Marriage Week 12
January 29 - February 4
This past week was a rather chill week hanging locally between Durham and Greensboro, it is definitely winter in the Carolinas! Some of the highlights from the week:
Beautiful “Just Because” Flowers from Hubby
When we read through Gary Chapman’s “5 Love Languages” book, words of affirmation was my first language to feel loved, but honestly the second language was a straight tie between gifts, quality time, acts of service and physical touch. I’m a sucker for flowers and while I always adore getting flowers for special occasions or moments, the “just because” flowers always bring so much joy to an otherwise simple mundane day. Thanks babe!
Financial Advisor Calls
We have been on the road towards financial freedom since we started dating, working through the Dave Ramsey’s Financial Freedom course. The program follows “the Seven Baby Steps” which helps those who are focused to pay off debt, save, and eventually be able to live and give in financial freedom. After an undergraduate + master’s degree (though my parents helped tremendously too) + a car loan + two or three credit cards I had accumulated a lot of debt. I made the goal when I started the Baby Steps many years ago to be debt free by 30. I paid off my last debt payment in February 2020 (at 28) and then when Kamil and I started dating and eventually engaged and married, living a debt-free life became a top priority for both of us!
We paid for our wedding in cash, saved $1,000 emergency fund, paid off the last of our debts in January, and are one paycheck away from our fully-funded emergency fund! Next step - saving for the 20% down payment for our home & investing for our future. We’re super thankful, excited, and focused on these next financial steps in our future. This week we had a few follow up phone calls with financial advisors, trying to determine who is the best fit for our family and our goals; which is a tougher decision than I thought because everyone has been so great to talk to! We hope to make a final decision in the next week.
If you have any questions about gaining control over your finances, the Dave Ramsey program, or our personal journey I’d love to talk to you about it! Leave a comment below or head over to “Connect” to chat.
Tea with Sarah for her birthday
One of my best and closest friends (and best Maid of Honor ever) - Sarah - it was her birthday this week! We celebrated by having a little afternoon tea, complete with a little bubbly, at one of our favorite spots - the O. Henry Hotel. They do a delightful classical afternoon tea complete with scones, tea sandwiches and warm steeped tea. The ambiance is always enchanting with classical music quietly tinkling the background, black-and-white dressed tea attendants, and mismatched china and teapots at every intimate setting. Happy Birthday Sarah! Love our friendship, your kindness and thoughtfulness, and our adventures over the years. Thankful that God crossed our path in Bible Study years ago so that we can walk through these seasons together.
Bad Hair Day + Chick Fil A Date
One of the hardest parts about moving to a new city is finding all new “essentials”. You know what I mean, the doctors, the hair salons, the dentists, the nail salon….all the places that you had your “one” back home but now it’s time to find someone closer. Well, I tried a new salon today for a highlight and let’s just say it didn’t go well… I ended up crying when I got home. Not only was I super unhappy with the color but the price was outrageous and, call me crazy, but is customer service completely dead since Rona?! I always feel like going to the hair salon (or nail salon) is a special treat and it should be a pampering of sorts. Maybe I’m totally off base here but I just want to have a relaxing experience, some cool music, be offered a bottle of water or a Diet Coke, a decent head massage during the wash. If you’re paying $200+ for a service, I don’t think that’s much to ask?! Anyways… it didn’t go well, so I will definitely be looking for a new stylist. And in the meantime, I’m rocking a darkrt blonde - slightly red hued style right now. Needless to say, it wasn’t a good day. Kamil scooped me up, we went to Target to wander the aisles for a bit and then picked up some Chick-Fil-A to go and called it a day.
Moved the rest of my stuff
My parents helped Kamil and I get the rest of my items from my storage unit and Greensboro, load it in a U-Haul, and make the journey back to Durham to our new storage unit. It was a little bittersweet to clean out the final remnants of that storage unit plus a few of the last items from my bedroom at my parents home. End of a season, beginning of a new one… equally beautiful and equally different.
LOVE,
The Newlyweds K&K