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With Mother’s Day this weekend, Father’s Day in a month, and my parents anniversary in-between, it only felt right to celebrate the two most important people in my life– my parents. It seems the older I get the more obsessed I become with my parents. They are the greatest, most supportive, loving people in my life. I feel so grateful that God chose them to be my parents.

Lets start with how they met. My dad grew up in Lake Bluff, Illinois and my mom grew up in Upper Arlington, Ohio. They met in college (went to separate colleges) through my aunt and uncle. My dad’s brother is married to my mom’s sister. Crazy I know! As little siblings they were forced to hang out together when my dad was in Columbus visiting my uncle. Which neither of them enjoyed. Each were not the biggest fan of the other person. Fast forward to a few years later they secretly started to date. Only my grandparents knew about their relationship. Four months later they were engaged. When my mom called her friends and sisters to tell them she was engaged they first asked “to who?”, then said “but you don’t like David”. The funny thing about this story is that my parents are best friends. I have never once heard them argue or tear each other down. They are loving, compassionate, and understanding with one another. They prefer to do everything together, share every moment, laughter, and experience.  I hope to someday have a marriage just like theirs.

My mom is my best friend. I talk to her everyday on the phone and text her constantly. I tell her everything. When I found out I had a gluten intolerance instead of saying tough luck she started to research foods and recipes for me to eat. When I started this blog she was all on board. Whether it was taking my picture, deciding on aesthetics, or styling my outfits, she loved helping me. She listened as I would happily tell her everything I learned or the exciting new opportunities I received. She is the first person to like all of my pictures on Insta, Facebook, and Twitter. She even started looking into blog stuff, learning what she could so she could talk to me about it. My mom is my number one cheerleader. I really could not have done this without her. My mom is also the most selfless, caring person I know. She would drop everything to help me, my sister, my dad, the rest of my family, and any of her friends in a second. I have seen her do this time and time again. She has taught me how to be more compassionate and thoughtful. I hope to be like her someday. When I lived at home for a little bit (before I moved back to NYC), we spent 24/7 together. That is what I miss most about home, being with my best friend all of the time.

My dad is the greatest man I have ever met. I hope to find someone someday who comes close to the type man he is. He truly is a man among men. I get pretty emotional when I talk about how wonderful my dad is. He is the calm after the storm. Never once did he miss a dance recital or a sports game. He knows more about tutu’s and pointe shoes than he ever thought he would. But it wasn’t all pink leotards and ballet buns, he coach my little league softball team.  I love hanging out with my dad.  Some of my favorite memories is when my sister and I were little we used to latch onto his shoulders while he swam laps in the pool. We loved it. Now as an adult we ride our bikes together. Two years ago we rode 50 miles in the Pelotonia (a fundraising bike race in Columbus). Training for the race with him was my favorite part of the day. Growing up he was always there for my sister and me, just like my mom. He is kind, supportive, and compassionate. He is always making sure we are taken care of. When it comes to this blog he may not understand it fully, but he is supportive of my dreams. He doesn’t care if I am the CEO of a company or a maid at a hotel, as long as I am happy– that is all he wants in life for my sister and me.  I am blessed to call him my dad.

As a teenager I thought it was so uncool to hangout with my parents. Sure I loved them, but hanging out with them on a Friday night instead of my friends seemed so boring. Now I rather hangout with them on the weekends than to be at a bar until the wee hours of the night. Unless they start talking about gas prices— that is when I tuck and roll out of the car. Nothing is more boring to me than to talk about gas prices and they do it all. of. the. time. But besides their gas price conversations, we all have a great time together. Like when they hound me to get a job or stop shopping, or when my mom tells me to mow the lawn or shovel snow for my dad. LOL they are too funny. They know I am allergic to work.

Anyway, growing up I always viewed them as my parents with no life before my sister and me. They couldn’t possibly understand my teenage drama. Now I view them as not only my wonderful parents but two people with a world of knowledge and interesting stories. I want to get to know them as David and D.J. before it is too late. I love them both very dearly. There is no amount of words I can express or gifts I can give them that will ever measure up to what they mean to me. Or even make up for being there for me every step of the way. I am truly grateful and lucky I get to call them my parents and my best friends.