I'm so excited that we've hit the three-year mark on our marriage. It's been a wild and crazy ride and I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm so happy to have that guy up there as my best friend and biggest supporter. Here are some things we experienced this past year.






Five favorite memories from our third year of marriage:
1. Our two-year anniversary Atlanta staycation. It was so fun to get to use the CityPass to go some places we'd never been or hadn't been to in a while.
2. Going to a beer launch party - I won tickets on Instagram and it was so random and fun, but something we both really enjoyed it.
3. Our weekend trip to Savannah - it's amazing getting to travel together.
4. Going to the Atlanta Botanical Garden for my birthday. It was such a great birthday gift, even if it was one million degrees.
5. Hubby's work holiday party that happened in January because December got snowed out.





Four hopes for our fourth year of marriage:
1. I'll be graduating, so I'm hoping to see some big life changes - maybe moving closer to Atlanta or purchasing a home.
2. Learning to always make the most of our time together, whether we're stuck at home or waiting while getting the care serviced - I'd love to see how our relationship continues to blossom even during those boring "adulting moments."
3. More travel. This will probably be on the list every single year, but I'd love to continue to gain new experiences together.
4. Take more pictures together. Hubby hates pictures honestly, and when I do take pictures they typically don't end up on the blog or social out of respect for him. BUT I would love for us to have more pictures of us together, just for us to look back on.





Three life changes during our third year of marriage:
1. I started an insulin pump, which has been a pretty big deal and quite an adjustment.
2. Hubby bought a brand new car, and seriously that thing is slick.
3. We've both tried to be more invested in our health by making small changes to our daily habits.





Two things you can probably find us doing if you stopped by our house randomly:
1. Binge-watching our favorite tv shows together.
2. Individually doing our own things, like hubby playing video games or me reading all the books.





One thing left to say:
1. Happy third anniversary! I'm so glad to do this life with you.

It's obviously no secret that fall is my favorite - I absolutely love this season where the weather (kind of) starts to cool down (get the memo, Georgia). But also I just love the atmosphere and the falling leaves and the way everything just has this sense of calm over. Also, there's all the fun spookies, so that's a good time (though don't even try to get me in a haunted house - that didn't end well last time). I've seriously had our Halloween decor up since September 3.

Anyways, I wanted to share some of my favorite things about fall as a season, and some of the things I'm looking forward to in particular this year.






Fall Favorites

Pumpkin donuts - I don't love all the pumpkin flavored things, but I do love pumpkin donuts because they're not super overpowering.

All the apple stuff - caramel apples and apple scents are some of my favorites.

The spookies and creepies - scary movies (eek! I get so scared, seriously) and haunting novels.

The weather - obvs. I am ready for the chill, please and thank you.

Fall television - welcome back to all of TGIT, new Riverdale, and the new spooky Sabrina series on Netflix.

Annual city-wide yard sale - my mom and I attend together every single year!

The seasonal color palette. I am a major fan of those 70s-esque warm colors, like the browns, the mustard yellows, and the burnt oranges.







What I'm Looking Forward to This Year

Our third wedding anniversary! 💕 I can't believe it's been three years and I'm so excited to see what's in store for us.

Again, spooky movies and novels - I'm especially excited to delve into a bunch of Stephen King this fall!

Evil Dead: The Musical. Yes, you read that correctly, and I am beyond pumped that my university is doing a rendition this year.

Fall travel - I feel like it's the perfect time to travel. It's off-season a lot of places, and kids are in school, so everything's less crowded. I'll be heading to Phoenix this fall, and I'm super excited about that.

Fantastic Beasts: the Crimes of Grindelwald is coming out in November, so I'm extremely excited and looking forward to that.

The JDRF One Walk to support finding a cure for juvenile diabetes.

Oakland Cemetery tours - This is less ghost stories and more living history, but at the cemetery, so I'm hoping it's not too terrifying!

The Oddities & Curiosities Expo in Atlanta seems so weird and I am here for it!

You know what question I hate?

"When are you going to have kids?"

The reason I hate it is a bit two-fold. First off, the question assumes the person you're asking wants kids. I do, but that's really not your business. Secondly, the question assumes the person you're asking can have kids. So, you see, the question can do a fair bit of harm, because yes, sticks and stones can break your bones, but words are hurtful, too, and I think we should all be a bit more mindful of the impact our words have. I've heard the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have stated that about 6% of married women aged 15 to 44 years in the United States are unable to get pregnant after one year of trying. I think it sounds about right, because I know more than a handful of women who struggle with getting pregnant. I also know more than a handful of women who don't want kids. Or at least don't want them right now. And you know what? That choice is ultimately not anyone's business, but what I'd like to make clear is that the choice is exactly that. A choice.








So, let's go back to that first fold. Women who don't want to get pregnant, or who don't want to get pregnant right now. For some women, they may have an illness or disorder where getting pregnant could literally kill them. Pregnancy isn't for everyone. And sometimes, women would rather wait until they're ready so they can give their future children the best life. That’s why it is so great these days that we have many options for our regular birth control choices (the pill, IUDs, etc). And, luckily there is also a choice if their regular birth control fails or they happen to have have unprotected sex.


Plan B One-Step emergency contraception.


So, let's get this straight - Plan B One-Step is not an abortion pill. It's meant to be taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex or birth control failure. The active ingredient is levonorgestrel, which the same active ingredient in many popular birth control pills, but at a higher, single dosage. The levonorgestrel delays or prevents ovulation, helping to prevent a pregnancy from happening. It will not affect existing pregnancy. The sooner it's taken after unprotected sex, the better it works. What's even better is Plan B One-Step does not impact long-term or future fertility, which means it's a great product for women who are not ready to get pregnant, but will want to one day.









Plan B One-Step is an incredibly important option for women 18 or older, and contrary to popular belief, about half of the women who use Plan B One-Step are 25 or older. (The other half are 18-24). In fact, there is no age restriction, no need for a prescription or ID – anyone can buy Plan B One Step.

To be clear, Plan B One Step does not replace regular birth control methods. It is a back-up option when regular birth control failed or somehow unprotected sex happened. Emergency contraception, like Plan B, is not only for a certain type of woman - but it's a great option for any woman who needs it, and can be purchased without a prescription, making it easier to get it as soon as it's needed. As soon as unprotected sex or failed birth control happens. Of course, it works best when taken as directed.

There are a variety of places Plan B can be found, including your local Target, which means it can be picked up conveniently with a handful of other items. Emergency contraception doesn't have to be something to be ashamed of, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't understand why some people prefer to be discreet with items like emergency contraception, so buying it with other items may be helpful to some.







At Target, it's found on the aisle with other family planning essentials, but if you're having a hard time finding it, don't hesitate to ask the pharmacist on duty and they'll certainly be able to help you find it. No questions asked. You can also get $10 off your Plan B One-Step purchase with this coupon or rebate.

So, school has started back and I am officially exhausted. Every assignment I work on, I ask myself "why did I think it was a good idea to go back for my master's?". Don't get me wrong - I love my program, and I'm learning so much, but it truly is so difficult to work full-time and go to school, too. I'm making it work, I'm getting through it. I'm doing well in both the office and the classroom, but I am truly tired all the time, which can make it really hard to look and feel happy, healthy, and confident. Maybe you're in similar shoes or maybe we're in the same boat, so I wanted to share five things I try to do to make sure I'm remaining happy, healthy, and confident as often as possible (because let's face it, some days won't be 100%).






Low Maintenance Hairstyles

Hi, I'm lazy. So I want to sleep as long as I possibly can before going to work. Which means I'm certainly not waking up early to get ready. I tend to go for low-maintenance hairstyles and no makeup (another reason for good skincare - more on that below). Here are three easy-peasy ways to get my hair looking like I tried. These are three styles I tend to wear in order, as well. (PS. I also only wash it one or two times a week, and really take advantage of dry shampooing.)


1. Straighten it with a middle part. (Days 1, 2)
It's a simple, yet classic style that always looks great.



2. Wrap it while you sleep - instant curls. (Days 3, 4)
Using a headband wrap, wrap one-inch pieces through the headband wrap until it's entirely wrapped. Go to sleep and brush it out in the morning. Easy peasy.



3. High ponytail. (Days 5, 6)
I love a super-high curly pony. Wrap a one-inch piece of hair around the hair-tie for a more put-together look.





Water, water, water

I'm so bad at my water intake, because I really love iced coffee and diet soda, but drinking water throughout the day seriously does major wonders for skin, and for how I'm feeling. I swear. I try to keep a water jug at my desk, so I at least up my water intake while I'm at work. I used to hate water, but it's kind of grown on me. Sparkling water helps too, when I'm looking for something with a little more... dimension.



Working out

Geez, Louise. You knew it was coming. But working out really does make me feel better - it's just doing it in the first place that's hard. I'll be honest, if I don't go to a fitness class at the gym, I've got no clue what I'm doing, so I end up walking in place in front of the tv that evening, but it's better than nothing. I meet my 10,000 step goal more days than not. But the HIIT30 (high intensity interval training for 30 minutes) kicks my butt twice a week, but I feel stronger when I leave (and much weaker the days following, lol). Find something that works for you.











Skincare

Speaking of working out, I sweat like a pig. It's honestly disgusting, but it makes me feel accomplished. When I go to the gym, it's usually at lunch, so I've definitely got to do a little clean up before heading back to the office and meeting with appointments the rest of the day. Plus, I don't usually wear makeup, so it's important to me that I keep my skin clean and moisturized. I love NEUTROGENA® products, because they're inexpensive and classic. Plus, NEUTROGENA® is the #1 Dermatologist recommended Acne Brand, and it's no surprise. Seriously, they haven't failed me yet.









After working out at lunch, I'm lucky enough to have a staff locker room where I can shower and refresh before heading back to the office. If I've got the time, I wrap up my hair and fully shower using the full line of NEUTROGENA® Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit products. The NEUTROGENA® BODY CLEAR® Pink Grapefruit Body Wash is specially developed to treat body breakouts by using maximum strength dermatologist recommended acne medicine Salicylic Acid boosted by oil dissolving MICROCLEAR® Technology, which is honestly fantastic, because I tend to breakout after I workout, especially if I don't freshen up immediately. Like the body wash, NEUTROGENA® Oil-Free Acne Face Wash Pink Grapefruit Foaming Scrub powerfully clears blemishes and blackheads with maximum strength Salicylic Acid acne medicine, and of course a refreshing blast of grapefruit.







If I don't have time (sometimes those 30 minute classes run over), I'll use NEUTROGENA® Pink Grapefruit Cleansing Wipes, which get rid of pore-clogging dirt and oil in one easy step, with no need to rinse. And to give my face a healthy dose of moisture, I finish up with NEUTROGENA® Oil-Free Acne Pink Grapefruit Moisturizer, which combines oil-free hydration with powerful acne medicine, helping to treat and prevent breakouts as it moisturizes.













It was so easy to shop for my NEUTROGENA® Pink Grapefruit products at CVS, because everything was so easy to find, and the sales associates were super friendly and helpful. And with the great deals they've got going on right now, why would anyone want to buy their NEUTROGENA® anywhere else?










Right now, CVS has a heck of a deal going on where you can get a little more than you pay for! First, this week only (starting this past Sunday, September 9), you can buy one NEUTROGENA® Pink Grapefruit product at CVS and get one 50% off! I stopped by on Sunday and picked up a beaucoup of products to keep my skin glowing, and since I spent over $30 on health and beauty, they even gave me an awesome makeup bag full of all kinds of stuff. It's just one of the perks of being a CVS ExtraCare customer! Secondly, if you're an Ibotta user, there's an offer happening right now where you can earn up to $2.00 cash back at CVS on NEUTROGENA® Acne products, while supplies last.




Find your happy

Do what makes you happy. Okay, so you probably have responsibilities, like work, school, parenting, what-have-you. But it's important to take care of yourself, whether that's taking some naps, reading a book, watching tv, getting outside, traveling, etc. Make time for you, even if it's just 30 minutes a day. If you feel happy, it's going to show. So take care of you!

Each year for Christmas, hubby gets me the illustrated Harry Potter released that year. Unfortunately, Goblet of Fire won't be released until 2019, so first, what will I get for Christmas this year (?), but secondly, Jim Kay promises this means more detailed and exciting illustrations for the fourth and one of the largest books in the series.



So, I just reread Prisoner Azkaban, however, it was my first time reading the illustrated version, and I was absolutely emotional throughout. POA is one of my absolute favorites from the entire series, but it has been my least favorite so far in terms of illustrations. Somehow it seemed lacking compared to Philosopher's/Sorcerer's Stone and Chamber of Secrets, which was a bit of a letdown. However, I obviously still loved experiencing one of my favorite books in a whole new way and I wanted to share some of my favorite illustrations with you.































Some of the pictures were haunting (the dementors, for example), and there were watercolors that were awe-inspiring, but overall not my favorite to-date.