Marriage Archives - Moments of Musing

We didn’t meet as kids — but we’ve grown up together.

Filed Under: Marriage // March 4, 2020

marriage, husband and wife, husband, wife, las vegas, military couple, long distance, long island mom, new york family, latina mom, mom blog, mom blogger, parents, parenthood

We didn’t meet as kids— we were 22 & 24-years-old— but I still feel like we’ve grown up together. ⁣

– We’ve gotten sober together. ⁣

– We’ve gone through law school, college and business school together.

⁣– We’ve made mistakes and learned together. ⁣

– We’ve experienced cross-country moves, international travel and career changes together.

⁣– We’ve endured a deployment, long distance, injuries, loss and more together. ⁣

– We’ve become PARENTS, home owners and business owners together. ⁣

– We’ve chosen each other over and over again …together. ⁣

These years have been such profound years. While we might not have met as kids, we sure have grown up alongside one another.⁣

Reflecting on Five Years of Marriage

Filed Under: anniversary, love, love story, Marriage // December 4, 2019

love, marriage, love story, anniversary, marriage is work, parenthood, marriage as parents, married with kids, new york blogger, new york couple, long island blogger, long island couple, latina blogger

Ours is a love story that movies are made of — not simply because it is romantic and full of love, which it is (he rescheduled 3 flights for me the weekend we met!), but because it has always had its share of complexities.

We grew up very differently. Even when we met, our lives were vastly different. He had just returned from a seven month deployment with the Navy and I was in my first year of law school. I wasn’t even single at the time…

Our pasts have given us distinct experiences and helped mold us each into who we are today. And though none of it can be changed, we hold the power to rise above and heal traumas, to continue traditions and make our own fond family memories and to grow into who we are while building upon our strengths. We can help one another do that — and we try our best to.

This means marriage, especially after having kids (because #parenthoodisstressful), has taken work. We have had to work each and everyday of our relationship to become better individually and together. It might not sound all perfect and pretty — and that’s because it isn’t. It’s better than that — it’s real.

We are each other’s compass when one of us is feeling lost. We are each other’s shoulder when ours feel too heavy from burden. We are each other’s safe place when the world outside feels too cold or scary. We bring out the best parts of each other and help work through our not-so-great parts.

Ours is a love story that has withstood doubt, distance, fear and darkness. It has given us the greatest gifts in the form of our sons. And it is based upon a love that continues to evolve, grow and thrive.

Cheers to us!

My Husband is an Instagram Husband

Filed Under: blog, content photos, Marriage // August 22, 2019

How do you get your husband involved in photographing content for you?

I’ve been thinking about this topic because it came up in an Instagram support group of influencers and bloggers. I know it can be a common struggle among bloggers and influencers to get your partner involved in taking photos for your content. What it comes down to for me is my husband’s willingness, and quite frankly desire, to help me build my brand and business.

It’s actually mutually beneficial. I save money on a photographer and get my photos. In turn, I am able to contribute financially to our household even more because of the content.

Honestly, having an Instagram Husband isn’t just convenient, it’s crucial to my business. In all seriousness, it would all be a heck of a lot harder without his unwavering support.

So, how does it work? He photographs, usually with my creative direction, and I edit.

Did / does my husband love taking photos just because? No, and he still sometimes get annoyed if I’m trying to photograph special moments versus being present (I’ve worked on this, which I think is a common struggle among content creators). BUT he enjoys being my partner in all things, cheering me on, and helping me out. After all, we both want one another to be successful.

So if you are struggling with getting your partner involved, maybe you can frame it with the following ideas:

His/her support matters. In a newer and small business, having extra help from family or friends can go far.
Posting to Instagram (and other platforms) is about much more than just sharing photos on social media. It’s a business tool!
You will be able to contribute more money by saving money on a photographer.
Simply put, it’s nice to have a supportive partner, someone who lifts up your dreams.

I truly hope this information helps to get your partner on board. Good luck!

NYC Father’s Day Getaway

Filed Under: Marriage, travel // June 12, 2019

Travel, nyc, Manhattan, hotel, midtown Manhattan, Father’s Day, getaway, hotel, new york city

This post is sponsored by The Gregory Hotel but all opinions are my own.

Over the weekend my husband and I stayed at The Gregory Hotel in Midtown Manhattan. I was really nervous because R is still nursing so I wasn’t sure he would do well at bedtime and throughout the night without having me there. Luckily, he and S stayed with my parents so there wasn’t much sadness from the boys. Plus, it was only one night. R did great, and my husband and I really enjoyed our time together. I am so glad we went through with this! (We usually opt to stay in when given the option.)

My husband and I always say we have to get out alone more but our last date night was 6 months ago so this night away was much-needed and overdue. Even though it was just one night we got to both do quite a bit and also relax. We got to enjoy leisurely walks hand-in-hand, meals and each other’s presence…cheesy but something that doesn’t happen all too often. We also got the comfortable bed to ourselves and got uninterrupted sleep.

A stay at The Gregory Hotel would make for a great treat for your special guy for Father’s Day!

The Gregory features comfortable, spacious rooms, including robes for lounging. There is a fitness center and a bar and grill, which you can get to through a doorway by the elevators. Established in 1903, it has a rich history. There are original aspects still in tact, as well as menus and photos from that time period on display.

Best of all, in my opinion, is its central location (and competitive rates!). Located on West 35th Street right off Herald Square and just blocks from the Empire State Building, it is in the middle of everything. While there my husband and I only took the subway once to ensure we made it in time for our dinner reservation. We walked to and from Times Square and Bryant Park on 42nd Street, and back from dinner at ABC Kitchen (highly recommend!) on East 18th.

There is so much to do near the hotel, as well as in other areas of Manhattan and NYC. From the Bronx Zoo to Central Park to Coney Island there is something to do in each borough. Be sure to kick off your summer in a great way and book your tailor-made stay at The Gregory Hotel for the special guy in your life this Father’s Day!

Travel, nyc, Manhattan, hotel, midtown Manhattan, Father’s Day, getaway, hotel

I’m a “Hopeless Romantic” …but I Don’t Believe in Soul Mates

Filed Under: Marriage // January 17, 2019

I am a hopeless romantic and always root for love and for (healthy) relationships to work out. I love my husband—even when he annoys me to no end. I love long walks on the beach together, waking up early to watch the sunrise together and going on dates, etc.

I truly believe my husband and I were meant to meet when we did and that everything happens for a reason. I believe it’s no coincidence he shares the same birth date as my dad and that we met on the anniversary of his grand mother’s (whose name was my absolute favorite at the time) death.

When we met, there was a feeling, a spark of some sort. It’s hard to put into words just how it felt. But I knew something was different. And so did he — I mean he did reschedule his flight three times.

It’s almost as if we just knew that we were it. But life has a way of happening and such, so there were doubts, as well, especially from all others who thought we were crazy to have met in Vegas. After all, I’m sure you know that famous Vegas tagline…

Still, we made it work. There were flowers, packages, presents, sad “see you laters” and serendipitous “hellos.” Our long distance days were really tough but they were also magical. I truly felt like I was living my favorite love story. Those days most definitely set a strong foundation for our marriage.

Despite my homeless romanticism and love for my husband, I do not believe in soul mates. I don’t think I ever have. Here’s why:

The idea of soul mates is too perfect given the complexities of human beings.

As articulated in a recent TIME article,

[T]he term ‘soulmate’ can be dangerous. It can connote perfectionism — and perfection in relationships is essentially unattainable. ‘If you believe in soulmates, then you are less likely to work through [problems] because this person was supposed to be perfect and everything was supposed to be easy,’ [psychology professor Gary W. Lewandowski Jr.] says. But being able to confront conflict as a couple is imperative to growing a healthy relationship, he added.

Relationships take work… lots and lots of work. There are disagreements, arguments, varying opinions and so on. Each partner is uniquely their own person and neither one is perfect. To me, if soul mates existed, none of this would be true. Instead, relationships would be perfect.

While I don’t believe in soul mates, however, I do believe in fate and being the loves of each other’s lives. I believe in love — true, everlasting, worth-all-the-work love. I believe in it because of what my husband and I have.

This life we’ve built, the memories we’re creating and our boys we’ve made … they are worth all the work and more.