Day of Love

I consider everyday that I get to spend with Ryan a special one. I know that sounds cheesy but we unlike a lot of couples do not get to see each other but about once every 2 weeks if that much. He treats me like a queen at all times. I ask him all the time why does he love me so much? I know I am a handful at times!!! I am thankful that he does because I have never been treated as wonderfully by anyone in my life. He is the most thoughtful man I have ever met.

Ignore these eyes we have going....it is a work in progress for me. I am really trying to help him keep his eyes open in pictures. It's a bigger task than you think.

Last weekend we had our first wedding shower as you all know. Well we also did Valentine's because we will not see each other again until the end of the month, possibly not until March 3. Trust me it's not my favorite but we are making it work while we have to.

I have been working out and eating healthier since the new year began. I told Ryan that instead of flowers, chocolate, or really bad food I really wanted a FIT BIT. He looked it up called me and said wait you want THAT little thing?? I laughed and said yes. My co-workers Heather and Brittany both have one and I love seeing how they use it. Let me explain a FIT BIT is an all in one pedometer, calorie counter, activity log, food log, mile counter, and fitness aid. You can link it with your iphone and with your computer. I also use an app called myfitnesspal and it uploads the calories you burn automatically for you.

Needless to say of course my Prince in Shining Armor came through with a FIT BIT!!! Yay I am so excited and have been using it like crazy, The average person is supposed to walk 10,000 steps a day. Do you know how hard that is? I never dreamed it would be so difficult but if you sit at a desk all day like me it really is much harder than expected. I love it because it encourages me to make sure I am walking as much as possible. The last thing that I want to say about it is you can compete with your friends on who gets the most steps in a day/week/etc. It really is fun to have accountability with your friends and co-workers.

 I could not believe he actually had a bag and tissue paper. The very first gift swap we ever had he just sat on it to hide what he was going to hand me. No paper, no bag, no nothing!

Here she is my pride and joy of the moment!

I also asked that while in Tuscaloosa for our shower that we go to Hokkaido one of my favorite Japanese Steakhouses. I used to not eat that type of food and then I went there and was sold. Ryan has never eaten that kind of food so he really was not excited but said he would take me. We ended up having our Valentone's Dinner with several of our friends!!! It could not have been any more perfect. I love that Ryan is so easy going, loves hanging out with my friends, and could care less that our Valentine's Dinner was spent with them. He is so happy to spend time with me in any way, shape, or form.

After dinner we went and hung out at a local place called Moe's. They had a live band which our friends Rob and Shelby love.

 Why yes, that is Shelby taking Ryan for a little spin on the dance floor...LOVE IT

Here the three of us are. There were more people I just did not have my camera out very much which is shocking.

Finally I want to show just one of the examples of how thoughtful Ryan is. He ALWAYS gets me a card for everything. I NEVER buy cards which you would think it would be the other way around. Anyway, I have personally had to go shopping with him to get his mom a card and it is an act of congress. He takes so much time out to find the perfect one. I know it is no different for me. Please read this card that pure made me tear up. Such a sweetie.

My day of LOVE is not just February 14th it is everyday that I get to spend/talk with Ryan.

Just FYI ...I did give him 3 seasons of DALLAS and lots of his favorite candy. Yes, he is my Paw Paw. He was happy as he could be.

HAPPY VALENTINE's DAY to all of you Lovely Readers out there. I will be gone to Gainesville, Florida for work all this week so I want to make sure I get the chance to tell you all!

Wedding Showers Bring May Flowers

My amazing bridesmaids hosted our first wedding shower this past Saturday! I was so excited but nervous at the same time. I was so scared no one was going to show up....not really sure why but for some reason it was a concern. Good news....people did show up!!

I am having a southern barn wedding. The girls took this idea and incorporated it into a shower. They used burlap, logs, and southern style foods! It was ADORABLE!!! When you walked in they had a sign in table set up with two baskets that I had registered for to hold the gift cards and favors (most amazing cookies ever).I thought that was a cute touch that also went along with the southern theme.

We invited both guys and girls so that it would be a fun event for all of our friends! We really enjoyed getting to see our friends and catch up. It was nice to be home for a weekend.

Well glad to know Ryan made it in a couple of pictures! You can tell who loves the pictures in our relationship. We did not get pictures with some people because I was talking and forgot. I am so glad someone brought it to my attention that I was not getting pictures. You know what ...of all things Ryan and I did not even get a picture together.

We are so blessed to have great friends and family. We were loaded up with gift cards and presents and we could not be more thankful. BLESSED BLESSED BLESSED is all I can say. Thank you to everyone who made this day so special for us.

I thought long and hard as to what gift we should give the hostesses for this shower. I have always been told you give a gift based on the theme of the shower. Well I did not want us to give them just a gift card so I came up with an overflowing cup. Psalm 23 talks about a cup overflowing with blessings and that is what I feel our life is like. So we stuffed cute coffee mugs full of coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and soup. We also included a gift card inside the cup. I think it turned out really cute and it really was from the heart.

As I mentioned earlier Landi came into town from Texas for the weekend. I was so excited to see her. It was so nice to be able to catch up and just see her precious smiling face. On Sunday before she flew out we met and had breakfast. Before we left she told us she had something for us. I can't wait to share with you the most thoughtful items that Landi gave us.

First a hanger made for my wedding dress so that I can have pretty pictures of it hanging.

Then she had forks engraved with our wedding date with "I Do" and "Me Too" for us to eat our cake with!!! I LOVE THEM so MUCH.

I love sentimental gifts and will cherish these forever.

I will remember this time in my life forever.

Florida State Visit

As many of you faithful readers know I just got back from Tallahassee for work. It was a good trip but somewhat stressful. I love being able to see all of these amazing places where our company is expanding. However, I am traveling to work not just enjoy a vacation. While there I go and "shop" the comps (check out our competition), then I make trips to the University to see good places to market, also I get a feel for the market and what works/doesn't work here, last I give tips and suggestions for what I believe will help bring in the leases.

The past few days have brought back so many memories of being at the Retreat as a Leasing Manager. We have been so busy I have been able to help answer phones and give tours while I have been here. That is the job that got me to where I am today. I remember the crazy days of running around signing leases, 15 phones ringing at the same time, giving tour after tour to seal the deal, bar nights, trivia nights, etc. It's crazy to think that I was doing that just a few short months ago.

The tress at Florida and Florida State are to die for. I love mossy trees!! So Southern

Another thing I have reminisced about are the fun times that you have with a staff mixed of college students and adults. It is great to see students get their first job and be successful at it. It is so exciting to see someone get a lease that they worked so hard for. Most of all it is a great feeling knowing you have a staff looking up to you even though they pretend they are hardball's and they know it all.

 I would be so skinny if I went to school here. It is a long walk no matter where you want to go on campus. However, they do make the Legacy Walk pretty nice so that the walk is not that bad!

Beautiful monuments in the middle of campus. I was working at this time so I just had to snap the picture and go. So I don't really have all the details about this.

The Florida State Student Union. Not really nice on the outside but it had a bowling ally inside, lots of really nice food chains, and a neat area to sit outside and enjoy your lunch!

I loved getting a taste of Leasing again at a new start! It was such a great trip! Florida State University is a beautiful campus. I had a blast out Marketing to the college students. I for once was ready for a trip to be cut short....only because I knew what the weekend had in store!

I left after purchasing this........Let's just say my opinion has changed of Florida State!

Next up will be all of the fun that I had at our FIRST WEDDING SHOWER this weekend!!!!!

Sometimes we just need a Lazy day!

I must say I have been nothing but LAZY this weekend. Minus my workout each day I have literally laid around and watched TV. I am gearing up for a busy week so I will excuse myself.

On Tuesday I am heading out to Tallahassee, Florida for a few days. I love work trips. Sounds crazy I know. They all tell me one day the traveling will get old. So far it is not getting to me. Since I am still so new I think that helps. I am getting to see places, properties, meet people and staff's that I have never met before. Each trip brings something new to the table for me to learn. I went from having a portfolio of 3 properties to now having 25 and growing. It is a different world but I LOVE what I do and I LOVE the student housing industry. "Find a job that you love to do and you will never feel like you have worked a day in your life."

During this trip I will be helping a start up property market, host focus groups, and make connections with the local Universities. For those of you who know me I LOVE to talk. All of these things involve talking, talking and more talking. Even more exciting I will be doing this with one of my co-workers who is from Mississippi but currently lives in Cincinnati. His nickname is Big Country. Let's just say they are sending the two countriest (not even a word) people to take on Tallahassee. CAN NOT WAIT. 

Once I get home Thursday night I will re-pack my bag and leave Friday morning to head to my second home Tuscaloosa. Ryan and I are having our first wedding shower this weekend. There are so many exciting things about this weekend beyond it's out first wedding shower. 

On my way down to Tuscaloosa I will stop in Birmingham at the airport and pick up one of my best friends Landi. You can check out her amazing blog here. I have listed our history before but let me give a short rundown again. Landi actually was a Community Assistant for me at one of the properties I was a Leasing Manager. In other words I was her "boss" is you want to call it that. Landi needed no boss. She was WONDERFUL in every sense of the word. She always went above and beyond anything I ever asked her to do. The more time we spent together the more we began to talk on a non-work related level. Even though she is younger than me, she is mature beyond her years. I have never met anyone with such a giving heart in all of my life. She will do anything for anyone who needs it and even those who don't. It is not everyday that you come across people like her. I am so thankful to call her my friend. She is now back at TCU finishing her degree in Interior Design. We may not talk as often as we would like but the minute we pick up the phone it is right back to where we left off. With that being said, I have not seen her in over a year. I am literally jumping for JOY that I get to see her for 2 days this weekend. 

After I get Landi I will head on to Tuscaloosa to get my hair done by the wonderful Emily. To say that I love my hairdresser in Tuscaloosa is an HUGE understatement. I miss her so much. I am so happy that I booked her in enough time to make sure she will be doing my wedding day do. It says a lot for your work when a client is willing to take a day off work to plan a hair appointment and be coming form Atlanta. Let's just say I have got her a mess of a head of hair to work on. These roots are out of control.

What I looked like when I walked in to see Emily on one of my last visits. 

What I looked like when I left. New highlights and some beautiful curls. 

Saturday, my bridesmaids are hosting our first shower. It is going to be a gift card shower. These have become very common in the past few years and I am thrilled they chose to do this for me. All of my friends that had one said it was super helpful to get the final things that you need that you don't happen to get. The invitations were the absolute cutest things ever. My friends know me way to well. Ryan and I can't wait to see all of our friends-wedding party. Get ready I will have a large post coming up after this weekend. 

The most important/exciting part about this weekend is we get to see a lot of the people who have played an important part of our lives-relationship. I would not be half of the person I am today without all of the relationships that I have made along the way. Tuscaloosa is my home away from home. I would live there forever if I could. I spent the last 8 years of my life there. When I packed up and left for my new job venture it was really hard. I was leaving my Church, being close to my family, friends, and a life that I had made for myself. I am so proud of the decision I made with taking this job. It is just so nice being able to go back and be in my comfort zone for a weekend. Get ready Tuscaloosa I'm coming home and I CAN'T WAIT. 

Just a few pics that bring back great memories. I could pull old pics for days!!!

Furniture that gets better with time

Have you ever bought something that you really really love?? Of course we all do but then we get over it with time.

Well a few years ago when I got my second promotion(the first one with a true sign of financial growth) I decided I wanted new bedroom furniture. I was still using the furniture that I had when I was growing up. I love it and I want to keep it but I wanted something grown up, something that was up to date, and something that fit me. I talked with my dad and asked him to help me purchase it and I would pay him back with each paycheck. He agreed to do so and we went on the hunt.

I decided to go with a set from Pier One. The headboard is light blue and fabric covered. It also has a bench that matches the headboard that I sit at the foot of the bed. The nightstands as well as the dresser are mirrored. It is so me and beautiful!!! The other day I was cleaning my room after a trip for work. I looked at my dresser and thought I am so proud that I bought this for myself. Even more than that I fell in love with it all over again.

This furniture will forever be a reminder of my second promotion, my responsibility as an adult with managing money,  and my first large purchase of value!

Take a peek at why I am so proud!! Yes, Ryan and I will be a football family so the football is from our engagement pics...I had to keep it.