forever a horse girl

One of the highlights of my Mother's Day weekend was taking a lesson at Waterloo Hunt Club during a hunter/jumper show. My mom rode at this exact place back in her horse showing days, and riding there made me reflect on how grateful I am that she has always nurtured and encouraged my love of horses, even now that I’m an adult.

As far back as I can remember, I have always loved horses. I had an epic My Little Pony collection, then graduated to a herd of Breyers while always yearning for the real thing. When I was 8, my mom inherited her farm, and my little girl dreams came true - the farm came with horses, and my mom bought us a crazy little pony named Chiquita (because that pony was bananas).

We had many horses through the years - Jazzman, Sis, Pockets, Moon, Jazzy, Stitch - but my horse was a black Arabian named Lee-el that my mom got as a two year old and we trained together. I grew up with that horse and loved him fiercely. He was my heart horse - my bond with him was so special.

I stopped riding regularly around my junior year of high school, and even though life got in the way, I never stopped loving horses. But when Lee-el died unexpectedly (and much too soon) in 2008, I didn’t know if I would ever have a horse in my life again.

Fast forward eight years, and I hadn’t been on a horse since Lee-el died. Graydon, my oldest baby, was three years old, and I had just lost my second child at 21 weeks pregnant. I was devastated, heartbroken, shattered.

And then a friend of mine invited me to go riding with her. It had been at least eight years since I sat on a horse, but the second I got up into that saddle, I felt like I was home. I didn’t realize how much I missed that feeling, or how much I needed it back in my life. My dear friend brought horses back into my life when I needed them most, and I am eternally grateful to her for that.

Shortly after that ride, my family and I started looking for a new house, conveniently much closer to the barn where my friend had just taken me riding. I was determined to start taking lessons as soon as we moved.

When we bought our house in Ann Arbor, my mom gave me riding lessons as a housewarming present - I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better gift. I got pregnant with Finn shortly after that, so I didn’t get to use those lessons until after he was born, but I’ve been riding ever since.

Now I’m getting ready to ride in my first horse show in more than 20 years, and I’m hunting for a horse to call my own. I can’t describe how good it feels to have this passion reignited, how happy it makes me to have horses back in my life. I feel like I’ve reclaimed an essential part of myself, and I’m never letting go of that again.

Once a horse girl, always a horse girl. 🖤

book life: reading more in 2019

We're a month into the new year, and while I've never been a resolutions persons, one of my goals in 2019 is to read more. I've always been an avid reader, from a young age, and books have always been a source of comfort, escape, knowledge, entertainment, and catharsis. I love to read, and now that Finn is almost a year old and it's becoming easier to squeeze in some self-care every now and then, I want to make reading a priority again.

I recently organized my bookshelves, something I hadn't done since we moved into this house, and it is giving me LIFE. And all sorts of inspired-to-read vibes. Which is good, because in the process of organizing and culling my book collection, I realized my to-be-read list is epically long. That is both exciting and daunting, but I'm so far I'm off to a good start: I've already finished one book this year, and I'm currently reading two more.

My first completed book of 2019 is Our Endless Numbered Days, by Claire Fuller. I couldn't put this book down. It's the story of a young girl, Peggy, who is stolen away by her survivalist father to live in a remote hut in the woods. He tells her that the world has been destroyed, and they are the last two humans left alive. They make a life for themselves in the woods, spending years isolated in the wilderness, until one day Peggy makes a discovery that leads her to question everything her father has told her and ultimately gives her the strength to escape back to the home and mother she thought she'd lost. Written in first person from Peggy's point of view, this book is full of narrative twists and turns, and as I was reading it, I could tell there were so many things left unsaid. She wasn't telling the complete story, either because she didn't know it or because she chose not to reveal certain things. The layers of secrets peel back gradually, the revelations of the final chapter circling ever closer as the story comes to a close. When all is revealed, it's a heartbreaking, gut wrenching end to a gripping story. There are some dark themes in this book, but I highly recommend it, and I can't wait to read more from this author.

In the meantime, here are my current reading stats - what I've read so far this year, what I'm reading now, and what I might read next:

Books I've Read This Year

Our Endless Numbered Days, by Claire Fuller

Books I'm Reading Now

All the Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr

The Age of the Horse, by Susanna Forrest

Books I Might Read Next

The Dreamers, by Karen Thompson Walker

Educated, by Tara Westover

History of Wolves, by Emily Fridlund

madly in love with the new issue of metro detroit weddings

The Winter 2019 issue of Metro Detroit Weddings is on stands now, and there is so much to love in these pages, from a sweet engagement story to a one-of-a-kind courthouse wedding to unforgettable honeymoon destinations curated by local blogger The Travel Critic. And of course there's this issue's cover story, a 1960s-inspired editorial photographed at the charming Graduate hotel in Ann Arbor. Check out the entire shoot below, and see more from this issue here!

On the Cover:

Pronovias gown, $3,500, at BLUSH Couture Bride. Pearl earrings, $12, at The Peacock Room. Bouquet by University Flower Shop.

Above (from left):

Emporio Armani tuxedo jacket, $1,495, at Neiman Marcus. BOSS Hugo Boss tuxedo shirt, $248, at Hugo Boss. Express tuxedo pant, $148, and velvet tie, $49.90, at Express.

Justin Alexander zip-back halter ballgown, $2,100, at Piera’s Bridal Couture. Crystal four leaf flower pin (in hair), $45, and pearl earrings, $12, at The Peacock Room.

Michael Kors wool blazer, $595, and trouser, $295, at Michael Kors. BOSS Hugo Boss shirt, $148, at Hugo Boss. Express bow tie, $39.90, at Express. 

Emporio Armani velvet tuxedo jacket, $1,495, at Neiman Marcus. BOSS Hugo Boss shirt, $175, at Hugo Boss. Express bow tie, $39.90, at Express.

MICHAEL Michael Kors floral dress, $98, at Michael Kors. Bag knot pearl earrings, $50, at The Wedding Shoppe.

MICHAEL Michael Kors garden embroidered mesh dress, $250, at Michael Kors. Pearl headband, $22, at The Peacock Room. Pearl and crystal earrings, $15, at B. Ella Bridal.

Theory velvet tuxedo jacket, $645, and Neiman Marcus bow tie, $85, at Neiman Marcus. BOSS Hugo Boss tuxedo shirt, $248, at Hugo Boss. Express tuxedo pant, $148, at Express. Elaine B. multi-faceted wedding band, $800 for set of two, at Elaine B. Jewelry.

From left: 

INES by Ines Di Santo “Suri” gown with train, $5,680, at Roma Sposa. Pearl earrings, $12, at The Peacock Room. Diamond engagement ring, $10,350, and diamond wedding band, $1,499, at Tapper’s.

MICHAEL Michael Kors floral dress, $98, at Michael Kors. Bag knot pearl earrings, $50, at The Wedding Shoppe.

MICHAEL Michael Kors garden embroidered mesh dress, $250, at Michael Kors. Pearl headband, $22, at The Peacock Room. Pearl and crystal earrings, $15, at B. Ella Bridal.

The Wedding Shoppe Private Collection “McCartney” gown, $1,599, at The Wedding Shoppe. Elaine B. “Mountain Side Provincial” ring, $1,100, and “Aquamarine Provincial” ring, $1,300, at Elaine B. Jewelry. Barrera pearl earrings, $415, and Judith Leiber crystal evening clutch, $1,995, at Neiman Marcus. Betsey Johnson lace pumps, $129, at Piera’s Bridal Couture.

From left: 

Zara plaid suit jacket, $199, and pants, $89.90, at Zara. Warby Parker “Hughes” jet black glasses, $95, at Warby Parker.

BOSS Hugo Boss suit, $895, shirt, $175, and tie, $118, at Hugo Boss. Warby Parker “Percey” evergreen tortoise fade glasses, $95, at Warby Parker.

Michael Kors wool blazer, $595, and trouser, $295, at Michael Kors. BOSS Hugo Boss shirt, $148, and tie, $128, at Hugo Boss.

Paloma Blanca gown with sash, $2,410, at The Gown Shop. Oscar de la Renta earrings, $425, at Neiman Marcus. Diamond engagement ring, $8,250, and diamond eternity ring, $3,750, at Tapper’s.

From left: 

Maggy London navy cold shoulder dress, $148, at The Peacock Room. Elaine B. “Eggshell Drop” earrings, $108, at Elaine B. Jewelry.

Paloma Blanca gown with sash, $2,410, at The Gown Shop. Oscar de la Renta earrings, $425, at Neiman Marcus. Diamond engagement ring, $8,250, and diamond eternity ring, $3,750, at Tapper’s. Badgley Mischka satin heels, $225, at Piera’s Bridal Couture. Jimmy Choo “Leni” painted glitter clutch, $775, at Neiman Marcus.

Maggy London navy pleated sleeve dress, $152, at The Peacock Room. Elaine B. “Tiny Eggshell” earrings, $98, at Elaine B. Jewelry.

From left: 

BOSS Hugo Boss tuxedo, $895, and shirt, $175, at Hugo Boss. Express bow tie, $39.90, at Express.

BOSS Hugo Boss tuxedo, $895, and shirt, $148, at Hugo Boss. Express bow tie, $39.90, at Express.

Emporio Armani tuxedo jacket, $1,495, at Neiman Marcus. BOSS Hugo Boss tuxedo shirt, $248, at Hugo Boss. Express tuxedo pant, $148, and velvet tie, $49.90, at Express.

From left: 

BOSS Hugo Boss tuxedo, $895, and shirt, $148, at Hugo Boss. Express bow tie, $39.90, at Express. BHLDN “Linden” dress, $280, at BHLDN. Pearl earrings, $12, at The Peacock Room.

BOSS Hugo Boss tuxedo, $995, and tuxedo shirt, $248, at Hugo Boss. Express bow tie, $39.90, at Express.

WToo “Hermia” gown, $1,395, at B. Ella Bridal. MICHAEL Michael Kors rose faux fur jacket, $395, at Michael Kors. Pearl headband, $22, at The Peacock Room. Diamond engagement ring, $8,250, diamond eternity ring, $3,750, and Mikimoto pearl and diamond studs, $1,160, at Tapper’s. Badgley Mischka heels, $215, at Piera’s Bridal Couture.

Theia Bridal “Trinity” jumpsuit, $280, at BHLDN. David Tutera pearl necklace, $89, at Piera’s Bridal Couture. Pearl earrings, $12, at The Peacock Room.

BOSS Hugo Boss tuxedo, $895, and shirt, $175, at Hugo Boss. Express bow tie, $39.90, at Express.

From left: 

Pronovias gown, $1,500, at Bridal Couture. Pearl headband, $22, at The Peacock Room. Mikimoto pearl and diamond studs, $1,160, at Tapper’s.

Zara tuxedo jacket, $149, and tuxedo pant, $79.90, at Zara. BOSS Hugo Boss tuxedo shirt, $248, at Hugo Boss. Express tuxedo pant, $148, at Express. Elaine B. multi-faceted wedding band, $800 for set of two, at Elaine B. Jewelry.

Ines Di Santo “Mia” gown with cathedral train, $8,680, at Roma Sposa. Elaine B. “Sunstone Compass” ring, $1,100, at Elaine B. Jewelry. Pearl earring, $12, at The Peacock Room.

From left: 

Michael Kors slim-fit ponte blazer, $198, trousers, $148, and slim-fit stretch-cotton shirt, $128, at Michael Kors.

BHLDN “Anthem” dress, $195, at BHLDN. MICHAEL Michael Kors laced drapey trench coat, $295, “Lacey” butterfly embellished slides, $130, and large “Whitney” shoulder bag, $278, at Michael Kors. SWISSGEAR hardside trunk carry-on suitcase, $120, at Target.