A long time coming...

First, my apologies to those who follow my blog. These last few months have flown by and I know I neglected my blog, but the good thing is I come back feeling pretty good (except for the sickness that has take over me today, which is why I am home writing my blog in the middle of the day and not working)...So this blog post and the following short story have been a long time coming....

I am one lucky girl! I have a beautiful home, and great job and now a wonderful man in my life whom I love. In my last blog I wrote about dating, and the last date I wrote about was with the sweet man in my life, David. David has been a blessing in my life. He is smart, funny, kind and extremely caring. He supports me in my career and is there for me everyday. He is a teacher and coach so we understand each others jobs and what we each deal with daily. Oh, and he loves Zoe and Zoe loves him, and that is always a plus.

I am excited about spending the holidays with him and my family this year. We have already spent Thanksgiving with my family and then spent the rest of the weekend in Savannah with David's aunt and cousin.

Thanksgiving

Savannah

Twenty-nine and dating...

Twenty-nine and dating....gross.... those two words do not go well together, at least until now. Over the last few months I have learned a lot about who I am, what I want as well as what I dont want, and most important- guys make no sense at all!

Over the last few months, I have been set up a few times and boy it has been a rollercoater. Guy #1-was super sweet, good guy who would do anything for anyone, but in the end we are better friends, which is fine by me. Guy #2- good guy, good dates, but super busy and did not have time for me. When I date someone I want to talk to them and see them more than once every two weeks. You can not build a relationship with little communication and not seeing them but twice a month, so unfortunately it did not work out either, but again, we can be friends. Guy #3- we only went on one date and that was enough for me. I think it is great you have a boat and a job that lets you travel and see things and you make lots of money, but I need more than that. In the end, money does not matter the most. Guy #4- Hands down best date I have ever been on. This guy gets it...Discovery Place, Imax movie, dinner at Rock Bottom and then because things were going so well we decided to head somewhere else to watch some football and the race. A date that I thought would last a few hours ended up lasting 10 hours. I have learned not to have high expectations when it comes to dating, but if I had them, guy#4 exceeded them! I look forward to the weeks to come to see what happens.

What I have learned through all of this is that I need to keep an open mind, be myself, and just enjoy the time with whoever I am seeing and then if it doesnt work out, I can look back and at least say it was fun while it lasted. I do not worry about the future, but just the here and now. I have realized that I am worth it. I do not expect to be anyones priority, but a simple phone call, text message, visit, flowers, whatever it is, I just need something that makes me feel like at least they are interested. As modern and independent as I think I am, when it comes to dating I am still pretty old school. I think the guy should make the first phone call, plan the first couple of dates, make the first move, etc. If that is too much to ask, then that is not the guy for me.

I am sure there are going to be more dating adventures to come....until then....onward and upward my friends!

Changes...

Yes ladies and gentleman, I have changed up the blog. It has been a year since I started my rebuilding process and now its on to the next chapter in my life. This next year, my blog will be dedicated to my last year in my twenties and the journey to THIRTY! Wow, that was kind of hard to say write, the dirty thirty will be here before I know it!

I hope you continue to follow my blog as I enjoy my last year in my twenties!

Amy

What a difference a year makes!

So, if I look back at when my rebuilding really began it would be a year ago this month. I started running regularly and really starting to watch what I ate. However, it is really only about 9 months since I started to really lose the weight. I have been looking at pictures from a year ago, and boy have I changed, and I am so proud to say so. I look so different and feel so different (on the inside and out). After looking at the pictures, I realized how doable my journey really was and has been. After about a month and a half of not really focusing on my weight (my house and job have taken over), it is time to get back at it. I thought I would go ahead and show some progress pictures ( I say progress because I still have a ways to go to get the last twenty pounds to go away for good). I am not doing this as a bragging point, but more of a way to maybe inspire those who think they can not do it because they are too busy or any of the other excuses we have all used at one time or another. Trust me, if I can do it, anyone can!



April 2010

   

New Years Eve 2010

  

May 2011









June 2011



WOW, what a difference a year can truly make!

Onward and upward my friends, and thank you all for the support along the way!

My Best Friends Wedding!

Right after the 4th I left for Memphis for one of my very best friends weddings, and it was a blast! We had a "lunch with the ladies" bridal luncheon with big hats and jewels, "our favorite foods" rehersal dinner, and a wedding full of love, laughter, dancing (including a contest, which I won!), great food and drinks, cigar rolling, blackjack, and even a special visit from "The Grizz" himself! I hope you enjoy a few of the pictures from the special weekend and you can see the love shared not only between the bride and groom, but also my special group of friends. We truly will be friends forever!

Doesnt this look like a magazine add?

The Bride and Me, Kendra is my oldest friend and so very dear to my heart! So happy for her!

High School Friends

Not sure what I would do without Jen in my life...we may not talk for months and then when we get the chance to catch up its like no time was lost at all!

Gorgeous Bridesmaids!

Let Freedom Ring!

May the sun in his course visit no land more free, more happy, more lovely, than this our own country! 

~Daniel Webster

This weekend we will be celebrating one of my most favorite holidays, Fourth of July. We celebrate with events such as fireworks, parades, cookouts, concerts, political speeches and ceremonies. Of course, the fireworks and cookouts are my favorite part! But what is most important is why we celebrate this holiday.

Let us never forget the true meaning of the Fourth of July and what it means for our amazing country and the freedoms we are afforded here in America. The Fourth is July is a celebration of America’s independence from Great Britain. Independence Day is celebrated on July 4 because that is the day in 1776 when the Continental Congress adopted the final draft of the Declaration of Independence. Our freedom and our democracy that we have been blessed with is a direct product of the sheer determination of our forefathers who worked to establish the United States of America as a free country.

Unfortunately, too many take the freedoms and liberties here in the United States of America for granted and forget the true meaning of the day. We may dress up in our nation's colors of red, white and blue, but do we know what the true meaning behind our flag is?  On my ride home from work yesterday I was listening to the radio as they talked about the meaning of our great flag. I was amazed as to how many people did not know how many stars were on the flag. This was because they did not know how many states are in the United States of America. Really? As a former US History teacher I am saddened that people in our great country do not even know this information. Many people lost their lives or lost husbands, wives, sons, or daughters fighting for those 50 stars we have on our flag today!

 John Adams, the first Vice President and the Second President of the United States, was one of the members of the Second Continental Congress who signed the Declaration of Independence. After signing this special document, he wrote to his wife, "…I believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival... it ought to be celebrated by pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other..." As he predicted, this is how we celebrate this day. However it is my hope as we are a part of these celebrations this weekend, we take a few moments to remember the true meaning of this day and think about those who have fought, are fighting and will fight for our freedoms and liberties as well as freedoms and liberties for others around the world.

Have a fun and safe Fourth of July weekend!

Daycations and long weekends....

This summer will be the first summer I have to work. Of course, I am ok with this because I love my job, and I am even more ok with this because I have Fridays off. I have really been thinking about how I am going to make the most out of my summer, since in all reality I just have a month of long weekends instead of a real summer vacation. I have decided to make a list of some possible “daycations” and long weekend trips I would like to take. If you see something that interests you let me know, I am looking for someone to go with me…I know it will much more fun with company. Also, if you have any suggestions let me know…as long as I have been in NC, I have actually seen very little of it or surrounding areas….

1. Biltmore Estate

2. Various Wineries around NC

3. Grandfather Mountain

4. Linville Falls

5. Asheboro Zoo

6. Columbia Zoo

7. Outerbanks

8. Charleston

9. Fort Sumter

 Any suggestions are welcome…and really, if you want to go let me know!