Written by Candace on July 31, 2012 | 8 Comments

Einstein Bagels

This Sunday Vitaliy and I will be celebrating 6 years of marriage. I’m still in denial that it has already been 6 years.

As we plan how we want to celebrate, we can’t help but reminisce our epic trip to Chicago last year to celebrate our 5 year anniversary. We wanted to go back down memory lane, to visit all of the places where our love both started and blossomed. It was honestly one of the best trips we’ve ever taken together.

When we were at college in Chicago, one of the things that became a Saturday morning tradition was to walk to Einstein Bagels for breakfast. It was about a mile walk, which during a Chicago winter can feel more like a 5 mile trek. Though the wind was painfully piercing at times, all that mattered was that he was by my side.

Vitaliy and I have been through a lot over the last 6 years. It’s hard to put into words how special this trip was for us as a couple. I can remember sitting at Einstein’s as a college student trying to decipher my feelings for Vitaliy and what future we would have together. He was a graduating senior; I still had two years left. He was from Ukraine and could possibly move back. I didn’t imagine my life outside of the Midwest. It was all so unclear.

But there we sat at the same table, now as husband and wife, having lived through things that we could never have imagined as two college kids in love. God is faithful. We had much to celebrate last year and even more to celebrate this year.

Have you taken a trip down memory lane with your loved one recently? I cannot recommend it enough! Revisit one of your early traditions. Redo your first date. It will conjure up fond memories and feelings towards one another. While remembering how it all started, you will walk away encouraged to keep pressing forward. Together.

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Written by Candace on July 19, 2012 | 11 Comments

Sticky Fingers

Because it’s cloudy again today. And because I often take life, and myself, too seriously. I’ve decided to post a humiliating picture that warrants a good laugh.

Here’s to laughing at ourselves, making light of our quirks, and accepting ourselves just as we are.

10 things you may or may not need to know about me.

1. I panic at the idea of a gift card expiring.
2. I cannot handle sticky fingers.
3. I’m obsessed with having the perfect “last bite.”
4. I’m still slightly afraid of the dark.
5. I blush easily.
6. I prefer dresses over jeans. But sweats above all.
7. If I have an evening alone, it involves chocolate.
8. I’m afraid of authority.
9. I take naps on a regular basis.
10. I love moustaches! One in particular.

This was a recent photo taken at Kristi and Shane’s wedding. We typically arrive an hour before the day starts to scope out locations and search for the best light. This was one such picture. I don’t have a clue what I was doing here so…best caption wins a bag of Hershey Kisses!

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Written by Candace on July 17, 2012 | 10 Comments

Style Me Pretty’s
Little Black Book

Vitaliy and I are beyond excited to announce that we have been ushered into Style Me Pretty’s Little Black Book of preferred vendors.

I wish we had a bottle of champagne to crack open as we make this fun announcement. But unfortunately, we’re toasting with a cup of chamomile tea. It’s a little early in the day for champagne, right?

Receiving this news has made me do a lot of thinking. I recalled this week that when we first started our business, it could take us up to an hour to email a bride. We doubted ourselves and had no idea what to do or say. We had decided to start a business from scratch. We were starting with nothing and were hoping to make it into something.

We are so happy about this announcement for a number of different reasons. But I think most of all, we’re thankful for the encouragement it has brought us. It is hard, really hard, starting your own business. To have someone with the caliber of Style Me Pretty feel confident in recommending us, feels like the world’s biggest high five. We’re doing it!

I read a quote once that stuck and have forgotten its exact words and who said it. But it basically said something along these lines. A lot of people never achieve success because they gave up right before it arrives. I’m not entirely sure how I define success, but I do know one thing. We have not given up. And this has given us one more reason to press on and continue serving our amazing clients. And for that, we are thankful.

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