Our Pallet Wall Master Bedroom

Christmas 2018 at Our New Home

Our First Anniversary Trip: Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Justin & Mariana's Wedding // Norwalk, CT

Nancy & Joe's Wedding // Block Island

Why Custom Signage Is SO Important At Your Wedding

Weddings are a LOT of work. Between booking the florist, practicing your first dance, figuring out hair trials, all while crossing your fingers that your wedding is that Pinterest-perfect vision, your head can start spinning. I'm here to tell you that your Pinterest-perfect vision is actually easier to accomplish than you may have thought. ​

Our Honeymoon in Jamaica

Ryan and I went on our honeymoon to Sandals Royal Caribbean in Montego Bay, Jamaica, from Friday, March 30th to Friday, April 6th, and it was absolutely perfect.

Our Wedding Highlight Video!

HERE IT IS! ##REYNICSEVERAFTER

Throwback To Mike and Corine's Wedding

​ON OCTOBER 14, 2017, I HAD THE HONOR OF STANDING BY ONE OF MY CLOSEST COLLEGE FRIENDS ON ONE OF THE BIGGEST DAYS OF HER LIFE, THE DAY SHE MARRIED MIKE! I AM SO EXCITED TO DO A THROWBACK POST TODAY BECAUSE SHE GOT HER PICTURES IN AND SHARED THEM WITH US!

Weekend Roundup

WE HAD A MUCH NEEDED (AND VERY RELAXING) THREE-DAY WEEKEND.

A Weekend of Calligraphy

"Let the games begin!" : Olympics Viewing Party

MY IN-LAWS ARE NO STRANGERS TO THROWING AND ATTENDING GREAT PARTIES. FOR AS LONG AS I'VE DATED RYAN, THEY'VE ALWAYS HOSTED SOLID GET-TOGETHERS AND NEVER SKIMP ON THE DETAILS.

Winter Must-Have: Blanket Scarf

Super Bowl 2018

YESTERDAY, RYAN AND I HOSTED SOME OF OUR FAMILY MEMBERS AT OUR APARTMENT FOR A SUPER BOWL PARTY. IT WAS A GREAT AFTERNOON/EVENING FILLED WITH INDULGENT SUPER BOWL FOOD AND GOOD COMPANY. AS ALWAYS, WE ENDED UP WITH MORE LEFTOVERS THAN WE KNEW WHAT TO DO WITH. ​

"I Do Your Hair and Makeup": A Bridal Beauty Team

WHEN I WAS RESEARCHING VENDORS TO USE FOR MY WEDDING HAIR AND MAKEUP TEAM, IT DIDN'T TAKE TOO LONG TO FALL IN LOVE WITH I DO YOUR HAIR AND MAKEUP. ​

Photographer/Videographer: A Wedding Recap

ONE ELEMENT OF our big DAY THAT WE KEEP COMING BACK TO IS OUR GENUINE APPRECIATION FOR OUR PHOTOGRAPHER/ VIDEOGRAPHER TEAM, ALEX KAPLAN.

Five Favorite Things

Long Beach Island

MY IN-LAWS HAVE A HOME IN MANAHAWKIN, NJ, WHICH IS RIGHT BEFORE THE BRIDGE TO GET ONTO LONG BEACH ISLAND. WHILE WE ENJOY GOING DOWN DURING THE WARM SUMMER MONTHS, WE LOVE GOING DOWN IN THE OFF SEASON. IT HAS SUCH A CALM VIBE AND SOME OF OUR FAVORITE RESTAURANTS AND SHOPS ARE STILL OPEN.

Puppy Hike

I'LL BE THE FIRST TO ADMIT THAT HIKING IS NOT MY "THING". BUT, BEING MARRIED TO SOMEONE WHO LOVES HIKING MEANS I NEED TO COMPROMISE EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, BE A BIG GIRL, LACE UP MY SNEAKERS, AND HIKE.

Tips & Tricks: Engagement Photos

AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, RYAN AND I GOT MARRIED ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO, SO WE TOOK OUR ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS QUITE A WHILE AGO. THIS IS A POST I'VE BEEN MEANING TO WRITE FOR QUITE SOME TIME!

I'm A Master

TODAY, I CELEBRATED MY GRADUATE SCHOOL GRADUATION WITH MY HUSBAND AND FAMILY. TWO SUMMERS AGO, I STARTED THE ONLINE PROGRAM FOR EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP... 

A Saturday Well Spent

YESTERDAY WAS THE PERFECT WINTER DAY TO VISIT A WINERY AND BREWERY. IT HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY FREEZING IN NJ FOR THE PAST FEW DAYS, SO WE NEEDED A SOLID INDOOR ACTIVITY. 

Our Wedding Reception

WHEN RYAN AND I WERE PLANNING OUR WEDDING, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO US WAS THAT OUR GUESTS HAD A FABULOUS TIME. WE WANTED TO HAVE A GREAT PARTY, WHERE EVERYONE COULD CELEBRATE WITH US. AND A CELEBRATION, IT WAS!

Bridal Party Photos

I HAVE TO SAY, OUR BRIDAL PARTY WAS TOP NOTCH. EVERYONE WAS SO SUPPORTIVE, HELPFUL, AND AN ABSOLUTE BLAST. ​

It's All In The Details

THROUGHOUT MUCH OF THE WEDDING-PLANNING PROCESS, I WAS INSISTENT ON FOCUSING ON MANY OF THE SMALL DETAILS. WHILE I UNDERSTAND THE SMALL DETAILS DON'T MAKE OR BREAK A WEDDING, I THINK IT REALLY TIES EVERYTHING TOGETHER AND PROVIDES A PERSONAL TOUCH. IT WAS IMPORTANT TO ME TO HAVE A COHESIVE, ORGANIC, AND WELCOMING VIBE. FROM THE WEDDING INVITATION TO THE TABLE SETTINGS AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN, I WAS VERY PLEASED WITH HOW IT ALL CAME OUT.

Mini-Honeymoon Recap: Newport, RI

RYAN AND I GOT MARRIED ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18TH. ON SUNDAY MORNING, WE WOKE UP, HAD BREAKFAST WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHO STAYED AT THE HOTEL, DROPPED OFF OUR PUP, AMBER, AT MY PARENTS' HOUSE, AND THEN HEADED UP TO FOR OUR MINI HONEYMOON IN NEWPORT, RI.

Wedding Ceremony

ON NOVEMBER 18, 2017, RYAN AND I GOT MARRIED AT HIS FAMILY'S CHURCH IN POMPTON PLAINS, THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF OUR SAVIOUR.

3 Things We Should All Do Every Day

PEOPLE ARE INHERENTLY BUSY. WE HAVE JOBS OR CHILDREN OR RESPONSIBILITIES. THE DAYS BECOME WEEKS AND THE WEEKS BECOME MONTHS. BEFORE WE KNOW IT, LIFE HAPPENED AND WE'RE STILL GOING IN FULL SPEED.

AND THAT'S OKAY. I WOULD RATHER BE BUSY THAN BORED. BUT, I THINK THERE ARE THREE THINGS WE CAN ALL TRY TO DO EVERY SINGLE DAY TO MAKE OUR DAYS FEEL A LITTLE MORE FULFILLED.

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Our Rehearsal Dinner

ON NOVEMBER 17, 2017, RYAN'S PARENTS, DIANNE AND BOB, HOSTED OUR REHEARSAL DINNER AT THE COMMUNITY LODGE ON HIGH CREST LAKE IN WEST MILFORD. THE ROOM WAS DECORATED WITH CAFE LIGHTS AND COZY TOUCHES. RYAN'S SISTER AND HER BOYFRIEND WERE KIND ENOUGH TO PUT TOGETHER A SLIDESHOW OF PICTURES OF RYAN AND I AND OUR FAMILIES. ​

Our Bridal Shower

OUR BRIDAL SHOWER WAS IN SEPTEMBER AND IT WAS TRULY ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL EVENTS I'VE EVER BEEN TO. I AM FOREVER THANKFUL FOR MY BRIDESMAIDS, MAID OF HONOR, MOTHER, AND MOTHER-IN-LAW. THEY PUT TOGETHER AN UNFORGETTABLE AFTERNOON.

Wedding Photos: Getting Ready

OUR WEDDING PHOTOS ARE IN!!! RYAN AND I CANNOT SAY ENOUGH AMAZING THINGS ABOUT OUR PHOTOGRAPHERS - NOT ONLY WERE THEY SUPER PROFESSIONAL AND LISTENED TO EVERYTHING WE WANTED, BUT THEY EVEN GOT US OUR PHOTOS BEFORE THE "DUE DATE". WE WERE PSYCHED. I FIGURED I WOULD GO THROUGH SOME OF OUR FAVORITES FROM EACH PART OF THE DAY, STARTING WITH ALL OF US GETTING READY THE MORNING OF THE BIG DAY. ​

Christmas 2017

CHRISTMAS 2017 WAS DEFINITELY A GOOD ONE. HERE'S A QUICK RUN DOWN...

Fall Weekend at the Finger Lakes

MY FIANCE, RYAN, HIS SISTER, COURTNEY, HER BOYFRIEND, RYAN (ALSO KNOWN AS RYAN TWO), AND I SPENT THE WEEKEND IN UPSTATE NEW YORK. RYAN AND COURTNEY'S AUNT AND UNCLE OWN A COTTAGE ON LAKE CAYUGA, WHICH WAS WHERE WE CALLED HOME. ​

Our Wedding Invitations

I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE HOW HAPPY I AM WITH OUR WEDDING INVITATIONS!

Bachelorette & Bachelor Party Round Up

HOLY SMOKES. I HAVEN'T POSTED SINCE JANUARY. BUT I'M BACK! HELLO! AS I'M  SURE YOU COULD IMAGINE, THE PAST EIGHT MONTHS (SINCE MY LAST POST) HAVE BEEN SUPER BUSY. BETWEEN SCHOOL, GRAD SCHOOL, WEDDING PLANNING, ETC., I'VE DEFINITELY PUT THIS BLOG ON THE BACK BURNER. HOWEVER, MY NEW RESOLUTION IS TO GIVE IT MORE ATTENTION!

"You Married The Wrong Person"

LAST WEEK, I WENT TO LIQUID CHURCH FOR THE FIRST TIME TO TRY SOMETHING A LITTLE NEW. I WAS INSTANTLY IMPRESSED BY THE MODERN APPROACH TO CHURCH AND IT FELT GOOD BEING THERE, LISTENING TO THE SERMON. SO, THIS WEEK, I WENT BACK.

TODAY, THE PASTOR AND AUTHOR OF THE BOOK CALLED "YOU MARRIED THE WRONG PERSON" SPOKE. THE TITLE WAS ENGAGING, TO SAY THE LEAST. BEING AN UNMARRIED PERSON, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE REACTION SOME MARRIED PEOPLE COULD HAVE HAD FROM THIS. 

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Our Gallery Wall

RECENTLY, I'VE REALLY BEEN WANTING TO CHANGE OUR APARTMENT A BIT. AS CHRISTMAS CAME AND WENT, SO DID THE DECORATIONS THAT GO ALONG WITH THE SEASON. I'M LEARNING THAT I'M THE TYPE OF PERSON WHO LOVES CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS, BUT WHEN THE HOLIDAY IS OVER, IT'S TIME TO DE-CLUTTER. ​

Natural Moisturizing Hair Mask

RYAN AND I JUST SPENT THE LONG WEEKEND IN VERMONT VISITING FRIENDS FOR NEW YEARS. WITH ALL OF THE GOOD FOOD AND GOOD COMPANY ALSO CAME VERY COLD TEMPERATURES. I QUICKLY NOTICED MY HAIR FEELING DRIED OUT AND FRIZZY...

Can You List Ten Academy Award Winners? ...Me Either.

THIS MORNING, I LISTENED TO A VERY SMART AND HUMOROUS MAN SPEAK AT CHURCH. HE INVITED US ALL TO THINK FOR A FEW MINUTES TO COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING LISTS. TRY IT:

- NAME TEN ACADEMY AWARD WINNERS.
- NAME SIX OF THE MOST RECENT WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS
- NAME FIVE PULITZER PRIZE RECIPIENTS. 
- NAME TEN OF THE RICHEST PEOPLE ON THE PLANET.

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"Peaks" of Orlando

SOMETHING MY COLLEGE ROOMMATES AND I USED TO DO THAT I CONTINUE TO DO NOW WITH MY BOYFRIEND AND FAMILY ARE "PEAK" AND "PITS" THE "PEAK" IS THE BEST PART OF YOUR DAY, WEEKEND, VACATION, ETC. AND THE "PIT" IS OBVIOUSLY THE WORST. SO, I DECIDED TO PUT TOGETHER A LIST OF "PEAKS" OF OUR AMAZING FAMILY VACATION TO ORLANDO FOR THIS YEAR.

Upstate NY: A Weekend For The Books

NOVEMBER IN NEW JERSEY MEANS A FEW LONG WEEKENDS, ESPECIALLY FOR TEACHERS. WE GET THE FIRST THURSDAY AND FRIDAY OFF BECAUSE OF THE BIG CONVENTION DOWN IN ATLANTIC CITY. INSTEAD OF GOING TO THE CONVENTION, MY FRIENDS AND I DECIDED IT WAS TIME FOR A GETAWAY, A MINI VACATION.

Top Ten of 2015

AS 2015 COMES TO A CLOSE, IT'S NICE TO THINK BACK ON THE YEAR AND ALL OF THE AWESOME THINGS THAT HAPPENED. HERE WE GO (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER):

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Dear Freshmen, ENJOY It.

MY LITTLE SISTER JUST LEFT FOR HER FRESHMAN YEAR OF COLLEGE. BARF. ONLY SIX YEARS AGO, SHE WAS A LITTLE TWELVE-YEAR-OLD, HELPING TO MOVE ME IN. AND NOW, SHE'S OFF. ​

Welcome To Our Apartment!

RYAN AND I RECENTLY MOVED INTO OUR FIRST APARTMENT EARLIER IN AUGUST. FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS, I HAD BEEN SHOPPING AND GETTING READY TO MOVE IN AND DECORATE MY FIRST BIG GIRL PLACE. (SORRY, MOM AND DAD, FOR TAKING OVER OUR BASEMENT WITH MY PILES OF PICTURE FRAMES, PLATES, AND PILLOWS.) ​

The Things They Don't Tell You About Moving In With Your Boyfriend

RYAN AND I MOVED IN AT THE BEGINNING OF AUGUST, AFTER AN EXHAUSTING APARTMENT-HUNTING PROCESS CAME TO AN END. 

FOR THE MOST PART, IT'S BEEN DANDY. HE LIKES TO COOK. I LIKE TO CLEAN. HE DOESN'T SEEM TO MIND MY STRANGE OBSESSION WITH LIGHTING CANDLES AND I DON'T MIND HIS LARGE COLLECTION OF BEER-MAKING SUPPLIES. IT'S GOING WELL.

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Important Towns

LAST YEAR, I MADE THIS FOR RYAN. NOW, IT'S DISPLAYED IN OUR APARTMENT. EACH TOWN IS A PLACE OF VALUE TO EACH OF US. 

I'VE MADE SOME FOR A FEW OF MY FRIENDS - LET ME KNOW IF YOU WANT ONE OF YOUR OWN!

Brace Yourself Every Time You Log In To Facebook

I THINK I LIKED FACEBOOK MORE WHEN I FIRST GOT IT AS A SOPHOMORE IN HIGH SCHOOL. 

FROM WHAT I REMEMBER OF IT, I SCROLLED THROUGH FUNNY STATUS UPDATES AND PICTURES OF MY FRIENDS. NOW, EVERY TIME I LOG IN TO FACEBOOK, IT'S BAM - SOMEONE IS ENGAGED... BAM - SOMEONE IS HAVING A BABY....BAM - SOMEONE GOT MARRIED. BAM - SOMEONE GOT AN AWESOME NEW JOB. BAM, BAM, BAM. FRANKLY, IT'S EXHAUSTING.

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thanks so much for stopping by!