We're basically a rom-com trope. We met and dated briefly in high school, then went our separate ways. But were were lucky and remained friends over the years.

Now, after reconnecting in 2018, we are engaged and living together downtown with our two cats. We have changed jobs, moved twice, adopted a pet, travelled around, and spend as much time together as possible. We are each other's best friend and partner. We do everything together, and are learning to navigate this world together one day at a time, while loving every second of it.

On our annual Christmas Eve Eve date this year, Daniel went all out. We got cocktails where we had our first date, got dinner at an incredible restaurant, and then spent the night at a beautiful boutique hotel downtown, The Quirk. Little did I know, Daniel had reserved the only room with access to the hotel's rooftop bar (which had been closed for some time due to Covid-19). He had asked the hotel staff to turn on some string lights, and proposed to me, alone up on the roof, with sweeping views of the city of Richmond surrounding us. It was a beautifully planned, and preciously private moment we will both cherish for all our lives. I said yes without hesitation.

Daniel says it was our first, now-annual Christmas Eve Eve date. We spent the whole day celebrating, starting with brunch, then seeing the Nutcracker at the Richmond Ballet, followed by dinner and a night in the Jefferson Hotel downtown.

I say it was our two year anniversary, when we split a very large brunch cocktail, and decided to take a city bus to go shopping. We ended up on the complete wrong side of the city because someone (Daniel) misread the bus route, but we still laugh and argue about who (it was Daniel).

Anything that's a reason to get our friends and family together! Whether it's trivia, hanging out by the pool, brunch, or game night, we love being surrounded by our favorite people. But when we're not out being social butterflies/ the parents of the friend group, we're doing our other favorite thing: recharging our social batteries with a quiet night at home, reading with our cats.

We're going wherever we can afford, which hopefully includes lots of beautiful beaches and umbrella drinks. Fingers crossed for Antigua!

Brunch at Las Vistas Cafe in Fajardo, Puerto Rico. Owned and operated by the incomparable Gladys, this little cafe turned around our entire trip to Puerto Rico. It was the perfect wholesome meal, on this hilltop with sweeping views of the ocean, and just thinking about it makes us smile.

We went to Puerto Rico in 2019 and it was amazing. The most memorable part was hands down the swim in the bioluminescent bay. It was pitch-dark outside, but the water glowed as we moved through it, and the experience was as close to magic as we've ever come.

Universal Healthcare. It's time, people.

Having a backyard enough for Emily to realize her dream of rescuing a bunch of senior and special needs dogs.

Dungeons & Dragons. We don't care to elaborate.

Shockoe Heights Market (aka "The Bodega"). 5 stars.

Anything and everything.

Each other.