Hello October, A Year of Love & Welcome, ThirtyTwo.

Hello & Happy October, loves! TGIF, hope its been a great week for everyone! A little #FBF to this time last year… a stellar day in NYC! I missed my flight due to traffic, and ya know..pushing it on time as I often do, haha but made it home in the nick of time for an amazing birthday dinner Adam had put together at Heirloom.

Fast forward a year, I’m one happy girl to wake up in rainy Richmond this morning, to spend my birthday weekend here with my love. I say this every year, but I can’t believe my birthday is tomorrow & I’m turning ThirtyTwo – Eeek! It seriously sneaks up on me faster & faster every year. I’m really not one to make a huge deal about my birthday, its just a wonderful reason to get together, drink great wine, eat yummy food & celebrate with the people that I love the most. Which isn’t much different from my life on the reg! lol If Adam wasn’t working on this film, I’d certainly be spending my day with him AND my family, all together, but there’s just no way he could get away. So next week, the celebrations will continue with family & friends.

Naturally, as a new year rolls in, I think we all tend to reflect on the one that is passing by. If I could sum up Year 31 in just one word, it would be L O V E…
This past year has been filled with so much love, laughs, fun, travel & happiness with this man – my most favorite person on the planet!

Now that I’m thinking about/writing about the last year, Adam I really started growing super close & just falling more & more in love about this time last year. Our timeline is a bit blurred because 1) we’ve been best friends for 5+ years 2) all of his work travel. We really started dating around Springtime 2014, just spending more & more time together. The whole “your my boyfriend/I’m your girlfriend” talk never happened & wasn’t necessary — we just knew. Everything about Adam & I has happened so incredibly naturally & I guess our relationship is a bit unconventional and I love every bit of it! For the longest time, even while he was away on a film, we would always be in touch & A would always send flowers or silly little gifts in the mail. And Me? I would send drunk, uninhibited text messages saying “I love you” after getting in from a fun night out with the girls. His Reply: “I love you, too” and I would follow up with a “No, like, I really love you” message. haha

check this picture from about 4ish years ago! little babes (haha)

I think we both knew we would always wind up together, it just needed to be the right timing. I’ve been slowly falling in love with Adam for a long time & evidently my heart belonged to him before I even knew it myself. I’ve always adored & thought the world of him – he’s the most beautiful human being, inside & out. Sometimes, I look at him & just have a little moment with myself and can’t believe that we are real! I love Adam with a fierce love that I honestly thought didn’t really exist or that I would ever find…

I cringe in writing these next words, but men have the power to either build you up or break you down. Unfortunately, in my early 20’s, I was in a terrible relationship where I lost myself for longer than I care to recall. No need to go into detail, but those were the worst years of my life to date & I’m pretty sure I cried enough tears to last a lifetime. I think it took a solid 2 years to truly heal, move forward & bring down my walls. During this time I was single, completed a transformative 200hr yoga teacher training, spent a lot of time alone + time with family & friends. I got rid of all negative people in my life, traveled a lot and slowly, slowly became the woman I am today – super strong, deeply happy, confident, secure & content and over the moon in love! Cliché I know, but I believe that everything happens for a reason. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for what I went thru. So, if I had to go thru all of that to have all of this…I couldn’t be more grateful.

I believe what makes Adam and I so strong is our foundation. He’s the love of my life & my best friend in the world! We respect each other, have a ton in common & simply enjoy being together. The person you spend your life with is well, a pretty big choice, putting it lightly. Make sure you choose someone who lifts you up, inspires you, brings out the best in you, makes you happy & makes your feel confident & beautiful. Trust. OMG, you’ve got to have trust. There was none to be found in my last relationship and let me tell you, the fact that Adam leaves for months at a time and I have never, for a split second had a negative thought enter my mind about him doing anything is the most priceless, comforting, amazing feeling in the world. If I could give any advice on love, life & relationships based on what I’ve been through & experiencing the love & happiness I have in my life now, it would be this….

“Love yourself & know your worth. Worry less – half the shit you worry about will never happen. Be careful with your words – they cut deep. Be single for at least 1 year. Like, 100% single. During this time, become the best, happiest, healthiest, strongest version of yourself. You are what you think – so fill yourself with happy, positive, self-loving thoughts. Spend more time with your family. Surround yourself with good, positive people & get rid of the negative ones. Forgive & let go of anger. The grudge-holder is the one who suffers, not the other person. T R A V E L (anywhere & everywhere) – it opens your heart, mind & changes your perspective. Just have fun, smile, laugh & enjoy this amazing life – it is to short to be anything but happy! Practice yoga & become more in tune with yourself – body, mind, spirit. Don’t be afraid to open your heart & love fully. Just Be A Good Person”

In the rest of the life department, career is good but definitely room for growth. The other loves of my life, family & friends, they are always amazing, always there & I couldn’t ask to be surrounded by better people! So, a little older, a little wiser, super in love & with about 8 grey hairs, I say farewell 31 and welcome, 32! xx

Much Love,