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Rep. Haley Stevens Found Love in a Hopeless Place: Fundraising for Congress

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haley stevens wedding


Everyone knows the worst part of running for office is asking people for money. “It gets to be a grind,” says Representative Haley Stevens. “You fundraise your tail off. You’re calling everybody, you’re doing all of this outreach, and your success really depends who picks up the phone.” But back in 2017, when the Michigan Democrat was campaigning for Congress—after telling a friend when things started to go south at what was supposed to be Hillary Clinton’s election night victory party, “If she doesn’t win, I’m going to run”—one of those fundraising calls changed her life.

One night in December 2017, after “two weeks of being hung up on,” Stevens was set to call people who had given via a crowdfunding campaign to thank them and hopefully turn them into repeat donors. “I get this number in front of me and it says Robert Gulley,” she says. “And I’m thinking, Rob Gulley? Like from high school?

Alora Rachelle

Stevens and Gulley weren’t well acquainted in high school, but they knew of one another. She remembers him as the boy with big brown eyes, who briefly sported a “baby mohawk” and that “his brain was almost too big for high school.” And they both vaguely remember taking the same improv class. At some point over the years, though, they became friends on Facebook, where Gulley saw Steven’s campaign fundraiser and thought, Oh, of course, I’ll donate.

So Stevens called him up that night and “did what I do with any supporter,” she says. “I was like, ‘Hey, this is my cell phone. Keep in touch.’” She asked Gulley to come to an event; he couldn’t make it, but he promised to support her campaign again—and he did. “He just kept supporting my campaign,” Stevens says. She remembers thinking, I wonder what he’s up to? Is he married and settled down? But ultimately, she says, “I was not looking to meet somebody—I was trying to get elected to Congress—so I just kind of forgot about it.” For his part, Gulley, a software engineer, says he had a bit of a “fan crush” on Stevens, but didn’t think much of it. “I mean, I was thrilled,” he says. “It felt really cool that a congressional candidate that I was pretty sure was going to win was calling me and we were talking about politics.”

haley stevens wedding

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As we now know, Gulley was right; Stevens did end up winning. About a month after she was sworn in in January 2019 as part of a historic class of Democratic women in Congress (“it was a whirlwind, super exciting,” Stevens says), she got a text from Gulley telling her he thought she was doing a great job. She just happened to be back home in her district so, on a whim, she invited Gulley to join her and some friends at a dive bar that night.

Unbeknownst to her, Gulley was sick in bed with a cold, but he didn’t let that stop him. “I said ‘yes’ because I was just so excited,” Gulley says. “I went to my medicine cabinet and just started stuffing everything in my face—Mucinex, Sudafed, you name it. And then I had a little moment with myself in the bathroom mirror where I was like, ‘You’re going to pull your shit together for two hours and go to this bar and pretend you’re not sick.’ And that’s what I did.” (“She’s pretty cute,” he adds, “so there was that motivating factor.”)

haley stevens wedding

Alora Rachelle

They ate snacks, played skee ball and a round of pool. It was a good night and Gulley says he walked away thinking he’d call her in a week or two, maybe even see her again sometime. But the very next morning he started getting random emojis from Stevens. There was a snowman; there was a sun; it was confusing. “At first, I didn’t get it,” Gulley says. “I was like, isn’t it if you like someone you’re supposed to wait a day or something? But she wasn’t playing by any of those rules.” He says Stevens would send some “weird emojis” and they’d have an exchange and then a couple of hours would go by and it would happen again. “This went on three or four times and by about midnight I figured it out, like, Oh, I think she likes me.

Stevens and Gulley went to dinner the following week and things continued from there. They started watching West Wing together. They went for drives, or for walks with Rob’s two dogs (Tara, 13, Hydra, 3). “I remember we were sitting in his car one day and he said, ‘Babe…’ and I was like, ‘He’s calling me babe!’” Stevens says. And by the time she invited him to her family’s Easter celebration they were calling each other boyfriend and girlfriend, too. “Haley was smitten from the get-go,” says Representative Cindy Axne (D-Iowa), one of Stevens’ close friends in Congress who threw her a bridal shower. “From the moment they met, I feel like she’s been on cloud nine. She’s wearing her heels more often—really doing it up these days. She’s got more spring in her step—she’s going to marry the man of her dreams.”

haley stevens wedding

Alora Rachelle

Stevens was frequently off working in Washington D.C., but they made it work, sending long texts and notes, and checking off important milestones like their first Christmas together along the way. When COVID-19 hit, Stevens was in her home district and needed to get back to D.C. for a vote. In a matter of hours, Gulley had packed up the car to drive her there. “He charioted me out to D.C. literally through the night. I was the first person in town for these votes,” Stevens says, laughing. “That’s just the type of person Rob is.” They stayed in D.C. through the early days of the pandemic, living in a 500-square-foot studio basement apartment with “bad wifi and two 70 pound dogs,” taking “really long walks” at night to stay sane.

The proposal came one day in June 2020. They were in Michigan and had decided to take Gulley’s small fishing boat out on a lake. It was one disaster after another: One boat launch was closed, so they tried another, but it was too crowded. They decided to get some takeout and their food took an hour to come. When they were finally able to get out on the lake, it was almost sunset. Gulley, sweating bullets, maneuvered to a pretty spot near a little island and dropped the anchor. “I forced myself to wait in silence for maybe 10 or 15 seconds—which is a long time when you’re about to propose to your girlfriend!—and I told myself, If she doesn’t say anything or divert the conversation, then I’m just going to do this.”

haley stevens wedding

Alora Rachelle

haley stevens wedding

Alora Rachelle

Gulley asked Stevens to come sit on the bench next to him and she, clueless, said she was good where she was sitting on the other side of the boat. He finally convinced her to come sit with him, and told her he needed a granola bar, which he had stashed in his tackle box. It was a ruse, of course—it was actually the ring stashed along with his lures. When Gulley picked the box up to retrieve the ring, his hands were shaking so bad he could barely open it.

“I’m like, ‘Why are you shaking the tackle box?’” Stevens says. And then suddenly Gulley was crouched over (he couldn’t kneel in the boat), holding a ring, asking her to marry him. “I just go, ‘Oh my gosh!’ Stevens says. “I couldn’t even answer him because I was so surprised at the whole thing.” She started rambling—something about needing a Magna Carta, a treatise, some sort of documentation for this big life decision, and Gulley is like, So is that a yes? “I said, ‘It’s a total yes!’” says Stevens.

haley stevens wedding

Alora Rachelle

The wedding was held on September 3 at a golf course near their respective hometowns in Michigan. Stevens’ favorite part about the planning process was working with small businesses where she grew up in the Detroit suburbs. Her dress is from Elizabeth’s Bridal Manor in Northville—“a magical experience,” Stevens says; the cake is from Love & Buttercream in Birmingham, the town in which Stevens and Gulley went to high school. “These are the communities that raised me and the places I represent in Congress—and now they are helping me down the aisle too,” Stevens says.

Sometimes she still thinks back to her first bid for Congress when, even though her love life wasn’t on her mind very often, she would occasionally catch herself thinking, Can I find a partner while running for office? “It was in the back of my mind a little bit,” Stevens says. “And then I was kind of like, you know what? I’ll just be married to the work.” But now she’s found the companionship she once craved. And Gulley, who once supported her campaign, has now vowed to support her in all aspects of life—til death do they part.

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Fashion

Jennifer Lopez Joined Ben Affleck In L.A. With Kids For Thanksgiving

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Jennifer Lopez Joined Ben Affleck In L.A. With Kids For Thanksgiving


On Wednesday night, Jennifer Lopez arrived in Los Angeles with her 13-year-old twins Max and Emme. The family was likely there to join Lopez’s boyfriend, Ben Affleck, for the Thanksgiving holiday. Lopez recently returned from the much colder climate of British Columbia, Canada, where she was filming her latest project, The Mother.

J. Lo touched down in her private jet wearing a teddy fur coat from Coach’s Autumn/Winter 2019 collection, and a pair of Ugg boots. Classic airplane outfit, celebrity style. Lopez and Affleck originally dated in 2002 and broke up in 2004. Their romance was rekindled earlier this year, soon after Lopez ended her relationship with baseball player Alex Rodriguez. The new couple went official in July, while celebrating Lopez’s 52nd birthday abroad.

Affleck’s most recent relationship with Ana de Armas ended in January after about a year together. He had divorced ex-wife Jennifer Garner in 2015 after being married for almost a decade. Garner and Affleck had three daughters, Violet, Seraphina, and Sam.

Before traveling back to the U.S., Lopez posted a story to Instagram Reels about how grateful she was to be headed home.

“Hey everybody, it’s my last day here shooting on The Mother out in Smithers in the snow, it’s been beautiful, but tonight I’m on my way home,” she said, as she walked through the wild landscape in a black coat and beanie.

“I’m so excited for Thanksgiving! I hope everybody has an amazing weekend with their families and their loved ones, there’s so much to be grateful for this year. I’m on my way!”

This is the first major holiday of the year since Lopez and Affleck reunited, so it’s likely to be a big one for both families.

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Everlane’s Black Friday Sale is Packed With Winter Essentials

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This is not a drill: Everlane just kicked off its Black Friday sale. Now through Monday, November 29, the direct-to-consumer brand is offering 20 to 40% off its cozy sweaters, minimalist activewear, and popular jeans. If you’re not super familiar with Everlane, let me spell it out for you: this is a big deal.

The e-tailer might be known for making sustainable, ethically made clothes and accessories at a fair, affordable price, but Everlane rarely has sales beyond its Choose What You Pay section. So, if you want to stock up on cute basics for less, now’s your time to shop.

And, in true Everlane fashion, the brand is taking this opportunity to give back. Everlane is partnering with Rodale Institute and help U.S. farmers transition their farmland to regenerative organic—and donating $15 per order to the cause. A great sale that gives back? I’m sold.

But, hurry! These deals are going to sell out fast, so you won’t want to waste any time filling your e-cart.

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1

The Cloud Turtleneck

$150 $105 (30% off)

Sweater weather is officially here, so why not pick up a few fresh layers? This turtleneck is the S’s: snuggly, stylish, and on sale. 

2

The Authentic Stretch High-Rise Skinny Jeans

everlane

$78 $58 (25% off)

Looking for a great pair of jeans, minus the markup? Everlane’s classic skinny style is not only super stretchy, but it’ll look good with everything from chunky sweaters to silky blouses.

3

The ReNew Teddy Slippers

everlane

$65 $39 (40% off)

Why limit the shearling trend to the upper half of your body? These plush slippers will give even your most worn-in sweats a stylish edge.

4

The Chunky Cardigan

everlane

$110 $77 (30% off)

Sure, this may not be the cardigan Taylor Swift was talking about. But, with an exaggerated collar and ribbed finish, this style would definitely score top marks from the singer herself. 

5

The Canvas Utility Boots

everlane

$115 $59 (40% off)

Brave the cold weather in style with Everlane’s chic boots. The canvas uppers and thick sole make these an ideal, all-weather option.

6

The Lofty-Knit Henley

everlane

$150 $105 (30% off)

Made with a nubby blend of merino wool, alpaca, and recycled nylon, this henley is perfect for a cozy night in, yet stylish enough to wear in public.

7

The Perform Bike Shorts

everlane

$45 $22 (51% off)

No, you can never have too many stretchy pants. Everlane’s bike shorts ooze major Lady Di vibes — for under $25, no less.

8

The ReLeather Court Sneakers

everlane

$110 $66 (40% off)

Made with recycled leather, these refresh sneakers will serve up major curb appeal — and Mother Nature’s seal of approval. 

9

The Field Dress

everlane

$100 $60 (40% off)

Found: a fun, flouncy frock you can wear year-round. For a wintry take, pair with opaque tights and your favorite chunky boots.

10

The Cozy-Stretch Wide-Leg Sweatpants

everlane

$150 $75 (50% off)

With a straight-legged silhouette and wool material, it’s safe to say these are the chicest sweatpants we’ve ever seen. To sweeten an already enticing offer, this pair is half off.

11

The Organic Cotton Flannel Popover

$80 $56 (30% off)

Everlane reimagined the traditional flannel with a cropped silhouette, voluminous sleeves, and a slew of minimalist colors.

12

The Studio Bag

everlane

$275 $192 (30% off)

Large enough to fit all your essentials, but not too big that it’ll weigh you down, Everlane’s Studio Bag is the perfect everyday purse.

13

The ReNew Long Liner

everlane

$158 $118 (25% off)

House Stark was right: winter really is coming. Made with recycled materials, this liner is a great layering piece that’s considerably chicer than the yesteryear’s Michelin Man-worthy parkas.

14

The Felted Merino Beanie

everlane

$50 $30 (40% off)

All set on clothes? Pick up this cheery beanie, which is 40% off its original price.

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Fashion

29 Winter Fragrances That Exude Main Character Energy

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29 Winter Fragrances That Exude Main Character Energy



29 Winter Fragrances That Exude Main Character Energy

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