Twenty-Eight
In other years, I've written this post before my birthday. I've posted about 26 things I've learned in 26 years and a recap of sorts on my 27th year.
This year, though, mostly since I'm behind on everything, I'll show you what we did to ring in my 28th (yesterday). It's crazy to think I'm this close to thirty. THIRTY, you guys!
But if there is on thing that being twenty-eight has already taught me, it is that God is so good. He is present, even when we are not so present for Him. He is bigger than our trials, bigger than our joys, and bigger than our selfish selves. He is faithful, even when His path looks different from ours. He hasn't forgotten about you, and He has reminded me that no sin is too big to forgive. He has placed in my life, such incredible people. My loving, hilarious husband, our families, our caring friends...
God is good. In good seasons or bad. He is so good.
This past year has been all sorts of ups and downs and all arounds, but I have Christ as my rock, my husband as my never ending comedic relief, and a pupper to snuggle and annoy all the day long. 2017 has been a year to remember and cherish!
For my birthday, I had been dying to get to a new coffee shop that just opened in Atlanta. I had tried their coffee back around Christmastime, and was soooo grateful to finally get a taste of real coffee around here (I come from Milwaukee where roasteries are common) that I didn't need to spoil with milk or sugar. They have a gorgeous, new brick and mortar shop in Midtown and it was definitely worth the drive. Go give East Pole a try!
After our coffee stop, Tom also took me to the restaurant I've been waiting to try called Star Provisions. Oh. my. goshhhh. This place was amazinggggg. I had the Italian sausage on a hoagie, and Tom had the Prosciutto (that had butter so creamy we thought it was mayo for a second). We finished everything off with some bakery desserts. Not only was the food absolutely perfect, but the building and market was super cute and right up my alley. I could have gone to these places any old time, but I hate going places I know Tom would love too! So I'm glad I waited and we went together. Here's some photos of the day!
Did you really think I wouldn't include my big baby bear doggeroo?! Hondo has been everything we hoped for in our dream-dog and more. We just love this big bear to pieces and look forward to his butt-wagging wiggles each and every day. He has made a year of lots of valleys, one with a few more peaks. I never imagined I could love a dog so much, but you better believe this guy is a momma's boy and he gets so much stinking attention from me it's almost embarrassing! Thank you for bringing such joy to our home, sweet Hondo.
Beyond all that, I leave 27 behind with a "good riddance" and welcome 28 with a cheerful "hello." This coming year will be one of hope, hard work, change, growth, and so much love. Happy birthday to me indeed!
Ottica: Eyewear Co. Review
This is an honest review in exchange for the products received courtesy of Ottica. All opinions are my own.
As posts like these often work, Ottica reached out to me to see if I had any interest in trying their online store and ordering a pair of glasses on them.
Well, the funny thing is the timing.
Tom had recently been to the eye doctor and had been searching high and low for new specs for weeks. He tried on a few Warby Parkers, and even ordered a pair from another retailer (but the prescription was off and he just returned them). I, too, had been on the hunt for a pair of sunglasses for our upcoming trip, when Ottica dropped into my inbox. Normally, I'd have probably politely passed them by, but the timing was too fateful, so I happily accepted their offer (and I'm glad I did).
Tom ordered a prescription pair of the Weston and I ordered a pair of Carolina Lemke CL 7336 sunglasses in leopard print.
Review:
About:
Ottica is an online prescription glasses retailer, and they carry some amazing brands like Tory Burch, Burberry, and Michael Kors.
They also have a comprehensive guarantee, and that's something I personally require when dealing with something as finicky as glasses and prescriptions. We actually ended up using their customer service, which I'll detail in a moment.
Ordering:
When ordering from a computer, we kept running into an additional $30 fee being added once we were about to checkout. It was for an option called "Prism" which you can check or uncheck, but we made sure it was unchecked multiple times. Without fail, it would repeatedly add $30 - It was infuriating. However, Tom finally figured out that it's actually a bug within a button (he's such a smarty pants). If you click the bottom "Update Cart" button, $30 will be added... BUT if you click the "Update Cart" button in the righthand sidebar, you'll have no additional fees. We ended up ordering from a phone which must be responsive to the sidebar button, because we had no issues there. But Tom figured out this bug while I wrote this review. (See the video below to see what I'm talking about)
Shipping:
I suppose we're used to Amazon Prime shipping, but it took about a week for one pair to reach us. Tom's glasses arrived quite a few days before my sunglasses, which I thought was odd since they were in the same order, but they were packaged beautifully and were clearly great quality. Free shipping is always a bonus, so no complaints :) Overall, they were worth the wait!
Customer Service/Exchanges:
Though we loved our frames, Tom's prescription seemed off (again!) so back he went to the eye doctor and had his Rx adjusted for the second time. We were able to send them back to Ottica easily, and they stuck with their guarantee to basically right any wrongs, but it took over two weeks for them to change out the lenses and send them back. Their customer service has been very responsive, though, and we really can't complain beyond the waiting period. In fact, a big thanks to them for their patience amidst Tom's annoying prescription hang-ups!
Overall thoughts:
Ottica has countless options for men's and women's frames, special lens additions, sunglasses, Rx sunglasses, and more. Plus, they have a neat little option to virtually try-on frames which was really helpful (unlike most virtual try-on programs - haha)! Everything was exactly as we would have expected, but the quality even better. With some things to keep in mind in terms of their website's bug, I really would recommend giving Ottica a try. The quality and customer service far outweigh any wait times, and I know I'd be happy to order from them again. Especially because of the amazing brands they carry!
Plus, doesn't Tom look dapper in those new specs?!
Thanks for giving me the opportunity to try and honestly review your unique, custom-crafted eyewear, Ottica!
The Best Part of Marriage
In the months following our nuptials, I remember running into dear friends from college we hadn't seen since graduation, or older folks in...
In the months following our nuptials, I remember running into dear friends from college we hadn't seen since graduation, or older folks in our church home, or any numbers of people who would ask us,
"What's the best part about being married, so far?"
At the time, I remember rattling on about how great it was to learn how to live together, how it was the best feeling to finally get home to them after a long day at work (which reminds me - go read my post on why I'm so glad we didn't live together before marriage!), and how it felt like such an adventure to keep growing as an individual but with someone else by your side to witness it.
Though I still know and love the beauty of those sentiments, each season and year of marriage has consistently brought about new waves of "the best part."
I'm not sure if there's any one thing I could pick out anymore.
Would it be...
Trying new foods together?
Cooking crazy things?
Exploring new neighborhoods or cities?
Traveling?
Laughing over the most ridiculous inside jokes?
Waking up to one another, and kissing each other goodnight?
The fact that our personal space bubbles are practically nonexistant around each other anymore?
That bodily functions still manage to crack us up?
That our dog has become a shared joy and hilarious comic relief?
The weird, secret nicknames we have for one another?
The fact that our shared faith plays such a huge role in how we make decisions and see the world through a different lens?
The way intimacy changes and how beautiful that gift is in marriage?
How we constantly bond over something new? (currently, our love for homemade bread)
The way your dreams and hopes as couple change or adapt to each circumstance?
How we've learned to love each other more fiercely and more deeply with each passing day?
How we've learned that the work required for marriage is best done with laughter and patience?
...and on and on...
If someone were to ask me right this second, what the best part of marriage is, I don't think any one answer could suffice. I've mentioned in numerous other posts, how marriage has wrapped up in its core, so many tiny pieces.
Honesty, trust, patience, kindness, respect, laughter, communication, love, faith, etc...
The best part of marriage, to me, is the part where you realize the privilege you've been given to love and cherish someone for the rest of their life. That God is part of every moment, every trial, and every triumph. The best part is knowing, full-well, that this person may disappoint you as much as you might disappoint them, but that you are each given the same amount of grace and forgiveness by Christ, and you have the freedom to forgive and forgive and forgive (because you'll need it too).
The best part isn't just one part. It's a million tiny little parts. The part where you wake up and hug each other tight and make coffee. The part where one of you is grumpy, and the other one can cheer you up. The part where your crazy, soap-boxey rants are safe from the ears of anyone else, and your spouse validates your thoughts (but makes sure you know you're crazy). The part where you spend a whole day giving the cold shoulder about something stupid, and then three days later forget why you spent a whole day not talking. It's the part where you remember that your marriage was there before babies, and will be there when those babies move away, so it needs nurturing and affection through every dirty diaper and parent-teacher conference. The part where you do something really little - like bring them a glass of water without being asked - and give them a grateful smile of thanks for going out of there way just the tiniest bit for you. The best part is knowing what they'll order, or ordering your meal just so you can try each other's food (and maybe even switch plates). It's knowing that through every season, there will be a new one. That your spouse may change, and you have the privilege to watch it happen and change and adapt along with them, as they will for you. It's sacrifice and remembering that selfishness got checked at the altar (or before!).
Marriage with Christ at the center is the best part. Because only there will you have level ground when things get shaky (because you better believe my peak-and-valley emotions can get the best of me).