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French Quarter

May 12, 2017

Posted by Aly Hess Leave a Comment

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Hi! We’re Aly & Jeremy, a wife and husband based in Fort Wayne, Indiana. We use this space to share about our adventures at home, around the world, and in life.

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Life Lately

Almost every nook and cranny of our home is filled

Almost every nook and cranny of our home is filled with sentimental pieces. I’m the daughter, granddaughter, and niece that will gladly take items the family may otherwise get rid of or have tucked away in closets for decades, untouched. The kind of traveler that looks for leaves and shells and rocks to keep in my pockets and carry with me, so I can always hold a piece of where I’ve been. Usually, I have no idea where these things may come to live in my own home, but they always manage to find their perfect places in time.

These shelves alone hold a basket full of stones and shells from around the world, framed high school love letters my grandpa wrote to my grandma in the 1940s, an assortment of found and inherited books, some well more than a century old, and sweet portraits of my great grandparents.

While I strive to avoid clutter, I do love filling every room with as many meaningful pieces as I can. Because while many things are just things, some are so much more. 🤍

#interiordesign #heirlooms #shelfdecor #shelfstyling

A love letter to Canterbury: For a fleeting year,

A love letter to Canterbury:

For a fleeting year, you were the backdrop of my becoming—your cobblestone streets and cathedral spires an ever-present reminder of the past, your flower-lined pathways and flowing River Stour a symbol to keep blooming, to keep moving toward the future.

I wandered your streets back then as a dreamer, tracing my own footsteps between ancient walls and late-night laughter, finding friendship in the melodies of buskers and clinking pints, and comfort in learning how some places, like some people, leave a mark on your soul.

Returning to you last August—older, wiser, and carrying the weight of grief heavy in my chest—I found solace in your familiar embrace. The same golden light poured over the rooftops, music still wove through the city center, the river continued flowing gently through the canals. In the rhythm of your heartbeat, I rediscovered my own. Each of us changed in ways both subtle and profound—some pieces of ourselves unrecognizable, some lost to time—yet you still felt like home.

It was good seeing you again, old friend. 🤍

#canterbury #england #travel #wanderlust

Starting the days with sun rays and seeing them th

Starting the days with sun rays and seeing them through to golden hour was a weekend highlight over here. ✨

Cheers to strong, confident women, to those on the

Cheers to strong, confident women, to those on their journey of becoming, and to those lifting each other up along the way.

In years past, I’d never post this photo. I’ve picked it apart, zoomed in on every so-called flaw, critiqued every angle—the jet-lagged smile and hair. Focused only on what’s outwardly showing, and likening that to who I am. But, like so many, I’m learning to stop seeing myself through the lens of self-doubt—whether in my appearance, my demeanor, or most importantly, my potential. Today, I choose to honor the woman in this picture, not for how she looks or how she feels on her worst days, but for who she is and what she’s done.

This photo was taken in Paris—a city I dreamed of, saved for, planned for, and made a reality through my own hard work and relentless lust for life. A city I walked through with wonder and gratitude, proof that the girl who long doubted herself (and often still does) is capable of carving her own path and going after what she wants. I’d done it before, I’ve done it since, and I’ll keep doing it as long as I live—regardless of the hurdles that come along the way. Myself included.

So today, I raise a glass to all the women doing the hard things—often with soft hearts or in seemingly impossible situations. The ones chasing dreams, rebuilding from ashes, advocating for themselves and others, learning to love what they see in the mirror. The ones who lift others up even when they’re still finding their own footing.

May we recognize our own strength. May we remind each other of it. May we never let our self-doubt, other people, or circumstances dim our light.

Here’s to us. To our journeys, our resilience, our unwavering pursuit of the lives we deserve.

Happy International Women’s Day. 🤍

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Who is behind Beard & Bloom? Hello! We're Aly Hess and Jeremy Weiks, a wife and husband living in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with our sweet miniature dachshund, Rosie.

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