Heart to Heart

This weekend I had the pleasure of being with my main squeeze for 4 whole days (that is why I have been missing a few days)!! For those of you who don't know this NEVER happens except during 1 week of our holiday break. He is a college football coach so he is recruiting during this time of the year and I am always traveling with work. It was so nice to be able to run errands together, cook together, hang out with friends, and most of all spend time together. It almost seemed like we actually lived in the same state for a few days.

Ryan and I have shared our past with each other and really got to know each other over the past year. He has also been a good sport and answered any other random questions about life I have had for him. You all know we women want to know ALL the details about any and every event. Men not so much. They just want to give the minimum answer possible. Well this weekend Ryan asked me a few questions about some guys from the past? Ryan is not much of a talker about the past so this really stood out to me.

I started thinking of all the really really crappy guys I have liked, dated, had interest in...etc. Then I thought how AMAZING the Lord is with his timing and the people he places in your life. Ryan could not have entered my life at a more perfect time. He could not be a bigger Blessing than he is. I could not possibly be treated any more like a Queen than I am when I am with him. He is so loving, encouraging, cares about my every want and need, strives to serve me, goes above and beyond to prove his love for me, and when no one else ever did he always makes me feel like I am the most beautiful woman on this earth.

When we finished talking about the questions he asked, he looked at me and said.... " I thank God everyday that they did not think of you the way I do because that means you might have been off the market when I came into the picture. Their stupidity has made me the luckiest man alive." I'm sorry where did he come from and can I make a lot more that are like him for the other women in this world that need to be loved??? I do not know why the big man upstairs thought I deserved to have someone as wonderful as Ryan but I am so glad that he created him just for me. I don't tell him enough how much he means to me. If I can make him feel half as special as he makes me feel then I will have him floating on cloud 9.

Weekend in Atlanta before I moved here.

He also said something that  touched me more than anything this weekend. Out of no where he said "Lara Ellen I want you to know you complete me." Once again Thank you Lord for this blessing. It hit me in May I will be saying I do...it keeps getting closer. I have been repeating that line in my head over and over again "you complete me." At the time all I said was awwww. This is exactly why God made marriage so important. He wanted us to find the person that completes us. He wants us to honor, love, cherish, serve, and commit our lives to the ONE that completes us. Ryan, I have never felt as special as I do when I am with you. I have never been shown the love that you chose to give to me. I have never been served and pursued (as the Bible says we should be) by anyone like you in my life. Without any hesitation or doubt I know you are the one that completes me as well. I'm not the cheesy type and I don't think there is anything cheesy about it when it is Biblical and of the Lord.

As stressful as it has been to plan a wedding, I can't wait for it to happen. May 25th I will say I Do to the man that the Lord made just for me. Thank you Lord for holding true to your promises and in your timing bringing me the biggest blessing I could have ever been given.

The night we got engaged!

From Sunny to Snow

I just spent the last 4 days in Orlando Florida for a Leadership Conference with my company. I love the company I work for and I love trips like this where we are all together. I am the "new girl" so the more I get to meet people the happier I am. I love building relationships with people. As a matter of fact I remember in my interview I told the President of the company that was the number one thing I loved about my job ...building relationships. I think to be successful in any area of life you have to get to know people on more than a hey how are you basis. Getting to know everyone's story really is amazing to me. Ok so enough about how much I love meeting people!!

On the first night we were in Orlando we had a vendor fair. Numerous business's team up with Peak each year for different reasons. You have to have different vendors on call at all times in the student housing industry because you never know what will happen! This night is a way for the Vendors to say Thank You for using us here are some goodies now please keep calling on us!! Lets just say I love Tervis Tumbler cups and one vendor gave me a set of 4...SCORE!

Even with amazing food like this all week...I did so good. 

The second day we had half a day of leadership sessions and then the rest of the day free. We could do whatever we wanted and our company gave us $75 as happy money. I don't know of many companies that do amazing things for their employees like Peak does. To say I am thankful/grateful for my job is an understatement. I have never been to Disney World in my 27 years of living. I have always heard of how great it is so I made that my activity for the free time. Several of my other co-workers wanted to go as well. It was so much fun and I am so happy that we got to experience that together. I loved Cinderella's Castle and the light show with fireworks at the end of the night. I will say that I am so glad I went but I still love my childhood memories at Dollywood.

Let me insert that walking through Disney I sweated like crazy. It was 83 everyday down there and in Atlanta is was sleeting. Yes from Sunny to Snow.

The final full day we had a guest speaker, break out sessions, as well as the Annual Black and White Ball. This is where each year Peak gives out its awards for the properties, manager's, and employees that went above and beyond that year. I am so proud of my East Coast properties. They racked up on the awards this year!

My amazing Boss Jessica

One of my Wonderful East Coast Property Manager's

Some of us Corporate Office Ladies

Finally....Peak is very involved in employee wellness. We will begin the Biggest Loser Contest on January 27-May 24th! I am so excited and I am looking forward to winning some money!! This is a huge encouragement to me to get Hott Bride Ready. Tomorrow is once again weight in day. So far I am down 3.3 pounds I want to get over the 5 pound hump...wish me luck.

Busy Bee

If you follow along with my day to day life you know that on Friday I came home from a week of work in Gainesville. Tomorrow morning I leave for Orlando for the week. Beyond working, I am trying to also plan a wedding. Let's just say any down time that I have is spent doing anything i can to towards my wedding. When I got home Friday I was excited to see that my 2nd set of Save the Dates had arrived.

My life as of lately...My Suitcase!

Let me explain. I have been doing anything that I can to save money when it come to my wedding. I went to college for Advertising and Human Development. I'm pretty creative so I decided to make my own Save the Dates and have them printed through Vista Print. When I got my proof I loved them. I printed them out to make sure they would look good printed and they did! I was so happy that I got them done for super cheap and exactly what I wanted. When I received them it was a different story. They were extremely blurry. So blurry that you could not see the date that we were getting married. I decided I did not have the money to re-do them I was just going to have to send them as is or not send them at all. Inside the box they had a card that said if you are not 100% satisfied call us. I decided to give it a try. They were very nice and after an hour on the phone they completely redid my Save the Dates. The only problem it was not exactly how I had designed it but I guess close enough. Whatever, they re-did them for free!!

SInce my arrival home I have been cleaning, 4 loads of laundry, taking out trash, addresses envelopes, and trying to get my actual wedding invitations ordered. That will be taken care of at some point this wee.k. I am realizing that it is getting closer and closer to my wedding date. The more I look at what I need to do the more I realize I am going to be an even busier bee than I already am. It's ok this will be the one and only time in my life that this event takes place. I don't mind working hard for something that means so much.

All the envelopes I addressed today.

Speaking of something that means so much...my better half! He has a really important day ahead of him tomorrow. I ask that you please say a prayer that God opens doors if it is the right door that needs to be opened! I will update everyone later about what is going on but at the moment I can't really disclose any information.

I think we're pretty cute together :) Gotta head to bed I have a early flight in the AM.

Don't give up

So this morning when I weighed in I had only lost 4 ounces. Yes, you read that right 4 ounces. I was so discouraged. I instantly texted Ryan letting him know I was not happy. I had to tell myself "DO NOT GIVE UP, you did amazing all week no matter what the scale says, keep doing what you are doing and maybe you will start seeing results." I am the type of person who needs instant gratification when it comes to diets to be able to stick with it. Then again I did not gain weight in a day so I am not going to lose it in a day. I remembered a little later on that I forgot to get my body measurements for the week. Thank goodness I remembered because I got a little bit of hope. I have lost at least an inch in all areas some areas of my body even more!!!

I am now more determined to work out more, keep drinking my water, and continue eating healthy. I want to see the number on the scale drop, drop, drop. I have got to become ONE HOTT BRIDE.....no excuses! My goal is 10 pounds a month until my wedding. I do not think that goal is out of reach. I still have 3 weeks left in the month of January to hit that goal. I am hoping this week I drop a little more than 4 ounces. The good news is the number on the scale did not grow so that is always a plus!

Funny thing when you are trying to diet everything comes your way. I just got the call today that our cake tasting is next Sunday! Looks like I will have to do super amazing until Sunday!!! Can't wait to let you all know what flavors we decide on!!! I love this part of wedding planning...to bad my diet does not feel the same way!!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Ready for my Own Bed

Have you ever been longing for your own bed to sleep in? That is how I feel after a week of traveling. I am so excited to be back home but it's only for a few days. I head back out Monday morning for Orlando.

I sm so excited that I am going to the land of Mickey and Minnie!!! I have never been to Disney and I have heard my entire life how amazing it is. The main thing I want to see is the huge castle, Princess, whatever you want to call it. Yes, I am going to Orlando for work but we get one day of play and that is where I am choosing to go!

Now for what you really want to see.....the pictures from my trip in Gainesville! I'm still not happy that they would not upload while I was traveling.

First off I am a huge BAMA fan so I'm used to Crimson and White. I was heading to Gainesville on the day of the National Championship. I did wear crimson loud and proud.  However, I arrived and I was not in BAMA anymore. This is what greeted me when I got off the plane.

And he was not just at the airport...he was everywhere

One of my favorite things about Gainesville was the Mossy Trees....Ahhhh Beautiful. You may not be able to see it well but it is very simular to what you would see in Savannah, GA.

Food was a plenty in Gainesville. When I travel one of the things I like to do is visit local places that you cant find anywhere else. Here are just a few that we went to...

I had naked wings at Gainesville Ale House.

I am dieting which is not easy while traveling. However, I had tilapia at Ballyhoo and it was wonderful. Plus it was within the diet regulations!

We had the suggestion to go to Satchel's. It was the biggest hippy hole in the wall place you have ever seen. It was one of the best places I have ever been! I even bought some of their "secret" vinaigrette dressing to bring home. DELISH

And finally, I mentioned that BAMA was playing in a National Championship on Monday night. I was not going to let being at The University of Florida stop me from showing my pride!! I watched the game from the comfort of my hotel bed. I am soooooooo happy that we brought home #15. I could not be more proud!!! ROLL TIDE

Can't wait to try out some new places in Orlando! Tomorrow is my weigh in....please wish me luck after this week of traveling. Now I will get in the bed that I have been dying for. Goodnight