to the pictures, I should have reminded him to smile), I started to choke up- like really big tears, amazed by all the people there to be witness to our love and commitment.  All people who have loved us before we even knew each other.  I took a very deep breath (choked back the ugly crying) about half way down the aisle, and that was it.  All smiles from there on out.  Pure happiness and love.  The real thing.

Actually, that's a lie.  I cried like a baby when Luke danced with his mother- it was such a sweet moment.

There were two times I made the conscious decision to stop and take it all in.  To look at everyone who had come to be with us on our best day ever.  As I arrived at the altar with my groom, I turned out and took everyone in.  And as I sat at our sweetheart table at the reception, I felt an intense amount of happiness and calmness.  So peaceful and loved.  Everyone at their tables having a great time, it couldn't have been better.

We took several moments to just be together through out the big event, fortunate to have our amazing photographer capture them!

In all honesty- the day after was so hard; I think all of the emotions finally caught up to me.  I cried all day at the drop of a hat because I was so sad it was over, but totally, blissfully happy at the same time!  My grandma always told me, "don't be sad it's over, be glad it happened".  The day after was a serious letdown, but fortunately the sadness was mostly gone the following day.  Post-wedding blues is a REAL thing...

We didn't go on a honeymoon right away- it's all planned for February 2017, when it's stupid cold out.  But spending time together in our home, as husband and wife has been so wonderful. 

Together forever. For life.

Photography by Meg Paxton of Paxton Photography (We HIGHLY recommend her!)

Small Thoughts: 1

This morning I woke up feeling so grateful. A nice change from the stress and negative feelings I've been overcome by lately.

What are you feeling grateful for today?