Thursday 5

wooty woot woot! Thursday 5 :D

This weeks words are:

Great

Incredible

Inspired

Rewarding

Swell

1. Yesterday I decided to bake with one of my new baking pans :D & I made a yummy German Chocolate cake! It didn't turn out too great looking, but it still tasted delicious!

not pretty, but YUMMY :D

2. This weekend, A & I got the most incredible chinese take-out from down the road. I have no idea what makes it taste so darn good, but its officially my FAV! Oh & they even gave us chocolate fortune cookies!! waaa???

mmmmmm (: those boxes are so cute!

seriously- a chocolate fortune cookie!!!! :O ahhh

3. Monday I made my famous spaghetti inspired by my mommy. My family absolutely loves it, & A has been waiting & waiting to try it. Well, he absolutely HATED it. Didn't see that one coming huh?!... me either! But he cant love everything I make lol

4. A & I are going ring shopping either today or within the next few days & it is definitely rewarding. I have been waiting so dang long to beautify this empty finger ;) lol

I would gladly be poor the rest of my life for this beautiful ring! Its my dream ring!

5. This weekend is one of mine & A's special anniversay dates. So we decided we're go over to Massachusettes for my little neice's birthday on Sat. & then go to SIX FLAGS on Sunday! Its going to be swell (: Even though we come from a state of theme parks (Fl) we're still pretty pumped! :D

wooo hoooo!!! :D

for old times sake

A blast from the past... c/o '08 (my original class)
Sometimes I forget that I started my life over 4 years ago...

I was looking at through one of my old friend's FB friend list... and there are SO many people that I went to elementary school, middle school & high school with... all BEFORE the accident. It's crazy how I've kinda forgotten about them & now they're grown.

I never think about those parts of my life. Maybe it's because when I do, I spend a lot of time contemplating "what if" & "where would I be"

I know I'll NEVER know the answer to those questions like they show in the movies. So I guess I just kinda moved on & forgotten the earlier parts of my life.

But maybe thats for the best <3
because I know this is exactly where I'm supposed to be.

Date Nights & Flashing Lights

Who knew a date night could end with police lights??

As you know, Friday night & Saturday Night are date nights! woo hoo! A gets the weekends off, so when we're stressed our during the week, we remind ourselves that Friday is almost here.
We even planned out the entire day perfectly, and it went a little something like this:

FRIDAY

-A works until 7:30
-I get all pretty before he gets home
-Go to a yummy Mexican place called Panchos for dinner
-Come home & snuggle up to an episode of Lost

Sounds like a pretty fantastic night huh! :D
Only... thats not what happened... at all.

Here's what REALLY happened:

    -A got off work 6 hours early! :D He didn't even text me & let me know he was coming home... he just walked through the door holding a big, delicious Dunkin Doughnuts Ice Coffee :D :D :D (my absolute favorite) I LOVE LOVE LOVE love love love when he does things like that <3

sweet surprise <3

-Since he was home early, we decided to watch the rest of season 1 of Lost (4 episodes)... and of course it ended with me getting frustrated that he knew what was going to happen... and I'm still trying to figure it out.
    -By time we were done watching the show & actually got ready for dinner... it was much TOO late to make it to Panchos. So we decided on KFC instead
    -On the way to KFC, big flashing lights filled the rear-view... thats right folks- we got PULLED OVER. Luckily A was still in his uniform (that always helps). The cop man said that we were getting pulled over because A's lights weren't working. (we knew that) A explained that only the high-beams worked & he didn't want to blind people (which was true) But the cop didn't think that sounded right. After toggling with the light switch, the cop realized that A wasn't turning them on right... THEY DO WORK! We felt dumb. Little did we know, we were about to feel a lot dumber when the cop asked, "so where are you two headed to?"... and when we replied with, "KFC"... we were informed that there are NO KFCs in this area. Yeah... we felt SUPER dumb.
    -After dinner (from McDonalds instead... which DOES exist), we headed to bed. Here's the interesting part...

about 2 hours into sleeping, I woke up to an extremely loud screech. It sounded like a girl, but I thought maybe it was just a car (since the roads were wet from rain) But 5 seconds later when the screech happened again, this time screaming, "HELP MEEEE!!!!" I knew that it was NOT a car. I heard it 3 more times before I even had A woken up... and he thought I was crazy. I know he believed me because I was shaking & was pale as a ghost. We decided to go to Walmart & get some alarms & call the cops when we were in the car.

    -MORE FLASHING LIGHTS FILL THE NIGHT
When we walked downstairs, I saw the neighbors were awake... and I decided to knock on the door & ask if they heard what I had... and to my surprise, a cop opened the door.
I was so confused... and I walked away quickly to the building door... and when I opened that door, 3 more cops were outside & 2 cop cars were parked in front of our building.
I honestly was debating on whether or not I was actually sleeping & dreaming this. But it was reality.
    -On the bright side of everything... We're ALIVE!!!!! :D

SATURDAY

After a CRAZY Friday night that went NOTHING like planned... Saturday went so much better.

    -We went to Michaels craft store to find something fun for me to do while A is working & we decided on cake decorating stuff! :D yayyy! I love baking so its absolutely PERFECT
    -We ended up deciding to go the mexican place that night since we didn't go Friday... and well it wasnt there anymore... however a new place was there called, La Fiesta. IT WAS SO DELICIOUS!

    -Before we left, the waiter gave us a box & said there was a surprise in there for us, but we couldn't open until we got home. It was a GIANT piece of chocolate cake! :D

So we went down to the lake area & ate it... but I think we fed more to the ducks than to ourselves! haha
It was a pretty fantastic night <3

mmmmmm

I think the most important part of this weekend was... WE SURVIVED! :D

Thursday 5

It's that time of the week again! Thursday 5! <3

This weeks words are:

 Irresistible

Positive

Successful

Vibrant

Glorious

A got off work early a few days ago & surprised with my favorite flowers (orange & yellow tulips)!! He certainly knows how to be incredibly irresistible. (: I love it when he does small things to show that he loves me! (:

They look perfect in the window between the kitchen & living room (:

One thing about me- I always think someone is going to break in & kidnap me... and last night I woke A up in the middle night freaking out. I really thought someone was trying to break in. Thank god he's always so positive so I didn't end up having a panic attack. After he checked the apartment for 'bad guys' he came back in the room with a broom (my new weapon) so I could sleep better.

bad guys, BEWARE!

I attempted to make A's favorite dinner dish, stuffed shells (for the first time). I was a bit scared to take that first bite, but I was definitely successful & he was surprised! yummy tummy!

We have LOTS of leftovers!

For all of you who know, Little Einstein Man (my fishy fish), he is doing absolutely wonderful! He's always so vibrant & happy. He's still a little fat man... lol (: But I'm glad he survived that crazy 5 day road trip all the way up here!

I love my Little Einstein Man! (:

The most glorious part about living at Hollandale is definitely the lake. It's so peaceful & nature-filled (: A & I fed some geese & a couple of ducks & they were so funny! One of the geese hissed at A like crazy... I couldn't stop laughing!

I think that A is traumatized haha (:

lately

Life has been so great lately that I haven't even had down time to blog... crazy huh (:

A and I had a wonderful weekend & we discovered the most amazing chinese food EVER. EVER. EVER.

But aside from a weekend of lovely dates & rainy weather... nothing interesting has come our way.

But life lately....

life lately is grand <3

C h e c k p o i n t

Have you ever had one of those crazy feelings that your life is exactly on track??

I have never been more at peace with my life than at this moment right now.
It's really crazy how much I've changed since I've been here in NY. I'm so comfortable and so relaxed... I'm HAPPY. (:
A few days ago, I was putting on makeup in the bathroom... and I noticed that the giant circles that have been hanging out under my eyes for years are GONE. What?? Seriously gone.

I just feel like this is exactly where I'm supposed to be. I'm surrounded by someone who absolutely loves me. I sleep in a comfy bed next to the love of my life. I'm actually smiling again. Christian songs play on the radio. Fresh flowers fill a vase on the table. Windows are always open, letting in a fresh a breeze. & I am at peace. Finally.

{Sometimes I think back to my life in Tampa and it literally brings me to tears. The short time that I spent there changed me so much.... for the worst. I became so uptight & bitter. I'm not sure if it was because of the job that sucked my soul away... or the people that I was living with... or just a bad mixture of both. I'm so thankful that that part of my life is OVER. I just wish that it wouldn't haunt me every now & then.}

It just makes me that much more grateful for where I am NOW. (:

Generations.

 From generation to generation.

Thats my great grandma, my grandma, my mom, and me of course.

My mom has been wanting to take this picture for as long as I can remember. So finally, at my going away party, we were all together & took "THE PICTURE".

Oh & a cool fact, my Nana (furthest left) is actually a Navy wife! :D Pretty cool huh!

But, this picture was the best mothers day gift to them... even to me... because a few days ago, my Nana was sent to the hospital & soon was diagnosed with the early stages of Dementia. So pretty much, she's going crazy. She doesn't remember a lot of people & she gets people mixed up. For example, she thinks that I am my mom... and its awkward. So we all knew that something was wrong. The Dementia makes her literally go crazy & throw things, hit people, say nasty words, and be completely untolerable. I think that its a lot better that she's in the hospital now, but I know its really hard from my grandma & mom (even if they dont show it).

So the coolest part about this picture... isn't the picture itself... but the fact that we took this the absolutely LAST chance that we ever had.

2 flights, 2 roadtrips, 1 party, and a happily ever after.

 So I've been MIA for the past few weeks... but I blame it on no internet & a cute little distraction always by my side. So if you are interest in what has happened these last few weeks of my life as a Navy Sweetheart, here ya go! (: Don't worry.. I put pictures so I don't bore ya to death! ;D

Charleston

I survived the 2 flights to Charleston & watched A graduate (: I met his parents for the first as his 'girlfriend' & it actually was pretty fun! He took me to the docks we went on the FIRST time I was in Charleston & it was so romantic. (: We road tripped our way back to Florida & had a lovely lunch in Savannah, GA (I love it there)

lunch in Savannah

Home

for a few days.

My parents threw us a going away party with my family. It was a good note to leave on. I still cried like a little baby when I said goodbye to my mom, my brother, and of course Ashlyn!

The giant cake (:
"Bon Voyage Alex & Sam"
(of course the lettering is in pink lol)

Road Trippin'

It was a LONG drive to NY, but we made it! (: A lot of obstacles were definitely thrown at us... but I think it made us stronger in the end. It was a lot of fun though. A has this theory that once the scenery starts changing... we're going to be entering a new state soon.. uhm... not so much honey! lol

I get bored in the car easily... what can I say

 New York <3

Our 'dream apartment' is nothing less than AMAZING! (: It is so perfect in every single way. They remodeled our kitchen with a nice hardwood floor, brand new appliances and some beautiful cabinets! Our bedroom is gigantic & our walk in closet mine as well be a room of its own! lol We bought a beautiful bedding set that I'm kind of obsessed with. The furniture took a week to get here... so the first night we slept on the floor... and by the second night... we bought an air mattress. Though, the air mattress was just as bad & when we finally got our real bed... I wanted to take the air mattress down with a knife. (I didnt though... it was kind of expensive) But I stuffed in the linen closet where it shall never be seen. Our "First Dinner" was on the floor of our empty but beautiful apartment. We had French bread pizza & juice! :D

our first dinner in the apartment <3

The internet & tv didn't get turned on until after a week that we've been here. But honestly, it was kind of refreshing to break away from technology & enjoy life lol. Though I did start to go crazy a few times! Even now that we have it... I find that I'm not using either of them nearly as much as I used to.
The community of Hollandale is spectacular! Everyone is so nice & welcoming. The outside is absolutely gorgeous! There are trees everywhere, trails to walk on, a lake with picnic tables, grills, and people fishing. I'm really glad that I picked this apartment out of all the rest. It was the best life choice I've made (aside from finding A).

seeing Hollandale for the first time in person! (: so exciting!

The town is so cute! It has all of our favorite restaurants all next to each other. PERFECT.
A random carnival went up down the road from the apartment for the weekend. Of course we went in & played some games (which we failed at) and ate some super yummy tummy funnel cake... which A has never had before! Can you believe it??!! Well... he loved it... of course! (:

The cute carnival that came to town!

The view from the ferris wheel (:

being silly on the ferris wheel! (:

yummmmy funnel cake!!! :D :D :D mmmm

Now that A is working again, I've been doing my own thing at the apartment. I wake up with him at 6 & make him a lunch while he's getting ready. Then we eat breakfast together & he heads off to work.
I normally occupy myself with something to do for a little bit and then eventually shower & get ready for the day. I just do easy things like clean & straighten up, make a small lunch, talk to my family back home, take a yogurt down to the lake, and then sit on the balcony & enjoy the fresh air while I wait for A to get home. It is certainly "THE LIFE" (:

-I'll be sure to add more photos to later posts. So you can see this lovely apartment & our beautiful town! <3