May 31, 2014.

On May 31st I married my love and best friend in a little New England church. Our friends and family were right there to celebrate with us and everything could not have been more perfect. Things turned out exactly how we wanted (besides the inevitables) and we are so excited to be living our marital bliss over and over again through these pictures thanks to Aaron Huberty Photography!

(Stay with me, I'm just going to dump a few of my favorites!)

Cooking like a Newlywed - Becoming a Foodie.

A few months before we got married, I remember talking to a friend who had been married just over a year. We were talking about the "unexpected parts" of marriage and she mentioned half-jokingly,

It was weird having another human counting on you to have food on the table...All stereotypes and sarcasm aside, I had to learn how to really plan and prepare for another person, not just for myself. Food is kinda important to stay on top of, not just for yourself, but a big responsibility to have for another person, too! 

Since I'm not currently working, I've really thrown myself into planning, shopping for, and preparing meals. We also have to consider Kevin's shift changing quite frequently from week to week; sometimes being on days and other times he'll be working in the evening. This means that we're both affected and that my planning has to be flexible considering sometimes we eat dinner at normal times and sometimes at 2pm!

All that to say...I'm learning! I would certainly not say that I have this whole thing mastered after just a month and a half. It's fun though - experimenting and seeing what we like. And some nights dinner is amaaaaazing (sharing more on that further down!) and some days it's a little of, "well...that won't be coming in the circulation again!"

At first I didn't know what to use. There are so many free meal planning printables on pinterest but I use this one for right now and that can be found right here. I like this one because it has the weekly planner PLUS a grocery list. And it's right there! I just fold it in half and take the paper when I go to the store at the beginning of the week. This stays on our fridge the whole week too so my forgetful self knows what's going on and so that my husband can get excited for nights like Buffalo Chicken Pasta, which was definitely a husband-approved-dinner.  

We've also decided to start integrating big and beautiful summer salads in to our week at least once in place of dinner, typically two times. Healthy household decisions, if you may. The gym is also getting integrated too. Anyways...They're so easy to prepare ahead of time (all the fixins') and then just pop in the fridge. I cut and wash the lettuce ahead of time then just pop the whole thing in the fridge. I used to think salad spinners were a waste of space but now that I use it and it keeps the lettuce fresh for a few days, I'm a believer. And it's right there at your fingertips all chopped and washed and ready to grab!

{We have this one from Bed Bath and Beyond that we got from our registry}

I've got a secret. 

I'm in love with my crock pot.

But really. I have this one from Bed Bath and Beyond, which was also off our registry and oh my goodness - I now want to "crock pot" every single day. (To be quite honest, I haven't used the special stirring mechanism, because it's for soups and dips and stews and I haven't ventured onto those...yet!) If you've never used one, GO.  Go now. Get one. Get this one. You will not regret it. Best investment (err...gift) ever and the husband fully agrees. It is so easy to use, fun to experiment in, easy to clean (most are, mine is dishwasher safe!) and you have leftovers for the whole week. 

One of my favorite parts about crock pot cooking is that you don't have to do anything, hardly. You put in your meat and your sauce or spices, leave it alone for a few hours/overnight/the whole day and BAM, hello beautiful dinner. 

Here are some successful recipes (crock pot and non crock pot) that I've come across. 

This seems limited, I know, but I'll continue to share some in the future too!

Crock pot corn on the cob and coconut lime chicken nuggets. 

Both of these are easy and awesome, and though the chicken nuggets aren't a crock pot meal they are AMAZING. Kevin has requested them numerous times and I just made them for the first time the other day. They're very similar to this homemade chicken nugget recipe, which is also a crowd pleaser. Simple, comfort food. And I bet they would be easy to freeze for a rainy day. 

With the crock pot corn on the cob, it doesn't sound like much, but there's definitely something to the way the crock pot cooks the corn. It's delicious. I'm also thinking about switching up the seasoning to the corn the next time I try this. Maybe a little garlic or get wild and try some spices? I bet some lemon or lime juice would be interesting as well. 

My husband's favorite dessert is pineapple upside down cake. So the other week while he was on long 12+ hour shifts, I worked this special treat into our schedule halfway through the week for dessert. It was fun to have something to look forward to (and the leftovers that lasted a few days and may or may not have been eaten for breakfast weren't half bad either).

This wasn't the "BEST pineapple upside down cake I've ever had so I'm not going to share the recipe (also because I can't find it), but it WAS simple which is good for me. I'll keep working on it. I'd give this recipe a 7/10 for overall taste. Regardless, it was still delicious!

This recipe was a total "dump and go." Hardly any measuring took place but it was the best. Honestly, I'm so sorry I can't tell you what on earth I put in here, but it was delicious so I have to post it. More or less the entire meal is brown sugar and garlic chicken, brown rice with broccoli, and sweet potatoes. This was one of the first meals in our new place so for some odd reason it holds a nice memory for me.

And this, my friends, is garlic mashed potato pizza. We took a date night in last weekend and made this to celebrate Friday night and the weekend. You see, Connecticut has a few restaurants where you can find garlic mashed potato pizza. I don't know where it started or if it's just a Northern thing or Connecticut thing? And I really don't know why or how this came about into the world of food, but this is one of our absolute favorite greasy guilty things to devour. 

This recipe calls for both store-bought mashed potatoes and dough. The potatoes don't have to be this particular brand, just any will do. I think I bought sour cream and garlic flavored ones. I think I'm going to take it up a notch and next time make our own dough as well as the potatoes.

As weird as it may sound, you're not allowed to "knock it 'till you try it." So go ahead and try it, I DARE you! :) 

So there you have it; I'm cooking like a total newlywed, continuing to learn how to be a wife and balance this type of stuff and becoming "a foodie" in the process. 

It's quite the adventure!

An Anniversary of Sorts.

It's hard to believe that one month ago today, Kevin and I were flying to here, our new home;

away from our friends and family, from everyone who had celebrated just two weeks before at our wedding, our hometowns, and all things comfortable.

Since that June 9th, we have moved out of "just Kevin's" apartment and into our own home together. We've created together an entirely new home for ourselves as a brand new married couple, we adopted a teeny tiny six week old Leah (originally a Leo until the vet told us otherwise), and taken in a ten week old Lilly.

We've made friends and learned how to be together, and how to be together separately in a different way than we have been used to in the past. We've accomplished some sort of routine and schedule and already worked around the military's presence in our life. We've celebrated and cried (okay, that one's mostly me). We've learned so much about life and more about each other and of course a whole ton about marriage. We've been stretched and torn in different ways, learned new things about each other and inevitably welcomed in each other's quirkiest and worst habits.

All that to say, I've never felt more home. I will say it time and time again, though this transition has been difficult for me, I do believe the "idea" of the transition was more difficult previous to the actual time here so far.

Yes, being away from friends and family hurts a ton.
Yes, getting lost driving on roads that I don't know by heart is embarrassing and frustrating.
Yes, I'm battling with emotions of acceptance and satisfaction, of learning more about myself in a place that isn't so familiar to me.

I'm changing my identity, whether I am conscious it or not. I am learning my new roles as wife and caretaker of some adorable fur babies. I am learning a rhythm, one of my own heart and personality in these present circumstances. More and more, of course, I am discovering things about myself in this phase of life. My previous fears of anticipation are gone, and they are replaced with the here and now - my responses to feelings and day-to-day emotions. I have never felt more comfortable in a place that I actually so greatly anticipated being uncomfortable. I wish that I could piece together the words to explain how right this all feels. Though fresh-faced and bushy-tailed, admittedly "just a bright-eyed newlywed," I am determined to learn and grow where I have been planted. Despite expectations, stereotypes, self-sabotaging and past demons, I am positive that I can grow in this new place. I know that newness can bring growth and comfort, that uncertainty can breed easy habits and routine, and that fears and doubts can be replaced with contentment and sureness. I know that I have the most amazing human on my team, a husband who is there to encourage, listen to, support and love me. And I know that I have faith and hope in a Heavenly Father who provides the same, but different encouragement, support, and love.

And I know that I am here. 

That my circumstances and physical address are out of my control-freak-self's control. That I am here by God's grace, finally with my husband - to create a home and a life with him, despite circumstances beyond our control.

I am here to try and stretch, grow, love and live. Live with contentment in the best way I know how, live with satisfaction in a way I can work towards. I am here to be fully present, to enjoy this chapter, to soak in the peace of welcoming a husband home each night and stepping into the shoes of my new identity; 

tentatively, but open to grow and learn, 

always. 

Abode in progress // Home for sure.

For us,

the feeling of home had never been a place, it’d been just that; a feeling, a moment. It had been every time we were together and every second we finally got to get each other at the airport after months.

So it makes sense that each of us are still wrestling with the physical and concrete idea of home,

in all the best ways.

There’s so much I want to say to explain the way that I’m feeling and all the ways that I know he feels the exact same. But looking at each other after we hang up something permanent on the walls or buy some silly chair cushions and when we can’t stop saying,

“I love our home,” 

that’s how I know.

That’s how I know that we’re home, that the very permanent nails in the wall hanging our memories and possessions mean that this place is permanent, that it’s more than the weekends or summer leave we’re used to. That it’s ours for now, to make a life and a home and memories in.

And that is just so stinkin' meaningful to me

I don’t know how to put it into so many words.

My favorite part of marriage so far are all of the simplest, most normal moments. Certainly ones we’ve never had the blessing to experience before. Finishing dinner, then taking the puppy for a run. Coming back, cleaning up. Doing dishes. All the really really mundane boring stuff. Maybe I’m just speaking like a newlywed, or someone who’s just finished a four plus year relationship where seeing the other person with a wait anything less than two months time was something to shout about, it’s all just really normal now. We’re starting to get our rhythm. And I’ve never realized how much I am absolutely in love with these moments of normal, boring, mundane, comfortable things.

Lilly Girl.

Over this past weekend, we welcomed Lilly into our little family! 

Lilly is a 10 week old black lab from Texas. She is the sweetest, gentlest, most "chill" puppy I have ever seen. She loves sleeping the day away, she's getting used to her crate and she sleeps through the night with ease. 

We've always talked about having a "Lilly." Since dating, Kevin and I have been talking about "when we get married," the next breath was usually, "and get a dog." We've even already gotten chided about getting a kitten and then a puppy so quickly! 

(Within two weeks of being in the South, but what does it really matter!?)

Getting "used to" the car...I don't think it will take much practice!

We are growing to love our Lilly girl so much and cannot wait to introduce her to Leo (we're holding off for a little bit, each have vet visits lined up). It's so much fun to spend time with them and see their little personalities grow more. 

Leo is an absolute clown. He attacks and plays and hides and scoots just under your feet and into our closet the second the door is open in order to hide amongst the shoes, play with the laces and clothes. I think he is much more mischievous than Lilly will ever be. Although, together, who knows.

Lilly is quiet and gentle. She sleeps anywhere and everywhere and loves to play when she wants to play and looks at you like you're bothering her if she does not at the moment. We've taken to "keeping her" awake past 8pm at night in order to "make" her sleep through the night. So far, for the past three nights it's worked perfectly, but our hearts feel a little bit bad when we're pestering her with toys and playtime and all she wants to do is lay down and sleep at 9pm. 

It's kind of pathetically funny though. 

Getting used to her crate

We fell in love with her face online and absolutely had to have her!

I am so glad that I married an animal lover and am eternally grateful for his patience when it comes to adding fur babies to our little family, though he is as much to blame as I am! We're pretty excited to grow and adventure with these guys as it is.

But we promise, we're done for now!!!