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motiveandthemeans · 6 years

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Jughead flexed his fingers on the steering wheel of his dad’s old truck as he drove to Betty Cooper’s house to pick her up.

For their first date.

Date.

It’s not like he was nervous or anything. No. No. Not nervous. Excited, he was really excited to see Betts. It took them a solid hour to disentangle themselves from their heated make out session last night.

Terrified was probably a bit more accurate of a statement but he certainly wasn’t nervous. Having never been on an actual date before, he felt a certain amount of pressure to get it right. A woman like Betty had undoubtedly been on some spectacular first dates, according to her file she’d dated the son of a Senator for several months while getting her DNP at George Washington. Prior to that, she dated a guy in college that had went on to win a Nobel Prize.

Jughead sighed in premature defeat. How could this be both the best and the absolute worst idea of his life?

When she had come into the Whyte Wyrm last night, something in him snapped. His resolve to keep her at a distance, to prevent the inevitable heart break of their star-crossed interest (he would not call it love) crumbled the moment she’d fallen into his arms and looked up at him with those green doe-eyes. He knew how this would end; Betty would discover the Serpents dealt drugs (weed, cocaine, pills-not heroine, he had no interest in doing business with Clifford fucking Blossom), laundered money, and lifting cars or other stolen electronics...and she’d leave.

Predestination at its cruelest.

Jughead crossed the tracks into the Northside, sighing as he recalled a conversation he’d had with his dad not all that long ago.

“Do you regret it? I mean, I know you don’t regret Jellybean and I, but taking that out of the equation...if you had known exactly how your marriage with Mom would have played out, would you have changed things?”

His dad smiled behind the Plexiglas, prison had aged him. “Nah, not for a minute. Despite knowing the journey and where it leads, I’d embrace it.”

Jughead threw his car into park when he reached Betty’s quaint town home, the porch lighting up the steps to her door. There he was, two paths laid before him.

He could put his car back into gear, drive out of the Northside and never think back on Betty Cooper or he could get out of the truck and embrace their ill-fated romance.

It is a risk to love.

What if it doesn’t work out?

“Fuck it.” He grunted with a shake of his head.

Shutting off the engine, Jughead all but jumped from the truck’s cab and skipped to Betty’s door and knocked. 15 seconds later, the door opened and all his anxiety melted away at her happy smile.

Ah, but what if it does?

“Hello stranger.” She greeted.

“Hey there, Juliet.” He grinned back. “Ready to go?”

“Er-well, I’m not dressed yet. Sorry, I had the twins today and Polly, my older sister, was a bit late getting here hence the mess-”

Jughead interrupted her rant with a laugh. “Actually, what you’re wearing is perfect for what I’ve got planned.”

Betty gave him a bemused smile. “I can’t even remember the last time I wore jeans and a t-shirt on a first date.”

“Well I highly recommend it. You look hot, didn’t peg you for a Ramones girl.”

The blonde rolled her eyes, letting out a light laugh and slipping on a black jacket. “I’ll meet you outside, I’ve got to refill Huck’s water bowl real quick.”

“You have a dog?” He marveled.

“And a cat, Ebenezer, but everyone calls him Scrooge. I’d introduce you, but I think meeting the kids is a bit much on the first date, wouldn’t you agree?”

He smirked. “Sure thing, Betts. I’ll meet you in the truck.”

Two minutes later, Betty had her small cross body bag slung across her shoulder and locked the door behind her, jumping in the cab.

“1975 Chevy Cheyenne. Th350 Transmission?”

Oh God, it was too late. He was already falling in love with Elizabeth Jane Cooper.

“It was my Dad’s.”

“Nice! I’m fixing up my Pa’s old truck. Maybe I’ll show it to you one of these days.” She grinned. “So, Where are we off to tonight?”

“It’s a surprise. You’ll just have to wait and see.”

“I loath surprises.”

“I figured you would.” He taunted.

“Okay, I amend my previous statement.” Betty relented. “I hate surprises unless they result in my absolutely owning your ass in Bowling.”

“Did your mother not tell you it was impolite to gloat?” Jughead retorted good naturedly, sipping on his beer. He had to admit, the night was going well. Really well. Also he didn’t mind the view of Betty’s backside bowling offered him. They’d just finished their third round of bowling at Kings Bowling Alley’s and decided to get some surprisingly decent bowling alley food.

Betty snorted delicately, sitting close beside him and taking a sip of her own beer. “My mother is the queen of gloating, when Polly got pregnant, she just about lost her mind at all the crow she had to eat after spouting out her holier than thou dogma’s. It was even worse when the town found out my mom had gotten pregnant in high school with my brother, Chic, and gave him up for adoption.”

“How old was your sister when she had the twins?” He inquired.

“A month before her seventeenth birthday. You would think it would have been traumatizing, but they were angels. I mean we fully anticipated no sleep for the first year of their lives, surprisingly they both slept and ate on the same schedule so it really didn’t cause too much of a fuss.” She glittered talking about her niece and nephew. “Of course it didn’t hurt that their father is Jason Blossom and you know, loaded. So there were no shortages of Nannies.”

Jughead choked on his beer. “Your sister’s baby daddy is a Blossom?”

Betty nodded, popping a french fry in her mouth. “Yeah, they eloped when she was three months along. I’m surprised you don’t know, feels like everyone knows about the ‘scandalously patched up marriage of the Cooper girl and the Blossom boy.’”

“You don’t like him?” Jug asked.

“No, it’s not that. I actually really like Jason. He was a douche before he and Polly got together, but once he found out about she was pregnant, it was like nothing else mattered. Frankly, you couldn’t ask for a better guy for your big sister.”

“Are you and your brother close?”

Betty nodded with a smile. “Chic’s the best. He’s an architect in Boston, I see him and his family three or four times a year. Polly and Jason are adamant about the twins spending as much time as possible with their cousins.”

“Sounds like one big happy family.” He chuckled.

Betty rolled her eyes knowingly. “Anyway, what about you? Any siblings?”

“One, I have a little sister, Jellybean.”

“Jellybean?” Betty exclaimed amused. “Dare I ask how she garnered such a colorful nickname?”

“It was her first word.” Jughead couldn’t suppress the smile that played his lips talking about his sister. ‘But she prefers to be called JB.”

“Understood.” Betty replied with mock seriousness, earning a bigger smile from Jughead. “How old is she?”

“Same age as you, 26. She’s a graphic designer for this big firm in San Francisco. I go out and see her every couple of months and she usually comes home for Thanksgiving or Christmas.”

“Is she married?”

Jughead scoffed. “No, but she’s been dating the same guy since her Freshman year of college. He’s an accountant.”

“Sounds like an odd match.”

“Well, you know what they say.” He smirked. “Opposites attract.”

He got the feeling that she wanted to ask about his parents, but she never did. Almost as if she silently understood he would talk about that when he was ready.

Betty matched his smirk. “Ready for me to kick your ass in the arcade?”

“Pride cometh before the fall, Betts.” He countered. “Also, I’m the air hockey master.”

“Psssh, anyone can knock a plastic disk around. The real test of skill is Skee-ball.”

“Let me guess, you’re the reigning champion of your college town?”

“You know it.” She winked.

He wasn’t exactly sure how it had happened, but Betty Cooper was straddling his lap in the cab of his truck and they were kissing with reckless abandon outside her house.

At some point after Jughead won air hockey and had Betty obliterated him at skee-ball, their flirtatious banter lead to hands being laced and a hot spark was ignited between the two. They’d somehow gotten their shoes back from the bowling alley, made it to the truck and drive back home to her house without jumping each others bones.

After he threw the truck in park, it was a coin toss as to who had started kissing whom first.

Betty was nibbling on his lip and his hands found their way to her hips, grinding her against him. Her breathless sigh as he trailed hot open mouth kisses down her neck spurred him on. She let out a delicate gasp of delight as he shifted them so that she was on her back, Jughead settled between her legs and kissing her deeply.

“Mmmmm...Jug.” She whimpered as he’d ran his hand over the flesh of her flat abdomen, his other hand fisted in her loose blonde curls. A shiver ran down his spine at the sound of his name leaving her lips.

“Christ, you’re beautiful, Betts.” He ground out, feeling her fingers rake through his hair. His dark blue eyes locked with her hazy jade green one’s.

“So are you.” She smiled, her thumb brushing his cheek.

“Your hands are cold.” He grinned.

Betty laughed pressing a soft kiss to his lips. “Yours, by comparison, are very warm.”

“Could just be because I’m groping your ass, which by the way, very nice.”

“Glad to have your stamp of approval.” She grinned wider, smacking him playfully on the arm. “Maybe it’s because you’re just a good person? Aren’t all the best people the warmest?”

“Surely not, by that logic you could pass for the White Witch of Narnia.”

“C.S. Lewis? My, my, you’re full of surprises, Jughead Jones.” She brushed a curl from his forehead. “I’m more of a Tolkien reader myself.”

“Me too, but I used to read the Chronicles of Narnia to JB when she was little.”

“You love her a lot, don’t you?” Her eyes shone with warmth and admiration and for a second, The King of the Serpents truly believed he was good.

“She’s the only family I have left.” He said, nuzzling her neck, lightly nipping at the skin.

Betty hummed in understanding, running a had gently across his side beneath his black leather jacket. They stayed like that for a long while, kissing lazily and memorizing the shape of each other, talking about their favorite music, books, and exchanging a few funny stories about their childhood’s and Betty’s travels.

“I feel like I’m in high school again.” He chided. “Making out with a cheerleader in my Dad’s truck.”

“Would it surprise you to learn that I was, in fact, a River Vixen?”

Jughead groaned. “Please tell me you still have the uniform?”

Betty gave him a saucy smile. “Sadly, no. I also wasn’t a cheerleader in College. I ran track and swam.”

“Oh, so there’s still hope of seeing you in short shorts?”

“In November? I think not.” She countered. “But there’s always the chance of yoga pants...”

“You’re killing me, smalls.”

He noticed Betty glanced at the time on the truck console. “Yikes, it’s 2am, I have to be at work in five hours.”

“I didn’t think you normally worked the day shift?”

“I don’t, but one of the charge nurses is having a baby as we speak so they asked if I could fill in on the day shift for the next nine weeks.” She said. “It’s not too bad, honestly, it’s just not nearly as exciting.”

“Adrenaline junkie?” He mused.

“If the shoe fits.” Betty smarted back. “Walk me to my door?”

Jughead nodded, placing one last kiss on her petal pink lips before removing himself off top of her and getting out of the truck, opening the door on her side for her. Betty smiled shyly, lacing their hands together for the short walk to her house. Unlocking the door, she turned around and laid and kissed him again, allowing Jughead to deepen it, cupping her face in one hand and using the other to wrap around her waist. Betty responded in kind, running her hands up his chest, fingers toying with the curls at the nape of his neck. Once they were once more out of breath, they parted.

“Thank you for tonight, Jughead. I had a lot of fun.”

“I did too.” He murmured. “Have a good day at work...today.”

She bit back a huge grin and nodded, kissing on the corner of his mouth one last time before going in the house and closing the door behind her.

Jughead had to fight the overwhelming urge to pull a Judd Nelson on the walk back to his truck.

#bughead #jughead jones #riverdale #Jug is serpent leader #betty x jughead #betty cooper #Betty is a nurse #AU

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floatingbouyx · 7 years

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All of them! These are so intriguing

I thought so myself! Okay here we go.. 1. What is your favorite author and favorite character that the author created? I have too many.2. What country do you live in?United States 3. Are you afraid of snakes?I do not like snakes, I scream like a little girl when I see them. 4. Michelangelo or Salvador Dali?Dali! 5. Have you ever eaten New York cheesecake?I don’t like cheesecake 6. Under what circumstances would you not admit to somebody that you miss them?If they weren’t showing me that they respected me, or loved me. 7. Zombies or vampires?Zombies. Resident Evil is my favorite 8. Have you ever played truth or dare?As a kid, yes. 9. Favorite season of the year?Summer…. or Fall 10. Would you prefer a sleepover at a friends house or camping out in the wild?Camping ⛺️ 11. Would you prefer a flyby of Jupiter or actually landing on the moon?Land on the moon. What an incredible experience! (I would be terrified to be in a rocket, haha)12. If you become rich how philanthropic will you be?Very, I would help organizations as much as I was able. 13. Worst meal you ever ate?I tried seafood once, no Bueno! 14. If you were not born the race and color that you are now, given the opportunity in the womb, what race would you choose? Race does not matter to me. I would not wish to be something specific, I am who I am regardless of my outer looks. 15. Last website you visited that was not Tumblr?My Pinterest 16. Pizza Hut, Domino’s, or Papa John’s?Dominos if I had to pick one of those three 17. Bach, Beethoven, or Brahms?Beethoven 18. Have you ever eaten Baked Alaska?Nope! 19. Metropolis or Gotham?Gotham 20. What’s your favorite sport and athlete from that sport?Football-Eli manning. I also love volleyball and basketball. 21. Under what circumstances would you be willing to go commando?I go commando as much as possible! 22. Least favorite thing about the opposite sex?Bad sense of time. 23. Worst meal you ever cooked?I cannot recall making a bad meal. I’m not a top chef or anything but I’m sure I’ll make something awful in the future. 24. On a scale from 1 to 100 what level of self-esteem have you reached?Probably about a 60. Depending on the day. We all have our demons. 25. Have you ever eaten a Philly cheese steak?Yes! For my birthday Christopher took me to Philly. 26. Would you rather is at the Museum of Modern Art or the Louvre?Lourve, France! 27. Favorite superhero, sidekick and super villain? Batman! The Joker. No favorite side kick 28. Have you ever eaten Buffalo Wings?One of my favorite foods. I need more girlfriends who like to go on chicken wing dates! 29. Robin Thicke’s, Blurred Lines or Marvin Gaye’s, Got To Give It Up?Indifferent 30. Which do you prefer, Christmas dinner or Thanksgiving dinner?Christmas dinner, I generally cook for my whole family single handedly. 31. What age did you learn how to drive?15, My brother learned at a much earlier age but by the time it was my time, my father had passed away. 32. Have you ever eaten a Boston cream pie?Nope, I’m not a huge dessert fan. 33. Happy every French toast, French onion soup and French fries all in the same day?I’m fat and love all of those foods and would love them all in one day, haha. This question confused me because of the grammar. 34. Who is your favorite singer and favorite song from him/her? I have too many. 35. Would you prefer to die before your spouse or after?Before, don’t ever go before me. I’ve had enough loss. 36. Are you sexually active or celibate? Active AF37. Fictional destination you would visit? Swallow falls, cloudy with a chance of meatballs. 38. Your ideal pet?A husky, a piggy and a baby goat. And a lab. 39. Do you have a birthmark? Where? Between my toes on my right foot and on the back of my left leg. 40. Do you like getting your photo taken?Sometimes! 41. Have you ever eaten Texas toast?Yes! 42. What do you do most often when you are bored?Tumblr, watch a movie, go for a walk to my park. 43. What is your favorite TV show and character from that show? Arrow- felicity smoak 44. Everyone believes that honesty and a sense of humor are important in a mate. What else is a make or break quality in a husband or wife? Kindness and support 45. Favorite font? I don’t have one, I’m a grad student. I guess I use Times and Calibra a lot. 46. What is your favorite color to wear?Black always 47. What color do family and friends say goes great with your complexion? Blue or green because it brings out my eyes. 48. Do you know any victims of sexual molestation or rape? Yes, one of my closest friends. 49. Preference to taking a shower or taking a bath? Baths for days 50. You are tied to a chair and force to watch TV and only have the choice of these networks. PBS, AMC or BBC? AMC probably 51. Do you prefer New England or Manhattan clam chowder? I do not like seafood. 52. Evolution or Creation?Evolution53. What is an event you would have liked to have witnessed in the last 3000 years?I can’t pick just one. History is interesting 54. What is your idea of the perfect pizza?All the pepperoni, cheese, oil and garlic. 55. Would you rather sleep naked on a cold winter night under a lot of blankets or naked on a hot summer night uncovered with just a light breeze? Naked under lots of blankets 56. What is your favorite foreign word and what does it mean? I don’t have one57. Who is the person you like least in this world? Donald trump. 58. Blues Clues: Steve or Joe?Neither lol 59. Favorite Chinese food?Sweet and sour. Also fried rice with egg is life 60. You must attend dinner with the person you mentioned in question 57. You must be cordial and on your best behavior. What will the conversation consist of? Women’s rights 62. First word you think of when you read… Magician? Bunny 63. Have you ever eaten Key Lime pie?I don’t like key lime pie. Yes I have 64. What did you suffer from the last time you were sick? Sinus infection 65. Do you believe Michael Jackson or Elvis Presley are still alive? No I do not. 66. Are you willing to admit that you pick your nose? Heck yeah. I have 67. Do you hug your pillow while falling asleep? I hug my boyfriend. I have this spot on his back that I love to curl up into. 68. Have you ever seen someone for the first time and thought about kissing them? No, I haven’t. 69. Safari, Chrome, Internet Explorer (Edge) or Firefox? No preference! 70. Favorite cartoon character? Sponge bob 71. Are you willing to admit that you pee while taking a shower? I don’t usually do that lol 72. Do you dream in color or black and white. Color I think 73. Spaghetti or lasagna? Spaghetti, I don’t like lasagna. 74. Do you remember your dreams when you wake up? Sometimes 75. Do you believe in interracial marriage? Yes of course. 76. Which is more acceptable to you? Younger man and an older woman or a older man and younger woman? I do not judge. 77. Have you ever eaten Peking Duck? No, that sounds gross 78. What size mattress do you sleep on? Double 79. What is the last movie you saw in the theater? Guardians of the Galaxy 80. Do you have any bookmarks in your browser that you would be embarrassed by if your friends or family saw them? No I do not81. Does popcorn get stuck in your teeth? Yes it does. 82. Is your best friend also your oldest friend? Depends 83. Where do I you get your news from? Newspaper, television or online? Tv 84. Have you ever Googled yourself? If so, what did you find? Certain websites of mine. 85. What is your dream job? Marine biologist. 86. Which of Grimm’s Fairy Tales is most like your life? I don’t know what that is to be honest. 87. Have you ever eaten chicken Marsala? Yes I work in an Italian restaurant and my boyfriends family is very Italian. 88. Are you prejudice against Golden Oreos? No 89. What is your favorite Christmas movie? Rudolph 90. Can you talk openly and honestly with both your parents? I only have one living parent. Yes I can be, she knows every aspect of my life. Nothing to hide 91. What is your favorite movie genre and your least favorite? Action, I don’t really have a least favorite. 92. Have you pictured your dream house? If so, describe it. Big front porch with a rocking bench. Big back yard with an In ground pool. A beautiful kitchen with an island. A loft bedroom. Beautiful trees in the backyard. 93. What email service do you use? School edu ones 94. When you wipe yourself do you believe toilet paper really cleans a person well enough? Yes. I mean, for the time being until a shower lol95. List the last five blogs that visited your blog. I don’t know? 96. What is hot favorite fruit? I like hot apple sauce? But if you’re just talking about my favorite fruit I would say watermelon. 97. What is an awesome skill or talent you have that most people don’t know about? Kick ass at beer pong. 98. Do you have any allergies? Seasonal/ and I’m allergic to scented laundry detergent. 99. What is the oldest movie you have ever seen? Old history documentaries. 100. What is your favorite non food, non perfume smell? Gasoline. 101. If you could learn martial arts, which would you learn? All of them! 102. Favorite Shakespeare play? Don’t have one 103. If you could write a fantasy book about a brother and sister, what would your plot be? I don’t think I’d be a very good book writer. 104. What are your favorite toppings on the perfect hamburger? Onions, bacon, ketchup 105. What is the family board game that you like the most? Monopoly 106. Would you prefer to captain an airplane or a ship? Ship, you know me :) 107. You are an astronaut and crash land on a before unknown planetary body. Is it inhabited solely by females, males or animals? Animals. 108. What is the scariest movie you have seen? VHS 109. What movie’s trailer was so scary that you knew you would never want to see it? None I love scary movies 110. Do you prefer the Marvel universe, the DC universe or both equally? Love marvel 111. Give an oral report in the nude or give one and the audience is nude? Audience is nude. That would make me laugh and not be nervous 112. You are a scientist. Would you prefer to study the depths of the oceans or outer space? Oceans, they fascinate me 113. Name five celebrities you would like to have visit your blog daily? Jana Kramer, Emily Rickards, Brandon Urie, Ellie goulding, and Meryl Streep 114. Apple pie or sweet potato pie? Apple pie is my favorite. My mom makes a very good one and she taught me her recipe 115. Would you prefer a penthouse apartment in the city or a house with the white picket fence in the suburbs? House please! 116. Would you prefer a lobster dinner or filet mignon? Filet! 117. If you could do something special for your family what would it be? Take away financial burdens. 118. What is the easiest way for a person of the opposite sex to be attractive in your eyes? Show your true colors and let me see how much you care. Also humor is amazing 119. Do you consider yourself fluent in sarcasm? Yes 120. What is your favorite summertime drink? Sangria or summer brews 121. Do you consider yourself addicted to blogging? Yeah. I love my blog. I created it years ago to blog about nautical stuff haha 122. If you were someone else for an entire day, would you be your own friend or would you to try to distance yourself? Someone I know. Interesting to see others views. 123. Are you named after anyone? My father. 124. Are you a morning person or do you consider yourself a night owl? Night owl. But I’m always tired these days so it’s a struggle lol 125. Are you a collector of anything? All things nautical and coffee mugs126. What is your favorite TV theme song? Don’t have one 127. If you knew you were going to die tonight what would you choose as your final meal? Corn on the cob, filet and salt potatoes. A midnight snack of pizza rolls. 128. What is the one song that always makes you smile and sing when you hear it? You should be here by Cole Swindell129. Do you think taking a bath in Jell-O would be fun? No thank you 130. When is the last time you sent a correspondence to someone using snail mail (Post Office)? I returned a book to Chegg the other day. 131. If you were an anime character, what color hair would you have? Purple hair 132. What is the first thing you notice about someone you just met? Hmmm, eyes 133. What is something funny you heard recently? Christopher had a really funny joke the other day. 134. Do you prefer Doctor Who or Doctor Zhivago? Neither! 135. Do you have a middle name? Yes it’s Nicole. 136. What condiments do you use to eat a hotdog? Ketchup and mustard. 137. Was this too long? Yes. It barely fit in the Tumblr post.

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hereslookingatyoukid · 7 years

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End of the Year Survey - 2016

1. What did you do in 2016 that you’d never done before?

Started my first real grown-up job, got engaged to a wonderful human, brought home the cutest corgi baby in all the world, moved into a townhouse, cut down our own christmas tree, and turned twenty-six! Whew! Big year!

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

Last year, I resolved to: Be kinder and less judgmental towards those I love (definite A for effort). Drink more water (lol) (still workin’ on this one). Write in my One Sentence Journal every night (oops, can’t find it). Dance in my kitchen (A+). Make friends with people I connect with (still searching!). Find a great job and grow confident in my work (first part, yes! second part, in progress). Feel good about how I look more and more of the time, be unafraid to be in photos, and spend less time thinking about it (forever resolution maybe?).

Of course I’m making more for next year--I can’t resist! I hope to:

+Spend more time outside +Have an unbelievably happy wedding to the love of my life and start a strong, joyful marriage +Work on saving and budgeting for the future +Snuggle my dog and loved ones more often +Feel less overwhelmed with adulthood, specifically the whole full-time job situation +Work toward a place of peace with my self-image

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? 

Weirdly not that I can think of?

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Universe.

5. What countries did you visit?

I stayed home.

6. What would you like to have in 2017 that you lacked in 2016?

Oh gosh, but I’ve got so much! I suppose I’d like to have more comfort in my work environment, more strength and courage, and a (super great!) wedding.

7. What dates from 2016 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

February 22: the first day of my job as legal counsel at Mercy.

April 16: the day Luke and I went for a hike at Squire point and came home ENGAGED! Magical!

May 15: my birthday and a day visiting Sutliff Cider Company--our future wedding venue--with both of our parents.

June 18: the day we brought our love, Sebastian, home!

October 31: halloween evening spent drinking cocktails on our tiny porch and handing out candy together.

November 8: the election with its heartbreaking results.

December 24: christmas eve at the O’Brien’s with my parents celebrating with snacks, drinks, and a heated/hilarious game of Trivial Pursuit.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Definitely getting hired as in-house legal counsel and succeeding (I hope!) in that role throughout the year. I was up against 30+ other people and had no real work experience, but I was chosen and I’ve learned a grown a ton in my job so far. I’m still working on gaining confidence and comfort in my work, but it’s been a great achievement.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Becoming overwhelmed with the giant lifestyle change that is working a full-time job and feeling like I’m barely keeping my head above water sometimes.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Not really, aside from a few colds and un-fun headaches. It’s been a healthy year!

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Our kitchen table and its teal blue chairs. They make our house a home and I adore looking at them.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Luke, my sweet boy. Momma, Dad, and Jake, my #1s. Hillary Clinton. Seth Meyers.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Donald Trump, et al.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Purchasing a puppy. Rent. Amazon/Target. (ugh)

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Getting a job!!

Being engaged!!!

Bringing home Bash!!!!

16. What songs will always remind you of 2016?

“Raise Hell”- Dorothy; “Closer” - The Chainsmokers; “Want” - Birdtalker

17. Did you make any new friendships?

I’ve gotten to know my coworkers, but otherwise it’s an emotional work in progress!

18. Did you go on vacation?

Yes! In July we took a vacation to Bemidji, Minnesota for Luke’s dad’s family reunion. We drove for 8 hours and stayed in a tiny, un-air conditioned cabin with Luke’s parents, sister and her husband, and the 4 year old twins. We fished, grilled, cuddled in the world’s most uncomfortable bed, drank unsweetened coffee, went to the family reunion, and I got to hang with my future in-laws in my pajamas. The weather was a bit rough and stormy and the drive was long, but I’ll always remember that trip fondly.

19. What do you wish you had done (more and less) of?

More optimism and exercise. Less negativity and distraction.

20. How did you spend the holidays?

Luke and I spent Thanksgiving at my parent’s home with my mom’s family. Jake and Susie were home too! And Sarah came with her brood of children! I brought cinnamon butter, green bean casserole, and oreo-cookie dough-brownies. It was actually a nice and peaceful day! We ended it playing board games and it was a blast. Then, on Friday, we did Thanksgiving at the O’Brien’s. I made corn casserole. It was filled with yummy food, a walk in the woods, and playing a game of “pie face” with the twins.

Jake came home for a few days before Christmas and it was super fun to spend time with him, but it was a bit sad to not have him home for Christmas. I’m not good with change.

For Christmas Eve we went to my grandparents for their celebration and it was much more comfortable than last year. That evening we went to the O’Brien’s with Nick and Yoriko and my parents to celebrate--very fun. Luke and I came home to snuggle our dog and exchange gifts. On Christmas morning, we went to my parents to open gifts and have brunch. It was lovely! My parents got me so many lovely things (a new laptop from where I type this!!) and we watched too many of my baby videos. We lounged around and finished the day with mom and I making homemade chicken lo mein.

21. What new food did you discover?

Home Chef subscription has brought so many! The best was probably Korean pork medallions. Like, I can cook pork! Who knew?

22. What was your favorite TV program?

Wentworth, Gilmore Girls (so late to that party), and Stranger Things!

23. What was one of your favorite experiences of the year?

I have to say the day Luke and I got engaged. It was the first truly warm day of the year and we decided to go hiking at Squire Point. Even though it was our first time there, we walked right to this gorgeous lookout point over the lake, its cliffs, and a beach. I was yammering on about “Lost” and Luke was behind me on one knee, waiting for me to stop talking so he could say “will you marry me?” So surreal. I said yes (of course) and we carved our initials into a tree next to us. The rest of the day included fishing, getting a flat tire, and surprising my parents with the news. I’m still giddy at the thought.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t also mention the day we picked Sebastian up! We drove up to the farm and the breeder greeted us with him in her arms. I immediately scooped him up and he was just so calm and so sweet and so tiny. He just hung out in my arms and chewed my hair a little. He fell asleep in my lap on the way home. I was already head over heels. I just love that little dog so much.

24. What was the best book you read?

I’m thinking What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty. I also really loved Lena Dunham’s Not That Kind of Girl.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Kaleo. Yaaaaas.

26. What did you want and get?

A great job, a wonderful fiance, a puppy. Living the goddamn dream.

27. What did you want and not get?

I got everything I wanted and I’m not even exaggerating.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

Is it so terrible if I say “Finding Dory”?!! It was adorable and I cried.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 26 this year. It was a Sunday. Luke gave me beautiful dangly earrings in the morning. Then we met our families at Sutliff Cider Company to tour as a potential wedding venue and taste some delish cider. We loved it--the orchard, the barn, the pavilion. We all went to my parents for dinner. It was a really nice birthday!

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

A constantly clean house and a personal chef.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2016?

Knit blazers. Cropped pants. Colorful necklaces and statement earrings. Cardigans and collars. Flowing floral tops. Ankle boots. Olive green.

32. What kept you sane?

Luke. Sebastian. My family. The occasional perfect coffee. Online grocery shopping. Reddit.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Seth Meyers. John Krasinksi (per usual). Cecile Richards.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

The election. What a dumpster fire.

35. Who did you miss?

My brother. Seeing law school friends.

36. Who was the best new person you met?

The best person I met wasn’t a person at all... Our handsome corgi man, Bash.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2016.

Still learning this so hard...

“If you obsess over whether you are making the right decision, you are basically assuming that the universe will reward you for one thing and punish you for another. The universe has no fixed agenda. Once you make any decision, it works around that decision. There is no right or wrong, only a series of possibilities that shift with each thought, feeling, and action that you experience.— Deepak Chopra

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

"So, you’re invited to all my future plans, not that I’m planning much, but I’ve planned enough to know I hold your hand.”— Alana Henderson - Anyone Who’s Not You

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