the one about our {second year}

Two years! Today marks two years married and I can't believe it. 

We just got back from vacationing in sunny and perfect Florida. For the first time ever, I'm fairly tan and for the millionth time ever - Jesse is incredibly dark. While we were there, we celebrated our anniversary at the Breakers Resort in Palm Beach. I can sum up the Breakers in one word and three syllables: AH-MAZ-ING. We turned off our phones and enjoyed the finer things in life - beautiful pools, delicious food, a TV inside the mirror of the bathroom (yes that's a thing, yes it's frivolous, and yes I want one). We are sooo thankful for friends with hotel discounts -- we had a wonderful time! 

The Breakers at night. Stunning!

Our view from the pool looking out onto the Atlantic.

My favorite thing about Year 2 as Mrs. Ghoman? Really and truly becoming best friends with my husband. That may sound weird but I mean it. Before we got married, I thought we were best friends - but to be honest - I was still probably closer to my mom  and bridesmaids than my spouse. After all, I knew my mom and my sister my ENTIRE life and my bridesmaids for years longer than I knew J.  That's a lot to compete with! During the first year we experienced so many transitions in life and in our new roles as husband and wife that it wasn't until this year that I could truly appreciate the friend I have in Jesse. Our friendship is in the little things: he pretends to love HGTV and Once Upon a Time and I respect his shark/whale/everything-animal obsession; we've created our own language of weird accents that we only use around each other (embarrassing, but true); we laugh a LOT and we comfort each other when we're sad; we have traditions and favorite meals/places/restaurants/movies; we know what the other person is feeling with fewer and fewer context clues AND we know how to help them through it; we don't just love each other -- we thoroughly and completely like each other. 

As I've considered this idea of friendship in marriage, I've thought a lot about the "profound mystery" that Paul describes in Ephesians 5. Paul talks about a man and his wife leaving their own families and "becoming one flesh" in their new family. I think this idea of becoming one isn't just something that happens instantaneously. Becoming one is a lifetime pursuit and process! We became a unit on August 12, 2012 when we said our vows before a barn-full of witnesses - but through God's grace we have the capacity to become even more unified with each passing day and year. What an incredible gift:)

So, here's to our second anniversary! I can't wait to see what Year 3 will bring. Thank you for following my journey as an incredibly imperfect wife and a grammatically woeful writer!

xoxo

A+J

{the very first year}

It's hard to believe that it's been ONE WHOLE YEAR since I became Mrs. Alexandra Ghoman! I mean, really, how did that happen?!

Photo by Vanessa Embling

People say that your wedding day is the happiest/most perfect/most amazing day of your whole life. And well - it is pretty incredible:) But it's not quiteeee perfect. Case in point: I woke up that morning to a charlie horse in my right calf muscle freakishly early and screaming. How's that for birds chirping and waking you up with the morning's light? I look back on my wedding day and I love the way it was, the way it felt - from the beautiful barn that was ridiculously hot (ok, that I would change), to the parade of flower children that walked down the aisle, to the cookie and lemonade mini-reception, to the yard games next to the apple orchard, the personalized Jones' sodas made by mother-in-law, and the twinkle-light reception - it was an amazing day. When I planned my wedding, I didn't quite know what I wanted it to look like - that part came later - but I knew what I wanted it to feel like. I wanted it to feel like family. I wanted it to feel like a reunion. And it totally did. Every detail came from that desire - the location, the food, the decorations, the music, and so much more. 

But mostly, when I think about my wedding - it was a means to an end. That special day led me to become the wife of my favorite person on the planet. Before we met, I was terrified that I would never find someone like him. I was worried that all the righteous, attractive, and interesting people were married already (or definitely not interested in me) and that I would have to settle for a lesser candidate (optimistic, I know). But then - I met Jesse. And he was more than I could ever hope for. He still is. 

I know that many of the girls who read my blog are married (solidarity, sistah) -- but I'm also aware that many are not. Maybe you're still waiting for your prince. And allow me, on this one year of marriage to give you a little piece of advice: wait for the right person - not just a willing person. Marriage is too amazing, too crazy, and honestly too difficult to enter into it with anyone other than a spiritual man who really loves you as Jesus does.

As I look back on our first year of marriage, I'm pretty amazed by how far we've come. It's been a rollercoaster of emotions, adventures, and lessons that I wouldn't trade for anything. I feel so thankful for J and that he picked me to spend his life with. I also feel so grateful for all of you - my family and friends who have patiently given me advice, cheered me on, and made this first year even more fun (whether in person or through this blog)! I'm forever grateful.

A glimpse at our day for those of you who may have missed it:) Thanks to our dear friend, Jonny Havens, videographer extraordinaire for capturing it.

Here's to many more years and many more anniversaries! 

xoxo

A+J

paint the town red

On Tuesday, Jesse and I and went out on a sixmonthiversalentines date (I know, I'm a nerd) and so I decided to dress up. Which means one thing: outfit post! I mean to post these more but I always feel so awkward asking someone (usually my husband) to take a picture for me. I may have dreamed about being America's Next Top Model (come on, admit it - you posed in the mirror after watching Tyra too) but translating that to real life is much more...odd. So instead, Michaela - my neighbor/delightfully amazing friend/servant extraordinaire, dropped by and snapped pictures of my outfit before Jesse got home. I'm lucky to have friends that overlook such weird requests:)

So anyway, I went with red because: 

A. I'm obsessed with it. I don't know when it happened but everything I own is now a shade of red. 

B. It's Valentine's week. Duh. 

C. It goes well with gold accessories. Which I'm also having a love affair with at the moment. 

D. This is what we call a "skinny" dress. You know one of those dresses that makes you feel like you magically lost about 5 pounds? This is one such dress. Thank you, Old Navy for the teeny bit of Valentine's cheer. 

Dress: Old Navy

Belt: Thrifted

Gold polka dot tights: American Eagle {Similar}

Booties: Baker's 

Bomber Jacket: Target {Similar}

Let's eat chocolate, people! 

xoxo

six months.

Today marks six months married for J and I. I feel like we have packed more life into the last six months than I did in about 5 years put together. Marriage, thus far, has been a wild ride of new adventures, big victories, many mistakes, and a steady, ever-growing adoration for this one special person. Here are 12 things we've learned about marriage and each other...cause you know, we're experts now:)

1. We don't know anything about anything.

2. Combining two full-time incomes somehow means you have far less money than before.

3. The best cure to a hard day at work is anything on the HGTV network.

4. The gym is very far away (even when you find one nearby).

5. Whereas Jesse gets a second-wind at midnight, Alexandra turns into a glass-case of emotion.

6. Everything about our life looks cooler when Instagramed.

7. Target is our favorite place in the world.

8. We have great friends. Like really, really great friends.

9. We aren't ready to have babies but we do want a husky puppy.

10. Love and laughter are the perfect combination.

11.Traveling together is a blast but coming home is the best:) 

12. Our dreams are better when they match.

Thanks for coming along on this journey with us - here's to many more lessons and many more pictures to come:) 

A + J