Connect How did your love story begin?

We knew each other as kids—his mom was my Pre-K aide, he was in my sister’s class. Years later, a friend tried to set us up, but I wasn’t ready. Then he walked into my salon, and my heart skipped. We started chatting, and one night at Trivia, he gave me the cheesiest line. I laughed, offered him a shot, and somehow, I fell for his sweet, dorky charm. A year and a half later, I said “I do” to the boy I never saw coming—and it’s been the sweetest surprise.

What is your favorite memory you've shared as a couple?

Our first kiss was soft, sudden, and over too fast. I hadn’t planned it—neither did you, I think—but in that brief moment, something shifted. It was the kind of kiss that left me breathless, not because of its intensity, but because of what it awakened. I knew instantly it was a terrible idea, because in that small, stolen second, I lost my balance—and fell completely in love.

What would you do with $20,000?

We moved into our home 8 years ago and discovered a shattered sewage line just two days later. Tree roots were forcing in the south wall and infesting the drain tiles. Our nest egg vanished overnight, and winter revealed ice forming inside our windows. The funds we saved for new flooring had to go to emergency repairs. I would love to finally replace the old carpet with vinyl planks—then begin rebuilding our savings… and maybe even plan a small getaway someday.