Hi all! This is Mandi’s husband, Phil (And no, she does not know that I am writing this post)! As I was sitting at home, I was thinking of how I could bless and surprise my wife on her birthday. Over the course of our relationship, I have been pulled away from Mandi on her birthday for a variety of reasons. This time, I had to come home early from vacation so that I could return to school this coming Monday (I teach Kindergarten). So, in an attempt to make up for my absence, I decided to write a post about her on her blog! 

* I apologize in advance if the copy, pictures, editing of said pictures, wittiness, etc are not up the standards of my darling wife!

Today my beautiful, smart, amazing wife turns 28 years old. It’s hard to put into words how much she means to me. Here are some of the words that I came up in an attempt to describe my wife:

Beautiful: I think that she is so incredibly beautiful! Not to be all superficial and all, but her outward appearance is stunning! I mean, isn’t she just the most darling thing you ever did see? I love everything about her, just the way she is! Mandi’s smile has been known to light up a room. I think part of the reason why I am so silly around her is that I just want to see her smile! As you can see below, it is sometimes hard for me resist her beauty. 

Thoughtful: Mandi is probably the most thoughtful person I know. Mandi loves to give gifts! And when she does, she puts so much thought into it. To her, a gift is something that should be meaningful, both in the presentation of the gift, and also in what is being given. This past Christmas, Mandi surprised me with a “12 Days of Christmas” countdown. Each day, she had me open a card. Inside, a special and meaningful activity was planned for us to do together for that day. I can’t tell you how special her doing that made me feel! Mandi goes out of her way to make others feel important, and that is just one of the many reasons why she is so special! It’s also a big reason why her blog is so AWESOME! She is very thoughtful when considering what to post and how the readers will respond to it. It takes her so much time and energy to write and create a post because she cares! In every area of her life, Mandi is thoughtful and sincere!

Funny: Mandi and I have so many inside jokes that we have created over the years…….well, I guess you just had to be there! Ha! Mandi loves to have a good time, and for her that means lots and lots of laughing! She is witty and clever and quick on her feet. Her smile and laugh are contagious. Sometimes, we entertain ourselves just by being silly! And I love her for it!

Courageous: As many of you know, Mandi was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in 2012. In the same year she also dealt with a month-long bout with vertigo and also lost her first child by miscarriage. She has been through a lot! She was telling me about what she went through the moments leading up to her surgery, waiting to be operated on, not knowing if she would ever wake up, leaving loves ones behind. Through all of these storms, Mandi has never wavered in her faith and trust in God. If anything, her faith has strengthened! To go through a miscarriage, a pregnancy, vertigo, birth of a child (we love you Lucy!), a 7 hour surgery and recovery, cancer diagnosis, and 5 weeks of radiation all in the span of a little over a year is unbelievable! I admit that we have had disagreements about house chores, responsibilities, etc but as I write this, I realize that besides all of this, Mandi has been working very, very hard to help bring in money for our family! I love you Mandi because you are courageous! In the face of adversity, you had peace in your heart and have persevered, putting our family above everything else!

 

Mother: I was trying to think of a word that describes Mandi as a mom, and I just couldn’t think of anything! To see Mandi interact with our daughter Lucy is a thing of beauty. I thank God for Mandi because there is no one else I would rather have be the mother of my children than Mandi! You watch Mandi and Lucy together, and you see a mother who loves her daughter more than anything else. You also see a daughter who truly delights in her mom! When Mandi was pregnant with Lucy, we would also ask each other and wonder what Lucy would be like and what she would look like. I can tell you that Lucy looks like her mom, which means that she is beautiful beyond comparison. And as of now, Lucy I think gets a lot of her personality from her mom, which means that she is smart, funny, and loves to be loved! As I try to remember the last 15 months (plus 9 month pregnancy) of Mandi’s life, I can say that being a mom has transformed her. She gives everything she has for her daughter and for me, and that’s why I love her!

Mandi, I wish you a very Happy Birthday! I love you and Lucy with all my heart!  XOXO

What started out as a little accident (spilled breast milk) turned into a big dilemma last Thursday night. Turns out, breast milk is great for babies, but really, really bad for computers. Of course, I had sort of figured that was the case, but my theories were confirmed when my computer wouldn’t turn on at all on Friday morning! So, amidst a busy weekend with a family wedding and church stuff, I scrambled to get a new computer (budget buster!) and figure out how to get Photoshop licensing to work with this pretty new iMac.

I’ll have a few blog posts to share this week, but not what I had originally planned. Of course, you probably wouldn’t have known the difference (save for the missing Movie Monday post), but I felt the need to share my woes. And the lessons I learned: Always, always, always back up your computer (mine was last backed up two weeks before the accident, saving all my crucial work files, but not all of my images for blog posts- gadzooks!), and never, ever, ever keep liquids close to your laptop. Like this. You might be careful, but the people yanking on cords next to your liquids might not be. Computers are not invinsible. Lesson learned. And now I’ll spend this week recouperating my software and files. And regretting the fact that I kept my blog schedule on Stickies which are now gone with my sad laptop. Yipes.

(As always, you can keep up with me on Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest!)

After years of saving up for a romantic getaway, Phil and I want to make sure we get it just right. We’ve done the beach, we’ve done the historic destinations, and now I think we’re ready for a trip to the city. I’m talking about the city. New York City. I haven’t been in years, and the thought of hanging out in the city living like a New York native sounds like just the ticket!

One Fine Stay arranges homey accommodations for travelers like us in the homes of lush-living locals we can pretend to be for one magical vacation. Take your pick from a variety of stylish apartments in New York neighborhoods, or if you’re traveling in the UK, you can stay in a fashionable London flat. Their website lets you search through the accomodations by style, neighborhood, family friendliness, parking, and, well, just go check out the rest! Here are three of my favorite New York apartments available for your next vacation in The Big Apple.

Step off the C train and take a walk through Brooklyn Heights, a quiet neighbourhood where historic townhouses line intimate streets and trees trim curbsides with green serenity. Here you’ll find Willow Street, a home that provides a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of nearby Manhattan. Newly remodelled, the home is a modern, minimalist haven, a light-filled space filled with beautiful shapes that is a destination in itself. Check out more photos and make a reservation here.

Cozy but diverse Prospect Heights is a lovely gem of a Brooklyn neighborhood. Nestled amidst the 19th century brownstones are much-loved local restaurants offering a plethora of American and international gourmet cuisine. When you’ve finished exploring the tree-lined streets, make your way to Carlton Avenue 2, a four-storey classic brownstone with décor that seamlessly melds the charm from an era past, and your creative hosts’ modern take. Take the virtual tour and see pricing info here.

This apartment is a lush escape in centrally located Murray Hill. The space features plenty of sunlight, breathtaking views and a leafy private terrace sure to please any breed. Prime for exploration, the nearby subway will have you to any east side neighbourhood as deftly as a jaguar. Check out the rest of the apartment and book your visit here.

One Fine Stay is a carefully selected sponsor of Making Nice in the Midwest. For sponsorship information, please click here or contact me directly for a media kit.