What I’m Most Thankful For. And Other Things.

This year has been unlike any other. This time last year, I’d just met a man who didn’t even seem real to me. He seemed like the actual muse behind Prince Eric, I kid you not. And as a lifelong Little Mermaid fan, I was smitten.

I took a small leap of faith last year and asked him to come to my family’s Thanksgiving, though we had only been together a short time. There was a level of trust and security present in our relationship that I’d never known before, and I sunk into it wholly.

It didn’t surprise me that everyone fell in love with him just as much as I had–he was charming and unassuming, well-mannered and truly caring. Did I mention he looked like the man behind the Disney Prince series? He’s slightly gorgeous.

Over the last year, I’ve learned how to be myself with someone; I’ve learned what it’s like to have a partnernship. There are days when I want to absolutely murder him, and I don’t care if I get away with it… but those days are few and far between. The average day looks more like this:

It’s consistently amazing to stop and realize that we are just beginning our very own forever. And for that, I am thankful. More than anything this year, I am thankful for O and for our relationship. It couldn’t be better.

Unless I got to wear a wedding dress just like this:

A little less Kate Middleton and a little more Molly Ringwald

Other things that I’m thankful for that don’t deserve to be mentioned:

1. This picture of our dog, Magnolia, and her middle namesake, Mike Conley of the Memphis Grizzlies, to whom I believe she bears a striking resemblance

2. That Oregon and Kansas State both lost last weekend, letting the true genius of college football, the University of Alabama, shine.

Your fans.

3. My dang crockpot that I never thought I would like but now could not live without.

My new part-time gig.

4. The fact that I learned how to make homemade boursin.

5. And, of course, that Stylist Quo Vintage, my Etsy vintage clothing shop, is doing so swimmingly well. It makes me so, so happy.

Go ye and stuff yourselves like Butterballs, ya butterballs.