February is here! Can you believe it? The days are turning into months, which are turning into years. Time is flying by at a colossal speed. This month is a particularly special time for me — and not only for Valentine’s Day — it marks our one year wedding anniversary. In honor of Valentine’s Day (and our soon-to-be anniversary) I’m sharing a his and her date night inspired look with a few tidbits I’ve learned from my first year of marriage.
I have been eyeing this splurge-worthy Self Portrait dress for quite some time. In fact, I also wore this to our company holiday party in December. Red is a staple color you can wear for several occasions. Even as I write this post I’m planning an all red outfit for a Red Cross Charity event I’m attending. So, see! Red pays dividends. And be forewarned, fringe is on trend; but I’m totally loving it. How cute are these heels from Banana Republic?!
Marriage is a wild, exciting adventure. There are so many rewarding attributes to joining your life in matrimony and committing to eternity. For example, you have a full time buddy. Chris is my forever best friend, and partner in crime. But it’s not easy — it requires a lot of work. Don’t let pretty curated Instagram photos fool you. Relationships are messy, and complicated. It can be scary to be fully known, with no escape; but it’s also oh-so freeing in the safety of a loving and gracious relationship. That’s when two people thrive. From what I’ve learned so far, these are my three tips for a healthy marriage:
- Create a culture of safety. Marriage is a judge-free zone. When people feel loved they are safe to break down their protective barriers — and that’s when their authentic lives shine though.
- Give an abundance of grace. People will inevitable hurt you, because we are all sinners. So never expect perfection — it’s an unachievable measure no matter how hard you try, and trust me I’ve tried.
- Enjoy lots of date nights. Prioritize time for each other and have fun adventures!
One of our favorite date night spots in San Francisco is Cavallo Point (as seen in these photos). It was once home to Fort Baker, a military post, through WWII. Much of the property looks similar to it’s original design making it a unique spot for afternoon cocktails on the veranda while overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. We had such a great night — and best of all we got to capture the memory with photos, thanks to Irina!
I hope you enjoyed this post and feel inspired to plan your next date night. Happy Valentine’s Day! xo
Photos taken by Irina Turkova
Shop this post!
Dress: Self Portrait, similar one here, here and here | Shoes: Banana Republic (available in several colors!) simlar here | Jacket: similar here, here, here and here | Necklace: similar here and here
