This is one of those recipes that isn't actually a recipe, you just make it one lazy Sunday and love it so much that you write it down to remind yourself to make it again. Because I have this little hand-held spiral vegetable slicer, these sweet potato fries were a bit on the thin side and almost would have made a better topping on a salad or something instead of an actual side dish, but man are they delicious. Garnished with some fresh cilantro and some Sriracha mayo, they make for a fresh and easy afternoon snack.

Ingredients:

• One or two sweet potatoes (long and thin ones, so you can spiralize them)
• Several tablespoons of olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

• Two tablespoons mayonnaise
• One tablespoon Sriracha (more if you like it spicier)
• A small handful of fresh cilantro for garnish

Instructions:

1. Pre-heat your oven to 400 degrees.
2. Cut your sweet potato(es) with the spiral slicer and drizzle olive oil over them. Mix well.
3. Season with salt and pepper before baking at 400 for 15-20 minutes.
4. While they cook, combine mayo and hot sauce in a small dish for dipping.
5. Serve sweet potato fries hot, garnished with fresh cilantro.

One of Rob's college roommates got married in Williamsburg over the weekend, so we left a few days early to spend some time in Roanoke. Our flight from Charlotte got cancelled and we ended up renting a car and driving the quick three hours up 81 so we didn't have to wait any longer to be in Roanoke. Before leaving Charlotte, we stopped at Tenders, an awesome little chicken restaurant that my friend Shawna would take us all to when we visited her at Davidson for Spring Frolics every year. Then we were on the road, enjoying the gorgeous scenery that North Carolina and Virginia always has to offer in the spring and summer.

We finally made it to Roanoke and spent some time gathered around in my parents' kitchen, which is one of my favorite places to be. Our neighbor's dog (and Rocky's old best friend), Bentley, came over to say hi and it made me happy and sad at the same time. It's pretty hard to believe that Rocky's been gone almost half a year already. But it was lovely to spend time at home that didn't involve wedding planning. Rob and I each invited one friend over for dinner the next day and we all had such a great time catching up.

The next day I got my hair cut and hung out with my mom. We did some grocery shopping after lunch--it's not a Roanoke visit without at least one stop at Beamer's! My current favorite is the Reuben burger.

This weekend was one that was happy and fun and full of nostalgia--so many college friends, so many hilarious stories and memories shared over beers and glasses of wine on Saturday night and a hotel breakfast on Sunday morning. On our way to Williamsburg, we stopped for just a few minutes to see my friend Emma in Charlottesville.

It's always so nice to be home. 

I don't know if there was one specific moment where Rob first felt like my husband to me, but I do know that it wasn't something that happened the moment we said "I do." It happened, like most things, with just a bit more time.

Today, a little over a month later, I really feel like I have a husband.

But on the night of our wedding, after the reception, everyone gathered at a bar downtown and one of my uncles asked me if I felt married. I had changed into a little white cocktail dress and my hair was still up and I felt different, yes, but married? Not quite. I wasn't sure if that was the right answer, but it was the truth.

We meant every word of our vows, but it took a few days for things to sink in. I surprised myself two times--the first when I didn't cry during our ceremony, and again when one afternoon on our honeymoon, I cried fiercely as Rob so sweetly brought me water and crackers after I found myself in bed with a hangover. I was so happy in that moment--nauseated and sun-burnt as I was, but just feeling so blissfully lucky and downright blessed. Maybe that was the first time I felt like I had a husband. He has taken care of me countless times before, but something in that moment felt very different.

Until that moment, he was the man with whom I've shared the past five years; the man who supports and encourages me every day and rubs my back in bed every night; who is so kind to my friends, and who always offers me the last piece of sushi, even when we both know well that it belongs to him because I generally eat twice as fast as any reasonable person should. He is still all of those things.

But now he is also the man who so recently stood up in front of our friends and family and held my hands in his as he said I take you Megan to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish until death do us part.

I am sure he will continue be many more new things in the years to come. But he's always going to be my husband, and that is certain and wonderful.