Wifey Wednesday: What I've Learned In Year One of Marriage

Hello current and future wives!

Our first wedding anniversary is coming up, I CANNOT believe it! Time has seriously flown. Our first year of marriage has been crazy. We went to Bora Bora on our dream honeymoon, moved our lives away from all our friends and family to North Carolina, and I started a new job while Madi started a new and super intense graduate school program. It's been a crazy year! So I wanted to share a few things about what I've learned thus far in married life.

1) Moving away from friends and family was hard
But it has made us so much closer and way better at communicating. Some people may be like, well duh you are all each other has (plus Nike). But honestly moving to Durham knowing nothing more than where the University was located and having one friend in the same city was hard. Madi was at school all day every day making new friends, and I was at home with Nike. So basically the whole first month we were here and I wasn't working I was really really angry with him. And lonely. And bored. I've never read so many books in my life. I started wondering, why are we here? Was it really worth this big move for him to go to Duke? God smacked me in the face because it was TOTALLY worth it! I have an amazing job at the best hospital in North Carolina with better hours meaning more time with Madi and Nike. Which was much needed after the last year of seeing each other for ten minutes every twenty four hours when I was on night shift. We actually are involved in our church because we have the time, and I love it!

2) Is being right really worth the fight?
NO. No, it's not. When you are far away from your family and best friends and you get in a fight with your spouse, sure you can call friends or family and talk, but staying angry for long in a one bedroom apartment isn't worth it. One situation in particular, I was all excited to go to the Syracuse game in January at Duke. ESPN would be there and I spent the whole day before making a sign for Matt Jones and it was this big deal. Madi got new assignments added onto his schedule for that coming week and didn't have any other time than the night of the game where he could cram in the extra studying, so we didn't go. I was livid. I watched the game at home and saw everyone having fun and getting on TV and was so pissed that I didn't talk to him for hours. In the end, was I mad that we didn't go to the game due to studying? Yeah. Was it worth not talking to him and being mad? No. Pick your battles.

3) Managing money for two people is hard
Even harder for us because we only have one income. Going from Disney annual passes, splitting the cost of rent, and working two jobs to one job, less of a salary with that one job, and staying at home most weekends was really hard to swallow at first. I'm lucky I have a bomb career and make more than an average anyways, however it was a hard transition. It still is hard. And I will throw a party the day Madi brings home his first big boy paycheck when he's done with school.

4) It gets old when people ask when you're going to have a baby
I get it, I'm baby queen. I love babies. Well most children of all ages. Do I want kids? DUH! Does Madi want kids? YES. Read #3 then ask yourselves, how would a baby fit into this financial scenario? It wouldn't workout the best. And even though we've had eight years of being together, it is nice to have married life alone for a little bit! I promise whether we are blessed with our own kids or not and adopt, we will have kids! Be patient, because I'm trying to be.

Its amazing how much God has shown us to listen to his plan and trust in him. Being a super planner, it is hard for me when things get out of whack, and not working for a whole month was a big example after working two jobs for the last four years. Our first year has been full of lots of laughter, and I can't wait to see where we are next year at this time! On our anniversary weekend, which happens to be Memorial Day weekend this year, we will be taking a trip over to Lake Lure, NC where we rented a cabin that is doggy friendly. I can't wait to see everything over there as I have heard it is gorgeous!

Photo Credit to Hippie Love Photography

Thanks for keeping up with us,
- Olivia :)

#BookWorm: Perks of Being a Wallflower

Hello fellow readers,

Last week I finished up The Perks of Being a Wallflower. This has always been a book that I've wanted to read, but just never got around to it. On my latest library trip, I found it available so I checked it out! I'm glad I did! This book is probably considered a classic, published in 1999 by Stephen Chbosky. The plot is about a boy named Charlie who is starting high school after his friend commits suicide. It takes you through his year in letters he wrote to someone "older and wiser". He runs into all kinds of typical and not-so-typical teenage problems, as well as different family dynamics. The book isn't crazy long, only a little over 200 pages, and I found it very easy to read therefore finishing it quite quickly. I really enjoyed  the story and characters in this book, as well as the situations that Charlie runs into. I feel like it should be required reading in high school, as many teenagers may benefit from reading it. Rating? 8.5/10. Not the best thing I've ever read, but I did really like it! A lot more than I had anticipated, actually. 

I'm looking forward to renting the movie from the library once it becomes available, especially since Emma Watson and Paul Rudd are in it. It got an 85% on Rotten Tomatoes, so it can't be bad! Have you read this book or seen the movie? What did you think about it? My Amazon.com wish list is growing, thank to suggestions of books and authors from DHTBB readers! Still inform me on what you think would be a good read! If you're looking for more recommended reads from me, check out my List of Books at the top of the website. I have links to every book I've reviewed on DHTBB, as well as which ones I recommend, and which are New York Times best-sellers.

Thanks for reading with me,

- Olivia :)

DIY: Simple Monogram Door Decor

Hello everyone,

This past weekend I took a trip to Michaels, which of course can be dangerous. They have so much cute home decor there that you can do yourself or that is already ready to use. Since Madi was in Washington D.C. with the basketball team he helps coach, I spent Saturday night catching up on TV and crafting! I was inspired by a few spring/summer door decor items on Pinterest, and here is what I came up with for our front door!

What you'll need:
- Scissors
- Hot glue gun and sticks
- Burlap or thick ribbon
- Wooden letter
- Sponge brush
- Your choice color of paint

First I made the burlap bow. I found this adorable lace lined burlap at Michaels, normally $5 but was on sale 80% off! I got eight feet of this adorable burlap for $1!

Step One: Cut the burlap and make a loop as shown below.

Step Two: Next cut another flat loop

Step Three: Cut a long strip of the burlap down the middle, almost all the way to the top and add that to the back of the bow. This is what your wooden letter will hang on.

Step Four: Pinch the two at the middle and tie a small loop of burlap or string tightly around to make the bow shape come together.

Step Five: Cut another strip of burlap to put around the string.

Step Six: Next step is to paint your wooden letter whatever color you want. I've seen some people do designs on it like chevron or paisley, but I wanted mine plain and simple. Let your letter dry, then attach to the long tails with hot glue. Hold tight to ensure a good seal.

Step Seven: Glue a loop on the back of everything for your door decor to hang on your wreath hanger.

TIP: You can add more tails to your bow if you want, or more loops, whatever you think looks best, but make sure you look at it first before you glue to be sure you like it!

So what do you think? You can make it more fancy, more colorful, use different ribbons, etc. There is a good variety! This is an inexpensive project, I spent less than $10 total since I already had everything at home except the burlap, letter, paint, and sponge brush. Michaels 50% off and 40% off coupons are the bomb.com.

Thanks for keeping up with me,
- Olivia :)

#BookWorm: The Girl on the Train

Hello fellow readers,

Ahh! The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins was my most recent read. Wow guys, so so good. I am all about mystery/thrilling books, and to be honest, I am pretty picky with them. This one is great. Best thriller I have read since I read Dear Daughter last year. If you haven't already heard about this book, or about the movie that is coming out in October, here is what it's about. Rachel rides the train from her little town to London for work every day. Same train, same route. She passes by a house on that route every day, which also happens to be at a spot where the train stops. She starts to watch the people that live in the house near the stop and imagine what their lives are like. One day she sees something that will change her life forever. Come to find out, she is more involved with what she sees than she realizes.

Like I said before, this book is great. It draws you in and kept my attention. Definitely made me want to read it quickly to find out what happens. I started it Sunday night and finished it Friday night, while working all 5 days. All in all, it probably took me a total of eight dedicated hours to finish it. I saw some people comment  that the book was "predictable". If you were able to predict the ending of this book in the first chapter, bravo, you should sign up to work for the FBI. I did not find it easy to predict, where some others I do. I think the fact that I couldn't predict the ending or what happened made me like the book even more. Overall rating? 9/10. Worth the read for sure.

Watching the trailer for the movie, I am very excited to see this film when it comes out in October. I love Emily Blunt, and although some have said she doesn't fit the physical appearance described for Rachel in the book, I really think that she will play her part well. Has anyone else read this book? Or seen the trailer for the movie? What are your thoughts? Be cautious, there is another movie with the same name that came out a few years ago, definitely not the same book or plot. In other news, I stopped at the library and picked up a new stack of books that I am looking forward to starting this weekend while I have some free time. Let me know what else you have read that you recommend for me to read! My list is once again dwindling down.

Thanks for reading with me,
- Olivia :)

#BookWorm: The Lovely Bones

Hello fellow readers,

Happy May! This weekend I finished reading The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. Oy. This book. So I remember when the movie came out in 2009. I was in high school and a few people in my grade read it and went to see the movie. The cast was pretty good: Mark Wahlberg, Stanley Tucci, and Susan Sarandon to name a few stars involved. I put it on my list to read and then see, but time got away from me and I totally forgot about it. That is, until I ran upon the book in Edward McKays in Raleigh this year. So I gave it a whirl.

This book's premise is about a little girl Susie Salmon who was murdered and is now up in her heaven watching the mystery of her death unfold below her on earth. Only a few pages into this book you know who murdered her, her neighbor, and you know how he did it. The rest of the book is spent going back and forth between past and present happenings of Susie and her family's life. The first half of this book, great! Captured my attention. After that it got a little long winded. And the end was super anti-climactic. Not the worst book ever, but not that great either. It took me weeks to finish the second half because I would fall asleep after about ten pages each night. The struggle was real guys. As usual I am curious to see the movie and compare the two. Maybe they will leave out some of the odd parts towards the end. Rating overall? 6.5/10. It was just ehh. Don't understand how it was a national bestseller.

Next up on my list is The Girl On the Train by Paula Hawkins, which will be coming to theaters in October. Emily Blunt plays the main character, which makes me want to go see it even more because she rocks. So have you read or seen The Lovely Bones? What did you think? Is the movie worth watching?

Thanks for reading with me,
- Olivia :)