What's Love Gotta Do, Gotta Do With It?

Love and attraction... they go hand in hand. But it's not always the obvious qualities that spur attraction. Today as we finally get to that spicy & sizzly unofficial start to the Summer season, I thought, why not talk about some of my little non-sexual attractions. We're getting PG-13 y'all!

- Forehead kisses, especially on a stressful day. They make me feel warm inside and cared for.

- When Josh plays into my plant obsession by sending me photos of available plants when he stops by the store. It shows me that he truly knows my interests.

- He knows when I need to be left alone to figure things out. He knows that if I need help, I'll ask for it.

- Foot rubs. Doesn't matter where or when, if I get my foot even remotely close to him, he gives it a rub or at least a few squeezes, acknowledging me.

- That he has full on conversations with the cats, animating their responses, having them respond to me... I giggle everytime.

- That he's good with my nieces and nephew- despite what he thinks. Kids can be difficult to deal with but he handles it like a champ. Watching him get baby Bradley to sleep when we were impromptu babysitting was certainly one of my favorite moments I've ever witnessed.

- How passionately he loves his time. As annoying as it is at the same time, my boy knows his free time and knows exactly how to spend it. If he's not getting in a well deserved nap, he's jamming out on his guitar, writing pages upon pages in his book, killing some baddies in whatever video game he's currently involved with, or assisting in some household chores. I need to take a lesson from him on free time as I can't seem to relax, ever.  

- My Italian American lover... didn't pick up much in terms of cooking skills from his parents but my God he can make a mean sub. Sub night is one of my favorites now as he gets so excited about making dinner for us. 

- Despite the fact he doesn't do the cooking, he 100% does the dishes, often without prompting, immediately after dinner or just on a random whim after work. 

- That he plans our vacations and so clearly takes interest in plans for them. I'm fortunate that he's willing to do this and that he'll point things out to me that he knows I'll be interested in.

- Sometimes he can pair the perfect flannel shirt with a perfect pair of jeans... divine. 

listen... I don't have a picture of him in his flannel. So enjoy this picture of out cat looking "devine" with the sun hitting her!

So. What are some of your favorite non sexual attractions that your partner performs? Or something you see and feel as though you've lost your breath?

Happiness isn't Just a Word

What is happiness? Can it actually be defined when there are so many things that can bring it about? Is happiness more than a smile? A thought? A place in your brain?

Sometimes the world can seem so glum and dreary and we forget the small or even the big things that give us a reason to see the positive side of life.

Today, I wanted to just go on a ramble about the little things that make me happy. It's so easy to say things like my significant other, my family, my pets. They're my obvious, and justly so! Today... feels like a day for the little things, so here we go!

- Plants, thanks to a my newish friend and coworker, Graci, who I feel like I've been friends with for literal years, plants have become my thing. Watching for new growth and getting excited when plants are in their happy zones. Here are some of my favorite little ones!

- My new bike. I haven't had a chance to actually ride it yet due to needing to balance a wheel so that it stops hitting the fenders but I'm so excited to get it fixed now that shops are open. Ready to get my bike on!

- My engagement ring. I'm not materialistic. I swear on everything I could be transplanted somewhere else with my loved ones and critters, I wouldn't miss anything I own... except this ring. This beautiful ring that symbolizes Josh's promise to love me forever, to choose me daily, to be mine.

- The smell of the Earth after a strong rainstorm, usually accompanied with a beautiful sky

- Sunday mornings. Since Corona swept the state and we've been ordered to stay home, Sundays have truly become our day of rest. It's my day to do what I want without anyone breathing down my neck.

- The Jonas Brothers. I know, I know... not really a small thing that makes me happy but, everytime they release a new song or video, I'm THE happiest camper.

- Foot rubs. Back rubs. Scalp rubs. Forehead rubs. I love you, Josh. Keep going... love you!

There's so much good all around us that brings out a happy moment, all over the place and at all times. Just take some time to see the small things that make a big impact on your happiness.

Goin' to the Chapel

Trying to plan a dream wedding in and of itself is a full time job... probably why some folks choose to hire an event planner. 

For the rest of us who are are too broke (me) or feel the need to do it on their own (also me), we're trudging through with making plans.  

I still haven't the slightest clue what we truly want out of a wedding. We have a venue but I'm 98% certain that I want to cancel it and just do a small ceremony in a backyard. But even with that option, there are so many questions that need to be figured out.

I love the idea of a small ceremony but hate that it would mean a minimal guest list. I can't invite only the people I actually want to be present as the other side of that would be far to upset with Josh and I. We both have larger families than I realized. We both have a lot of friends we couldn't dream of not being present.

Beyond the guest list, weddings are so expensive! Just the mere mention of "wedding" and the price of basic products sky rockets. And all the things that come with weddings... why can't there just be venues that automatically include all the things at base price. Pause that, I did find one place that offered this and at the least expensive of all of their options it was still well over $10k.

Who the heck has that kind of money to throw onto a single day?? No shade on those that can and do, but realistically, Josh and I just don't. We want a house. We want a family. We (I) want a dog. These things weigh more on our dreams than a singular day on which I'm 100% certain will involve me staining a beautiful overpriced wedding dress.

I've never even wanted to have a big wedding but I think I got caught up in the shine of my ring and people immediately asking questions of when and where. Josh... Josh doesn't care. He wants to make sure it's what I want because "it's more your day than mine," but honestly all I care about is officially becoming Mrs. Spada and becoming the dream team husband and wife that we are at boyfriend and girlfriend. 

The courthouse is looking more and more enticing!