Three Months

Time is a funny thing. 

It usually either feels sluggish, like tomorrow cannot come soon enough. Or it zips past you before you can even blink. I don't know which is worse because they both have their disadvantages.

Three months from today is my wedding day. 

My wedding day.

Wedding. Day. 

Obviously, I'm in a processing mood.. It hit me every so often today that in three months I will be joined to my best friend and love of my life forever. I will be making a promise that no matter what comes our way over the span of our lives together I will always remain his and he, mine. 

This blows my mind. All of it. The fact that I am already with the one I have always dreamed of. The fact that he feels the exact same way. The fact that we found each other in the first place. God's guidance has been so evident throughout our whole relationship that it is hard to doubt. 

I hope these next three months do not drag on, yet do not zoom past me either. I want to enjoy this time of my life while knowing that something even greater is around the corner. I need to let myself be fully in the present so that I may soak in everything around me. 

Perhaps next time I am around here, I will share some wedding plans and inspirations!

Atonement

One of the movies that kept me company during my week-long strep recovery was Atonement. I have heard varied opinions about this movie, but I am one who absolutely loved it. It was dark and dramatic at times, yet also (somewhat) hopeful as well. I don't want to give away to much of the story if you haven't seen it, but I definitely recommend it. If you're in the mood to see some great wardrobe and styling, hear some dreamy accents, and watch a captivatingly heart wrenching story unfold, this is the movie for you!

If you have seen Atonement, what did you think? I honestly don't care for Kiera Knightley very much, but I adore World War II era movies and for some reason she's usually cast in them.. But anyway, I just had to share these beautiful stills from the movie. Enjoy!

Welcome Aboard, Sailor

Here I am with my sailor on his graduation day. What a great day that was! Full of smiles, hugs that never wanted to end, and silent moments of awe. There were times when I just didn't have the words to say exactly what I was feeling. It was truly surreal, being reunited after nearly two months of handwritten letters as the only form of communication between us. Those two months seemed to go on for eternity in the moment, but now looking back they came to a close pretty quickly. I am so proud of what he has done so far, and there is so much more waiting for him to conquer. I am such a lucky woman to be by his side!

The graduation itself was pretty interesting, what with all the fancy footwork and routines they have going on.. But it was a bit torturous after awhile when all the graduating sailors still hadn't marched in and we were all on the edge of our very (un) comfortable seats with anticipation! When all the divisions finally started filing in, everyone in the massive crowd jumped to their feet and started cheering for their sailors. Over 730 people were graduating in the ceremony that day, and there were probably three times that amount just in the bleachers alone!

His family and I spent a great weekend with him after his graduation. We saw the sights in Chicago and tried the famous eateries in the area, which included Giordano's deep dish pizza and Smoque BBQ's brisket plate! Lots of delicious things were savored.. I could definitely get used to all the great food in Chicago!

I definitely want to go back to Chicago someday. The architecture, the people, the river running through the city.. Everything combined was so just so cool. The only thing that I would ask of the weather before I head back is to keep the temperature far below 100 degrees and send that humidity elsewhere.. That aspect of the trip was close to miserable, especially because I seemed to pack for cold, stormy weather. Oops!

All in all, the trip was exactly what I had hoped for. I am so thankful we were able to fly out there and support him! But I'm thrilled now because he's back in California now and only a few hours' drive away.. Wahoo!

Happy Friday all! Do you have any fun plans for the weekend? Maybe I can live vicariously through you.. I've been in bed all week with strep throat, and I don't see anything but watching movies and reading blogs in my near future!

Kate

Simple Things

The simplest of things can often give me the greatest joy.

Take today, for example - I only did a few light chores around my apartment, put on an easy but favorite outfit with a new satchel I majorly scored on clearance yesterday (yeah!), and ran some errands which included a brief stop at Starbucks for a grande, two-pump vanilla iced latte (what a mouthful).

Yet I feel like today was near perfection! It's overcast with hints of sunshine, I hear sweet little birds chirping in the tree outside my door, and all my dishes are clean (which, if you don't know me, is a real feat!). On top of all that, one of my best friends is throwing a bash tonight which combines a million different things that deserves celebrating - it's crazy title is..

Gradubirthaversarymentorial Day Celebration.

Try saying that five times fast! Or even just once, which I still can't quite get the hang of..

I think I'm able to appreciate all of these simple things because this week was such a whirlwind of running around, going from here to there, not having a chance to stop and just breathe. So here I am, finally breathing regularly again. And add the fact that I get to see my fiancé in less than a week tops everything else going on right now. I can't even tell you how giddy I feel!

The pictures below document a similarly simple yet fantastic day (notice my giddy face) that I spent with my fiancé a few days before he left for boot camp...

{Huntington Gardens, April 2011}

Enjoy your three-day weekend everyone! Any special plans out there that have outrageously long titles like the party I'm going to?

Kate

Inspiration: Twinkle Lights

There is just something to be said for the whimsy and awe twinkle lights add to any occasion. When I see a string of them hung above a table, wrapped around a post, or those precious little bulbs floating from tree branches, my heart skips a beat. The warmth and intimacy it creates during a gathering is just undeniable. I want to capture this very feeling for my own wedding reception, and make it feel like we are celebrating under our very own twinkling stars. Wherever we end up having it, I just hope there will be something up above to string some lights on! I think that may be one of my top venue requirements.. :)

1/2/3/4/5/6

Your Love is My Anchor

Hi friends!

Some of you may know me from Kate is Late (and to you, dear readers, I say hello!), while others of you may have just stumbled upon this new place (and a hello to you too!). I have come to realize that the reason I abruptly stopped posting on that sweet little blog of mine awhile ago is because I have transitioned into a new season of my life and continuing that blog just wasn't something I was inspired to do. Not that I don't still take pictures of my style and things I love, though! I just needed some time to take in life, and not worry about blog posts. I'm sure many of you can relate to that!

{Yours truly}

So here I am once again, starting up something new. You may wonder why I am back and where the idea for The Nautical Wife came from, so I shall explain..

You see, there once was a girl who longed to find love, yet she was frustrated by the silly little boys around her who seemed to never grow up. After time, she realized that she did not need a significant other to make her feel complete. She was finally content with being on her own, trusting that God, in his gracious timing, would decide to bring her a man. During this time, she traveled abroad, studied some things she loved and other things she despised, and grew into a woman.

Then, when she least expected it two years ago, she met the man she had been waiting for her entire life. The man who made her feel completely comfortable with being herself in a way that she had never felt before. The man who made her laugh like no other. The man who pursued her in the most gentle and honest way. Although she had never known what true love was, she soon became familiar with it!

{Me and my darling man}

On a cold and blustery day by the ocean not too long ago, this same man took me by both of my hands, knelt down on one knee, and asked me if I would marry him.. It was one of the sweetest moments I have ever experienced, and one that I will never forget - especially because I had him kneel back down so I could capture it all in a mental snapshot, hehe :) - and of course, I said yes! Words cannot describe how blessed I feel to know I have found the man that I want to spend the rest of my life with!

Yet this love story is not all candy hearts and giggles.. My fiancé is in his final weeks of Navy boot camp clear across the country right now, starting a new adventure and on his way to fulfilling his life long dream of being a hero. We haven't seen each other in five weeks. That is a long stretch of time to be without your best friend! And it's only just the beginning.. But I could not be more proud of him, and going through this time apart makes me even more excited to be his wife, his nautical wife!

So, with all of this being said, I invite you to join me and toss some anchors around to pass the time! I want to make The Nautical Wife a space where I share inspiring pictures, savor special moments in my life, keep track of wedding ideas, and anything else that is near and dear to me. And I'll try not to be too cheesy when it comes to nautical sayings, but I can't make any promises..

{via}

Come sail away with me!

Kate