ON ME // TEE: EXPRESS | JEANS: EXPRESS | CROSSBODY: GOYARD | SLIDES: VAGABOND [SOLD OUT - SIMILAR] | NECKLACE: EXPRESS | HAIR COMB: EXPRESS

ON ANDY // TEE: EXPRESS | JEANS: EXPRESS | SHOES: NEW BALANCE

I'm often asked how I knew Andy was "the one" when I met him. I'm one of those pragmatic-to-a-fault people who doesn't really believe in fate or soulmates. (I mean, ONE person in the whole world? Really?) In past relationships, I always wondered if there was a better match for me out there, or I'd focus on the imperfections between us rather than what worked. I've ended two longterm relationships—both of which seemed headed towards some version of "Happily Ever After"—based on not much more than a hunch that it wasn't right. It was certainly the path of more resistance, but listening to that hunch paid off for me.

Andy's very similar. He's a bit older and people have been asking him for YEARS when he was going to "settle down", what he was looking for, what was he waiting for. "Nobody's perfect," they'd tell him. He insisted that he wasn't looking for perfection, but that he'd know it when he saw it. On our first date he told me something I'll never forget: "I've been looking for you for a very long time." It's easy to say in retrospect that his wait was worth it, but for about a decade he defied societal pressure to stop looking and settle down, which is harder than it sounds and most definitely a risk.

I've teamed up with Express for their #ExpressLife "Authored By You" campaign, which is all about encouraging confidence and self-assuredness through our own personal mantras. My mantra is without a doubt from Chapter 13 of the wonderful book (which you must read!) Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart by Gordon Livingston: "Happiness is the ultimate risk" In that chapter he says, "To be happy is to take the risk of losing that happiness." The first time I read that I needed a moment to let it sink in. At the risk (ha!) of sounding trite, it takes courage to not only seek out those things which make you happy, but risk pursuing them, and risk holding onto them. I often have to remind myself that the path of least resistance, while certainly comfortable, isn't always my friend. (I certainly have to remind myself of that when I'm in barre class.)

PS - To anyone reading this and taking it as a sign that they should continue to "risk" holding out for someone in hopes that they'll come around, heed Chapter 17: "Unrequited love is painful but not romantic"!

ON ME // KNIT TANK: EXPRESS | JEANS: EXPRESS | HEELS: CALVIN KLEIN | EARRINGS: EXPRESS | CROSSBODY: GUCCI

ON ANDY // SHIRT: EXPRESS | JEANS: EXPRESS | SHOES: NEW BALANCE

PHOTOS: KEVIN TUN

PPS - I'm very particular about my jeans. You've heard me on here before, bemoaning jeans which fit my booty but are too big on my waist, or those which fit my waist and my booty says, "Don't even think about it." I joke that for every 500 pairs of jeans I try on, I buy maybe one, which is why I'm legitimately psyched about Express' fit. Seriously, if you were #blessed with junk in the trunk as I was, give these a shot. (As for fit, I personally think these run a bit big—I'm usually a S or a 2 on the bottom but took a 0 in these.) It was exciting for me to, for the first time in a long time, actually like how jeans looked on me. That gave me the courage to venture into styles I would never normally consider, like the above light wash and distressed ones. (Have you ever seen me in ripped jeans before today? Exactly.) It's funny how I've always been pretty adventurous with other types of clothes yet really afraid of change in the denim department. I guess this is me saying goodbye to my fear of being that girl... the one with plumber butt.

Thanks for stopping by!