A Season for Love

Happy Monday, Friends!

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season. Now a new year is here and another decade is upon us!

This time of year brings me so many sentimental feelings. It’s definitely a season for love…

Let me tell you all a story of a newly engaged girl, who always dreamed of having a spring wedding. She had it all planned out since she was little – an outdoor wedding under a beautiful tent – and lilacs, lots and lots of lilacs.

Well, that same girl, 15 years ago to be exact, never got that dreamy spring wedding she always wanted.

Nope.

Instead she got something better.

A winter wedding.

A winter wedding so beautiful and unique that she would have never wanted that silly springtime shindig had she known just how wonderful it would be.

Well, that girl was – and is – me. And the reason I tell you this story is because to me, Christmas and New Year’s will always be a season for love.

I met my husband 19 years ago, on a blind date on New Year’s Eve. Fast forward 4 years later and he proposed, then 6 months after that, we were married…again on New Year’s Day!

Our wedding was filled with ivory poinsettias, silver and pearls, evergreens, and wintry white fur.

It was elegant.

And icy! Yes, there was an ice storm the day of our wedding! Many of our guests ended up in the ditch on the way to our reception.

But mostly it was something out of the ordinary that I would have never even considered had my late grandmother not suggested on a whim that I consider keeping my “New Year’s” anniversary….and ditching the spring wedding fever.

And you know what?

She was right.

It was a beautiful and magical day I will always remember.

So this is why I take extra special care to celebrate our love this time of year.

My husband and I rarely get away, but our master bedroom is definitely our own little retreat. A sanctuary away from the chaos of it all.

I spend a lot of time making this space warm and inviting for us during this season, because every marriage deserves a place like that! And while we’re not vacationing anyplace warm or exciting this anniversary, we can still enjoy time together here.

Poinsettias will always remind me of my wedding day, so our master bedroom’s fireplace was the perfect place to highlight them.

The mix of red against the green magnolia leaves is really beautiful.

The Pottery Barn Christmas duvet was another find off Ebay – a great place to find quality bedding at a deeply discounted price.

Two little trees on each nightstand are wrapped in some festive red pom pom garland.

These hand towels in our master bathroom also feature the same adorable red pom pom trim, and bonus – poinsettias!

They are from the new Opalhouse collection line at Target and give off a nostalgic vintage vibe.

A few other small vintage touches in this room help to bring some Christmas cheer.

Time really does pass so quickly.

Reflecting on this anniversary marks 19 years spent together, 15 of them as husband and wife.

I am reminded of both the good and the bad times we’ve endured.

I am thankful for all of them, our 3 beautiful children and the life we’ve built together.

Winter weddings can be wonderful, and in my opinion, this will always be a season for love.