I’m so excited to introduce Mike today! Mike and I were set up on a blind date by a mutual acquaintance. It was actually the only blind date I’ve ever gone on so I feeling pretty apprehensive. I had one photo and a brief description, but otherwise, I was going in blind. I was living in Connecticut at the time and took Metro North into the city to meet him for drinks. I stood in Grand Central for twenty minutes, tempted to bail and turn right back around. One of my friends encouraged me via text to just go for it.
I’m so glad I did.
I showed up ten minutes late (sorry Mike!) and instantly spotted him across the busy restaurant. I know it sounds cheesy, but I swear I felt something in my heart when our eyes met. I thought, for sure, that I’d be back on a train by 9 pm and home before 10. I didn’t eat dinner thinking I could order something once I got home. We instantly hit it off and at some point, I thought, “I think we’ve been talking for a while!” He went to the bathroom and I quickly pulled out my phone, absolutely shocked that it was already past 11. We were the last ones in the restaurant and the bartender had to kind of shoo us out of there right before 1 am.
When I agreed to the date, I was really only trying to get “back in the game.” I wasn’t expecting to actually meet someone. And, yet, here we are two years later!!
On our first date, he was telling me how his family has a house in upstate New York and named the lake. I mentioned that my mom was from there. In the back of my mind though, I kept thinking, “Gosh, that lake sounded exactly like where I think my mom is from.” And sure enough, it’s the same place. My grandfather was also born there and I have photos of him and my mom and aunts all in the same lake. So crazy.
You too are so cute!!! Hi Mike! You both look good together! Happy for you, Carly!
Oh my gosh, Carly!!! I’m so happy we’ve finally met Mike and that you two are so happy!! These photos give me so much joy.
Hd
I AM SUCH A FAN this is the cutest thing ever!!!! Thanks for sharing, Carly!!!
Ahh what makes this even sweeter is that you’ve shared so many of these moments with us already, without the photos of Mike, and now seeing these photos with Mike feels so nostalgic! (I know, that’s so weird for me to say as a stranger??) But the happiest thing of all is seeing you so happy! I was smiling the whole way through 🙂 -Audrey | Brunch at Audrey’s
I love! I feel like I’m seeing another half of your posts from the past year like a deleted scene from a movie, haha! So happy for you Carly 🙂
I feel the same way!
Aww so cute! Love how you closed down the bar on your first date!
Yay!!!!!!!!! It’s so lovely to see your guy! So happy for you both!
Aw I’m so happy for you! You two seem so happy. The candid of you at Christmas is too sweet. I’m glad you have someone to share your adventures with!
Carly I love this so much! I have been a reader for about two years now and this blog is something I look forward to reading every morning. I have been curious and I completely understood your hesitation at first but thank you so much for sharing this means so much.
THANK YOU SO MUCH for sharing! 💕
Your comments are going to blow up today! Aw he’s so cute! Congrats you too!
Aww love this post! So happy you finally chose to share this part of your life with your readers 🙂 Can’t wait to see more of your guys’ adventures!
Wow, you guys make a perfect couple!😍 So glad to meet Mike👋🏽 And it’s so funny to see you two in all of the locations where we have only seen you before😂
You two make the CUTEST couple! Thanks so much for sharing, and congrats on two years!
Omg. Carly I’ve never been so happy with you!! (Ps.Have been following you since 2013, but this is my first ever comment on your blog)
So sweet! I’m glad we finally get to meet him! You guys look great together! Thank you for sharing him with us!
aww yay! I normally never comment but I’m so happy to meet Mike! Y’all look so happy <3
Aww so happy for you Carly.
I just love this! I’m so happy for you and I love seeing these pictures from the last couple of years. Thanks to you both for sharing them, and in such a sweet way!
I almost never comment but I’m really glad you introduced your bf! I know it is probably hard with internet noteriety but he’s obviously a big part of your life so it’s nice for your readers to ‘meet’ him!
This is so precious. You look so happy in all the photos!
Oh my goodness you guys are so cute together! I’m so happy for you! 🙂
OMG I am so excited right now!
Yay! So glad to finally meet your guy 🙂 very happy for you. Thank you for sharing this part of your life with us!
Love you both so much!!!
It is great to finally meet Mike! The pictures are lovely.
My heart is exploding!!! Yay!!! So honored to finally meet the boy that stole your heart 😉😍 (I feel like a mom, but hey). Take good care of her, Mike!
My first date with my now husband was exactly the same! I usually hate first dates, I hate small talk and akwardness, but somehow we talked for three hours and totally connected.
You and Mike look like such a great couple!
You look so happy! Congratulations on two years!
Hi Mike!!!
So happy for you!! I need friends like yours…congrats!!
Omg!!! Hi Mike!!! Most attractive couple awards goes to… 🙂 You guys look so happy together!! So so sweet!!
xx Libby
https://premedwearspearls.blogspot.com
This is the cutest and greatest thing ever. So happy for you!
So happy that you’re happy! I can imagine it feels crazy to finally be sharing him, but I’m glad we get to meet him and I love the story of how you two met!!
Hi Mike! Carly, thank you for sharing a part of your life with us that you hold dear. I feel so much joy and happiness seeping from your pics and cannot be anymore happy for you! I love that you are happy and I hope he makes you happy and feel loved! You are truly a special person.
OH my gracious – the cuteness!!! Stunning couple!!!
Hi Mike! : ) An avid reader here and smiling from ear-to-ear opening this post. First, thanks for sharing. Happiness radiates from each picture. And second, you guys make THE CUTEST couple. Mike is so handsome {safely said as someone old enough to be his mom!}. And my goodness Carly, he matchess you in style! {That window pane jacket with a pocket square!} So happy for you guys!
Love looks good on you two! So happy for you, Carly.
My best friend and I have been reading your blog for years now. We live in different states but are on vacation together in Florida right now. It was so fun getting to read this post together. We are SO happy for you! 😊
What a fun and surprising post on a Sunday! Now we know the man behind the glow! So happy to “meet” Mike! We’re all so happy for you!!!
Aw. Sweet story! The photos of your adventures are lovely!
Aww! You two look so great together! So happy for you both!
You guys look so happy together! Congrats Carly!
My heart is so happy! He looks like such a kind person.
I am even happier for you, now! It is so good to see you together in photos and to get to know Mike a little bit. The Christmas photo is the best! God bless.
OMG! Hi Mike!
So beyond happy for you two!
Hi Mike!! Thank you for agreeing to be introduced on the blog 🙂 Carly, so, so happy for you both! Thanks for sharing this part of your life with us!
You guys are so cute together and you look so happy! Thank you for letting us meet Mike. 🙂
You guys are adorable together!
OMG! YAY! So happy to “meet” him – ha! You guys look great together and so happy!
Y’all are so cute ❤️❤️ I saw this last night at midnight but no one had commented yet and I didn’t want to be first 😂 my boyfriend and I also met through a mutual friend and here we are 5 years later! It’s nice and so lucky to meet someone that way because you know that you probably have something in common. Thanks for sharing this part of your life with us!
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 HE IS CUUUTTEEE! Get it girl! Happy for you both!
Hi Mike! 👋🏻👋🏻👋🏻👋🏻
I ship this so hard, Carly! I have never seen you look so happy. Been a reader since the beginning. So so happy for you!
You look so happy! And so does he😉 So happy for both of you! Loved this sweet post.
I am so happy for you. He looks so nice and you look so happy! What a wonderful thing to find someone you love!
#upgrade
You look so so so happy!! You deserve every moment. 💕
You two look perfect together! Thanks for sharing!
You guys are so cute! Glad he is finally introduced on your blog and I’m happy for you! Wish you guys the best!
Carly!! I’m so happy you’ve finally decided to show Mike off. Your smile in these photos tells me all I need to know about this relationship. Congratulations to you both on two amazing year ❤️ Important people show up when you least expect them and it seems like Mike is just that for you.
You guys are adorable! So happy you found someone. 💕
Carly, this is the perfect post. I’ve reminded myself a few times of your request for privacy about your relationship – usually when seeing a photo or reading a post that is solely you but clearly was an experience you shared with your boyfriend. I think you posted this incredibly tastefully and enough to respect his privacy but also give your readers an eye into what events and trips have been like over the past two years from a different angle. You look incredibly happy and I am happy for you! Thank you for sharing, you didn’t have to, but I am so happy you did.
So excited to meet Mike!! You two are adorable. 🙂
Honestly just squealed so loud that I had to explain to my bf what just happened [he wasn’t nearly as excited lol]. So happy for you two and so happy he decided to include himself in your public life! You guys are too cute together
Love it, Carly!
So sweet! I’m so glad you found love again; you deserve it!
Thank you for sharing! You both look so happy in these pictures! I am over the top happy for the both of you! Such a wonderful couple!! Much happiness with Mike in the future!
Welcome to the blog, Mike!
You two look so happy together, congratulations on two years! I know what you mean, Carly – sometimes you find your person when you are least expecting it. <3
WELCOME MIKE! we are all thrilled to finally meet you, but also enjoyed the “mystery man” as we knew you were someone truly special to Carly and treated her right:)
Thanks for sharing Carly! Congratulations on your two years! Félicitations!
So cute! I understand you wanting to keep it personal for a while, but this is so exciting! It’s so weird because I don’t even know you (well kind of do through this blog and your Insta) but I genuinely feel so happy for you!
Carly!!!! Thank you so much for sharing this part of your life with us! And hi, Mike!!! So nice to finally meet you & so happy for you both.
Ya’ll are too cute! Happy for you Carly
Oooh, I’m so happy for you!
I’ve been an avid reader of your blog since 2012 and I kinda consider you a sort of pen friend (🙈). I’ve always cheered for you. And now I’m so, so happy for you.
Many kisses!
Oh my goodness, this is such a lovely story! It’s so funny how things work out in the end. I wish you both endless happiness!
xo Logan
https://peculiarporter.com
Welcome Mike! You look really happy with him, and you make a great couple!
So happy for you Carly! I know it took you a lot of thought to write this post when you were ready, I am so happy to see you did it on your own terms!! Wishing you a lifetime of happiness!
Thanks for sharing this with us, Carly 🙂 I love it
Such great pics! You look so happy and that makes me so happy for you! 🙂
Woah! How exciting 😀
I think like the other readers out there I was a little shocked (in happiness) pulling up this post today
Mike sounds awesome and you both look so happy
Congrats Carly! Congrats Mike! Three cheers to you both 🙂
You guys are so cute and so bursting with happiness in every single one of these photos 😍💞✨!!!! So happy for you guys and that you found each other 🎉💝😭!!! Hello Mike!!! 😁
Aww Carly my heart is so full for you 💕
A great looking couple! So glad you and Mike are so happy!!!
I am so happy for you! He seems like a perfect match ❤️
yay! this brought me alot of joy! have been following you for years! all time fave 🙂
Gosh these are all the CUTEST photos of you two!!! So excited to finally meet the mystery man!!! Can’t wait to hear more about him and you!
Katie | http://www.sunshinestyleblog.com
Hi Carly!! I’ve been following your blog for over 6 years now and I have never before left a comment but I just knew I had to pop in and say how happy I am for you!!!! I was smiling so big when I saw this post and reading it through. Can’t wait to see what the future brings for you two. Xx
I’m absolutely happy for you, Carly!! You both look amazing together!
By the way, where is that trench coat (11th picture) from? Loved it!
xoxo,
Jessica | whattostyle.blogspot.com |
Instagram @ what_to_style
Wow you two are a beautiful couple! I know it was a stretch for him to appear on the blog so kudos to mike and much love and happiness to the two of you!
Where did you get the dress you are wearing in your first photo?
Teehee. I second this question. That sailboat-ish dress is amazing!
This makes me so freaking happy!!! Congrats!!
Awww! This is so sweet! You both look so happy <3
You guys look great together!! So happy for y’all!
This makes me SO happy! You’ve given me hope the getting back in the dating game heehee ❤️
I am sooooo happy for you two!!! 😃😍😃
Lovely couple!!!!
Gosh this is nice! So happy for you! (And for him, you’re a catch!!)
YOU TWO ARE SO STINKIN CUTE!!!!
Just had to say that this is so sweet! I feel like I’m catching up with the other half of your life for the past two years. It must have been so difficult for you not to share, yet I understand the desire for privacy. Wishing you lots of happiness together!
So happy for you!! These photos are so cute.
On a side note, where did you get those espadrilles in your first photo? I had similar ones but wore them down to their breaking point.
So glad you guys clearly came to a conclusion on how to handle your relationship on the blog! It shows you’re both truly comfortable. The happiness that exudes from both of you is too adorable! Also, he can rock a scarf like no one I’ve ever seen 🙂 Well done, Mike. Well done
Yay! Thank you for sharing with us. This is worth the wait! I have been so curious!!!! He looks like a really nice guy!
You guys are beautiful together! Love love love!
So happy to see Mike!
Oh wie schön dass wir Mike kennen lernen dürfen! Danke! Ihr seht glücklich aus 😍
Alles liebe aus Deutschland
Maja
Yessss! I love this so much! ❤️
This makes me so happy! Thanks for sharing Carly!
Ah! I am so excited he finally agreed to be on the blog! Hi Mike! Nice to finally meet you!
http://moosmusing.com
Yay Carly!
Oh my goodness, he is so cute and y’all look so happy! Congratulations! I am so happy for you and thank you for sharing this part of your life.
So happy for you! I hope everyone treats him with the kindness and respect he deserves!
I’ve been following you for over 8 years. It’s so nice to see you so happy! You are a picture perfect couple!
Hi Mike! These are just the cutest pictures, and I love that you’re now ‘blog official’. P.S. he has the best style too!
Briony xx
Handsome fella, you guys make such a lovely couple! How cool to ‘meet’ your man on the blog! What a fun coincidence about the lake in NY.
Hi Mike!
My heart is filled with joy for you!! I am so happy you are with someone so wonderful, I have been reading your blog for years and while you never need a guy I am so happy to see how much he adds to your life and happiness! I also met a wonderful guy finally after many hard breakups, finding a good one is hard! Thanks for introducing him to us!
Finally reading this! So happy for y’all! And happy to meet Mike! What a crazy coincidence about the lake. Such a small world! Y’all make a cute couple 🙂
What a good looking couple!
He is so handsome! You deserve the best!