My 2020 brides.. how are you feeling??? Have you decided to postpone? Did you make it official in the backyard? Avoiding the subject altogether? For us, we’re still really hopeful things will be OK by September…but with the uncertainty of the future right now, we’re definitely not ruling anything out.

I just keep thinking…if things still aren’t ok by then, we’ve got much bigger problems than not being able to have a wedding. Of course it makes me so sad to think about the what if’s, but you know what’s helped me?…

Reading about all of the couples who’ve decided to make the best of this. The Zoom call weddings, the backyard elopements…you are the ones reminding us what it really means to be in love and for that I just want to say thank you. Thank you for showing us what commitment looks like. Thank you for making the best of this weird time in our lives and reminding everyone what a marriage is really all about. You guys are the role models we all need right now.

Our future celebrations will eventually happen. And when they do, we’ll appreciate them even more with our new perspective. We may never understand why some things happen the way they do, but I continue to believe there’s a much bigger plan beyond what our human minds can understand right now.

God is working all things together for our good.  

Weddings are such a beautiful thing and I still daydream about ours ALL the time. But lately, I’ve just been focusing on spending time with my future husband: learning about each other, laughing at each other’s quirks, enjoying each other’s company in silence (like right now haha), deliriously giggling at 1:00 AM because we’re not tired, and just enjoying this time in our lives where we can focus on everything we’re thankful for.

Who else is in our position? Would love to hear from all my 2020 brides – how are you doing? Are you one of the couples I mentioned above? What’s your experience with saying or planning your “I do” amid the coronavirus pandemic? Let us know tonight in the comments of my IG post ❤️And for anyone thinking about their engagement…remember, we got in engaged right here in our apartment and I couldn’t have asked for anything more special 🙂

[outfit from pic above linked in this post about engagement outfits]

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I’m a professional list maker. I live by my to-do list(s). They’re a key contributing factor to my productivity and I’ve been making them for years. They’re a good way to record thoughts, recommendations, random inspiration, etc. Plus, there’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of crossing things off a list.

I keep a ‘master to-do list’ in my notes app on my phone, but also have a bunch of smaller random lists I’m constantly updating. I love how it instantly transfers from my phone to my computer and is accessible at all times. It’s like a little electronic pocket note book I can access anywhere, anytime. Here’s a peek at the current lists I’m keeping. Hoping you can use these as a template for your own life ~ I’ve included some of my recs below!

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Self Care:

1. Paint nails & toes 

2. Hair mask / deep conditioning day

3. Crest White Strips

4. Make a meal plan for the whole week

5. Challenge yourself to drink ‘x’ refills of your water bottle per day

Little gifts to send:

1. Send a candle to sis

2. Order mom the cookbook she’s been talking about

3. Online shop for cozy pj’s for a friend 

4. Send grandma an online picture album (or a real one!)

5. Use Minibar to send Dad’s favorite whiskey or mom’s fave wine.

People you need to call:

(Make a goal of one per day)

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Books to read:

1. East of Eden John Steinbeck

2. Charles Krauthammer’s books, “Things That Matter” and “The Point of It All”

3. The Bible

Websites + Blogs to Catch Up On:

1. Wit and Delight 

2. A Cup of Jo

3. Brighton the Day 

4. Emily Henderson

5. The Everygirl

Podcasts:

1. Happier with Gretchen Rubin

2. Ted Talks Daily 

3. Wit + Delight

4. Magic Lessons

Longer-term to do list:

1. Re-do a room in your house

2. Organize your bathroom drawers & kitchen cabinet

3. Start or revisit an old hobby (music, art, photography)

4. Revamp website (or start your side hustle/passion project)

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Comment on my IG post tonight with anything I missed in the categories above!

It’s impossible to get on here and post as if the world hasn’t been flipped upside down. With people getting sick, losing jobs, and businesses closing, there’s no question about the severity of this virus and how it will continue to affect us in the future. I’m so beyond grateful for the heroes on the front line of this pandemic who continue to put themselves at risk to save lives while we’re safe inside our homes. While we try to figure out how to stay away from people as much as possible, those in the health care field are gearing up to run into the fire. Anyone contributing to the operation of our everyday needs is someone we need to thank ❤️

The love and support I’ve seen in the social media community lately has been such a beautiful thing to witness. I truly believe in the positive impact of remaining hopeful and optimistic during this time ~ whether that means posting funny TikTok challenges to make people smile or teaming up to donate to those in need. We can all make a difference individually and together.

More than ever, we need to use this time to explore ways to find meaning and connection in our lives. Whether you want to finally just rest for a while and bond with your family, or start that big project you’ve been putting off ~ now is the time to finally do the things you were always “too busy” for. Hoping this post helps you to relax, feel grateful, find meaning, spark creativity, and reflect. 

My At Home Playlist:

Some words I’ve saved from the internet:

Little cozy luxuries that make my day:

While the world is at a standstill as we wait for the opportunity to pick up from where we left off ~ cook new dishes, read good books, call your grandma, send your mom flowers, focus on your health, reminisce on old memories, make an online photo album, bond with your partner/husband, reflect introspectively, spend time with your kids, organize, slow down, and appreciate life’s little luxuries we tend to overlook in our busy lives.