CRAZY LOVE

This weekend Fred and I are celebrating our 3 year anniversary.

WOW. I can't wait.

I'm going to make Fred and I drink wine and dance to this song this weeekend

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKZBDeamZPU&ob=av2e

A SUNDAY AFTERNOON

Brr....it's cold outside! (it's 64° and yes, I'm freezing)

I feel like curling up in my pajamas, snuggie and slippers

BUT,

I'm trying to stay awake for dinner with my bestfriend and her family.
The Redskins are playing the Eagles right now.

I'm going to go watch and support Fred's team(well my team now) in my jersey.

After, I finish playing with my new camera I bought for my upcoming trip to Atlanta,GA.

WHAT I LOVE

Fred is headed down to North Carolina this weekend for his cousin's wedding. We usually spend every weekend together and are always on the go. Even though I miss him right now, I'm looking forward to this weekend. I'm going to relax and get a lot of shopping done. I love weekends like this. Especially on the first weekend of October. The sky is clear and the weather is crisp.

So far my schedule looks like this:

Tonight (Friday) - LAY DOWN. I'm not sure if I've blogged about this before, but since July I've been suffering from shoulder and back problems. After 4th of July my lower back started to bother me and then it moved around to my left side. The pain eventually crept up the left side of my back and has now moved into the middle of my shoulder blades. I've seen two doctors, underwent electric-shock therapy and taken pain medicine. The pain subsided but it still bothers me. I stopped doing weights at the gym thinking that was the problem. However, I've been running about 3miles on the treadmill every night and my back kills me. It feels like I need to have my back cracked or go back to a chiropractor. The only thing that helps is pain pills or laying flat. It's weird. So for the rest of the night, I'm going to lay down and watch tv (Dateline--my favorite!)

Saturday - Mom and I are waking up early to participate in Richmond's Alzheimer's Memory Walk. It's a 3 mile walk and it's for a great cause! I'm glad the weather has cleared up. Plus I can get some exercise in before I spend the day shopping for Atlanta and the whiskey cruise.

Sunday - Maybe go to church with my mom. She goes to church every Sunday and usually I sleep in. Then I'm going car shopping with my dad again! I'm going to look at the Nissan Rogue again and checkout the Chevy Equinox. (I really wish I could afford the Ford Edge or the Acura MDX....one day)

And in response to Denise's blog ...since I'm missing Fred, these are a few things I love about my better half.

Fred is a man's man. He loves beer, trucks, football, baseball, and golf.

(he will have his own ManCave one day)

I love his laugh

I love that he's tall and can wrap himself around me in a bear hug

He's not boring

He's the best snuggler around

I love that he can COOK (because we all know I can't!)

He's sweet and sensivite and always makes me feel beautiful

I just love everything about him.

RAINY DAY

It's a rainy lazy Wednesday. I don't feel like doing anything. (It took me 2 hours to get focused at work today) I usually go to the gym every night, but right now I feel like curling up and watching a movie. (Preferably, Marley & Me). It's my most favorite movie ever. Even though I cry everytime I watch it I can't get enough.

I wish I was in Fred's basement on his comfy couch wrapped up in a blanket with him watching it right now. Not forcing myself to get to the gym.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCVmTM-WiVM

I actually just teared up watching this video

-pathetic-

COUPLES WEEKEND

Fred and I visited The Holman's this weekend in beautiful Charlottesville. We hadn't seen them since early Spring and wanted to checkout their new home. It's perfect - and everything I want one day in a starter home. We had a great time catching up, hiking, being goofy, and sleeping in. We're already planning another trip back soon. Luckily, I get to see Denise very soon when we hop on a plane to Georgia to visit another girlfriend from college.

Here's 2 pictures of the gorgeous view ontop of Humpback Gap

(amazing view)

(Fred and I on top of the mountain)

I'm glad we got to catch up with friends. I needed a weekend to be silly. Denise and Stu welcomed us into their home and we couldn't have asked for better weather or a better weekend (even though Saturday was cut short!) It was also good to be around another couple who's so in love. I always tell Fred how lucky we are to have the same group of friends who are all in great, supportive, long-lasting relationships. That's important to me. It's good to have friends to talk to, who can relate to you, and will encourage you throughout it all.

COOKING

I'm attempting to bake again this week.

If you know me, you know that I never cook or bake. My mom and dad do all the cooking in our family (I sometimes assist). I can make a mean grilled-cheese, green bean casserole,heat anything up, and bake cookies and cupcakes (while studying the directions on the box hard). I once made Fred chicken alfredo with the assistance of my Italian friend, Gina.

Fred knows that I'm lost in the kitchen. I burnt the easy package mashed potatoes. Fred said it was impossible to burn mashed potatoes - I did. Luckily, Fred is a great cook so I know we'll never starve. Actually Fred and I would never starve, we would just go broke because we'd be eating out a lot or ordering in.

I am so jealous of my friends; Marianne, Gina, and Denise. They all LOVE to cook and bake! They are going to make perfect mothers and wives one day. I promised Fred I would get into the kitchen more and learn to cook some things so I'm a pro in the kitchen like those girls.
That is whyyyy this week and weekend I'm going to try again (I'm hoping to cook a meal for the boys with Denise or at least write down some of her recipes that look easy).

Fred and I are going to visit Denise & Stu at their home in Charlottesville. Last time, I made a dessert that everyone thought was gross (except for Fred, but I'm not sure if he was lying). So this time around I'm going to bake something different.....something like,

Pumpkin & Chocolate Chip Cookies!

Sound yummy? I'm going to the store tomorrow to get the ingredients I need and I'm going to whip up a big enough batch to take to work and to last this weekend. I hope my co-workers, boss and FRIENDS like them.

Wish me l-u-c-k

A BUSY WEEKEND

Fred and I were all over the place this weekend. We couldn't have asked for better weather.

Friday was Adam & Arieanna's wedding: Fred looked oh so handsome in his tux. It was a beautiful ceremony at the Piedmont Country Club on the 18th hole. We had a great time with great friends. Unfortunately, I did not catch the bouquet. This linebacker of a woman was infront of me and I did not want to go up against her (she ended up knocking a girl to the ground for the bouquet, and then getting kicked out later because she was so drunk)

Saturday - we slept in til noon (literally), Fred made us breakfast and we watched football until we had to leave for Leesburg for my firm's bbq. We were in Leesburg for about 3 hours and decided to make an impromptu visit to Tripp & Marianne's in Woodstock. We got back on the road (even though we had to make a few pit stops along the way - we had terrible stomach problems from all the junk we'd eaten since Friday night) for another 40 minutes or so. The sun was setting and the drive was great. I LOVE THE MOUNTAINS. We were so excited to see Marianne and Tripp. We had such a great time with them.

Sunday - we slept in again, Tripp made everyone breakfast and the boys went golfing. Marianne and I went to the Edenburg Town Festival where we ate icecream and kettle korn, walked around and finally headed back home.

Unfortunately the redksins lost yesterday. I don't know how since they had a 17/10 point lead most of the game. This put Fred in a terrible mood. His parents fixed porkchops on the grill while we watched in agony the game in overtime.

It was hard getting up this morning, but it always is for me since I never rest on the weekends. Yes, Fred and I slept in but the 1hour and 15min drive up and back, as well as the late nights really wears me out. I love the weekends where Fred and I do nothing but just lounge. I can't wait for fall so I can snuggle up with him on the couch (in my snuggie) and fall asleep while he watches football.

DRESS

I'm going to a wedding on Friday! I'm kind of excited because:





1. I get to skip work
2. I'm getting my haircut and styled pretty that day
3. Fred's in the wedding so that means he's going to be lookin gooooood in that tux
4. It gives me an excuse to buy a pretty dress!





Sometime between now and Thursday I need to swing by Shortpump mall and pick up something to wear. I plan on hitting White&Black, LOFT, Express, and JCREW.

Any suggestions? The weather is supposed to be in the 70's so I'll probably need to carry a sweater with me.

I love this.

BOYFRIEND

Today's my boyfriend's 25th birthday.

H-A-P-P-Y-B-I-R-T-H-D-A-Y to the greatest guy I know.

I hope I'm celebrating the next 25 years with him.

Friday night we had a birthay dinner wit his parents, sister and sister's boyfriend. We ate lots of steak and crab legs and Carvel icecream cake. I even let him open his birthday presents.

Saturday we hopped on a party bus and enjoyed beautiful weather and Toby Keith.

Today we slept in, ate lunch at Foster's and now Fred is off to the Redskins game.

He even took this entire next week off. (I'm jealous).

GIRLS

Today was one of those days. My shoulder was killing me at work (probably because I used weights at the gym last night knowing that i shouldn't). Annnd on top of that, I also found myself worrying and talking about a girl.

This girl is that girl that girls with boyfriends hates. She's that girl who sleeps around and is the kind of girl you can never trust. I have tried to handle this situation with a sense of maturity. I'm 24 and she's not even 21. She likes to tag along and hangout with my boyfriend's friends. She's that girl that nobody really likes, wonders why she hangs out with us, but somehow is still invited or manages to show up. I hope if you're a girl reading this you can relate. We've all encountered them and we all tell our girlfriends how much we hate them.

I know I shouldn't worry about that girl. All of my girlfriends up in Arlington have delt with her in similar situations. They can't stand her, their boyfriends can't stand her, and now my boyfriend and I can't stand her.

I've never talked about this girl before -in fact I didn't have a problem with her until something happened. I believe I handled the situation like an adult. However, this girl felt the need to tell others about something personal to me. I was shocked and hurt. Why would she do that? Who is she to tell others about something personal to me? She wasn't even there? I kept everything bottled up inside of me. I will not waste my time on this girl. I'm better than this, I'm better than her.

I haven't seen or spoken to her in a few months. I've heard she's been mad for not being invited to certain events (which is good because she needs to hangout with her own group of friends, someone her age).

This weekend is my boyfriend's 25th birthday.

A few other couples and I have gotten a party bus to take to the Toby Keith concert for his birthday.
I just found out that girl is trying to get on the bus. She's not 21 and the bus is only for 21 and up. If she manages to get on the bus (I won't let her because I will call her out in front of everyone) I will be very angry.

I want to have a great day with my boyfriend and friends and not someone who talks about me to others. I know the other girls on the bus have my back and are my real friends, but it still makes me mad that she's trying to tag along to this too. (See in order to get on the party bus you have to go to a website, sign up, and purchase a ticket - apparently she's been asking around how to get a ticket).

I don't want to worry about this. I shouldn't have to worry about this.

I'm older than her.
I have respect for myself.
I know who my real friends are.
I have a boyfriend that loves me
&makes me feel beautiful inside out each and every single day.

FUN

[Here are a few photos from my Labor Day weekend as promised]
One more year and I can move up there...
and maybe just maybe, with my friend pictured above: Brittany







Enjoying drinks by the pool!

Becki and I

I can't believe summer is over.

I'm sure I'll look back on these pictures for warmth

when I'm complaining of the cold weather that's just around the corner.

LABOR DAY

I hope everyone had a fantastic Labor Day!

My work closed early on Friday so I flew home, packed my bags, hopped in Daisy and headed to Arlington. I'm hoping this week goes by fast so I can enjoy another wonderful weekend with boyfriend & friends.

I spent the weekend:

laughing

riding with the windows down

gossiping

helped Krista & Jimmy prepare for a fabulous cookout

dancing

looking at firemen

singing

giving boyfriend lots of kisses

eating

drinking strawberry daqs

watching Charlie & The Chocolate Factory

enjoying the beautiful weather

shopping

saying so long to summer

AND

welcoming football season

{Pictures coming soon}

HOTLANTA

I just booked my plane ticket to HOTlanta!
I can't wait to get wild with these beautiful, funny, and crazy girls.

I hope Georgia is ready for us.

(from left: Emily, Gina, J-buck)(Denise)

(my long-lost friend Ashley)

(and last, but not least Erin!)

WEDDINGS

Say Yes to the Dress

Bridezillas

Who's Wedding Is It Anyway?

True Life: I'm Getting Married

I LOVE THEM ALL.

I'm not engaged and I'm not getting married anytime soon, but I love weddings. I'm that girl who gushes over wedding pictures of friends (and even strangers!) on facebook. I even have a folder on my computer entitled WEDDING. It's where I copy & past wedding ideas, dresses, or photos I like. Creepy I know.

Last week a girl that I work with became engaged. We've become close over the last few months (which we should be, because she's marrying my cousin) and when she told me the news the first thing that came to mind was, "YES! I GET TO HELP YOU PLAN YOUR WEDDING!" Yesterday and today her and I have been looking up churches online, wedding photographers, invitations, and going through her In Style Wedding Book. I love it all. Maybe wedding-planner should have been my calling in life.

For their honeymoon they're going to Greece. I'm super jealous. A couple that Fred and I know are getting married IN Greece next Spring. I wish we were invited. I tell Fred all the time I'm jealous.

I can't wait to plan my wedding in a few years. I'll be even more financially stable and will be able to have the wedding of my dreams.

A WEEKEND AT THE LAKE

((this is a picture of Rachel and I from last summer, you can tell we LOVE the water))

OUR WEEKEND!

This past weekend I went to one of my favorite places, Lake Gaston!

My grandparents have a house right on the water and I've been going there every summer since I was a little girl. My whole family (great uncles & aunts ,friends, cousins, and in-laws) is usually down there most weekends.

My bestfriend from high school, Rachel was able to come with me. I really enjoyed spending quality time with her, since we're both busy with work + boyfriends. Her and I are so freakishly similar that people even ask if we're cousins. Even if we don't see each other very often, when we're together we're always having a good time and laughing (and planning our future weddings).

We even left the lake early Sunday morning and heading down to my other favorite place, The Prime Outlets in Williamsburg! We had a fun time shopping and goofing off.

I was not looking forward to Monday.

I wish the week-end could last forever.

BODY PILLOW

Christmas puppy, Dino, Duke and Polar Bear.

I use to sleep with all 4 of these guys growing up.

Christmas puppy when I was a baby,

Dino the dinosaur elementary school years,

Duke going into middle school

&

Polar bear throughout college.

I couldn't go to sleep if they weren't with me. My parents would have to turn the car around if I left one of them at a hotel,grandparents house, or in some bizzare place. I don't know what it was about stuffed animals but they made me feel so safe. I had to be holding onto them so tightly when I would curl up in bed at night.

I'm 24 now about to turn 25 and I don't have a stuffed animal anymore. I know my big Polar Bear is somewhere in my house, but I don't need him like I use to.

Now I just grab onto my make-shift body pillow even though I have a pink felt body pillow that I ignore on the end of my bed.

The only reason I bought the pink body pillow is because when I was a freshman going into college my roommate and I decided to decorate our room PINK & GREEN. I saw the body pillow at Target and threw it in the basket only because it was pink.

I never once slept with it.

It was big and awkward and it would usually end up on the floor when I would toss and turn at night. I still took the body pillow with me to school all 4 years of college. When I didn't use, someone else would.

When my boyfriend was in middle school he was on vacation with his entire family. Grandparents, Uncles, Aunts, and cousins. They had stopped in this little country store to take a bathroom break, eat, and get back on the road. With all those people in 3 different cars it wasn't hard to leave someone behind. That someone was Fred. Fred had lagged behind and didn't realize his entire family had left him. His parents assumed he was in the other car and the other 2 cars assumed he was with his parents. After about 15minutes they realized Fred was not in the car and turned around. When they pulled up Fred was sitting outside the store crying. His parents felt TERRIBLE. Everyone else was laughing at him. To make up for "forgetting Fred" his mom went inside the store and bought him a COCA-COLA BODY PILLOW.

Fred has slept with the Coca-Cola body pillow every night since then. It's his "stuffed animal."

I liked his body pillow better than my pink body pillow. His was actually a pillow that felt cool on my skin when I would sleep at night. Mine was felt material and annoying. Our sleeping routine is that I'm lucky to get body pillow for a few minutes. Somehow Fred will weasle the pillow out of my arms, roll over, and fall into a deep slumber. He has to have it. If his house was on fire, his body pillow would be the first thing he'd grab.

Tonight I received a terrible text from Fred:

"Cooley ate my body pillow."

((Cooley is his room mate's dog))

I replied with,

"Oh my god, are you going to be okay?"

He said,

"I don't know yet, I'm still in a state of shock."

Have you had something that you've held onto for a long time?

R.I.P. Coca-Cola Body Pillow

REALITY TV

I'm 24 years old and I'm still obsessed with reality television. Last night I found myself watching repeats of Keeping Up With the Kardashians and Kourtney&Khloe. Even though I've already watched the repeats before I can't seem to pull myself away. I think Kourtney is gorgeous and when I'm watching the show I'm admiring her outfits, her hair, her makeup and her post-baby body. I am jealous of her life. I want to be a Kardashian - not a HALL. Khloe's funny and I like her a lot, but I think I relate to Kourtney the most on the show. She's in a relationship with Scott Disick that is both good and bad. I've been in a relationship like that before. She's also keeps to herself like me. Khloe is very outspoken and not afraid to express her opinion - most of my friends are like this. When Khloe yells at Kourtney about Scott I know exactly how Kourtney feels. Not that people yell at me about my boyfriend. I know how it is to have someone loudly express their opinion to me and my reaction is to shut it out or walk away.

My friend asked me yesterday on g-chat to pick who I would want to Fuck, Kill, or Marry out of the Kardashians. I responded with: Kim, Khloe, and Kourtney. It got me to thinking why do we care so much about this family? Bruce is actually the only STAR in the family (he was an Olympic athlete). Kim is known for her sex tape and nobody else in the family has done anything spectacular (except marrying celebs) or being the children of the father who was one of the attorney's who represented O. J. Simpson.

Eitherway, I'm still obsessed with Kourtney. She makes being a mother look easy (compared to the teenagers over on TEEN MOM) and she's motivation to stay in shape after having a baby! I'm nowhere near ready to start a family but I'm always telling my boyfriend, "Ew, I'm not letting myself go. I want to look good for you forever!" We're coming up on our 3 year anniversary in October and I'm still concerned about staying in shape and looking good for him. Yes, he loves me for me. He doesn't care if I'm in a t-shirt and no makeup, but I do. Him and I were both very active throughout HS and College. Now that we're working 40+ hours a week we don't have time to stay as active. Even though I go to the gym and he has softball once a week - it's hard work. I guess my motivation is watching Keeping Up With The Kardashians (minus using the Quick Trim).

Even though I know reality telivsion isn't reality - then why do I try to conform to what I'm watching?

HELLO BLOG, I'VE MISSED YOU

Wow! The last time I blogged was May 11? It's been over 3 months but Sunday night I had an overwhelming feeling come over me and I just wanted to write. My friend Denise has helped me out with my blog because I am not HTML savy. I promised her I'd start blogging again. I've always been nervous about what to write or how to explain what I feel. Especially when I read Denise's blog and others. They can easily open up and their lives seem so much more exciting...more mature than mine. That's why I'm just going to write what I know and how I feel and I'm not going to worry about what other people think of me.

With that said,

Today at work I started thinking about how fast summer has gone by. Before long it's going to be September.My social calendar is booked until the beginning of November! Between weddings, visiting friends, concerts, and Fred's birthday I am never in Richmond anymore. I'm going to the lake this weekend and hopefully next weekend. It feels weird because I haven't been at all this summer. I use to go all the time, but now that I'm working or spending most of my time with Fred in Arlington, I just haven't had time. I remember the days when I didn't have a job and all I would do is layout at the pool or go to the beach most weekends. The only beach I experienced this summer was Florida. My parents were in OBX at least 4 different times this summer. Man, I am growing up.

Even though I'm not looking forward to the warm weather leaving, I am looking forward to: the holidays, comfy sweaters, starbucks (Pumpkin Spice!), and 2010 wrapping up. I'm also looking forward to some upcoming Bridgewater reunions. Fred and I are going to visit The Holman's the end of September. Then in October a few Bridgewater girls and I are flying down to Atlanta to visit Jessica and the end of October Marianne is hosting a halloween party! I can't wait! Just thinking about fall makes me remember all of my favorite Bridgewater memories. College was the best time of my life. I have great memories and I made the best friends. I'm looking forward to making many more memories with these people. Everyone is growing up so fast! It's crazy to think that people are getting married AND have babies right now!

I wonder when all of that is going to fall into place for me...

A-R-L-I-N-G-T-O-N

I've made up my mind. I'm moving to Arlington....in a year.

Everyone keeps hassling me on moving out and doing this and that but I don't want to. Everyone keeps saying that I'm stupid for staying at home or I need to move out now because I'll never grow up but something inside of me keeps saying nooooo wait it out. Moving in with friends would be fun but I know I would get frustrated just like I did at school. I lived with 6 of my closest friends and by the end of the semester I could only deal with 2. I don't want to ruin that.

I know there's going to be a lot of changes when I move but I have a year to sort those out.

It's a good and bad thing when your parents pay for everything. I don't pay rent, I don't pay my phone bill, I don't pay my car insurance....but now I'm going to start. I start full time at the lawfirm TOMORROW and I'm going to take these next few months to find out where my finances fall.

I'm also getting a new car. I was dead set on the Ford Escape but after much searching my dad and I think the THE JUKE is the best fit for me. It's Nissan's SUV that comes out in August. I can't wait! I'll have a reliable car...more room...and more space for moving and roadtrips to visit friends.

Even though I'll be at home for 1 more year I think I can do that.

If Fred and I have made it this long long distance I think we can do it.

I'm so happy that he's been supportive in my decisions and has never once made me feel forced into moving to Arlington. I want to. I love it up there and I love the friends I've made. Plus I think it's the next big step in Fred and I's relationship. I need to be closer to him. I miss him. I miss him when I'm in Richmond. I miss him when I'm around other couples and he's not there. I miss him being a part of my everyday life. We were together every single day at Bridgewater and sometimes it can be very frustrating seeing him every weekend or every other weekend.

I hope all goes as planned.

I hope I find a good job and I hope I can make it on my own.

I hope nobody makes me feel bad anymore for making this decision. It's what I want. I'm tired of people questioning my decisions.

ORANGE

After work today I am driving to ORANGE COUNTY VIRGINIA to visit my friend Katie and have another Bridgewater reunion!! I always look forward to spending time with these girls. The rain has stopped so tonight will be dedicated to dancing, singing, cornhole, drinking, being silly and staying up late gossiping.

So hurry up 5'oclock!