In 2012, I graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor’s in Psychology and plans to go to veterinary school and become a veterinarian. I was working as a veterinary assistant, living with my college roommate and single. On a whim, I made a dating profile (our blog is a secret ode to the dating site I used) and within a few days got a message that caught my attention. “Hey, doll.” What kind of flirt says that? I was intrigued. We talked all day while I got a flat tire fixed. I read his messages to my sister when I visited her that weekend. I actually kind of liked him. We talked on the phone for a month before we finally met. Michael had been working out of state, and by the time he returned home to Florida, I was so ready to meet him I offered to pick him up at the airport! Crazy, right?!
So our first date was at an airport. Well, not really. We drove to Treasure Island Beach, got a few drinks and sat in the sand for hours and hours getting to know each other. I will say, if there’s such a thing as “love at first sight,” that was it. We were pretty much inseparable after that, other than his traveling for work, and spending time with his one, two, three, FOUR kids (who were then 1, 3, 5, and 9 years old). I never imagined then, despite the clear attraction, that we would end up married and adding more kids to the mix years later.
But here we are. I went to veterinary school for four long years. We dated throughout that time, and on Christmas Eve 2015, Michael proposed in front of my family and I obviously said “yes!.” Planning our wedding almost made me change my career choice to party planner because it was the absolute best, and our wedding on April 22, 2017 was one of the best days of my life.
We live in rural central Florida now with those one, two, three, FOUR kids (who are now 10, 12, 14 and 18), and have added a few more to the mix. My “first-born” wild-child, Amelia, was born September 1, 2018 and is spoiled rotten by her older siblings. Our newest (and our last) addition, Adeline, was born April 29, 2020, in the middle of a global pandemic, and is the calmest and easiest baby by comparison.
In addition to growing our family, I’ve been working full time as a small animal veterinarian, and we have been renovating (slowly, so painfully slowly) a big, old house on eight acres in the small town Michael grew up in. In addition to wedding planning, I’m going to be an interior designer or house flipper when I grow up—Something very Joanna-Gaines. But for now I’m pretty planted as a veterinarian in a small animal practice an hour or so away. Maybe someday (cue eyerolls from my husband).
So, now that you’re brought up to speed, I hope you will continue to join me here on the blog and see what we’re up to!
