Happy Friday from Santa Barbara! Rob and I have had such a nice time walking along the beach, swimming in the pool, and enjoying happy hours in the hotel restaurant, as well as exploring the area a bit (we had some of the best tacos ever yesterday). This is our last time being out of town before we head back and finally get back into a more normal routine, so for now I'm just going to bed early and enjoying the sunshine!

Before I sign off for the weekend, I wanted to share a few links:

• I really loved these thoughts on happiness. So profound.
• When to Tell Daughters About a Genetic Breast Cancer Risk. This is so interesting and important to me. I found out about my gene mutation at age 27 and immediately started surveillance, but I can't help but feel really thankful that I didn't learn about it any sooner.
• Very interesting to hear Caitlyn Jenner defending her vote for Donald Trump.
• This Heineken campaign is really sweet and gives me a little bit of hope for humanity.
• I think this shirt is super cute.
• This one, too. (I think I'm finally starting to come around to the off-the-shoulder trend...is that still a trend or did I miss it?)
• Review: "The Handmaid's Tale" Creates a Chilling Man's World. Has anyone seen it yet? I really want to but I'm worried it's going to totally throw my anxiety for a loop.
• These might be my next sneakers. Does anyone else have a pair?
• Andrew Rannells is just the cutest.
• Bill Gates didn't let his kids have smartphones until they were 14. What do you think? (If you read the whole article you'll learn that Steve Jobs' kids weren't allowed to have iPads.)

That's all for now! Feel free to follow along with the rest of our trip on Instagram (I'm still really enjoying IG Stories). And I'm still snappin' away on Snapchat--my username is flynnmd.

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Three years ago today Rob and I got married.

I landed in Roanoke a week early from a still-chilly Minneapolis and felt completely electrified at the sight of those green hazy mountains outside the tiny plane windows. It had rained all week and smelled like wet spring outside, something I usually love, but I was trying to remain calm about the ceremony and reception which were both planned to be mostly outdoors. 

But then on Thursday the rain clouds cleared and the sun came out and by Friday the ground was dry enough that our heels didn't sink into muddy grass as we walked down the aisle for the rehearsal. It was spring in Virginia--one of the most magical times of the year--and all the people I loved the most in the world were all in one place.

On Saturday morning my girlfriends and I woke up and went downtown to do the Market Run, the quick 3-mile workout we always used to do before a meet. It seemed like the perfect way to start the biggest day of my life, and it was even more special because our beloved coach, Dr. Race, met us and biked alongside us as we ran. We stopped at Mill Mountain for coffee and breakfast to go before heading back to the hotel to shower and caravan over to the venue. 

I sat at a large vanity in a white robe as a stylist did my hair, and my friend Emma re-did my nails--2014 was before I had discovered the magic of gel nails and my regular manicure got destroyed somewhere between the salon and the rehearsal dinner the night before. We drank champagne and took pictures and laughed before finally it was time for me to see Rob.

That first look was the best--I was so thankful for a quiet moment with him before the ceremony and reception, which honestly was a bit of a blur. We kissed and teared up and giggled and took more pictures with the whole group and then it was time for the real thing.

Walking down the aisle was so surreal, but the minute I got my hands into Rob's I felt completely calm and at ease. We worked really hard on our ceremony and I still go back and read it sometimes. The readings, the music, every little detail was so very "us" that it still brings tears to my eyes.

I didn't know at the time that by our third anniversary we'd be celebrating in our third state together. I didn't know we'd adopt a crazy little pit bull pup or that I'd write two cookbooks or that my mom would get cancer again. I didn't know that Rob would get his dream job or that it would bring us to California and he would work harder than he's ever worked, or that I'd be even more proud of him than I ever thought I could be. I just knew we'd be together, and happy; through the good times and the bad ones.

And we really are.

Happy anniversary, Rob. You really are my everything.

Our wedding video, by Jarred Foresman:

More details from our wedding here and here.

This past month has been so busy. I mentioned that a bit before, but seriously, April was crazy and we travelled a lot. We just got back from Sonoma with some family that was visiting and they fly back home today, then I have quite a bit of work to catch up on before we head down to Santa Barbara to celebrate our anniversary! We've been gone every weekend since the beginning of April. I'm really excited to explore Santa Barbara with Rob for a few days, but then it's going to be good to get home and find our regular routine again. I just can't believe May is here already!

I've recently started drinking enough water for what is probably the first time in my life and it's kind of amazing. 

We've been spending a lot of time re-training Ender on a few things we kind of dropped the ball on when he was a puppy and it's been really awesome. He is getting really good at stay, and it's come in handy so much already! Our next hurdle is to teach him that he's allowed on the couch snd bed, but only when invited. He listens to Rob more than me and is kind of halfway understanding the whole concept--does anyone have any tips?

This weekend we stopped by a farmer's market in Santa Rosa and I bought a box of strawberries that were so good I ate most of them while we walked around. They were bright red and juicy and sweet and it was one of those straightforward moments that just bring you happiness, no matter how simple. I do love spring.