...3 years ago...

Three years ago today Mikis asked me to be his wife. It was by far one of the best days of my life. A day where he asked me to be his, forever. I hope I never forget how happy I was that day, how loved I felt that day, and the overall feeling you have to be newly engaged. It's a feeling I hope everyone gets to feel at least once in their life. Here's to love, and finding your special someone.

[a message in the sand i'll never forget]

xo,

R

...words of wisdom...

 

xoxo,

R+M

...happy valentine's day...

From our family to yours, we wish you a wonderful Valentine's Day full of love, lots of chocolate and other sweet surprises!

xoxo,

R+M

...a surprise from my valentine...

As mentioned here, I LOVE surprises. I mean who doesn’t really? Well Sunday morning I woke up to a sweet Valentine’s Day surprise from Mikis. While still trying to get the sleep out of my eyes, he handed me an envelope. As it wasn’t Valentine’s Day yet you can imagine my confusion. Well, I opened the sweetly homemade card and was surprised with a note that told me to pack my bathing suit and be ready by 10:30a.m. I jumped out of bed immediately and got quickly ready. Soon after Mikis divulged our plans for the day, he booked us a couples massage at Joya Spa at the Montelucia Resort. What a sweet surprise right? I swear, Mikis can be such a romantic when he wants to be. We enjoyed an amazing couples massage along with champagne at one of the best Spa’s in Arizona. Afterward we enjoyed lunch in the beautiful Arizona sun, a picture perfect Sunday in my book. 

Here are a few photos from our trip. 

 

[mikis releasing his negative energy and tension]

[the gorgeous montelucia grounds]

xoxo,

R+M

...sending our congrats...

This past Saturday I got an exciting text from my girlfriend Jessica, that her and her boyfriend Eric got engaged! It all happened during a romantic moment on top of Camelback Mountain. Jessica has been a great friend of mine for the past nine years, and we have shared so many memories and moments together. I truly couldn't be more excited for her and Eric and this celebratory time in their life. Hearing about her engagment gave me goosebumps and reminded me of how I felt the day Mikis and I got engaged!

Jess and Eric, Mikis and I couldn't be more happy for you. You are a great couple and will make an even better husband and wife. Enjoy every second of this exciting time.

xoxo,

R+M

...thanksgiving celebrations...

Thanksgiving has taken on many different look's throughout the years. My first memories were of us bundling up and heading to my grandparent's house in Colorado and piling into the breakfast nook in the kitchen and feasting with my cousins. As I got older and after we moved to Arizona, the holiday's would alternate each year, with some years being celebrated at home and other's with trips back to visit the fam. Either way, Thanksgiving meant celebrating with the whole family, and noshing on Grandma's delicious Maybouillon Rolls.

As I have gotten older, and started working in the retail industry, as mentioned here, Thanksgiving has taken on a different look. Since part of my job is to report to the center at 4a.m. on Black Friday, I am no longer able to go to Colorado and celebrate with the Stevenson's. Although at times this makes me "home sick", it also has given me the opportunity to celebrate with Mikis and his family. Mikis's Thanksgiving memories have been celebrating with some of his parent's closest friends, who to them have become family. Everyone arrives at the Gordon's home with side in hand and knows their in store for an afternoon of delicious food and catching up with old friend's. It's a tradition that I thankfully have been apart of for the last few years.

This year, Thanksgiving was a culmination of both of our tradition's. For our first Thanksgiving as a married couple, we held the holiday at our home. We hosted 21 people including our parent's, grandmother's, my siblings, close family friends, and family from Colorado. Thankfully, my dad and step-mom are GREAT cooks and they did the bulk of the cooking. We had a TON of food including two turkey's, one fried and one baked, and ham as well as over 8 sides. It was one of the best Thanksgiving's we've had. We had family and friends surrounding us, and it was a day filled with great food, great company and love. 

Here are a few photos from the day...



[my step-mom and her apron]

 

[the stevenson-troyan clan]

[pooped from the day]

xoxo,

R+M



...feeling thankful...

Thanksgiving is always a great time to reflect on the past year, and life in general and to feel appreciation for everything you have. It's a time to realize how lucky you truly are, and to appreciate the positives and disregard the negatives. Mikis and I have alot to be thankful for, and while sitting here writing my thankful list, I realized why do we only think about this every year, why not every month? So, moving forward each month we will feature a new list of what we are thankful for.

For now, here is a shortened list of what I am thankful for...

• Mikis: I couldn't ask for a more supportive and loving husband. He makes me laugh and inspires me to believe in my dreams and make them reality.
• My Dad: The older I get, the more I love and appreciate my dad. He is there no matter what! He is someone I can vent to, or to call for car advice. My dad is the all around “cool” dad, and a person who is hard not to like. Everyday I am thankful to have him as my dad.
• My Step-Mom: My step-mom has been in my life for 15+ years and has always treated me as her own. She is an amazing cook, a great friend and mom. She has been there for me when I needed her the most and there is not a day that goes by that I am not appreciative of that.
• My In-Law’s: I couldn’t have asked for more loving or welcoming in-law’s. Since day one, they have treated me as a Troyan, and have been even more welcoming now that I am one. They have such a warm friendly nature, now wonder why they have so many close friends!
• My Brothers: I don’t know what I would do without my brothers. These two have been through more than most humans would endure in one lifetime, and they have come out to be the coolest most positive kids around. They have a passion for life and everyday they stay with us, they show me what type of parent I want to be.
• My Sister: My sister is still growing into her own and it’s amazing to see the young lady that she is becoming. She has a passion for photography and is a tech whiz, and is there for whenever I need some helpful tips.
• Milo: Even though he can be mischievous at times, his cute face can make your heart melt. He keeps you warm when your cold, and makes me feel safe on nights the hubby is away.
• My Friends: I am SO thankful for the many incredible friendships I have been blessed with. I am thankful for the close relationships and sweet memories I have with my college girlfriends and old roommates, and I am also thankful of the new friends and bonds I have been able to make since they have moved away. I truly would be lost without any of my girlfriends.
• My Family: Even though we are spread throughout the U.S. I still have a close bond with my family, and am so thankful for that. Each celebration is sweeter with them there, and each loss is easier with them by your side. I couldn’t ask for a better set of grandmother's, aunt’s, uncles, and cousins.

This is just the beginning of a long list of what I am thankful for, but the most important things in my opinion. Take this time to reflect on what your thankful for. It’s guaranteed to give you a happiness boost!

I hope your Thanksgiving is full of great food, great family and all around love!

[happy thanksgiving from the troyan's]

xoxo,

R+M

...birthday wishes for papa stevenson...

Today we are sending special birthday wishes to my dad, Perry Stevenson. Growing up I always was a daddy's girl finding new ways to make my dad's birthday present's more meaningful and thoughtful. Nowaday's a handmade frame might not be as cute, but the love and thought are still behind each year's new gift and birthday wish. Here's to another fabulous year dad! Hope your celebrating with a steak and a shot of patron! We look forward to celebrating with you soon!

xoxo,

R+M

...in celebration of grandpa...

Three years ago, the world lost an incredible man, my grandfather Glen Stevenson. My grandfather was taken from his loving family and wife way to soon at the young age of 74, and very unexpectedly. He still had so much to offer the world and his family. I'm just grateful my husband got to meet the loving, sarcastic and knowledgeable man that he was. Grandpa always shared his great stories from his years in the Air Force, and his travels during that time. He was a man full of wisdom and could make anyone laugh.

Losing my grandfather was undoubtedly hard, especially since it was the first death I had experienced in my immediate family. At first I thought it would have been so much easier to deal with if he was sick, then we would have expected it. But, I truly don't think loss of a loved one could ever be categorized as easy. Coming upon the three year anniversary that my sweet grandfather left us, I found it as a time to reflect on life, family and of course him. Immediately following his death I kind of closed up and avoided conversations about him as to try and save myself from tears and heartache. As the years have passed the pain isn't less, but I have learned how to deal with it a bit better and am not as embarrassed now by my emotions as I was then. Loss is essentially apart of life, and it's better to reminisce about the people we miss then to avoid it all together. I think these lesson's in life try and teach us to enjoy each day and to never take our loved one's for granted.

Grandpa, I miss you terribly and think of your every day!

xoxo,

R

...the day it all started...

Six years ago today is when our story first began, the day Rachel+Mikis started, and the day our lives began to intertwine. Although moving forward we will begin celebrating a new date (our wedding date 3.21.10), October 2nd will be a special day in our lives forever. This was the day we had our first date. We remember it like it was yesterday, our first romantic date at Grazie Pizzeria (if you haven't been there, it's a perfect first date place), sharing the Sofia and a bottle of wine. Couldn't have asked for a better way to fall in love.

The past six years have proved to be some of the best days of our lives and we couldn't imagine spending them with anyone else by our side than each other. As we grow together, and as we continue to age, there is one thing that will never change, our love for each other. Here's to many more incredible years. Here are  a few photos to help reminisce and follow our story through the last few years. 

[our first year anniversary]

[mikis's first christmas tree]

[our first "big" trip, buenos aires]

[one of the many food festivals]

[thanksgiving in colorado]

[at one of the many weddings of our friends]

[ringing in another new year in san diego]

[mikis's first parasailing experience]

[another dinner with friends]

[our new home]

[during our engagement photo session]

[one of our fav ferry rides to coronado]

[halloween, where we won 2nd place]

[days before our "i do's"]

[celebrating the culinary fest]

[newlywed love]

xoxo,

R+M