Separate Ways

The move down to Nashville happened last weekend, and although we still have a bit more adjusting to do, we've started to settle in quite nicely to our new home in Belle Meade. The move itself happened rather quickly and I am beyond grateful for my parents for helping us load up our things and drive a U-Haul from Michigan to Tennessee. 

Now that we're more than 500 miles from home, we figured it was time to make some decisions that we knew would be difficult.

I'll start by letting Katelyn introduce her big news:

Alex and I had talked and prayed about moving for awhile, and when we sold our house we thought it was time to get serious about this. Alex was offered a job in Denver, a place that holds a special spot in our hearts, so we decided to make the move!
That's right-Alex and I are moving to Denver! 
We are thrilled, but will obviously miss our friends and family a ton. It's going to be a pretty quick transition since they want Alex to start asap-so we're leaving in less than two weeks. It's scary to think about starting over in a new place, but we're ready for the challenge and adventure. Looking at mountains on the daily won't be so bad either :)


Now for the other news:
Since we'll both be living in to different cities, we figured trying to maintain a co-written blog would be rather difficult. We still want our friends and families to see what we've been up to, so we've decided to go our separate ways and start our own individual blogs.
You can find Laura at www.breezyandbrazen.com
You can find Katelyn at www.thesuitcaseblonde.com
Go ahead and give us a follow. 

Relatively Offbeat has meant so much to us and we're sad to be moving on, but look forward to sharing our new adventures in our new cities. The two of us will always remain the closest of friends and we support each other 100%.

Thanks for being a part of our journey together.

Goodbyes

One of my first thoughts when Laura told me she and Steve were moving to Nashville was "CRAP!" Who's going to take our photos now? Every time we try to let our husbands take the photos there's weird shadows or a arm cut off our body. That being said, Laura & Steve officially left the mitten state this morning. I stopped by her place to give her a quick gift and say a quick goodbye. I hate goodbyes, so usually the quicker the better, like pulling off a bandaid. I tear up every time I think about my best friend moving & being so far away, but I think this will be a great experience for the two of them and a good learning experience for us & the blog.
I can't wait to visit you both in Tenessee and re-live our childhood adventures <3
Thanks for always being my 'Brother'

Modest Beach Style

Springs and summers in west Michigan are truly beyond compare. We are extremely lucky to have been raised minutes away from Pere Marquette Beach where we can take a dip in Lake Michigan whenever we please. Well, at least between the months of June and August. 

Although we still love the white sandy beaches of Muskegon, our taste in swimwear has certainly changed over the years. With age comes modesty. We absolutely adore our swimwear from Lime Ricki and can confidently stroll around the beach feeling comfortable in our own skin. Their swimsuits are flattering, versatile, and timeless. Click here to see how we styled our Lime Ricki swimwear last year.
Use discount code OFFBEAT to receive 15% off your Lime Ricki purchases until 5/25!

Laura's wearing: Convertible Strap Umbrella Tankini Top 
& High-Waist Navy Bottom c/o Lime Ricki 
Wedges- Kohl's // Hat- Target

 

 There's nothing quite like that first silent moment in the sun where you can feel the sun on your skin, the sand between your toes, and hear the waves crashing on the shore. We are so fortunate to have all of this so close to home.

Katelyn's wearing: Peplum Umbrellas One-Piece c/o Lime Ricki

Enjoy that brilliant sunshine, everyone!

Time for a Change

This is certainly a week of change. It was my (Laura's) last day of work at Mlive this past Friday. After more than three years of working there as an account associate, campaign coordinator, and content marketing specialist, I never really pictured the day that I'd be walking out the door for the last time. I loved my job. I loved my coworkers. It was by far one of the most difficult decisions I've had to make so far, and it still feels bittersweet. Some hard choices just have to be made if you're willing to follow your dreams. I'm grateful for the opportunities I was given here in Grand Rapids.

Before we move down to Nashville on May 22nd, there is much to be done. I have quickly transitioned into a work-from-home role while my company awaits my arrival in-office. I started my new position as Content Marketing Associate for a fun startup with a promising future. I'm excited to see where things will go from here.

Katelyn's wearing: Sweater- Modcloth // Dress & Leggings- Target // Shoes- Minnetonka // Watch- Fossil

Alex and I (Katelyn) are officially closing on our house today. We've learned so much from being homeowners, but we are so excited for what's in store for us. We will be out of the house by Thursday and Friday we're taking off to Denver for a few days!

 Laura's wearing: Jeans- Abercrombie & Fitch // Sweater- H&M // Booties- Nordstrom Rack

Necklace- Forever 21 // Belt- Marshalls

Laura's Big Announcement

You may or may not have heard me [Laura] mention a few times already that I have some big/exciting news to share. Now that I've shared with my family/friends, I'm excited to tell you all...

We're moving to Nashville! 

 

Steve and I will be taking off sometime next month to pursue our dreams down south and further expand on each of our careers. It was a tough decision to make, but we're so excited we're taking the leap! It will certainly be tough to say goodbye to my friends, family, and fantastic job at Mlive, but west Michigan will always have a giant place in my heart and we'll be back and forth as much as possible. I'm so fortunate to have such supportive people in my life. 

This is bittersweet. 

The possibility of moving down to Tennessee has been an ongoing conversation with Steve and I ever since we got engaged. Nashville is where I spent so much of my childhood, where I'd take family vacations, where I met Steve, and where we'll now live as a married couple. Now we will be starting a new chapter together where he can pursue his career as a songwriter/artist, and I can develop my skills in content writing with a startup that is exciting, refreshing, and fun.

We cannot deny that it'll be difficult being far away from our friends and family, but at the end of the day, we will be living and loving in Nashville, where we once dreamed we'd be together.
We've got this.

Katelyn and I have been and will always be the closest of friends and cousins. As for now, we plan to continue or blogging journey remotely and share our stories with the world as long as people are still interested. Plus, she works for the GRR airport and will hopefully be able to fly down and visit as much as humanly possible. We can't go too long without each other.

I am beyond fortunate and grateful for the opportunities I've been given here in Grand Rapids. Accepting a position at MLive will always be one of the best decisions I've ever made and I can't imagine starting my career anywhere else. They have given me the opportunity to grow and succeed in ways I couldn't have imagined the day I stepped into that office. I've been blessed beyond measure to work with such an amazing team of creative thinkers. I will miss you all dearly.

Timing seems to be everything. Even when things fall into place just the way you want them, it doesn't mean it's always easy. My older sister announced that her and my brother-in-law are expecting their first baby in September. There are mixed emotions constantly flowing through my head and my heart, it'll be so tough being away from my very first niece/nephew, but we know we're doing the right thing for us. The amount of love and compassion I have for my family will never diminish, they are everything to me.

Thank you to everyone who has supported Steve and I along the way. You helped get us here.
We are thrilled.

Nashville, we're coming for you!

"All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them." -- Walt Disney

Auburn Sidewalk

It's been a while. Is it us, or is April already moving waaayyy too quickly? Lots of things have been happening for us, and some big things coming soon [more on that later]. Being busy sure does make the time fly! Katelyn and I have had a hard time finding even a few hours to meet up during our busy weekly schedules. It was great to finally grab a cup of coffee and have her and Alex over for dinner to catch up on the things that have happened in the last few weeks. Spending time together is always the breath of fresh air that I needed. 

 

Laura's wearing: Top- Old Navy // Pants- Gap, Bag- LuLu*s // Shoes- Nordstrom Rack

Necklace- H&M // Bracelet- Forever 21 

 

 Katelyn's wearing: Shoes- Steve Madden // Tights- Target // Sweater, Hat & Necklace- Forever21

Shorts- Kohl's

 

What's everyone doing this weekend?
It's turning out to be a beautiful Saturday in Michigan!