As most love stories start these days, Ali and Mike met through a dating app! Hinge to be specific. Ali saw the picture of Mike and puppy Scarlet and instantly swiped right, while Mike saw Ali’s million dollar smile and also swiped right. Ali was living in Wrigleyville at the time, so an obvious first date location was at Chicago institution, Sluggers. Mike also couldn’t pass up a chance to show off his athleticism and love for baseball, by taking a shot in the batting cages. While Ali was *slightly* impressed by the batting cages, she was more interested in Mike’s love for animals and family, which were values she also had.

As Mike and Ali got to know each other, they realized they had a lot more in common than they initially thought! Mike played baseball growing up in Glenview with Ali’s cousin’s husband. Mike also lived in Evanston, just a few blocks from Ali’s family when they were both very young.

At that point the rest was history, Ali moved to Mike’s house in Des Plaines, where they were initially pet parents to Scarlet, Garfield, and Oscar. And in the last year became real parents to the best little dude around, Mason.