So, this is love...

Dec 27, 2017



For the three people who still read this thing, I owe the long story (made only a little short) of how my husband (!!!) and I met.

It would be awfully poetic to be able to tell you our eyes locked from across the room and in that instant we knew.

But, we can't.

The truth is our eyes locked on photos of each other on our respective screens. That's right folks, we met on the internet.

I spent days staring at and re-reading Daniel's profile debating saying 'hi.' Daniel was less shy; he checked my profile a few times before sending the first message. (I think it was something eloquent like, "Hey, how's it going?" (Which he still asks when he calls me during the day.))

From there quick notes turned into lengthy letters (I think our record was 5 pages) until Daniel asked if we should just talk for real and asked for my number. Feeling bold (and twitterpated), I sent it.

That first phone call lasted seven hours. SEVEN.
It should be said, I hate the phone.


Yep, loathe entirely fits. I only talk to my immediate family, aunt Kirsten, and soul-sister Naomi for more than 10 minutes. Other than that, text me.

Anyway, after some sleep, we met in person for the first time the next day. We've been inseparable ever since.

In most relationships you tiptoe around using the words 'we' or 'us' and are tentative in talking about the future. But for us, it has always kind of felt like a given.

We talked about marriage early on. We picked out a ring and I was lead to believe the engagement would happen around July 4th (one of my favorite holidays).

It was all an elaborate ruse.

Daniel popped the question three weeks before that at the Dallas World Aquarium right in front of the otters (my favorite!). He even had a silver jewelry box inscribed with lyrics from 'our song' to do it (cue the AWWWWW!). I was stunned. Instead of immediately saying yes, I asked if this was real and if I actually got to wear the ring home. He laughed. Then I complained about not having washed my hair. He told me I still hadn't answered. And I said the easiest 'yes' of my life.

We got hitched last month and now I'm learning how to be a wife. Crazy.

I'm constantly amazed at the plan God had for me versus the plan I had for myself. His is so much better. I'm so glad somewhere along the line I got it through my thick skull to see what He wanted for my life instead of my own shortsighted plans.

xoxo. 
Siovhan 

The Real Deal

Oct 19, 2017


This is it, folks.
The real deal.
(Also, this photo is exactly the nature of our relationship. Him joking around and me laughing uncontrollably.)

Let me cordially introduce the love of my life, Daniel.

The long and short of it, we met online, emailed for a couple weeks and when the letters got too long we moved to the phone. That first call lasted seven hours (what!!). Then we met in person and we've been pretty much inseparable ever since.

Now we're gettin' hitched. And I couldn't be more excited about it.

Ever forward.

Jun 8, 2016



"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure."
"Okay."


And with that, my longtime relationship was over.
It ended a while back, and you may not have even realized it (I didn't make it public on Facebook, and never mentioned it anywhere else), but since I've shared with you for years, I figured I'd share this, too.


I'm not going to explain the nitty gritty of it, not here.
You know where to find me for a one-on-one chat.


And I'm okay. I promise.
Ever forward.

i'm loving...

Feb 10, 2016

I love makeup. I'm not particularly great at makeup, but I like it.
I like trying out new things, I like finding new products, I like making my skin feel better.

When I moved to Dallas I had a coworker who loved makeup, too.
She moved on to a different job -- and so now I'm sharing all my finds with you!

Bit by bit I've been trying to remove parabens and sulfates from a lot of my makeup.
I'm allergic to sulfur, so this one was a no brainer. And it's made a HUGE difference.

Here's what I'm loving right now...

makeup i love feb 2016

// 1 // This eyeshadow is MAGIC. I have the UD Naked palette and it's okay, but this thing is amazing. Every color is super wearable for everyday life. Even that hot pink ends up a soft pinkish nude on. The only one I have a hard time wearing is the deep blue. I've only worn it as eyeliner thus far.

// 2 // I'm a mascara addict. I love mascara. It's the one cosmetic I can't leave without. My short, stubby, blonde eyelashes need the help. And THIS does it. I've tried so many mascaras, all of them seem to have big flaws. One clumps, another leaves epic smudges, the third you can't wash off, the next is so brittle....you get the picture. So far, the only problem with this one is sometimes after a long day I have a little smudge. I have greasy eyes, so this is not a huge surprise. But it makes my eyelashes look SO full. Plus it's opthamologist approved, so it's safe for your eyes.

// 3 // I challenged myself to be a little more daring in 2016 and this includes lipstick. I got a sample of 5 colors of this lipstick in my Gwen Stefani palette, and it is so good. It's truly long-lasting. I wore mine all day, eating, drinking, chapsticking and never reapplying and I still had some color left at the end of the day. I immediately went and bought a tube. I like the 'Firebird' fuchsia color and the 'Spiderwebs' red is the best red lipstick I've found.

// 4 // This is what I wear most days. It's the best light pink color, and looks so natural. Plus it has a hint of mint in it...which is awesome. This shade is 'Smooth Talker.' (I always think of this when I buy it.) I've gifted it to several people because it's truly the best gloss I own.

// 5 // This is my favorite natural blush. It's paraben free, cruelty free, and so nice on your face. 'Glisten' looks good on just about everyone.

// 6 // This is a cult favorite and one of mine, too. I recently bought it after using up a whole Tarte blush. I really like this one, it always makes my face looked flush in the right shade. But, I may go back to the other when this one's done.

// 7 // Last, but definitely not least, my new favorite foundation. It's essentially a tinted moisturizer/BB cream, but it's got staying power like no other. My skin really did get better after I started using this. And it's cooling, so it feels great in the morning. The one weird thing is it starts to dry quickly when you begin spreading it -- make sure you cover your face before that happens.

I want to hear what you're loving!
Share your favorites with me, I always need new ideas!

xoxo.

we've got this

Jan 13, 2016

Tonight I did something strange.

Back in 2008 I signed up for an LDSJournal account, a way to have a real (private) journal (as well as a blog) because I struggled with handwriting one.

I signed up. I journaled a few times. And I promptly forgot about it entirely.

Fast forward to last month.
I got an email about LDSJournal and remembered I had an account.

I logged in, changed my password, and I left it alone.
Tonight -- I logged in again.
I wanted to see if I had any posts that should migrate somewhere else for safekeeping.

And there it was.
Heartache.
Waiting just for me.

I read and re-read the few posts I'd left -- detailing the beginning of a relationship with a boy I dated during college.
The 'relationship' was a mess.
And tonight, I relieved the beginning of it and, subsequently, the heartache because of it.
It made me sad.
I saw the promise, the excitement, the hope, which past me didn't know would end and current me usually can't remember because of the end.

But instead of wallowing, I felt gratitude.
I can't stop thinking about where I was then -- and where I am now.
All the many, many things that have changed.
How *I* have changed.

I love the optimism and hope of that me.
But I'm grateful for the wisdom and resilience of this me.

There are a few guys from college I sometimes wish I'd never dated.
And there are a few I really wish I had.
(Two, in particular.)
And while I sit and think, 'wouldn't life have been so much easier if I'd done x, y, or z?'
I'm glad I've already been through it.
Glad I am where I am.
Because I have a feeling, it's right where I'm supposed to be.

So past me, don't worry.
Don't try to get there too quick.
Don't force it.
Don't rush.
Just sit back, relax, and know we've got this.

xoxo.