
Friend Files is a feature I added to my blog, Away With Words, a while back – this being the 27th installment. Past installments appear under the “Friend Files” tag on my blog. I will be interviewing a friend of mine (and in this case, she’s a friend who also happened to become my wife!) and showcasing why they are a friend to me and what I like about them, and also a mini-interview (five questions) that detail what they think of me. It’s a way to acknowledge my friends out there and what they’re up to and also to introduce them to my larger group of friends, acquaintances, and anyone else who might be interested in reading online.
Today, I will be talking about my lovely wife, Peyton Carro. Before I get into what I think of her, here is my mini-interview with Peyton (exchanged over e-mail) where she jotted down just a few thoughts:

Peyton Carro – Wife, Dog Mom, Barista, Lover of Avacados
PEYTON CARRO’S FRIEND FILES INTERVIEW
ME: Give me some details about your life.
PEYTON CARRO: I am a full-time barista at a Starbucks here in Portland Maine. I recently married the love of my life, Joseph Carro, in September of 2017. So now I am Mrs. Carro. I have a two year old teacup chihuahua named Brewtus who is only 5 lbs., and could probably fit in your morning coffee cup. My husband and I call him Squish, as we’re afraid of squishing him daily. When I’m not smooshing my face into my husbands, or cuddling my pup, you’ll find me writing posts for my very own lifestyle blog, Beyond Pretty Thoughts. I enjoy traveling to new places, documenting through photos/blog posts, watching Quentin Tarantino films, reading novels by F.Scott Fitzgerald, and thrifting.
ME: How exactly did we meet?
PEYTON CARRO: We met working together at the Starbucks we both still currently work at. We were coworkers who became friends, and worked ourselves into quite the predicament which led to us becoming husband and wife. Wouldn’t change a thing.
ME: What is one good memory involving me?
PEYTON CARRO: Kissing you for the very first time. How it sent shivers down my spine, and made me delirious for like a week.
ME: Why exactly are we still friends?
PEYTON CARRO: Well given that we’re married, we are legally tied to one another. Also you’re the love of my life, and my best friend.
ME: Anything you want me to plug?
PEYTON CARRO: Well, I have an Instagram, and I also have that lifestyle blog I mentioned – Beyond Pretty Thoughts.
Anything else you want to ask me I can answer on the spot ❤️
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Now, obviously – Peyton is my wife. But that has not always been the case. In fact, I had done a Friend Files segment on her in the past when both of our lives were completely different. We were both really different people, and I think that we have each helped each other grow in positive ways since then. I know that she has definitely helped me.
When I first met Peyton, I think we were both healing or trying to heal in different areas of our lives. I was living with a girlfriend of mine at the time and though she was an amazing person, it really just wasn’t working out and neither of us were happy. I was still partially wounded from a failed marriage, and my brain was just all out of sorts. Peyton was going through a similar situation and so we sort of commiserated about our situations when we worked together. And through continued communication and shared experiences, we ended up forming a really strong bond that eventually blossomed into the marriage we now have.
Though things were turbulent during the transition between relationships, and though people were hurt in ways that they needn’t have been, I think in the end everyone is better off. Peyton is my best friend, my adventuring companion, my lover, and even my co-worker. Just as she said above – I honestly wouldn’t change anything because there were lessons learned and no love lost between us. We are stronger, and we have a really solid foundation of trust and support. We have so much fun on a daily basis, I can’t wait to see what’s in store for us in the future.
With all that said – I will now post some photos that showcase my relationship with Peyton, and maybe give you some idea as to how beautiful she is on the outside and the inside. And as a side note – I think I will begin a monthly feature where I check in with her from time to time and we can talk about married life. Please look for her in future installments!
Anyway, on to the photos:

In September of 2017, Peyton and I were married by her stepfather, Tony (you can see him in between us). Photo by Chloe Viner Collins.

Peyton dresses up with me sometimes and does nerdy things with me. I love that she will join in my geeky interests. This is us getting ready for Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

Peyton will go anywhere with me, and she is just as ready to have a spontaneous photo shoot as I am. This was taken in a valley in the White Mountains of New Hampshire by me.

I sometimes call Peyton the “selfie queen”. She is so gorgeous.

I took this photo when she and I were exploring Portsmouth, New Hampshire. I love taking photos of her, even if sometimes she hates being my constant subject.

When Peyton and I were having a mini-honeymoon in Vermont, we went to Burlington and hung out at Vintage Photography. I love that she’s willing to try new things with me.

I’m a massive history buff, and she loves history too – so she will come to forts and things with me. This was taken at Fort McClary by yours truly.

Peyton with our pet teacup chihuahua, Brewtus. He’s only five pounds.
Tagged: Adventure, Beauty, Beyond Pretty Thoughts, Blog, Blogger, Blogging, Brewtus, Burlington, Chihuahua, Chloe Viner Collins, cosplay, Dog, Fort McClary, Friend Files, Friends, Honeymoon, Husband, Husband and Wife, Instagram, Interview, Joseph Carro, Lifestyle, Lifestyle Blog, Lightsaber, Love, Maine, Marriage, Married Life, New England, New Hampshire, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Peyton Carro, Portland, Portsmouth, Relationships, Rey, Star Wars, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Starbucks, Suicide Girls, Travel, Vermont, Vintage Photography, White Mountains, Wife, Wifey, Writer