Skirt: Romwe | Top: Forever 21 - similar | Shoes: Enzo Angiolini - similar 

| Bag: Michael Kors | Necklace: Dillards - similar 

One of the best things about being in the same city as Kollin is date night! While being apart four years in college, date nights were few and far between (months and months apart). So, when we would make a night of it, we made sure to make it special. Moving to Chicago provided a lot of opportunities for date nights and celebrating our anniversary was one we knew would be extra special. Because of the long distance we have never celebrated an anniversary together. Finally together and on year three, it'll be a night to remember for sure.

I love switching up from the traditional date night dress that many girls seem to grab. There are so many other silhouettes to try! A full A-line skirt adds drama to any outfit and when you add black to the equation - total elegance. When wearing all black I like to bring color into my accessories. An animal print shoe and turquoise necklace are both so fun and perfect for the end of Summer.

Whenever Kollin and I tell someone how long we've been together or our story, they are usually amazed that we made it through while attending college from across the country. One of the questions I always get  is "How do you do it?" or "Isn't that hard?" so I thought I would briefly elaborate on some things that helped Kollin and I for all you girls who are/are going to be long distance!

1) Communicate

This is important for any relationship, but for long distance it is the key. Talking everyday, even if it is just a "Good morning, I hope you have a good day," is what keeps you going. Kollin and I knew that going to college so far away from each other would be hard, but we also knew that we were the type of people that wanted to have our own paths and experiences. School always came first. Having that open communication and being upfront about what we wanted is what made us so strong and understanding of each other's wants and needs - even if that meant talking about our schedules over Skype at 1 am to find out when we could talk that week.

2) Understanding

There are going to be times when each partner is going to have a harder time than the other. Whether it is recruitment commitments, organization meetings, soccer practice or finals, each person has times when their relationship suffers a little bit for those other commitments. The important thing to remember is that life is a balance. As much as you'd like to stay up until 3 am talking to each other, life kinda gets in the way. Having that understanding will help you realize that putting your partners needs before your own is sometimes necessary.

3) Keep it positive

As much as being apart from your partner hurts, theres one thing that Kollin taught me that helped a lot. No matter how much you're hurting or missing them, spreading that around and being negative doesn't make anything better. Instead, focus on the positive and amazing things about your relationship. This will keep you in a good mindset and will honestly make the time go by more quickly. 

4) Surprise each other

Being so far apart, surprises can be harder to accomplish so you have to get a little bit creative. Even the smallest things can make a big impact. During finals I would send Kollin care packages with his favorite candy, cookies and sweets. From a young age we began writing love letters to each other. So, when Kollin would notice I was having a hard time being apart a letter would show up in the mailbox a few days later to cheer me up. Remembering to choose each other daily and focus on the small things will make all the difference. 

For those of you in long distance relationships, I hope this helped and shed some light on what you can do if you're having a hard time with it. Feel free to email me if you have any questions or just need a pep talk! Thanks so much for reading!