I can’t believe I’ve let my blog sit for almost a good month without posting any updates! The good news is that I’ve been MIA for only good reasons. I’ve been nesting up a storm, decorating and redecorating the house.

Sadie got her wedding photos back and I am pretty much as excited as I was to get mine back. The love and the happiness and pure bliss show through every photo.

We’ve been spending a ton of time together as a family and I’m not mad about it. The six of us (Jerod + Kenzie, Daniel + I, Sadie + Michael) went to Mount Olympus to ride rollercoasters and brave the wave pool and it was so much fun. I had never been to the Dells during the summer so I had only experienced the indoor water park but the roller coasters brought it to a whole new level. Afterward, we drove around looking for a dinner place and found the most amazing spot on the water. We sipped drinks and played bags while we waited for our table – the perfect pass time.

Jerod, Sadie and I planned a going away party for Kenzie (I’m not crying, you’re crying) and Daniel and I were able to host it! Hooray! We’re homeowners! We can host parties! With large groups of people! Not exactly Daniel’s favorite activity but definitely mine. Kenzie made a bomb charcuterie board and it was a great excuse for me to make sure the whole house was clean and vacuumed.

Last weekend, the six of us went up north to celebrate Kenzie’s second to last weekend in American before leaving for three years in Scotland. It was so. much. fun. having all of my favorite people in one place, my favorite place. On Saturday morning, we hiked to the waterfalls where Daniel popped the question – it was probably one of my favorite things, bringing my sisters to a place that held so much importance and happiness to me.

This upcoming week is the Fourth of July and while I am so excited to celebrate our Independence with my family, it will also be my last goodbye with Kenzie before she boards a plane to Scotland on Friday, July 5. I am so excited for her to live out her calling and spread the love of Jesus to the lost in the UK but I WILL MISS HER SO MUCH. Trying to not think about the distance or time before I see her again (her scheduled trip home is for Christmas). I love my family and I love this summer.

PSA to all my uninformed friends – THE HILLS IS BACK ON MTV 🎉 You’re welcome.

This last week, Daniel and I checked out of our daily lives and flew to Florida for a much needed, relaxing break. I bought the tickets back in February when I was in a mid-snowstorm, WI-slump and I am so glad I did. This trip could not have come at a better time for both of us.

Our seven day vacation began with a five mile kayak trip down the Weeki Wachee River last Saturday. The natural, spring water was completely clear, a beautiful blue, and the sun felt amazing on our skin. The manatees had traveled to the Gulf since the water has been warming up so we weren’t able to see any of those, but we saw multiple schools of beautiful large and small fish. That night, we were sat at the perfect table on the water where I enjoyed Mahi Mahi tacos with mango salsa and sipped on watermelon mojitos. The next few days were a little more lax, hours spent at the pool under a hot, hot sun and an extremely high UV index.

Mid-week, Daniel surprised me with a drive into Tampa to a beautiful Spanish villa for my birthday. I had been feeling like my 25th birthday had been lost in the hustle and bustle of signing for our house on my birthday (not to sound ungrateful… I realize buying a house at twenty-five is an amazing birthday present) – little did I know, he’d had this getaway planned even before then. I highly enjoyed our California King bed, Daniel enjoyed the in-room jacuzzi and we relaxed guilt-free in our amazing room. We did walk down to the beautiful pool (mainly because I felt like we had to since it was there), but were quickly back upstairs to veg. Daniel read about half his book and I binged reality television. Win, win, win. We ordered pizza (I can’t remember the last time we did that), and after, Daniel announced he was starting a new hard-core eating plan the moment we get home.

The second half of the trip was a continuation of the first. Lots of sun, lots of suntan oil and a little suntan lotion obviously…even if it was only SPF 8. We stopped by Honeymoon Island on the drive home from our villa and walked up and down the beach instead of laying down towels. The sand was packed so we figured this would be the best way to soak in all the rays we could and avoid having to find a space to lay down our towels and then have to flip over. It’s the little things. All in all, the beach was beautiful. The umbrella’s were beautiful and colorful and scattered across the beach. I found a decent amount of shells (of course I stopped to pick them up) and tucked them into Daniel’s back pocket for safe keeping. I can’t wait to be back!

Yesterday was one of my most favorite days. Ever. I got to watch my best friend marry her best friend and spend so much time feeling like a beauty queen surrounded by people I love.

The day started at 7:30a, bustling around the apartment gathering my last minute necessities before leaving for my 8:30a hair appointment, peach green tea with kombucha in hand. Afterward, I drove out to the Bowery Barn where the reception would be held to meet the other bridesmaids and have my (airbrushed 💁) makeup done at 10:35a. We listened to music, ate Cousins subs and touched up each other’s hair and/or makeup before a few bridal party photos, then carpooled in a caravan to church for the ceremony. Everything went so so smoothy, the music, the procession, the worship-filled ceremony, the photos after, the reception, the dj and dancing. AMAZING. A few photos were during the hour long snowstorm which were a sacrifice but I know will turn out so gorgeous. It was such a well planned, beautifully decorated, fun wedding that ended with a grand exit to dainty wands with pink and white streamers and bells as Sadie and Michael drove to their hotel before heading off to Costa Rica for a week early this morning.

Today is sunny which is such a nice change from the snow and rain we had to endure earlier this week. We’re currently sitting by the window in Caribou, I’m sipping a warm chai tea while Daniel’s enjoying his favorite, an iced mocha. We’re waiting for our apartment showing to finish with nervous anticipation. Having these showings means we are forced to clean the apartment, which we love to reap the benefits of. The downside is having to set an alarm on Saturday mornings in order to clean the apartment and get out by the time the landlord shows up.

Everything for the house has been going smoother than we thought it would. Or at least than I thought it would. The inspection was Wednesday and the inspector had nothing but good things to say – we were forwarded the results that night and our realtor said it was the cleanest review he’s gotten on a house this old. (Bless 🙌 .) The inspector recommended we replace the kitchen-to-garage door with a fire door, fix the leaky bathroom sinks and put up hinged-drywall over the exposed attic entrance in the garage. We’re requesting a credit from the seller for the higher radon levels the basement tested at and will do the work ourselves to mitigate the basement (or however that works).

I am hopeful everything goes smoothly with this little transaction of ours and we can close May 6. That would be the best twenty-fifth birthday present I could ask for. I have been so so excited to just make this house our home – to settle. Since I moved out of my parents’ house in 2014 at the age of twenty, I have moved five times and my spirit feels a sense of unrest. As soon as I’ve gotten settled into one home, a roommate’s gotten married, or I’ve gotten married and our lease has been broken and I’ve had to pack up, move and readjust to a new normal. Now I know 95% of this moving was self-induced, but I cannot wait to have a home and the reassurance that I will be there for years and years to come.