One Year Later: Why the Wedding Was Never the Goal
Friday, 16 October 2026 • Lifestyle, Other
It doesn't feel all that long ago that I was counting down to our wedding, obsessing over how I was going to style the tables, wondering whether the weather would behave and trying to soak up every second of the day because everyone tells you it goes by in a blur.
They were right.
Somehow, that was a whole year ago.
For as long as I can remember, there's been a moment in Friends that has stayed with me. Monica has this realisation that being the bride is only temporary, but being a wife is what truly lasts. Even before I got engaged, that idea stuck with me because, deep down, the goal was never the wedding itself.
The goal was always the marriage.
Don't get me wrong, I absolutely loved planning our wedding. I loved choosing the flowers, styling the tables, seeing all of the little details come together and celebrating with the people we love most.
We were lucky enough to have two very special celebrations. First, our registry office ceremony surrounded by our closest family and my bridesmaids, who are basically family themselves. Then, we had the chance to celebrate with even more of the people who mean the most to us at our party.
Both days were everything I'd hoped they would be, and I'll treasure those memories forever.
But as much as I loved being a bride, the wedding was never the finish line.
The goal was always the marriage.
When people ask me, "How's married life?", I never quite know how to answer.
Not because it's difficult to explain, but because, in many ways, it hasn't changed everything. It has simply made an already wonderful life feel a little more certain.
We were together long before we got married. We'd already navigated buying a home, decorating rooms, everyday routines and all the little moments that make up a relationship. The wedding wasn't the beginning of our story, it was a celebration of the one we'd already been writing.
And honestly? I think that's my favourite part.
Marriage Isn't Made Up of Big Moments
Before getting married, I thought marriage might feel completely different overnight.
Like I'd wake up the next morning and suddenly feel different.
Instead, life carried on much as it always had.
There were still bills to pay, washing to fold, food shopping to do and the eternal question of, "What's for dinner?"
Marriage, I've realised, isn't built on one spectacular day.
It's built on hundreds of wonderfully ordinary ones.
It's picking up your favourite snacks while you're in the supermarket because you know it'll make the other person smile.
It's filling up the car before a road trip without being asked.
It's sitting together in comfortable silence after a long day.
It's laughing over something that nobody else would find remotely funny.
It's knowing exactly which side of the bed the other person wants, who's going to lock the front door at night and who'll inevitably be asking, "Have we packed everything?" before every camping trip.
Those moments don't make the wedding album, but they're the ones that make a marriage.
You Never Stop Learning About Each Other
Even after years together, there are still things that surprise me.
New opinions.
New habits.
New dreams.
Marriage hasn't meant we've stopped growing; it's meant we've had the privilege of growing alongside one another.
I don't think you ever reach a point where you know everything about the person you've married.
And I quite like that.
Love Looks Different Than I Imagined
When I was younger, I probably thought love was all about grand romantic gestures.
Now?
Love often looks like someone filling the car with fuel before a road trip so you don't have to think about it.
It's grabbing your favourite snacks at the petrol station without being asked.
It's making sure the camping chairs are packed because they know you'll forget something eventually.
It's sitting through another conversation about camping gear, kitchen décor or the latest book recommendation because they know it matters to the other person.
It turns out love is often wonderfully practical.
And I think that's even better.
The Wedding Was the Beginning. Marriage Is the Adventure.
Don't get me wrong, I loved our wedding celebrations.
I'd relive both of those days in a heartbeat.
But looking back, I don't think the happiest moments of this past year have only come from those celebrations.
They've come from everything afterwards.
The long drives with a playlist on, debating where to stop for lunch, and somehow always ending up planning the next adventure before the current one is even over.
The camping trips.
The spontaneous days out.
The evenings spent doing absolutely nothing.
Cooking dinner together.
Watching another episode of a series we've somehow become completely invested in.
Making plans for the future.
Building a home that feels like ours.
Those are the moments that have made this first year so special.
Choosing Each Other Every Day
One thing I've come to appreciate is that a happy marriage isn't something that simply happens.
It's made up of countless small choices.
Choosing kindness over being right.
Choosing patience when one of you has had a difficult day.
Choosing to listen before trying to fix things.
Choosing to celebrate each other's successes as though they're your own.
Choosing to laugh when things don't quite go to plan.
None of those moments are particularly glamorous.
But together, they're what build a life.
One Year Later
Looking back now, I think younger me would have been surprised by what I've treasured most.
Not the dress.
Not the flowers.
Not the table styling I'd spent so long perfecting.
Not even the two celebrations we spent surrounded by the people we love most.
It's been the year afterwards.
The camping trips.
The Sunday mornings.
The supermarket runs.
The conversations over dinner.
The quiet evenings on the sofa.
The ordinary moments that don't make it onto Instagram but somehow become the memories you treasure most.
One year later, I can honestly say that younger me was right.
Our wedding celebrations were two of the happiest days of my life, but they were never the goal.
The marriage was.
And every wonderfully ordinary day since has reminded me why.
Matt, thank you for being my favourite person to do life with. Thank you for every adventure, every laugh, every compromise, every spontaneous plan and every ordinary moment that somehow becomes a memory.
Here's to many more years of exploring new places, building our little life together, and continuing to choose each other every day.
Happy first anniversary to us - I'll love you forever.
Molly
The Books I Want to Read Before Christmas | Autumn TBR
Wednesday, 14 October 2026 • Lifestyle, Reading
I have once again reached that point in the year where I have somehow accumulated more books than I could realistically read in the remaining months, and yet I'm still adding more to the list.
The slightly concerning part is that I've set myself a goal of reading 100 books this year and I'm currently sitting at 72.
Which means I have 28 books to read before the end of December.
Twenty eight.
At this point, I should probably stop adding books to my TBR and start actually reading the ones already on it.
Naturally, I've done neither.
Instead, I've put together a list of the books I want to read before Christmas. Some are continuations of series I'm already invested in, one is a prequel to a series I absolutely loved, and one follows a novella I've recently read and immediately decided I needed more of.
So, with autumn creeping in, darker evenings on the horizon and a fairly substantial reading target still to hit, here's what I'm hoping to get through before the festive season arrives.
Lion in the Library - Amy Award
First up is Lion in the Library by Amy Award, which I'm particularly excited about because it's a prequel to the Cocky Kingsman series - a series I absolutely loved.
I've already got a soft spot for the Cocky Kingsman men, so getting to go back and read the story that came before the series feels like exactly the sort of thing I'm going to enjoy.
It's also always a little dangerous reading a prequel after you've already fallen for a series, because I already know I'm going to be looking for all the little connections and trying to spot anything that links back to the books I've already read.
Basically, I loved the Cocky Kingsman series, so obviously my solution was to go backwards and read more of it.
Makes perfect sense to me.
The Reunion - Meghan Quinn
This one is here because I recently read The One Night, the short novella that comes before The Reunion, and apparently that was enough to make me impatient for the full story.
I love it when a novella does exactly what it's supposed to do: gives you just enough of a story to get invested, whilst simultaneously making you want considerably more.
So now I'm very much ready for the extended story.
I already know I'm invested in these characters, which means I'm expecting this to be one of those books that I absolutely fly through once I finally pick it up.
The only question is whether I can resist immediately disappearing down another Meghan Quinn rabbit hole afterwards.
The Rest of the Wells Ranch Series - Bailey Hannah
After reading Alive and Wells, the first book in the Wells Ranch series by Bailey Hannah, I knew I wasn't going to stop there.
There's always a slight danger with starting a series that you end up enjoying the first book enough to immediately commit yourself to however many books come afterwards.
And here we are.
I'm planning to work my way through the rest of the Wells Ranch series before Christmas, because apparently I have decided that adding several books to an already ambitious TBR is a sensible thing to do.
I enjoyed Alive and Wells enough to want to carry on with the series, so I'm looking forward to seeing where the rest of the characters and stories take me.
Although, technically, saying I have five books on my Christmas TBR is slightly misleading when one of those entries is actually an entire chunk of a series.
We'll gloss over that.
None of Your Business - Laura Ashley Gallagher
Next is None of Your Business by Laura Ashley Gallagher, which continues the Apparently It's Love series.
I've already started investing in this series, so naturally I'm now at the point where I need to know what happens next.
There's something I really enjoy about reading interconnected series because once you've already spent time with the characters and their world, picking up the next book feels a little like going back somewhere you already know.
I'm hoping this one gives me the same feeling and makes me want to immediately carry on with the series afterwards.
Because apparently I haven't learned my lesson from Wells Ranch.
Lowering His Guard - D.E. Haggerty
And finally, Lowering His Guard by D.E. Haggerty, which is another continuation of a series I'm already invested in.
At this point, I'm clearly incapable of starting a book series casually. I read one book, get invested in the characters, and suddenly my TBR has gained another three or four books.
But that's exactly why this one has made the list. I already know the world and characters, so I'm looking forward to getting back into the series and seeing what happens next.
There's something particularly satisfying about working through a series when you're already invested in it - although it does make the TBR grow at a slightly alarming rate.
Can I Get From 72 to 100?
This is the real question.
I've got 28 books left to read to hit my 100-book target for the year, which sounded like a perfectly reasonable goal when I set it.
It sounds slightly more ambitious when I'm sitting here in September with 72 ticked off.
So, whilst these are the books I'm particularly keen to read before Christmas, I'm making no promises that this will be the complete list. There are almost certainly going to be a few impulse Kindle purchases, books from my existing TBR that suddenly look more appealing and at least one book that completely derails whatever reading order I've convinced myself I'm following.
But that's half the fun.
For now, I'm embracing the darker evenings, getting my Kindle charged and attempting to get my read on.
28 books.
Wish me luck.
Molly
Blogging in 2026 vs 2017: What Happened to the Blogosphere?
Saturday, 10 October 2026 • Lifestyle, Other
Once upon a time, blogging was a whole little world of its own. We had our websites, our Instagram feeds, our Twitter accounts and a community of people who genuinely seemed interested in what everyone else was writing about.
And I absolutely loved it.
I started blogging in 2017, stepped away in 2022 and returned in 2026 to discover that the internet I'd left behind had changed beyond recognition.
So, what happened to the blogosphere? And is there still a place for blogging in 2026?
I Miss the Blogging Community
Remember when people actually read blogs? Not just clicked a link, but sat down, read a post and left a thoughtful comment?
There was something lovely about discovering new bloggers, recognising familiar names and supporting each other's little corners of the internet.
Blogging felt like a community rather than a competition. You'd spend evenings catching up on everyone's latest posts, sharing recommendations and finding people with similar interests.
I'm sure those communities still exist, but they feel much harder to find these days.
Oh, Twitter. What Happened?
I LOVED Twitter.
The blogging chats, the random conversations, the friendships and the ability to share something without needing a perfectly curated photograph or trending audio.
Twitter was genuinely the heart of the blogging community. You could spend an entire evening chatting with people you'd never met about absolutely nothing.
And those scheduled blogging chats? Brilliant. Everyone gathering at the same time to answer questions, share experiences and discover new blogs.
Then came X.
I'm sorry, but no. It'll always be Twitter to me.
When Did Everything Become Content?
In 2017, you could write a blog post, take some photographs and share them online.
In 2026, apparently we're supposed to be bloggers, videographers, editors, social media managers and marketing experts simultaneously.
Instagram wants Reels. TikTok wants videos. Everyone wants engagement.
Even brand collaborations feel different. Where a detailed blog review was once a perfectly reasonable deliverable, there's now so much emphasis on short-form videos and immediate reach.
And somewhere in all that, we're supposed to find time to actually enjoy the things we're documenting.
Sometimes I just want to eat my dinner while it's hot, thank you very much.
The Algorithm Can Get in the Bin
What happened to simply sharing something because you enjoyed it?
Now it's all about posting times, engagement, reach and whatever the algorithm has decided it likes this week.
And while I understand that social media has evolved, I miss when the internet felt a little less calculated and a lot more personal.
Not everything needs to go viral. Sometimes a nice photograph and a few words are enough.
Why Blogging Still Matters in 2026
Despite everything, I came back because I missed writing.
And while the blogging world has changed, there's still so much to love about it.
Blogs offer something that a fifteen-second Reel or disappearing Instagram Story simply can't. Space to tell a story, share an honest opinion or give a recommendation that someone might stumble across years later.
Whether it's a detailed restaurant review, a camping guide or a book recommendation, blog posts have a much longer shelf life than most social media content.
There's also something lovely about having your own little corner of the internet. Somewhere that isn't entirely dictated by algorithms, trends or whatever Instagram has decided we should all be doing this week.
And let's not forget that people still search for genuine experiences and recommendations. I'd much rather read someone's honest account of a holiday than watch another suspiciously perfect promotional video.
Blogging might not be the shiny new thing anymore, but that doesn't make it any less valuable.
I'm Still a Blogger, Not an Influencer
I'm not trying to become an influencer. I just want to be a blogger.
I want to write about things I genuinely enjoy without turning every experience into a content opportunity.
I want to share restaurant recommendations, talk about books I've loved, document holidays and occasionally write about something completely random that's been on my mind.
And if people enjoy reading it, wonderful.
Maybe the blogosphere will never feel quite like it did in 2017, but that doesn't mean blogging is dead. It's simply evolved, and there's still room for those of us who love writing.
Still here, still writing, and still calling it Twitter.
Molly
My Autumn Viewing Plans: Comfort TV, New Favourites & Christmas
Saturday, 3 October 2026 • Lifestyle
There is something about the start of October that makes me want to cancel all plans, put my pyjamas on at an entirely unreasonable hour and watch television until bedtime.
The evenings are getting darker, the temperature has dropped from “I need SPF” to “where is my cardigan?” and I am officially ready for cosy nights in.
So naturally, I've started putting together my autumn watch list.
There are old favourites I want to rewatch, new seasons I'm excited about and, because apparently I'm capable of thinking ahead, a few things I'm already looking forward to watching when December rolls around.
The rewatches
Gilmore Girls
Obviously.
I don't think an autumn watch list can exist without Gilmore Girls. Give me Stars Hollow, changing leaves, ridiculous amounts of coffee and Lorelai and Rory talking at approximately 400 words a minute and I'm happy.
I've watched it before, but it is one of those shows I can come back to again and again, and autumn feels like the perfect excuse to start from the beginning.
It's cosy, nostalgic and has approximately the right amount of drama for an evening on the sofa.
New Girl
I'm also thinking about another New Girl rewatch.
It's one of those shows that is just so easy to have on in the background, but I'll inevitably end up paying attention and watching far more episodes than I intended.
Basically, exactly what I want when the weather is rubbish and I've decided that being productive is overrated.
Gossip Girl
It's been long enough since I've watched Gossip Girl that I think I'm due a trip back to the Upper East Side.
The outfits, the drama, the questionable decisions and the fact that nobody appears to have a normal school day make it excellent sofa television.
Dark evenings were made for a bit of Upper East Side chaos.
Emily in Paris
This one is partly a rewatch and partly preparation because Season 6 arrives on Christmas Eve, 24 December.
That gives me plenty of time to work my way through the previous five seasons before the final season arrives.
Paris, ridiculous outfits and Emily making questionable romantic decisions while somehow remaining extremely well dressed? Yes please.
I'm actually quite looking forward to settling back into it.
New & returning favourites
NCIS - Season 24
My long-term television commitment continues, but this season has given me an extra reason to be excited because Michael Weatherly is returning as the one and only Tony DiNozzo.
I absolutely loved the NCIS: Tony & Ziva spin-off, so I was genuinely gutted when it wasn't renewed. Having Tony back in NCIS is therefore a very welcome surprise, and I can't wait to see how they bring him back into the story and, more importantly, how it's all going to play out.
Tony DiNozzo back on my screen? Yes please.
Nobody Wants This - Season 3
I'm really looking forward to this one.
I loved the first two seasons and it's exactly the sort of thing I want to watch when the evenings are getting darker - funny, romantic and easy enough to watch without needing to concentrate on every single second.
I'm fully expecting at least a few “shall we just watch one more?” evenings.
The Love Hypothesis
I'm also giving The Love Hypothesis a go.
I've heard so much about the book, so I'm intrigued to see how the adaptation translates to screen.
Romance, academia and a fake dating storyline feels like a pretty good combination for an autumn evening on the sofa.
Only Murders in the Building - Season 6 (aka Only Murders in London)
And then there's Only Murders in the Building.
Cosy crime, New York, ridiculous characters and enough murder to keep things interesting without actually terrifying me.
It's basically autumn viewing in television form, and I'm very much looking forward to getting back into it.
Saving these for Christmas
I know it's only September, but there are already a few things I'm mentally putting aside for December.
I'm trying not to get too carried away with the Christmas films just yet, but these are definitely on the list.
Emily in Paris - Season 6
24 December. Christmas Eve.
I'm very much looking forward to this one.
I'll hopefully have made my way through the previous five seasons by then, ready for the final season and one last dose of Emily's Parisian adventures, questionable decisions and fabulous outfits.
Honestly, I can't think of a better way to spend Christmas Eve than settling down with Emily in Paris.
The Holiday
There are some films that simply belong to December, and The Holiday is firmly one of them.
Snow, cosy houses, Christmas lights, Jude Law in a doorway... it's basically the cinematic equivalent of putting the heating on, getting under a blanket and deciding you're not leaving the sofa again.
This will be getting its annual outing once we're properly into the festive season.
Love Actually
Obviously, Love Actually is joining it.
I'm not interested in hearing that it's technically set around Christmas rather than being a Christmas film. If there are Christmas trees, festive music and Hugh Grant being Prime Minister, it counts.
It'll be staying firmly in the December watch pile - alongside approximately 700 other films I will inevitably insist are essential Christmas viewing.
So that's my autumn viewing sorted...
Between Stars Hollow, New York, Paris, murder mysteries, romantic comedies and a suspicious amount of fictional people making terrible decisions, I think I'm pretty well covered.
My ideal autumn evening is pretty simple: a nice dinner, pyjamas on, blanket out and something good on the television. Absolutely no plans whatsoever.
Honestly, I'm very happy with that.
Now I just need the weather to cooperate.
Molly
