Leap of Faith Read online

  I agreed. It’s hard to admit, but we need help if we are going to continue to grow our business and not get burned out. It’s one of the best decisions we’ve made to free up our time and energy. Since then, we have looked for other ways to maximize the time we have to work on our business. Though we enjoy cooking for each other, we have found using a meal prep service has saved us significant amounts of time buying groceries, thinking of meals, and cooking. Our advice to other newlyweds: try to find ways you can free up your time by working together. For example, some Sundays Lauren and I will have a meal prep day where we cook and pack all the lunches we are going to have for the week. It’s fun to cook together and when you are both busy with your careers and your marriage, it’s tough to find the time for other responsibilities. As my parents like to say, many hands make light work.

  * * *

  Household Items We Couldn’t Live Without

  There are a lot of products out there designed to help with hygiene and housekeeping. Some of them are a little ridiculous—pore vacuum for removing blackheads, anyone? Or how about a toaster with a built-in griddle for cooking bacon and eggs? Other gadgets do actually make your life a lot easier. Here are a few that we are excited about:

  Ultrasonic toothbrush. We get a lot of compliments on our teeth, which is nice, followed by questions about oral care. First off, ultrasonic toothbrushes are a game changer. The ultrasonic vibrations are way more effective at cleaning than your standard electric toothbrush. Plus, ours has four different modes—clean, soft, whitening, and massage—plus a two-minute timer so you know you’re giving your pearly whites enough TLC.

  Air fryer. If you don’t have one of these multipurpose countertop cookers, our advice is to run, don’t walk, to the nearest home goods store. We use ours every day for breakfast, lunch, or dinner and sometimes all three. We might make bacon or hash browns for breakfast, a piece of salmon to go with a salad at lunch, and a whole chicken or steak for dinner. The appliance is faster than a conventional oven, easy to use, cleans up fast, and is able to fry without using any oil.

  Food scale. If you are meal prepping for the week ahead, a food scale can be invaluable for making sure your meals are properly proportioned. They also come in handy when you are working with a recipe that lists the ingredients in grams or ounces. If you are serious about cooking and nutrition, a food scale can be a powerful ally.

  chapter twenty HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

  Cameron

  Our first Christmas together came just a month after our wedding in 2018. Lauren and I decided to celebrate in Maine. The Hamiltons do not hold back when it comes to holidays, so I was excited to show Lauren all our traditions.

  We flew into town a couple days before Christmas. As we pulled up the driveway, the house was decked out in lights, holly, and a fresh layer of snow. Inside, Lauren admired all the wooden Santas scattered throughout the house. She first picked up the smallest Santa, about the size of a LEGO figure and wearing skis, which Mom had set on a windowsill that year at the front of the house. Lauren then moved on to the largest: a three-foot-tall stoic Santa standing guard in the front hall.

  “Where did you get these?” she asked.

  “Dad carved them and my aunt painted them,” I explained.

  “What? That’s amazing!”

  I was happy Lauren was already appreciating our traditions and I could not wait to show her one of the biggest of them all: the treasure hunt.

  The tradition started when we were kids. For my sixth birthday, my parents came up with an elaborate treasure hunt involving a parchment paper map with singed edges and a wooden chest with skull and crossbones, all handmade. They created a bunch of cryptic clues that took us all around the house and yard. The tradition has evolved so that treasure hunts now take place on family holidays like Easter, Thanksgiving, and especially Christmas. When we were kids, the prizes were chocolate coins and action figures. As my sister and I got older, the booty turned into little bottles of champagne, fireworks, and scratch-off tickets. The hunts have grown more elaborate as well.

  It’s become a sacred event for the family. So I was happy when Lauren dove in headfirst. In one leg of the hunt, we had to shoot a clay target to release the clue inside. Lauren took aim and nailed the target, even though it was her first time firing a gun.

  “You’re a natural,” I said with a smile.

  “Thanks, that was fun!” she replied, while pulling her jacket tighter around her.

  After finding the treasure, we went back inside and had some tea to warm up from the frigid expedition. I began divvying up the loot to everyone, including the scratch-off tickets.

  “Here you go, scratch away,” I said, passing Lauren a ticket. As I began working on my own, I heard Lauren softly ask, “Cameron, is this right?”

  Lauren handed me her ticket. I looked it up and down several times, hardly believing what I was seeing.

  “Yes, it is,” I said.

  “I won five thousand dollars!” she cried.

  Lauren

  Winning those five G’s was definitely a shock. As Cameron and family took turns checking out the ticket, I thought to myself, This is a sign that I’m where I’m supposed to be. The whole experience of Christmas in Maine was really, really special. But Cam is right: his family does not mess around with the traditions. The morning we arrived, I was met with a twelve-foot spruce that Cam’s dad, Poppa Hamilton, had cut down himself. On Christmas morning, the presents were literally overflowing from the living room into the dining room.

  Christmas in the Speed household was a little different, though we always celebrated as a family. Relatives would come in from all over for a few days of singing, laughing, and cooking. My dad would put on Marvin Gaye or some holiday soul music. We’d sing along with the classics, dance to our favorites, and drink our holiday cocktails (spiced and spiked for the grown-ups!). Later, we’d pile into the family room to watch old family videos and flip through photo albums.

  Now that Cam and I are creating our own holidays, we’re drawing on the best of our family traditions. For our first Thanksgiving together, we had everyone to our home in Atlanta. I was so nervous in the days before about hosting for the first time. I wanted the food to be perfect and for everyone to get along and have a good time. I think a lot of holiday stress comes from all the high expectations. But as soon as everyone settled in, with the moms in the kitchen cooking and the dads out on the front porch drinking beer, I remembered the true meaning of the holiday.

  Later, we sat down to an insane feast. My mom had worked her magic with the turkey. Cam’s mom made the apple pies. My dad was on sides detail, including greens and yams. And I made my signature mac ’n’ cheese. As we took our seats at the table, my brother spoke up. He had been quiet throughout the day, so I was pleasantly surprised by his participation.

  “I’d like to give the Thanksgiving prayer,” he said. He then proceeded to deliver the most beautiful and profound prayer. It was like something out of a movie.

  Lauren’s Mac ’n’ Cheese

  Ingredients

  1 lb elbow macaroni pasta

  Olive oil

  4 tbsp unsalted butter

  1 ½ cups half-and-half

  1 cup 2% milk

  2 tbsps all-purpose flour

  4 oz mascarpone cheese (cream cheese works too)

  8 oz Muenster cheese, shredded

  8 oz Monterey Jack cheese, shredded

  8 oz sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

  4 oz Colby Jack cheese, shredded

  1 tsp salt

  1 tsp onion powder

  1 tsp garlic powder

  1 tsp smoked paprika

  1 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)

  1/2 tsp black pepper

  Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

  2. Bring a pot of water to a boil, then add in the pasta.

  3. Cook the pasta until it is al dente, then drain the water and lightly toss in olive oil.

  4. In a l
arge sauce pan, melt the butter over medium-low heat.

  5. Add flour to the melted butter and whisk until smooth.

  6. Add milk and half-and-half to the mixture and whisk in slowly.

  7. Reduce the heat to low, then add the cheese, reserving some for topping. Stir continuously.

  8. Add in salt, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne (if using), and black pepper and continue to stir until the cheese sauce is smooth.

  9. Transfer the pasta into a 9 x 13-inch baking dish, then pour the cheese sauce over the pasta and mix.

  10. Spread the reserved cheese on top until fully covered.

  11. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes.

  12. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 to 10 minutes.

  Bon appétit!

  Cameron

  It’s been such a joy finding our holiday spirit together, and that includes matters of faith and religion. While I have always had my own spirituality, the way that Lauren has come into my life has strengthened my convictions. As with all the most important topics, we started this discussion back in the pods.

  “Tell me about your spirituality,” I asked Lauren.

  “I have traditional Christian beliefs,” Lauren answered, “but I also have my own take on it. So while I don’t necessarily go to church every Sunday, prayer is an important part of my life, and I try to listen to sermons regularly online. I have a strong connection to God, and I like to keep it on my own terms.”

  “I can relate to that,” I said, explaining that I grew up in a Christian household and that I was confirmed into the Church. I also detailed how I spent a large part of my adolescence and adulthood studying world religions and trying to reconcile my religion and philosophy research with my science-based understanding of the world.

  “What are your beliefs?” Lauren asked.

  “I have many beliefs, but the guiding one is that having compassion for one’s self and others leads to a higher connection to God,” I said. “That’s why I believe Christianity has tremendous merit. Jesus Christ is such a positive role model, in the way that he preached universal love and the golden rule of doing unto others as you would have done unto yourself. I think practicing compassion is the one thing we can all agree leads to a better world.”

  “How do you feel about going to church with me or praying with me?” Lauren asked.

  “I am happy to pray with you or listen to a sermon with you. I support you in your pursuit of prayer and connection to God.” Even though Lauren and I do not have identical beliefs, we are still able to strengthen our spiritual connection with each other through shared prayer and recognition of how God put us together to bring more good into the world.

  When this topic comes up with regards to children, it’s with the same spirit of compassion and tolerance. I have no problem with our kids going to church or learning the teachings of Christianity, as long as they understand that they will ultimately get to make their own decisions.

  Lauren

  I do want to raise our children in the Church, but really I want to raise good people who respect others and the world. Cameron and I share that larger value, so I know we’ll always find the right compromise when it comes to our family’s spirituality and religion.

  Sometimes I dream about a big house, fully decked out, Hamilton-style, with lights and candles in every room and a big ol’ Christmas tree in the corner. Both families are there—parents, siblings, and other relatives, including my aunt Sheila, who is grooving out with her old-school dance moves to some Motown Christmas album, like the Temptations or Diana Ross. Out back, Sparx is rolling around with his pooch pal, one of the latest additions to the family. Then there’s the very best part of the fantasy—our pride and joy, baby Hamilton. I don’t know if it’s a boy or girl, and it doesn’t matter. All I pray for is continued blessings for our entire family. Together with the love Cameron and I share, the celebration of family is our highest virtue of all. And the holidays are special to us.

  * * *

  Avoiding a Holiday Train Wreck

  The holidays are all about comfort and joy. But let’s face it, they can also be incredibly stressful. All the time spent together creates a lot of opportunities for conflict. Here are a few rules for steering clear of strife and holiday burnout:

  Practice tolerance. If you’re spending the holidays at the in-laws’, recognize that they will have some traditions that are different from your own. Try to be open to the new experiences. Who knows—you may experience something like a new food or activity that makes the holiday even more special for you.

  Manage expectations. There’s no such thing as a perfect holiday. Don’t be discouraged if the festivities don’t turn out exactly as you planned. Likewise, if you’re hosting for the first time, don’t put too much pressure on yourself to create the Best. Holiday. Ever. The most important thing is that you are getting together with the people that you love and appreciating the nature of the holiday. Everything else is just extra.

  Keep it simple. The most memorable holiday moments are often simple ones—trimming the tree or taking a family walk before Thanksgiving dinner. It’s worth taking a moment to look around and take a mental snapshot. It is a blessing to have people you love in your life.

  chapter twenty-one SUDDEN CELEBRITY

  Cameron

  The whole time Lauren and I were starting a life together, we knew that another narrative about our relationship was taking shape in the editing room of Love Is Blind. We reached out to Production many times before the show premiered, asking for any kind of update. Each time we called, they assured us they were working very hard on the edits, but that they didn’t want to commit to a release date yet because there was still work to do. After the calls, Lauren and I would break down what was discussed to determine if there were any clues in what Production had told us. After a year of anxiously waiting, we finally got word of the premiere date, but we didn’t get any kind of sneak peek. We had to watch the February 13, 2020, premiere on Netflix just like everyone else.

  Lauren

  After nearly a year and a half of waiting, you can imagine how anxious we were. We were at home in Atlanta at the time. The show actually premiered at 3:00 a.m. EST, but we ultimately decided it was best to get some rest, since we had no idea what to expect once the show was out there in the world. We woke up around 6:00 a.m., made some coffee and tea, and settled in to watch what we’d been waiting for what felt like a lifetime. Once we began watching, it was like being transported back to those moments in time; we were taken back to the pods. The emotions rushed back when we watched ourselves walking into the facility for the first time and having our first pod date.

  Later that week, we went to Krog Street Market, a popular Millennial hangout in Atlanta. We were grabbing some food when all of a sudden a group of people came up to us. “It’s so great to see you guys together,” one of them said. We smiled and said polite thank-yous but then got out of there as quickly as we could. That was the last time we went out anywhere busy until the official press tour a couple weeks later.

  Cameron

  For nearly a year and a half, Lauren and I had been living a quiet married life. There was solace in our anonymity—few people knew about Lauren’s and my journey together, so we were free to grow our relationship without outside opinions weighing in. We had been careful not to post each other on social media, even though we were excited to share our relationship. All of that changed with the premiere of the show. Now people were commenting every minute of every day on our posts, letting us know what they thought of us and our relationship. And so with the premiere of Love Is Blind, we found the start of another test for our marriage: learning how to block out the opinions of others.

  The day Lauren and I were shown to our courtside seats at Madison Square Garden, a few minutes before tip-off to the Knicks game, was the day our newfound fame truly started to sink in. It was the first week in March 2020 and we were in New York City for the LIB press tour, which had premiered a few wee
ks earlier. For Lauren and me, it felt like our first time stepping out into the public eye, so there was no margin for error: we hired a wardrobe stylist, a hair stylist, and a makeup artist—the whole nine yards. It was all very different from the show, which required us to do all that ourselves.

  We were looking and feeling our best for our Big Apple debut. The day had been a whirlwind of new experiences, from our first paparazzi encounter with the well-known celebrity photographer Miles Diggs (aka Diggzy) to interviews on huge platforms such as the Today show, PeopleTV, and Barstool Sports. Our publicist made sure we hit every possible media outlet we could that day and in the days that followed. By the time we made it to the game, we were coasting on fumes, but we weren’t about to miss an opportunity to sit courtside at Madison Square Garden. It was a trip to look around and see celebrities—we even spotted the rapper Cam’ron making his way to a nearby seat. During halftime, I headed to the lounge MSG had generously provided us access to and ran into Cam’ron in the bathroom. “Nice suit,” he said as he passed by.

  I made it back to my seat beside Lauren just as the Celebrity Cam took over the Jumbotron that hung from the rafters, high above center court. All of a sudden, there he was again.

  “That’s crazy; I just ran into him in the bathroom,” I said to Lauren. “He complimented my suit.”

  “Isn’t this amazing?” said Lauren when suddenly the Celebrity Cam panned to us.

  “From the runaway hit Netflix show Love Is Blind, it’s Lauren and Cameron Hamilton!” the loudspeaker blared. The crowd went wild. Then they played a clip from the show, the toothbrush scene (of course!). The Garden crew had slipped us a couple brushes, so we improvised a little skit where we pretended to brush each other’s teeth. The crowd went wild.