I'm joining a great group of ladies to share our unique love stories for Valentine's Day.
Hey friends! Today I have a bit of a different posts to share with you!
7 talented ladies and I are taking a stroll down memory lane and sharing our marriage love stories.
I'm also sharing a fun stay-at-home date night "recipe", plus information on an awesome giveaway so be sure to read until the end!
If you're coming from Decorating Cents, welcome! I'm so glad you're here.

One of the best parts to me of being a teenager in the '90s is the amazing music that era had to offer.
Especially R&B music that was almost always about love.
I truly believed when I was a teenager I would know the moment I meet the "one" LOL.
Needless to say when I met Delandis {'D' for short} it didn't exactly happen the way I heard it in the love songs.
I had no idea he was the "one" {although he totally turned out to be exactly that}.
The Story Of Us
D and I met back in January 2003 when we both worked in a corporate office in Philadephia.
He was the new hire that I was pretending not to notice. At the time I was in the "I'm focusing on myself" phase of my 20's so I was not really looking to date anyone let alone a co-worker.
However, D and I started hanging out a lot as part of a larger group of friendly co-workers. And over time our friendship grew, but we were still mostly just work friends
What happens next is the event that changed the course of our relationship. One weekend my car broke down on my way to New York to hang out with some friends.
Having exhausted everyone on my list that could help me in a timely manner. I called D sheepishly asking for his help.
He didn't even hesitate and came right away.
Long story short we ended up hanging out the rest of the day. Completely losing track of time talking and laughing. It was really one of the best conversations I've ever had up to that point!
He ultimately asked me out on a real date the following weekend and from that point on we were pretty much inseparable.
The thing to this day that I
If I wanted to wear a funky t-shirt, a scarf, and sneakers to date he would look me with the same look in his eyes as if I was made up and dressed to the nines.
Around a year and a half into our relationship D got a promotion that required a move to Michigan. This was a defining moment for us because we both agreed a long distance relationship wasn't for us.
So it was either move with him or break up.
D asked me to move with him and well I took a leap of faith and said yes. It's still one of the best decisions I've ever made.
However, I made it very clear I wasn't going to displace my whole life to be someone's girlfriend forever. He got the message loud and clear.
We moved to Michigan June of 2005, he proposed in July of 2005 and we got married in September 2005.
Then in November 2005, we went to Hawaii and had a small beach ceremony in addition to our honeymoon. And as the saying goes the rest is history.
Pretty much anyone who knows us wasn't the least bit surprised we didn't have a big ole wedding {although I can't lie I do love a beautiful wedding}.
We instead purchased our first home that year in Michigan {one of the 8 states we've lived in during our marriage}.
In 2007 our son Jaden was born in Baltimore and in 2009 our daughter Kayla was born in Minnesota. They are truly the two best things that happened to us.
Fast forward we've been married for close to 14 years and our marriage has certainly been tested in that time.
We've lived in 8 different states together {due to D's careeer}. And trust me, moving can definitely test you marriage LOL, so doing it 8 times
We've purchased and sold 3 homes. Went through 2 layoffs, 2 high-risk pregnancies, a preemie, chronic medical issues and more.
We often joke we should write a book because boy do we have some stories. If nothing else, our marriage has never been boring.
Despite all of these things though we have always been fortunate enough to learn from {most} of our mistakes and grow together. And I couldn't imagine doing life with anyone else.
What I've Learned...
Looking back I realize one of the things that helped strengthen our relationship, especially early on in our marriage is that it was always just us.
We moved so much and rarely ever lived within driving distance of family and close friends. So if we had a disagreement or something like that, we had no choice but to turn to each other and work it out.
And while I'm not usually in the habit of giving people relationship advice. If I get asked I always share these two things, that has had a very positive effect on our relationship.
1- Find a thing you love to do together {we nerd out hard over here with comic book movies and shows, anime, and the like}.
2- Only share your marriage woes with a trusted few. I've seen first hand how bad it can be for couples when a lot of people have a say in their relationship even when everyone
Let's Stay In - Date Night At Home
D and I have never been social butterflies. We are both introverts and bonafide homebodies.
Not to mention with moving so much we often had no babysitters for long period of times, forcing us to get creative with making time for each other.
We joke that even in our 20’s we were old and washed hehe. Now that we are almost 40, we’re old pros when it comes to Netflix and chill 😄.
Now having a date night at home doesn’t mean it can’t be both romantic and fun.
One of my favorite at home date ideas is putting together a yummy cheese board that we can graze on while watching a movie or a favorite show after the kids have gone to bed.
Add wine and some romantic lighting and viola you have the perfect romantic date night at home.
Cheese Board Basics
Plus, the cheese board is
2 - 3 types of cheese - I got Brie, smoked cheddar with chives, and Dubliner cheese {it’s similar to cheddar}.
Veggies - baby carrots, peppers, olives
Dips - hummus and apple jam to go with the Brie
Meats - turkey pepperoni, spicy salami, sliced turkey rolls
Fruit - grapes and strawberry
Nuts - We had some honey roasted cashews but you can obviously get any type you like.
Breads - Mini Italian breadsticks, pita chips, and crackers
Something sweet - We had dark chocolate covered almonds and a few pieces of Valentine chocolate.
Arrange everything on a large cutting board or tray and that's pretty much it.
Alright, friends, I hope you enjoyed this little trip down memory lane as much as I did.
Now be sure to head on over to Delightfully Styled
Also, check out the other ladies on the hop, reading these delightful love stories will just warm your heart!
Erin @ Live Pretty On A Penny
Carli @ FW Made By Carli
Mimi @ Unlikely Martha
Andrea @ Decorating Cents
Aria @ Delightfully Styled
Nicole @ She Does A Bunch
Nicole @ Home On Poplar Creek
Now for the giveaway!
We're giving away a $100 gift card to Ruth Chris Steakhouse! The perfect date night spot for when you don't want to Netflix and chill
Head over to my Instagram page for the all the info on how to enter. You have until the February 7th!
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Mary says
Linda your love story is so sweet. Isn't it funny how you never know when love will come your way. It was nice that you two were friends first. Now you have weathered a lot but you have a beautiful family to be proud of. And moving around a lot has its plus side too, you get to decorate all those houses! I have to admit that cheese board has got me hungry at 8 am in the morning!
Erin says
I love your story Linda. Love truly does stand the test of time. You guys are a beautiful couple and have made some beautiful babies! 8 different states! Wow! I cant imagine packing that many times, lol.
Arie says
I am bowing down to you, and this guy right here! You guys actually remind me of my guy and me. You got me with the crunchy curls,LOL!! Look how you got two beautiful kids out of the deal, amen!!
Nicole says
I’m so in love with your story and how you took a leap of faith for your relationship. I never realized how much we have in common with being away from family and just having to make thes best of where you are. Thank you so much for sharing! You’ve inspired and encouraged me a ton! AND I can’t wait to try putting together a cheese board!
carli says
Linda girl! Good thing your car broke down that day, I swear I truly believe everything happens for a reason! I couldn't agree more with your advice-especially #2. What a beautiful life you've created together <3
Linda P. says
Thank you so much Carli! 😘 Looking back on it's the only time I was happy my little hooptie broke down LOL and I totally agree everything happens for a reason!
Nam Kaur says
I love your story and seeing your evolution as a couple....Happy Valentines in advance ...
Linda P. says
Thank you so much Nam! And a very happy Valentine's Day to you also ❤️
Jamala says
What a whirlwind but oh so joyful!! ..i'm a softee at love (it's the libra in me..) and believe in the power of love.. you stepped out on faith and didn't look back.. that has proved to be the best for you and hubby. Congrats and kudos for keeping it strong!! May god continue to bless your marriage..
Linda P. says
Jamala, as always thank you, friend, for the sweet comment. And yes definitely a whirlwind, looking back as an older person I realize that leap of faith only happen because I was young and optimistic, not sure as an adult I could make the same move but I'm so glad I did all those years ago.
Susie | Chelsea Project says
So lovely to see you and your beautiful family. Great post. Happy Valentine's Day.
Linda P. says
Hi Susie! Awww thank you so much, hun. I hope you enjoy your Valentine's Day too! 😘
Sally says
You are such a cute couple and family! Thanks for the great ideas on your blog, I enjoy reading it .
Linda P. says
Thank you so much Sally! It makes my day to know you enjoy the blog 😊
Andrea says
Yes! Keep people out of your marriage. I know family and friends want to know and mean well but that doesn’t mean they will give good advice. I agree on turning to each other because in the end, it’s just you two in your marriage.
Linda P. says
Andrea, yeah I've seen first hand how that can throw doubt into marriage and we all know marriage is hard enough without the unnecessary drama.