First of all, Hi friends! If you are local to me you are not alone. This is happening to you, me and our neighbors. What can we control? Our joy. We can choose to let this order steal all of our joy or we can choose to create joy with the circumstance we are faced with - Coronavirus. Personally, as a friend, mama and wife, I feel like I will look back on this season of life being proud that I woke up every day chasing joy even when I didn't feel like it. In today's post you are going to learn about some of the ways I chase joy during a stay at home order. My hope is someone out there gains inspiration to change the gut bomb feeling that the words, 'Stay at home order' bring into a more uplifting feeling that 'The season of chasing joy' can bring. Before you carry on with this article please take a deep breath in, slowly exhale and say out loud, "I can do hard things. Every little thing is gonna be alright."

Now more than ever people are spending more time at home. What better time than now to step out of your normal comfort zone and explore new cooking techniques and flavor in the kitchen! Stay tuned on my Instagram stories where I share what's happening in our kitchen quite often! Maybe you will be inspired there! Create homemade holiday crafts with supplies around your home or ones that can be shipped directly to you through Amazon prime. I will go ahead and link the natural wreath DIY and being present during the holiday season post that went live last week here. Tackle home projects that you've been wanting to do like painting, try out a peel and stick wallpaper or create new decor through restoring what you already have into something new! Simply by mixing baking soda with paint onto a recycled glass jar or wine bottle will create a textured vase that is sure to make you smile! Don't forget to turn on some good music while you reinvent something into cute. I enjoy searching for acoustic, instrumental, female country or Christian playlist while I craft. Maybe detail cleaning your home like washing that plastic shower curtain liner or stripping your linens in a bath tub soak with borax and detergent all day will make you feel accomplished. Doesn't everyone feel better at home when it's clean? Let's chase joy by creating a space that makes you feel good. Clutter is something that needs to go if you're feeling anxious. Studies show the visual site and functionality of clutter doesn't bring ease to the mind. If you need too you can take it slow by maybe throwing one thing away each day. You will feel lighter I promise. You're taking advice from someone who just downsized from a lot of stuff that filled a  2700sqft house down to our now 1000sqft tiny house. Man, it feels GOOD! You will feel complete rather than in a state of disarray after you declutter.

We all have shown interest or passion towards a certain area in our life. Rather than just knowing about it become an expert at it. For me I know some Spanish but I am no means fluid and I would like to learn the language to teach my biracial son his heritage. This is something that would make me feel proud and accomplished. I love the idea of bringing the outdoors into interior design and studying this would only make me more confident in my design choices if we ever build a home or renovate one again. I have already began studying different methods to create homemade pastas and fresh doughs for baking. The more I know the more I can create for my family which delivers a proud moment when we gather around the table. Acoustic guitar and songwriting are something that I will never master but that I can study to become better. These are all things I am passionate about and have fun doing. What will you gain more knowledge on during this season of chasing joy? 

Rest is so important and sometimes we need it to help fill our cup back up! My trigger, actually, is lack of sleep. When I get behind the exhaustion triggers me and my joy becomes compromised. Take the extra time to soak up the sweet details of your children during play time, hand embroider a stamped pattern in peace and quiet (here's one I just ordered from Amazon - a tote bag DIY), relax your muscles by taking a hot shower or bath with an aromatherapy steamer, do a home massage with something like this back and neck massager, watch romantically cheesy Hallmark holiday movies on the hallmark channel while you give yourself some at home spa treatments. I will link a hand mask and a FarmSkin face mask here for you to shop online. Another pleasant idea is planning at home date nights with your partner if applicable. Create rules for the date night where you don't discuss anything related to politics, finances or quarantine. You chase joy during that date. Create a snack platter like a charcuterie board with pickles from that old jar in your fridge, cheese, nuts, fruit and crackers. Ask each other questions about the past and stay focused around memories that resemble the good times. Perhaps you could spend 5 minutes counting your blessings together and saying a prayer giving thanks to God for your relationship. If you don't want to talk you could just make out for ten minutes and become an expert at kissing. You might even pay that $19.95 to rent the movie Yellowstone on Amazon like one of my girlfriends recently demanded we do! haha I hear the movie is full of good looking fellas so if you like that kind of thing well there ya go! Stay tuned for my Yellowstone review. :)

Friends, love yourself and others well while you chase joy this season!
Please copy and paste the URL for this article to share joy with family members and friends!
Leave a reply sharing a home activity suggestion, a favorite movie, Netflix TV show or recipe for others to enjoy or say, "Hi!" letting me know you feel inspired!

xo Chelsea

A welcome note from the author:
​Harmony is the flow of life. When what you think, what you say and what you do come together you've created perfect harmony. It's like the sweet melody of that perfect song. That sequence of single notes is musically satisfying. When the sequence of events that seasonally occur around us are a combination of wholesome feelings, we remain present. When you read this post, you will understand what I mean by this. Think of one of your favorite tunes. Next imagine that same perfect blend, not in the song but in your life, with what's happening around you in the outdoors, inside the walls of your home (including the chaos raising littles can bring) all creating the perfect seasonal vibe, that perfect harmony, right at home. My hope is that this post inspires just one other person out there. If it does well then...I've impacted someone's holiday season in a down-home way and that brings me joy. Love yourself and yours well during this time. 

Today, my hope is that you find inspiration for making a natural holiday wreath with elements found in nature. I don't know about you but something about the busyness of the holidays in years past hasn't felt right. Rushing here and there amongst others out and about rushing too just flat out drained me. January would hit and I would be like oh my gosh I am exhausted. All that work. It flew by and I am now left with department store decor to clean up and store away in totes. As I packed, I would think will I even like it all in a year from now? Seeing the ones we love near and far should be the busyness. Also, home cooking and homemade decor from the help of family members within the comfort of our surroundings should be what keeps us busy. It's this kind of busy that ends up leaving me with a wholesome feeling. A feeling of being present. You see every time I look at this beautiful homemade natural holiday wreath I think about home. The branches are from our property. The pinecones were gathered by my toddler on a pinecone hunt down the road. The old laundry basket ring we used brings me joy because it's recycled into something beautiful. The kitchen goods -oranges, cranberries and cinnamon sticks - these things bring that fresh organic vibe that reminds me of good health. An overall healthy home is what I strive for. All of these things make the wreath extra special. When stepping back and comparing this to years past where I would have a kid in a shopping cart begging for snacks or to leave while I stressfully tried to pick a wreath out. Better yet shopping on my own for a wreath amongst a rushed world and as we know this year where a masked-up pandemic is in effect. These things all impact the result of our overall holiday season fulfillment. From one wife, mama and friend, this process of decorating with the natural rhythms of the seasons with our hearts in mind is a good approach. A humble lifestyle living as a joyful millennial can exist. It's up to us to see that. Follow me on Instagram for more inspiration.

Depending where you live and what you already have around you this process will look different for everyone! If you don't have an evergreen tree don't fret. Get creative and use old sunflower or rose heads to add texture. Look for sticks, grass, straw, bush branches, berries, pinecones - whatever you find will be perfect for your home and that is what matters! You are decorating with the natural rhythm occuring around your homestead as it is this that brings the peace. I did soak my pinecones in a 50/50 water and white vinegar mixture for about 1 hour, rinsed and dried them before using them to rid of any bugs. The oranges I dried by slicing in roughly 1/4 inch thick slices, laying on parchment paper, cooking at 250 degrees for 1.5 hours flipping halfway through. Watch that they don't turn brown. You want the oranges almost all the way dried out but not quite when you take them out to cool. You can try to create a ring to mount the wreath to using sticks or you can cut an old laundry hamper top off like I did. Metal hangers work great or you can purchase a wreath ring from Amazon Prime linking a 2pack of large 19 inch ones here for you! I hope these tips are helpful! Enjoy watching my wreath come to life as you scroll the pictures below. Remember that your wreath will be beautifully different and custom to your home life. I attached everything with a stretchable string and used some thin wire to add the berries. Here's the leather cord I used to tie up the cinnamon sticks. Enjoy the process and tag me on Instagram showing your completed natural holiday decor project @DownHomeAdventure

I am in love with the finished product! Have a question or an idea to share? Leave a reply! Did you find inspiration here? Leave that note too!
Happy Holidays!
​:) Chelsea

Picture this: A young girl who was raised in the city and the country and the city and the country again due to a broken home. Yeah, like many other millennials my parents went through a divorce – it sucked. Fast forward 14 years to a woman living in a small town who had the big house, dream job and the blogger rapport with brands who sent product after product to her doorstep for promotion to the world. To now, as I sit here I am a loving wife, Mama of two boys, an English bulldog and 8 hens living in a 1000sqft home that was built in the year 1900. I am parked at our kitchen table because well if it was a dining table there would be a room for it. Haha. I am right next to the kitchen sink so we are going with ‘kitchen’ table. Sourdough starter is bubbling away in a mason jar on the counter and vanilla beans are turning vodka into extract in the pantry- I’ve never been happier!

2020 has been a different year with the Coronavirus pandemic, the BLM movement and politics in general. Not only this, it is the year I adjusted to being a mother of two and the year that the housing market showed to be one for the sellers so we jumped at the opportunity after many, many prayers. We sold that big home of ours and went tiny. When the pandemic first hit a lot of people that know us made comments on how prepared we were for a shutdown. I hadn’t realized how prepared we were and how unprepared others were before this. We had plenty of canned goods, onion bulbs and seeds for the garden because Spring was fast approaching for planting and our girls, the hens, were showing up to their nesting boxes to lay eggs daily in our backyard. When it came down to it at the end of the day it was these things, the ones that kept on giving, that held of utmost importance and added that wholesome feeling to our lives. With this in mind I can't help but see the obvious of what is important. Simply put, I think society tries to make the world a fast pace race but what we have to see is there is no finish line. When I say this I mean that trends exist, seasons come and go and with this comes a never ending cycle to buying all of the things and more things and some more things after that. My goal with this space is to share quality. Things made to last. Recipes, home tips and products that make a lasting difference; think sustainability.

Earlier in this post I mentioned that I previously had worked with several brands as a blogger. I absolutely love this kind of work and believe in how effective this marketing is when sharing products that are truly beneficial. What I didn’t realize until recently is that the way society has progressed is scary. So quickly we have seen with the progression of technology has also come the in your face ‘because everyone has a phone’ marketing (#ads) and I believe this has fed and will continue to feed lack in product production quality. As a Mama, I find myself wondering, “what is the future going to look like for my children?” As a consumer living tiny, I find myself fact checking the quality, diversity and intention of a product before I make a purchase or work with a brand.
​
It’s funny, do you ever look back on your life and not always understand why you did certain things and then a lightbulb moment hits you sometimes months or years later and you’re like, “Ok God, I get it now. You are the real MVP!” Best. feeling. ever! I know this blog post is super bullet point based and I have not elaborated a ton, this will come based on the season of life that I am in. I hope you join me! I am so excited to share that we changed the name and intention of this blog! Welcome to Down-home Adventure formally Adopt Adventure. A humble lifestyle living as a joyful millennial can exist. It’s up to us to see that. Please stick around for what’s to come here! If you’re excited, tell a friend. Thank you so much for your support. My hope is that Down-home Adventure becomes a resource for many homes. We will share our hearts and our adventures together while we learn, laugh and cry. This life is what we make it. The choice is ours not societies. 

RESOURCE: OXFORD LANGUAGES
down-home
/ˈˌdoun ˈˌhōm/
adjective
NORTH AMERICAN
adjective: downhome

1. connected with an unpretentious way of life, especially that of rural peoples or areas.
   "some good down-home cooking"

​ad·ven·ture
/adˈven(t)SHər,ədˈven(t)SHər/
Learn to pronounce
noun

1. an unusual and exciting, typically hazardous, experience or activity.
   "her recent adventures in Italy"

Hi friends! I am aware that Coronavirus is a controversial topic. This article is short and sweet about my personal thoughts on my family's preparation in case we face home quarantine. I have received several direct messages from mamas asking what in the world we are doing to prepare so here it goes!

There are articles popping up everywhere about the virus and I am not talking about that here. The controversy is much too political for my taste. I like to keep most things bright and light! However this is worth talking about on my relatable lifestyle blog. :) If you want to read more about the virus I actually suggest this article by Lissa Rankin, MD. It bought me a ton of peace. Click here to read it.

From what I gather, the idea of a home quarantine will come without much notice (if it even happens) so officials are telling us don't be afraid but be prepared by stocking up on home goods and food. I honestly didn't take this too seriously until I started seeing my neighbors preparing, my Instagram community messaging me about it asking what we are doing to stay ahead of the curve and then this morning our local chamber posted an alert. Suggesting that the homes in our community should be prepared just like when we are about to hunker down for a 10+ day winter snow storm. Like many of you, I too have heard several stories about this situation. Who knows what is true, so here's the deal...I am making sure we are prepared for a short notice home quarantine because well I am a wife and a mother to two little boys. The reason why I am doing it ahead of time is because  I don't want the shelves at the grocery to drop in stock if/when a quarantine is suddenly at large. That would be inconvenient to have to travel with two little kids to find supplies not to mention the point of a quarantine is to stay put. I'd like to limit exposure if we get to this point. Here is a list of the things we have stocked up on or that I have read would be a good idea to stock up on incase a home quarantine occurs in your area:

There you have it ladies! That is all I am doing at this point in time. If you have anything to add to this list please comment below or send me a message and I will update it! See you over on the 'gram! xo

Hi sweet friends! WOW! :) We have seen an overwhelming response to this awesome leggings deal over the past 9 months! Not familiar with how it works? When you sign up to be a VIP member with Fabletics you qualify for this amazing 2 for $24 leggings sale! People always ask me what style of leggings to go with when they are just starting out and I tell them to choose the fabulous 'Powerhold' style! This is the squat test approved, anti cellulite, suck ya in at all the right places style that got me HOOKED on this brand almost 2 years ago! True to size!

If you are already a VIP member or you already own some Fabletics athleisure check out these new styles I just received! I have been loving their 2 and 3-piece sets! Oh and if you didn't already know this brand sells awesome tote bags, backpacks, the most amazing squishy socks (another random fav) plus so much more! Check out their inventory by clicking here!

Click here to read more articles on the blog!

Click here to shop more of my favorite fashion finds!

Click here to follow me on Instagram @AdoptAdventure :)

Talk soon! XO Chelsea

Hi friends! This post is very near and dear to my heart because I get the honor of featuring someone who I met the day I was born! In just a second you will meet Christine. A fellow mom blogger who highlights all things fitness, food and family with the goal of helping other mamas live a healthy and happy life! Christine is all about community and inspiration. I am here for that! You will definitely want to follow her on instagram @healthymama.happymama so you don't miss any of her mom tips! Ooooo! She also has a killer vegan chili recipe up on her blog - it's delicious! Alright let's get back on track! Maybe you're wondering how have I known here for almost 30 years? I bet you could have guessed from the pictures I chose! She is my sister! :)

Hi ladies! ​The picky eater- every mama gets at least one. The kind of kid who’s list of approved foods is so small you could count the items on one finger. I get it mama- this stage can be tough but, luckily, I’ve seen the other end of this journey and I learned some tricks along the way. Below are 3 full proof methods that I used to add nutrients to the one item on just about every picky eaters list- the peanut butter sandwich.
 
Before we get into that, let's talk breads and spreads.
 
For bread, I chose to have something hearty and nutrient dense. If this is all our kids will eat, then it's our job to make it healthy. This will promote a strong body, a well working brain, and fuller stomach for longer. To put it bluntly, this could result in less tantrums for your little(s). For bread, I prefer Dave’s Killer Bread because it tastes amazing and has great and as a ton of whole grains. If you do nothing else, I highly encourage you to upgrade to this bread. Click here to shop the bread I recommend!
 
For peanut butter, my family (there is 5 of us) and I agree that Justin’s Peanut Butter is the best. Amazing taste aside, there is no artificial ingredients and ZERO refined sugar. BONUS! Click here to shop the peanut butter I recommend! 

​That's all for today! You got this Mama- I know you do! These tricks work and I am excited for you and your babies to get the best peanut butter sandwich experience. Did you enjoy today's post? Read more of my articles by clicking here.
xo Christine

Alright my friends, that is it for today's guest post on AdoptAdventure.com! Thank you so much for reading this and shopping Christine's product recs!! Every purchase made through one of her links supports her mission to love other mamas well! If you enjoyed today's article and have any tips or tricks that you use for your picky eaters please share them in the comments! Us mama's have to stick together! Oh and are you signed up for our intentional newsletter that goes out once a week on Fridays? You won't miss any new articles, updates, exclusive content, sales and more! It's not spammy - I promise! :)  Subscribe here! XO Chelsea

Hi friends! Thank you so much for visiting my travel blog post today! Do you want to see a life size doll house? Wait until you see this AirBNB on historic Front Street in Lynden, Washington. Before I dive into this insanely gorgeous vacation home read more about me and this website by clicking here! My social channels will be linked at the end of this along with more blog articles for your enjoyment! Alright I can't take it anymore! This affordable 5 star AirBNB it so worth your time! Let's dive right in so you can start planning your getaway!

I recently had the pleasure of reviewing another AirBNB / Vrbo vacation home located in Western Washington! Lynden, Washington on historic front street to be exact! This post is sponsored by Purple House on Front and as always my opinions are my own. Scroll through the images and see for yourself why I fell in love with this home. Complete with 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, a media room, play room for the kids, front-back-wrap around porches, heated floors, clawfoot tubs, comfortable beds, fresh linens and the list goes on. This completely remodeled victorian masterpiece has it all! The home is clean, neatly organized and it is equipped with all of your daily essentials! When it comes to AirBNB's you know I love a simple keypad entry (so easy to go inside upon arrival) and awesome property management. The Purple House with a Turret is owned and operated by one sweet family- AirBNB Superhost in my opinion! Whether you are looking for a place to stay while you tackle a work project away from home, for a romantic getaway, a sweet family retreat or a bridal party home base - welcome to your next AirBNB rental! See WHAT TO DO, WHERE TO EAT and WHAT TO DRINK below! Enjoy the pictures from my visit! :)

Shop really cute clothing boutiques, vintage shops and browse the darling Village Books bookstore located along historic Front Street.

Bring your bicycles, strollers, scooters or walking shoes! Most of this small town appears to have level ground and the canadian rockies along with the views of Mount Baker surely won't get old!

Visit two really great parks that are actually connected by a paved walking trail. The City of Lynden Park is a must see with it's massive treehouse playground that crawls along side of a creek! Take the paved trail to the park at Bender Fields where you will find more endless fun! A bolder park, swingset, ball fields plus some! If the weather doesn't permit outdoor play head to McDonald's Play Place so the kids can get their wiggles out before movie night in at the Purple House on Front street!

Catch a show by checking the event calendar for the small Claire VG Thomas Theater.

Visit the Lynden Skateway for roller and inline skating!

See what's happening down the street at The Northwest Washington Fair and Event Center!

Do you like to hunt, fish, hike or swim in the outdoors? Visit Dave's Sports Shop for seasonal information on what's in season, insights on what is working/ what's best and obtain a map on where you should go! These guys know their stuff and the shop is really close to this AirBNB!

Interested in going for an indoor/outdoor pool swim? Pay a daily use fee to use the pool at Homestead Fitness located on a beautiful golf course! You could always golf here too if that's your thing! :)

Are you willing to drive out of town? The nearest big city is Bellingham, Washington. It is located about 25 minutes away and is also filled with enjoyable activities and dining! The beaches at Bellingham Bay are a must see on a sunny day!  One of our favorite restaurants is The Loft at Latitude 49 located right at the marina ( 1801 Roeder Ave STE 120, Bellingham, WA 98225 ) ! 

Visiting the AirBNB in the winter months? Think about heading up Mount Baker highway to ski, snowboard or tube the snowy mountain! It's actually the best mountain in the state of Washington for snow sports! Come home to heated marble tile floors and take a bath in one of the clawfoot tubs at this fantastic vacation home!

Avenue Bread Cafe - Find fresh baked goods and local coffee at the Avenue Bread Cafe located right down the street! Along with their coffee they serve fresh juice and local kombucha! If you miss breakfast don't worry they serve a sandwich style lunch and burgers for dinner!

Fairway Cafe - Ask the locals and they will tell you if you can get a table at The Fairway Cafe in Fairway Center (located about one block from the AirBNB) do it! From the outside it appears as a whole in the wall restaurant. In my experience however, they serve large portions of delicious American food - Breakfast, lunch and dinner. I have to add that the fresh jam and the sweet wait staff was what we enjoyed most about this spot!

Woods Coffee - This is the Pacific Northwest Starbucks of Whatcom County. The cabin vibe, delicious pastries and superb coffee creates a cozy down home setting. All of their locations have WiFi if you'd like to get a little work done outside of the home while you are in town! This family owned company is committed to serving others in the community and they handcraft a lot of what they sell daily so it is all fresh! Also if you need a cute souvenir or gift for someone just visit one of the Woods Coffee shops! Everything inside is so cute and has a local theme! The closest Woods Coffee shop to this AirBNB is about one block away in the Fairway Center. You can walk! :)

BEER Overflow Taps - This is the only tap house around this small town. You will love drinking here knowing that every pint sold helps build wells in Africa! They carry craft beers, cider and sometimes have a small selection of wine. They just started serving soft pretzels and pizza but I suggest if you eat here plan on it being delicious just really low key! The tap house is stocked with fun card and board games along with a big screen tv so you won't miss sports games! Cheers!

WINE The Mill Bistro and Lounge - You will be wined and dined here! If you enjoy pairing delicious wine with specialty cheese this is your place! Brie cheese is on the menu a record of 5+ times - YUM! You can dress casual or be dressed up a bit when visiting this amazing old-world atmosphere location! People actually travel from out of town just to visit The Mill in Lynden. It's unique in the best way!

Thanks for reading today's article! Read more on my blog and enjoy following Adopt Adventure on Instagram by clicking here! I hope you enjoyed this informative travel blog post! Visit the Purple House on Historic Front street soon!
xo Chelsea

More on AdoptAdventure.com:

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It's no surprise today's brand feature is named Earth! Their products are carefully designed to experience life on this planet in both style and comfort! The key word here is COMFORT.  With this brand you will experience a new level of pleasure each time you slip their style on! Each new collection that comes out features a shoe style for every occasion and every taste (love this)! I am talking everything from wedding guest attire to hiking through rough terrain (waterproof) style options! I love that they offer a large variety for every one us! Afterall we all like different looks! 

Recently, I shared an unboxing on my Instagram stories of two new styles that I just received from Earth's Spring collection. The next day I woke up to several messages of people thanking me for sharing cute shoes from this brand! Many of you mentioned that you have been told about the quality and comfort that the brand Earth offers but you didn't know they sold such cute styles!

Today I am sharing my current favorites that are available for you to shop right now. You simply click on the image you love and then you will be directed to the item listed on the retailers website ( Nordstrom )! Every shoe has free delivery too so that is nice! I stand behind this brand one hundred percent! I am here to tell you that Earth brand shoes make your feet happy and everything linked here is so easy to style! Worth every penny, ladies!

FYI I was able to find my new sneakers from the Spring collection so they are linked! I have them in Lunar Rock Suede (the white and grey) and I also want them in Mouton Suede (SO CUTE)! These will sell out in certain sizes. Click here to shop the style! 

Have a question or want to say, "Hi"? Leave a reply! I hope you enjoyed today's post! Read more on the blog here.
xo Chelsea

Hi friends! I am so glad you are here today! If you are new to the blog read more about me and this space here. Today is all about trying something new! I placed my first at home optical glasses try-on order last week! I ordered through the brand Warby Parker because the process seemed so easy. They have a really user-friendly website. Check it out here. To my surprise my try-on didn't cost me anything and arrived to my home in less than one week. You basically pick out 5 frames that you would like to try on and they send them to your doorstep. You try them out for about 5 business days, pack all of the frames back up in the box, tape it up and send the box back with the return label that is already created for you. You simply stick it on the box and drop it off at the post office! If you found what you like in one of the frames from your haul then you head to their website and place your order with your prescription. With a new baby and a busy toddler in the house the convenience of this entire process has been a real treat!

My five days of trying out frames starts today! I have narrowed my frame selections down to four of them, see below. Please help me choose one! Leave a reply with number 1, 2 , 3 or 4! Thanks for your help, ladies! I hope sharing how easy this entire process has been thus far helps someone else get some cute new glasses! Where my busy mamas at? 8)

Talk soon! xo Chelsea

Hi friends! It's nice to see you again! If you are new here, Welcome! Read more about me and this space here. You can also join the Adopt Adventure community on Instagram and Pinterest! On this day eight years ago my now husband, Brently, proposed to me! Today I am sharing the story about how we met, our time dating and my favorite moment of all time - the proposal!

Do you know that song, Don't Stop Believing by Journey?​ The song starts with, "Just a small town girl livin' in a lonely world. She took the midnight train goin anywhere. Just a city boy born and raised in South Detroit. He took the midnight train goin' anywhere." This song is about keeping the faith - don't stop believing and I believe our love story is a testimony that your true love comes along when you least expect it. Don't stop believing!

Here I am this 20 year old girl living in a new small town renting a room in a house full of girls! Lover of life and all things that feel like an adventure. About a year prior to making the move to this different county all together I left my highschool sweetheart and was admittingly in a 'dating' phase of life. Not on purpose but looking back that is definitely what it was! I wasn't going to be a girlfriend to anyone that didn't seem aligned with my morals and beliefs. I was young and really just having fun getting to know people from different walks of life. There's 26 year old Brently, a friendly small town mechanic fond of his work, family and not taking life too seriously. A man facing every new day wanting to be a bachelor for the rest of his life! Alright I can't even type that without laughing out loud! He actually said that when I met him. :D

After I moved to this new small town I needed a job and the place closest to my home hired me on the spot. I worked as a med tech and later moved into a management roll. My first boss though, Annette, the one that took a liking to me as I did her - well she started talking about her neighbor boy an awful lot! Her and I got along really well which made for a smooth work environment and one day she invited me over for a dinner party. She said her neighbor might be there, her daughter too and some friends of hers. I told my roommates and a male friend about the dinner. My girlfriends couldn't wait to hear all about it and encouraged me! The male friend however knew of my bosses neighbor and said something like, " You two are total opposites. If I could think of someone you for sure would not be a match with it's him!" In short, I went to enjoy a meal at the very least with my colleague along with some of her friends and family! You can probably get the idea though that this dinner changed my life and it was the best meal I have ever had. I can't tell you what we ate but I can tell you that meal turned into one hell of a husband! Boy do we have fun and get along in the most precious way!

Brently said, "I love you" first really early on in dating. I want to say fast like three weeks in! I waited because I wasn't looking for my forever love in this season of life. I actually tried breaking it off with him. Told him things were moving too fast and drove home one day. As I was walking into my garage door I heard, "Chelsea! I am not going anywhere. We are meant to be together." No man had ever done that before. He drove to my house committed to doing everything he could to make 'us' work. It felt like something you would see in a romantic movie. I talked to God and asked for clarity. Fast forward about a year later of dating on January 30,2012 to the proposal! Yeah, to alot of people we got engaged pretty quick! Best. Decision. Ever.

Brently said he would like to take me to dinner on our one year dating anniversary. He knew of a restaurant that was special to me. The one that my dad gave me a ring at when I was just 17 years old. He was proud of the woman I had become and that meant alot to me. I come from a broken home and moved out at 17. I can share more about this story later. We get to the restaurant, it's a nice one kind of swanky so we are dressed up, and the waiter seats us at a booth in a really intimate setting. If you've never been to the Oyster Bar & Grill along beautiful Chuckanut Drive in Bow, Washington it has a handful of tables on each level with a view of the ocean. We ordered an appetizer and a bottle of wine. Friendly reminder that I was 21 now and Brently was 27. 

We looked over the menus, placed our orders and were enjoying a glass of wine. Suddenly Brently says, "Oh man! I have to pee! That energy drink is really getting to me." He drank one on the way to dinner. Brently asked the waiter where there bathroom was and he replied, "There is one right outside or down the stairs." "I'm sorry I'll be right back!" Brently said. I was completely okay with sitting there near the fire, enjoying the view and sipping on some wine! Brently eventually comes back to the table with a dozen roses in his hand (seen in the photo) and I asked, "Ahhh! What are those for? How did you get them?" He said, "I went out to the truck. Happy Anniversary!"  He is still standing at this time and reaches across the table to hand me the flowers. Next thing I know he is down on one knee blushing and smiling bigger than I have ever seen! "Chelsea, I love you with all of my heart and soul. I love having you in my life and I don't want to spend a day without you in it. Will you marry me? Be my wife." I was in shock and felt like the luckiest girl in the world all at the same time! I said, "YES!" He says he was on his knee for ten minutes while I looked at him like a deer in the headlights! Haha! Our engagement story is my favorite of all time!

If you have been engaged share how it happened in the comments! I'm a sucker for a good love story! xo