Our Story Link Up

In honor of Valentine's Day I decided to do the "what's your love story?" link up on From Mrs. To Momma. You should link up to!!

1. How long have you and your significant other been together?

We started dating in October of 2010, our first date was to a show at the 40 Watt. Deer Tick and Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit were playing and I had an extra ticket. We got engaged in March of 2011 and married in June 2011.

2. How did you meet? {What's your "love" story?}

We actually first met at a conference in Boston in March of 2010. I went with my department to interview job candidates and our search team interviewed Kyle. I didn't really think much of it at first, I mean it was a job search not speed dating. But after he moved to Athens we hung out a couple of times and really enjoyed each others company!

3. If married, how long have you been married?

We have been married 230 days! Still love being newlyweds!

4. If you are married, where did you get married at? Big or small wedding?

Our wedding was SMALL. 30 people total including us. I wanted to elope to Savannah GA, but we wanted our parents there. That turned into our siblings, which turned into close friends. I had to draw the line somewhere and cap the number. I didn't want anything huge. I might have upset some people and family members, but I had the wedding I wanted. My brother's future mother in law helped us plan a lot, and she did a lot! She found our venue, a winery in Northern VA. It was beautiful, perfect, exactly what I wanted!

5. Do you have any nick-names that you call one another?

If you watched my vlog last week then you know nicknames are a big deal. My nickname growing up was (and still is) May. Kyle calls me his May-flower. Not like the pilgrims ship! Just his May- flower. I like it. I think it is special. I call him Pumpkin. And so does the rest of my family, because they think it is funny! And he just goes with it.

6. Name 3 things you love most about your honey.

JUST THREE! Goodness! I love how much he wants to make me happy. He is always making me laugh and we have so much fun together. I love how rational he is, kinda weird, but I am totally irrational sometimes and he just helps me put things into perspective and reminds me what is important. And I love how much he cares about family and how much he values it. He loves his family and my family and that just means a lot to me.

7. Is he a flowers and teddy bear kind of guy for v-day, or strawberries, champagne, and rose petals?

Well he knows I LOVE flowers, so I would have to say flowers. But he is a creative guy that gives thoughtful gifts!

8. Are you a sunset dinner on the beach kind of girl, or pop a movie in and relax on the couch?

Both! But the couch probably describes real life better!

9. Tell us one thing you'd like to do with your significant one day. If you could do anything? Go anywhere?

We both would love to go to London and travel the around the UK. Neither of us has been across the Atlantic!

10. Tell us what you plan on doing on this Valentine's Day.

We went out to dinner together last week, so we will just have a relaxed night at home. I am sure wine and Tivo will be involved!

11. Are you asking for anything this Valentine's day?

Nope. I never have to ask, I let Kyle be creative!

12. Give us one piece of advice of keeping a relationship strong and full of love.

I think the key is good communication. We talk through everything! Nothing is secret, we are open and honest. I think that helps us keep building our relationship and keeps it healthy.

13.  Show us a picture of what love means to you.

Photo Challenge: Catch up DAY ONE

So I saw everyone doing the fat mum slim photo challenge, and was inspired to try myself! I have never done a link up photo challenge, so I thought why not? Yes, I am starting a day late. February is a short month, so hopefully I can complete this challenge.

Day 1: Your View

My view most of the day is my computer at my desk. I have my favorite picture of me and Kyle on my desk and my favorite picture of me and my little brother when we were way younger. Pretty standard desk.

I thought I would add my second "view", I have a pretty huge window in my office. I get to look at the pump room, BUT at least I have a window! 

I am going to try and catch up later today and post the day two photo: words.

And speaking of photos! My mom called me this morning and wanted me to go to Yahoo.com and check out this story. Apparently a bride's father got sick and so they photo-shopped their dad into some of the wedding photos! HILARIOUS! This one is my fav:

OBX Christmas

The day after Christmas Kyle and I left PA to go to the Outer Banks, NC to spend time with my family and my brother's fiance's family. My brother is getting married in May at the beach and we stayed in the same house we will be in during the wedding! I was very thankful to be invited to go and relax at the beach!

Crossing over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge

Smile for the camera!

Boardwalk, our house for the week!

So excited to see little Maddy!

Such a cutie!

Tuesday I was invited to join my brother and his fiance to go wedding cake tasting! Cake at 11:00am, YES PLEASE! So yummy, and the cake is going to be beautiful! We then decided to go to the outlets. The weather was really bad and it rained most of the day, so shopping was a good idea. I got a new pair of khakis from JCrew and a top. 

Kyle and his favorite dog :)

Beach Christmas Tree

Maddy and my brother

Tuesday night we played board games and tried some wine that might be used for the wedding, Everyone seemed to enjoy the wine and our competitive game of Fact or Crap was that much more fun.

Silly Dad

The next day my parents, Kyle and I decided to go down to Hatteras and see the lighthouse!

Mom and I

Kyle and I

I made my Dad drive us down to Frisco so I could show them the house my friends and I rented in 2010. 

Beach Buddy

Brothers in law! Ew man thigh.

The next day my parents, Kyle and I went to Manteo Island and walked around. A lot of shops were closed on the off season, but some were open and I had fun at the antique shop. We also went to Awful Arthurs. Kyle was DYING for seafood. We got raw oysters, and Kyle had a LIVE baby crab in one of his! We also had steamed shrimp and crab meat in butter. SO DELICIOUS!

We played more board games and drank more wine Thursday. I laughed so hard, truly a great beach trip!

Our last day at the beach was GORGEOUS. Mom and I went for a long walk on the beach, Kyle and I went back to the outlets. For dinner we went to Argyle, and I finally watched The Help before bed.

Shadow, my brothers CRAZY black lab!

Aw Maddy girl!

We had a wonderful time in OBX, I was not ready to leave. I can't wait to go back in May! Thank you Jennifer and Alex for such a wonderful time!

Weekend in ATL

Well I had a WONDERFUL weekend! my beautiful mother, future sister in law and her mother came to visit me in Georgia! My brother came as well, but he came to Athens to hang out with his brother in law while I stayed with the girls in Buckhead and had a girls weekend!
In anticipation of this trip I emailed a good friend of mine (fellow Tech alumna, sorority sister and Georgian) to get some advice about where to eat, and thank goodness I did because her advice was priceless. We all celebrated my birthday at Kyma. GREAT GREEK food! So delicious. My brother and husband decided to be adventurous and had skate wing... yes like the fish you see at the aquarium.

 I hope these guys caught my brothers dinner... oh the crazy things you find on the Internet.

We had a lovely evening, but we were back at the hotel early to go to bed so that we could get up early to go find my BRIDESMAID dress! My brothers wedding is 198 days away! I had no clue were we were going to look, but when I found out we were going to Bridals by Lori I almost flipped! I had a great time trying on dresses and finding a great one, that I love and my family loved! And yes, I saw Monte!

After dress shopping we decided to go to the aquarium, LOVE! My out of state visitors said that it was the best aquarium they have been to! I got so annoyed by all the people using the flash on their cameras. It clearly states on all the exhibits to not use a flash. I would hate to be one of the fish and feel like there were paparazzi chasing me all over my tank. I did have an embarrassing moment going through security. After leaving the bridal shop I had put all my "special undergarments" in my bag but forgot to leave them in the car when we got to the aquarium. I warned the poor guy checking bags at the aquarium security that I had a bunch of underwear in my bag and I didn't want to embarrass/ weird him out. My mom died laughing. Oh well!

My mom was shocked by all the nice cars in Buckhead. We started playing count the Maseratis during our trip! Our trip to Lenox Mall totally helped with that game!

While I was not shocked at all the nice cars.... I WAS SHOCKED THAT SANTA WAS ALREADY AT THE MALL!! I am all for a little holiday cheer before Thanksgiving, BUT SERIOUSLY, SANTA IN THE MALL! Slow your roll Lenox Mall.

After the mall trip (amazingly no one purchased anything!) we went back to the hotel to figure out dinner plans and hit up the hotel lounge. I found a new favorite drink, raspberry lemon drops! DELICIOUS! For dinner we went to Chops. AMAZING steakhouse and the ONLY TWO PICTURES I TOOK FROM THE TRIP:

Of course they were of food! Even though we had a celebrity run in... Ne Ne Leakes from RHOA was at Chops!! My future sister in law's mother and I ran outside to get her autograph. She was so tall in person, and very nice!!



I had a GREAT girls weekend and visit with my family. I ate so well, I don't think I will have to eat for weeks! Hope everyone else had a great weekend! Now, I am preparing for my husband's birthday tomorrow and my in laws arriving tonight and visiting for the rest of the week! Can't wait to show them around Athens/ Atlanta! So much great family time!