Not All Who Wander Are Lost

This year for our anniversary, Chris got me the most AMAZING present. A MAP! I know, this seems a little strange but its exactly what I wanted! Its actually a GIANT vinyl map that you can mark off the places you've traveled....

I ordered the map in dark brown with beige travel markers. I seriously CANNOT wait to put it up in our office! Ever since I've order it I've been thinking about all of the places that I've been so lucky to have seen & all of the places that I cant wait to go.

The first "big" trip I went on was a school-sponsored trip the summer between 7th and 8th grade. 5 adults took 115 preteens on a two week trip up the East Coast. ((I wish they had taken us a little later, like in high school, but I totally understand why they wanted to take middle-schoolers instead. We would have gotten into WAY too much trouble in high school)).
We started our trip in Atlanta where we saw a Braves game and spent the day at Six Flags. From there we went to Duke University, Colonial Williamsburg, Busch Gardens and finally, New York City! We spent 3 days in New York cite seeing & shopping. After NYC we crossed the US/Canada border & went to Niagra Falls. - I have some amazing pictures of this trip, but 1) they are not on my computer & 2) I wouldnt be caught dead with pictures of me from middle school online. Such an awkward time... After Niagra Falls we made our way back home, stopping in ANOTHER theme park in Ohio. It was an intense 2 weeks spent on a hotel & in theme parks, but it was a great experience. Im so glad I had the opportunity to go.

The next trip I went on was OHMYGODINCREDIBLE. The ONLY regret I have about this next little venture is that I went so early in life. I would love to take that trip now-ish. It would be ideal... But the summer between 9th & 10th ((or 8th and 9th??)) grade I went on a 15 day trip to Italy! There are only a few pictures I have online, but I have some BEAUTIFUL photos at home if you ever want to see them.

I also went on this trip with a group of people from UMS. We started our trip in Venice...

Venice was INCREDIBLE. Probably my second favorite city I've ever been in. Then we went to Florence...

Florence was pretty cool. We did a LOT of walking, saw a TON of museums & went to a strange little club where I had absinthe for the first (and only) time.  I also ate a LOT of gelato... like every single day...

We made our way to see the leaning tower of Pisa...

Then we went to Capri- the MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE ON EARTH. You could take a ski-lift up to the top of a mountain and look down and see this...

We also got to take a tiny little row boat around the Blue Grotto...

Lastly, we went to Rome. I could write an entire book on my last day in Rome ((Rome was incredible- the Vatican was beautiful & the architecture there is UN-REAL). Theres actually a pretty funny story about me drinking too much, cutting myself shaving, calling home from across the world (running up a $70 phone bill for a 4 minute conversation), etc.  But ill save that for another day.

The next summer, Vicky and her family took me to Bermuda with them! We stayed a a BEAUTIFUL resort on Elbow Beach- & yes, the sand was pink(ish).

For six days Vicky and I did this exact thing: Sleep in, Order Room Service, Read on the Beach, Lunch, Shower, Nap, Walk around, Dinner, Party Party Party, Sleep. Repeat. Luckily the food & the beaches were perfect.

The summer after high school graduation I went on another trip with Vicky and her family to Mexico!

 Oddly enough, our daily activities were incredibly similar to the ones in Bermuda- except with more alcohol.

Later that year, Chris took me on an amazing trip to Atlanta!

Then in 2010 Chris & I went back to Mexico on a cruise!

We had a blasty blast.

& Last year we made a trip or two to New Orleans...

I consider myself very lucky to have been where I have been. But I cant wait to travel more, learn about different cultures, and share my experiences with Chris. Plus, Im going to be over joyed to add a little dot to that damn map...

4 Years

Wednesday is our 4 year anniversary. I feel so incredibly lucky to be marrying the greatest man I've ever met. I also feel like every year we are together is better than the last. I'd say we've had a pretty amazing 4 years. Here are some highlights from the last year:

We celebrated our 4th Christmas together...

Chris made me the best meal ever...

We went to our first Inca Ball

We (barely) survived another MOT Mardi Gras...

We went on an AMAZING spring break trip....

We GOT ENGAGED!!!

Chris Graduated!!!!

We celebrated our engagement...

We went to New Orleans...

We ate our first Cow Tongue Tacos (this was a monumental moment in our relationship!)

We went to Beer, Bands & Bingo

We went kayaking...

We took our engagement pictures....

We played kickball...

Chris turned 30...

& We had a Slip N Slide party to celebrate...

I went Skydiving!!

Chris braved the Greater Gulf State Fair with me...

We went to the Inca Halloween Party

Alabama won the Iron Bowl...

We've made new friends...

We've also done a ton of other things that I dont have pictures of, like...
Planned (most of) our wedding
Talked about our future
Watched a bunch of movies & snuggled on the couch
Folded a thousand loads of laundry
Talked about our honeymoon
Stayed up late talking in bed
Woken up super early to work out
Dieted together
Supported each other
Been really silly.

I am so lucky that Chris is going to be my HUSBAND in less than 6 months. I cannot wait to marry the man of my dreams. I love him more than anything in the world.

Happy Anniversary, Chris. I love you with all of my heart.

Turkey Trot, Iron Bowl & Bubbles

Turkey Trot
Its not very often that I do something that I am really really PROUD of myself for. I think the last time I can say I legitimately was super proud of something I did was when I made a 4.0 last semester. ((Ill probably never see THAT again; it was a monumental moment in my college life)) But on Thanksgiving Day, I did something I was proud of again... RAN my first 5k!
On Tuesday I basically forced my sister to sign up with me, so she spent the night on Wednesday & we got up BRIGHT & EARLY on Thanksgiving to do the Run for Hope. I have to admit, I was so anxious I couldnt sleep. But the morning of, I was just excited & ready to get started. We decided to run the whole thing together & push each other. We made our first mile in 9 minutes, and the second in 18:35. The last mile was the hardest, because it was mostly uphill. But when I saw the finish line & I saw the time on 29:30-something I was about to cry. We sprinted to the end & our "official" time was 29:45. I was so happy I cried... then puked. (probably from the yogurt... hindsight bias- that was a bad breakfast choice).
Here we are after the race- I am completely aware that I look like t-total-shit.

I've worked really hard over the last 8ish weeks to get ready for a run. I've almost completed the Couch to 5k program & I've already purchased the Bridge to 10k app! I never thought Id say this, but I like running! I cant wait to sign up for my next run & work at improving my time!

After the run, I completely blew what little motivation I had to continue my so called diet. I gained 5, FIVE, pounds over Thanksgiving. Unacceptable. But it was TOTALLY worth it. God I love food. Plus it was really nice being able to see my family.


Iron Bowl
I love the Iron Bowl. I love getting all of our friends & family together. I love the food, the camaraderie and the jeering of the other team. This year was particularly fun. We had the Iron Bowl party at our house & everybody brought a TON of food. We also played the traditional shot game: at the beginning of the game you declare which team you are pulling for. If the other team makes a touchdown, field goal or interception, you have to take a shot. This year, the Auburn fans had it rough. I wish I had recorded each shot they took, because one of Chris's toasts was certainly one for the books. It went something like this:

Me: *hands Chris a shot* Okay, Say Roll Tide!
Chris: No! Im never saying that...
Mom: Okay, well say 'Fuck Bama' and take your shot.
Chris: *Drunkenly sways* Okay, guys.... We are going to toast to FOOTBALL & even though Auburn is losing, we still have Bama Bitches making our drinks!

Oh Chris... when are you going to learn social skills? Haha. His friends made fun of him all night, and tried to tell him that you SHOULD NOT refer to your future mother-in-law as a "bama bitch". But it was all in good fun. My family still loves him. :)

Bubbles
After Bama whipped ass, most of our friends still stayed for a little while to hang out. Suzanne & I decided to set up a hookah, and turn on some music when Misty said "Have you ever blown hookah bubbles" & then the night became one of the best ever.
I had never heard of hookah bubbles before. But apparently when you exhale the smoke, you just blow it into a bubble wand. Then the bubble holds the smoke until it pops. Holy.Shit. Best. Idea. Ever.

However, Misty told me this little gem of information, I didnt have any bubbles. So, impromptu bubbles it was- Suzanne & I made bubbles with Bath & Body shower gel, water & we used miscellaneous items to blow the bubbles. Some of them included: an apple corer, a rotel can, baby dixie cup, blue solo cup, & wire ornament hangers.

 As entertaining as it was to watch us make a mess with fake bubbles, Alisa was like THE BEST FRIEND EVER and got us real bubbles. ((Suzanne & I also went to the Dollar Tree & bought more shit to blow bubbles with- a recorder, a spatula & a paddle ball))

I also have two really good videos of our bubble blowing shindig. They are both short, and probably worth watching. Especially the first one. God, we are so weird.

I Just Wanna Marry You

OHMYSHIT. The wedding is like 6 months away. I am slightly (completely) overwhelmed. But, I am also excited beyond belief. I've been excited from the moment Chris got on one knee, but I am getting more and more and MORE excited every day. I cant wait to be his wife ;)

Plus, Im knocking shit off the 'to-do' list almost daily. For example, I ordered wedding napkins! I realize that this is trivial, but it still had to be done. I also decided, FINALLY, on wedding invitation wording. & Im planning on ordering invites SOON.

My mom and I went to the florist last week & ordered our flowers! I was slightly stressed about the flowers, but Belle Bouquet made it easy. & Im getting exactly what I want: Simple, Modern & Classy.

But I have to say I am most excited on finally deciding on our Honeymoon!! We will be leaving the Thursday after our wedding to fly to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. We are going to be staying (somewhere) for 4 nights. While we are there we are going to be doing a bunch of activities through Iguana Mama. Our first full day we are going to go white water rafting. The second day we are scheduled to go mountain biking all day, even though Im trying to get that changed to deep sea fishing. & The 3rd and last full day we are doing something called "The Big Bastard" (its the canyoning supremacy tour if you are looking on the website under "Waterfall Tours"). Its a canyoning/waterfall/climbing/rappelling/donkey ride tour that lasts all day. ISERIOUSLYCANNOTWAIT! That tour is the reason we are going to Puerto Plata at all.
After Puerto Plata we are going to fly to Punta Cana & stay at the Hard Rock Punta Cana for 5 nights. If you have talked to me in the last week, chances are you know how PUMPED I am about staying there. Its like my dream resort. We havent decided exactly how we will be spending time in Punta Cana, but after our stay in Puerto Plata I can guarantee that it will include relaxing by the pool, and a massage or two.

Ive said it before & Ill say it again and again- I know its not about the wedding, its about the marriage. But I am thankful for my parents, grandparents, and friends who are all helping to make the most special day of our lives as perfect as it can be. Love you guys! <3