Warning: This is a long one and makes up for a year of not posting. But I do want to get back into writing again so stay tuned for more life updates of a young married woman!
Time for Change
I am a firm believer in reaching for your dreams. But what happens when they don't look like they are possible or are out of reach? Well, we suck it up and we push harder! 2020 sucked for everyone, and I am no exception. I was working but I wasn't fulfilled career-wise. Looking around, I saw all my friends moving forward in their careers when James and I were making jokes that I didn't have one yet.
The Anniversary Album
A day at Robert H. Treman State Park
Balancing Act
James and I recently started going to a young adult bible study, and it's been really fun but it's also called me out on my lifestyle like....a lot. What am I being called out for? Well I tend to overdo it sometimes with scheduling our social lives. I always have something planned whether it be friends coming over, going out, or planning a trip. We're always doing something! And that's not always a bad thing, but recently it's become a bit overwhelming. I found out the other day that James feels that he has little to no control over his free time because I'm always filling it and that made me feel so bad! But he's right, I think since the summer began there've been few weeks where we've had more than 1 evening off and we're starting to get burnt out. I've always known life is a balancing act but I didn't realize how much our schedules related to our mental health. But boy does it.
High, Low, Buffalo – A Summer Review
Happy Fall everyone! Now that we are officially in the 'ber months I thought it'd be a good time to share a recap of my first summer as a married woman as well as my first summer spent in New York. we're gonna cover the high, the low, and the buffalo moments, so buckle your seat belts kids, it's gonna be a wild ride!
25 Activities to Fill your Fall
Happy first day of October! Because I'm from Arizona, I didn't really grow up with fall activities. it's kinda hard to watch the leaves change colors when there are no trees....So here is my fall activity wish list! See how many you can check off ๐
The Friend Struggle
During my scholastic career I have made many friends both long term and short term. It's easy to make friends when you are going to school with kids your age and even easier in college when you are basically living with them! I went to college in 2014 and made some of my closest friends that first week of freshman year. Since then I have stuck with my tight knit friend group (quality over quantity right?) and we all stuck around the Northshore area after graduation so I didn't have to worry about branching out yet.
Mrs. Arleo’s Guide to Entertaining During a Pandemic
Having a pandemic doesn't necessarily mean you have to be cut off from friends! You'll be the hostess with the mostess using these tips and tricks for a safe and fun get together. Try your best to keep the event outdoors, this allows for adequate social distancing and the chance to take a mask off. …
Continue reading "Mrs. Arleo’s Guide to Entertaining During a Pandemic"
Into the Wild
I usually have a theme for every summer
Open Letter to My Husband – Happy Anniversary
James, Happy 1st wedding anniversary my love! I can't believe we've been married for a year already, it feels like it's only been a week. This year has been absolutely incredible, even with this whole crazy pandemic. We've moved in together, adopted animals, taken care of a house and we even started a small garden. …
Continue reading "Open Letter to My Husband – Happy Anniversary"
Celebrating One Year
Although it doesn't feel like it, James and I have almost been married for one whole year! On August 17th it will have been 365 days together as husband and wife and I have never been so excited and proud of an anniversary before. The question is, how do you celebrate? Do you treat it like a holiday and go all out by booking a hotel, going out to dinner, the whole shebang? Or do you enjoy an evening together and watch wedding videos, drink champagne, and eat the top of your wedding cake that has been in your freezer for a year?
Rating NY Hikes
Left: Letchworth Upper Falls Middle: Taughannock Falls Right : Sweedler's 10. Keuka Lake Outlet Trail - Dresden, NY Pros - The trail is easy and provides views of the river and a forest. We saw 2 lovely waterfalls and even got to take a peak inside an old abandoned mill! Cons - Compared to the …
Not What I expected
It finally happened, our first big fight...
6 Month Check in
It's that time of the year! We're officially 6 months into 2020 and wow has it been one heck of a doozy. So come with me and let's check on what resolutions I've followed through with and what ones I haven't (probably all of them, idk. Guess we'll find out!)
Be Here Now
I'm sweaty and pretty dirty but I'm also content. James and I have just finished a 12.13 mile hike at Letchworth State Park and are enjoying our afternoon nap in the shade of our tent. We've been camping for a full day now and are getting into the swing of cooking meals, washing dishes, and not screaming when a daddy long leg comes near (It was me, I was the one screaming).
My IUD Experience
Hi everyone! With Ithaca starting to open backup after getting hit by COVID-19 I feel ready to get back into the blogging game! Today's hypothesis?
The Post Wedding Album
So I wrote a post about this a long time ago but never showed off the pictures from our Post-Wedding Photo Shoot!
The Album
August 17, 2019 Sarah and James Arleo A wedding on the Lake Dusty Blue, Sage Green, & Cream Inspiration: Pinterest Venue: Chase House, Meredith New Hampshire Photographer: Deepak Bardhan MUA/Hair: Cascade Spa Dress/veil: Modern Bride Suit: Benjamin Peters Bridesmaids: Azazie
The New Norm: COVID-19
Ithaca got our first confirmed case of Covid-19 on March 14th. I was called into work that Sunday (which I don't work weekends) and was greeted by our leadership team planning and preparing for future cases that we knew were inevitable at this point. It was definitely chaotic but a good chaotic. I saw people coming together more than ever to help our community to ensure that we continue to give the best possible patient care to future positive patients as well as our normal ones. That Sunday got me fired up, I was ready to serve!
Our Engagement Story
James and I met in February 2016 during a movie that was playing in their dorm. I was hanging out with some close friends and noticed two boys enter the dorm lounge. One was a friend I had met earlier in the school year and the other was a stranger, but I knew immediately that I wanted him to be a part of my life.
Quick Hiatus
Hi guys! You may have noticed that I have been a little quiet on here since last week and I'm sorry about that! The reason I have't been active is because I am working overtime to fight the pandemic illness Covid-19. Over the weekend we received our first positive cases and because I work at hospital we are working diligently to prevent spreading, get supplies, and overall support, protect, and care for our community.
Diet Fail…
So it happened, I accidentally cheated on my diet this weekend and so did James :O Turns out it's a lot harder to go out to eat and not order something with bread.
No Bread Diet: Week 1
Hi guys! James and I are almost to the end of week one and so far so good! For those of you who may be asking what diet we are following, I'm gonna be straight, we aren't following anything specific. This is the first diet challenge-thing James and I have ever attempted so I figured it would be good to try something that would set us up for success instead of failure. The idea of cutting out bread seemed like a good way to start because we eat it often and it truly does not benefit one's health and tbh it's been fairly easy so far. Because of this we decided to take it up a notch and kind of go for more of a keto friendly diet. We are trying to cut out more carbs, fruits, and stick with healthy fats and greens. Yum.
Acceptance
Sometimes it can be difficult to admit that you need help. Or if you're me, it's more like all the time...but you know what, it's good to suck up that pride and accept a handout when it's being offered. Examples: furniture, help around the house, small and big things alike. Moving to New York has made me realize it's ok to ask for help and that I don't have to do everything by myself.
No More Bread
So James and I are going to attempt our no bread diet for the next 30 days. The plan? To cut out all bread, pasta, and try to reduce as many heavy carbs as we can. Will it be difficult? Absolutely. Will we accomplish it? I honestly don't know!
The 6 Mistakes Spouses Make
Hypothesis: we all make mistakes and are human, but we don't have to keep repeating unhealthy patterns.
So you want to go on a road trip: advice and opinions from people who somehow did it
So in 2018, James and I made this decision to go on our first solo vacation (scandalous, I know). It was also right after I graduated college so it was a good celebration trip! My mom lives in Key Largo so it seemed like a good idea to drive from NY to Key Largo and then on to Key West over the course of 9 days. We (mainly I) planned the trip, and I booked 2 Airbnb's and 2 hotels before leaving so that we would have some sort of path and time frame to stick to while on the road.. With Spring Break coming up for some of you, I figured it might be fun to list out this itinerary in case you want to give it a try!
Let’s Get Social
Hey guys! I've noticed a lot of new faces popping in to read my blog so I just wanted to say welcome to all you newbies and thank you to all my readers for your support and love, it means a lot! As I continue this exciting journey into blogging, writing, and being married, I decided to give you guys a post with info about me and this blog!
Wedding Traditions: Do or Don’t?
When I got engaged I thought my wedding would be one of the least traditional weddings out there. I had all these plans for what I thought would be a cool take on the ceremony and reception and was so excited to share them with James! That is, until James turned out to be the most traditional groom. Which I'm sure you can imagine was kind of a shock although I'm not sure why. His family is very traditional Christian and so it makes sense that he would want to copy that because that's what he is comfortable with. Below you will find wedding traditions that we did and didn't do. This doesn't mean that I felt like it was better to do or not do specific traditions, there are just what we ended up compromising on to create a day that felt special and unique to both of us!
A & G Wedding
A day at the lake
Anniversary Dinner: A Review
So Monday was my 6 month wedding anniversary! Which I know is not a huge deal but it was still fun to celebrate as it also happened to be our 4 year dating anniversary! So instead of going all out on Valentine's Day, we went out to a nice dinner. And because of a very generous Christmas present in the form of a gift card we were able to eat at a very swanky restaurant.
Be Mine Valentine
Tis the season of love, Happy almost Valentine's day! Today I'm going to get into how my husband and I feel about this lucrative holiday and discuss some ways that you and yours can celebrate no matter your budget or schedule!
The Ritual
I don't know about you but my life is not super spontaneous. I love it when we get to go on a trip or out to dinner but more often than not things at home have settled into a nice little routine. Routines are not a bad thing though, they help fight anxiety and give me a sense of balance and control in my life. Below are some routines and rituals that I have for my everyday life.
5 Things You Didn’t Know
Moving, animals, history, what's not to love!
Dyeing to Meet You
The first time I ever changed my hair color was in 6th grade when my Mom kindly took the time to carefully give me blonde highlights. The next time I dyed my hair was black in 8th grade...don't ask...everyone goes through an emo stage and mine just happened to be because I couldn't dance at the middle school winter dance due to a broken ankle and that brought out the early version of teen angst inside me. The next time I would dye my hair would be in 2017 after graduating from college.
Conference Confessions
Last week, I got the opportunity to go to a conference for work! The title: Administrative Assistant Conference in Binghamton, New York. Ok, it maybe doesn't have the flashiest name or location but there were definitely some interesting things to learn. And because it was my first ever conference, it was pretty exciting not knowing what to expect!
7 Date Night Movies You Can Watch on a Weeknight
Tough day at work? Want to be spontaneous? Check out these 7 movies that are sure to liven up your weeknight evening!
An Open Letter to my Husband
First let me start off by saying "WE'RE MARRIED!!!" I know I say that like once a day but I still cannot get over it! Who knew that on February 17th, 2016 two college kids with a budding romance would get married?! I certainly didn't. Meeting you that night, was 100% love at first sight.
Cat’s Got My Heart
So there is a member of my family I don't talk about very much on here and that is my cat Crookshanks! Before James and I even got married we knew we wanted to get a pet to share, but being young and nervous about caring for another living creature we decided to wait. Our time frame? 6 months into our marriage! How long did we actually make it? 5 weeks...so we're not the most patient people, sorry, not sorry. Adopting our sweet 20 pound orange cat was one of the best decisions we've made as a married couple!
Meme Dump!
Because sometimes you just want to scroll through memes
In Sickness and in Health
This past week I was sick, and not your average not feeling good sick. I'm talking the stomach bug, a head cold, and worst of all, the dreaded double conjunctivitis a.k.a. Pink Eye (DUN, DUN, DUNNNNNN!!!). Now James and I have of course been in each others presence while sick before but have obviously never lived together or shared a bedroom during one of these times, so how to avoid giving James all these germs was new for us.
Two Houses Down, On The Right
I get it, after marriage we're supposed to cleave to our significant others and leave behind our old lives as daughters, sons, brothers, and sisters. But that doesn't mean it isn't hard! After the wedding in August, I packed up my apartment, said goodbye to my best friends, a steady job, and my family and moved up to New York. Now I don't regret this decision but it still hurts to be so far away from my loved ones and I think that's okay.
Let’s Get Thrifty
So I don't know about you but I am a huge fan of shopping! I love the rush I get when I have a new purchase and can proudly wear those clothes around the house or at work (Because let's be honest, where else do I go these days...). But the problem about enjoying shopping is that it can get pretty expensive when going to the big brand brick and mortar store like H&M, American Eagle, Levi's, or Nike. I prefer the same products but for muchhhhh less. My solution? Thrift stores! I am a sucker for a good sale at these stores but those are few and far between. I'm fortunate enough to live in a place where the thrifting is plentiful though!
Mourning
It's been almost 5 months of married life and although I love it, I know that James and I do miss parts of our lives from before the wedding and living together. This post is basically talking about how it's ok to be married and mourn your old life, it happens to everyone and it doesn't stop at getting married. It happens to new parents and it happens whenever change occurs. We always look back at these moments in our lives and think "I had it so good then." We almost romanticize the old because we are putting away the bad memories and moments that occurred without considering that both the good and bad happen whether it be the past, the present, or the future.
Let’s Do This! The Year of 2020
2019 has been an interesting but mostly good year! I started 2019 off with James in NYC, lived in a lovely apartment in Boston and saw my best friends on a mostly daily basis. Work was good, I got to travel, and James and I got engaged and married! While I didn't accomplish all of my New Year's Resolutions (yes I had multiple so that I would at least follow through with one) I still feel good about what I was able to do.
It’s the Little Things
Before James and I were married, I was excite about the wedding and living together and Before James and I were married, I was excited about the wedding and living together and having a kid. Real big picture stuff, you know? And the wedding was cool and living together has been going pretty well but over the last 4 months instead of looking at the journey of where we're headed, I find I'm enjoying the smaller moments in our life.
8 strange things people say when youโre married young
Hypothesis: People have different reactions to young married couples and they always feel the need to comment on how they feel about it.
The Art of Office Gift Giving
Tis the season for gift wrap, holiday parties, lunches, and games! It's been a good year and you want to show your boss/coworker that you appreciate them, but the question is what do you get them? The truth is that they definitely make more money than you, can most likely afford anything they want and you're probably a little strapped for cash (like me every freaking Christmas season).
A(rleo) to Z Cooking
I grew up in a family where my dad cooked and boy did he cook well! We ate all sorts of things from all over the world and it really made my brother and I appreciate other cultures in a deeper way. Although I'm not gonna lie, we definitely didn't appreciate eating all of this different stuff when we were kids. The only thing about eating all of this wonderful food though is that my Dad loved to cook so much that he wanted to do a lot of it and we didn't get to learn too much about what he was doing. Appreciate the passion though Dad! You made so many killer dishes! The lack of practice didn't seem like it would affect me at the time, Dad did his cooking thing and the rest of the family did our setting the table and getting ready to eat thing. It wasn't until I got out of college in 2017 that I realized my cooking skills were very much so lacking. I was finding myself limited to salads, chicken nuggets and fries, and a twist on my favorite polish dish: Goลฤ bki, or stuffed cabbage, only I never stuffed it, I just cooked all the ingredients together. I was fine with eating these things as a bachelorette, I didn't have to worry about anyone else's taste buds and it made for cheap groceries.
Christmas with the In Laws
So this past weekend I went down with James, his parents, and his middle brother on a 4 hour car drive to Ossining NY for a family Christmas get together. I had never been in a car with his family for more than 30 minutes and I was pretty anxious about how the weekend was going to go. Not only were we driving down together but we were also spending the night at his grandparents house (which I had never slept in) and were going to be meeting up with 13 more family members, most of which I hadn't seen since our wedding in August!
A Field Guide to Marrying Young 