Happy Autumn! It's hard to believe that it's November and the holidays are just around the corner.
I took much of October off and I wanted to share some of the things I've been up to lately.
I got married!
The biggest news is that October 14 was our wedding day. We opted to do a small, intimate wedding with fifty of our closest friends and family members at a lodge overseeing the Grand River in West Michigan.
It was a busy week getting ready, with plenty of last-minute hiccups. Ever had a $990 mani-pedi? I hadn't either until there was a credit card reader error! My maid and matron of honor helped put together last-minute details, like making our own bouquets, foraging for greenery for decor, and keeping me calm with said thousand-dollar spa mishap.
Our wedding day was a beautiful, chilly fall day with perfect fall foliage as our backdrop. Our families joined us for photos and set up in the afternoon and it was a low-stress, relaxing way to settle into the evening. Our friend Jacey and pastor Matthew put together a beautiful ceremony, and we had a short and sweet reception complete with a taco bar (our first date was over tacos), cupcakes, and plenty of dancing.
Honeymoon in the Big Apple
Travis and I left the next morning to drive to New York City! The Poconos were our first stop, where we stayed at the Kalahari Resort before arriving in New York the next evening. We caught the Staten Island Ferry to view the Statue of Liberty at sunset.
The four days we were there were filled with walking (36 miles worth!), including walks through Central Park, Times Square, Staten Island, and Manhattan. We saw Phantom of the Opera and Hamilton on Broadway and enjoyed lots of yummy food and treats. I kept a knitting project in my backpack throughout the trip but only pulled it out once while we were in line waiting to get into the 9/11 Museum. I quickly needed to throw on my cowl as it was freezing in New York that day!
During our last full day in Brooklyn, we checked off a bucket list item with a trip to Brooklyn General Store! It was such a cozy yarn shop, nestled among the brownstones. Throughout my hemming and hawing over different yarn bases and brands, Travis patiently waited for me to make up my mind before we decided on grey sock yarn for him and some hot pink worsted-weight skeins for a hat and gloves for me. More on those projects soon!
I got to indulge in my stationery hobby with a quick visit to Yoseka Stationery, also in Brooklyn. I walked away with a Kaweco Student 70's Edition and a Sailor fountain pen, both with fine nibs. I also picked up a few shades of J.Herbin inks and accessories for my Traveler's Notebook.
We drove home at the end of the week and stopped in Gettysburg to view the battlefields. It was another bucket list item for me as a history buff. My husband's family has an ancestor who fought in a New York regiment on Little Round Top. It was neat to walk around and view the various monuments that now dot the landmark. We ended up arriving back home in the early morning hours of Friday, and have spent the last few weeks settling into married life.