Our love story began with a simple swipe right on Tinder. After a few days of texting and long, late-night conversations, Carl asked to meet. On June 20, 2016, after my shift, we had our first date at Burnham Harbor, talking into the early morning hours. From the start, we bonded over our shared love for our children, our upbringing, the 80s, and of course—Prince. Over the years, we’ve learned that being a “mixed” couple comes with its challenges—especially with Carl being a die-hard Cubs fan and my unwavering loyalty to the White Sox! We’ve learned to compromise and support each other… except when our teams play each other. Like any relationship, we’ve faced our share of challenges, but we’ve always found our way through them together—balancing love, work, and family. We are incredibly blessed to have the support of our families and amazing friends along the way. Last year, on July 4th, during our bucket-list Alaskan cruise, Carl asked me to marry him. After the initial shock wore off, I said, “Yesssss!” Ten years together is a beautiful journey, and now we are beyond excited to begin our next chapter—as husband and wife.