Annual Family Photos

This morning we went to Hampsted and had our annual family photos for the Christmas Card. Kelli Alfreds took them again and I just have to give her major kudos!!! She is so patient and amazing with our bulldog, Ally. If you have ever been around Ally you know how stubborn she can be. She did great after she wore herself out! I absolutely can't wait to see the images when Kelli gets done with them!!! We had a beautiful morning and the setting was picture perfect!! Thank you Kelli!!!

The year of Cotton...

TJ and I went to Pensacola for our anniversary trip last weekend.  I was able to take advantage of my fabulous hotel rates one last time!  We had a great room right on the beach.  It was a quick trip but it was well worth it.  Neither of us had been to the beach all year so we were well over due.  Here are some pictures from the weekend...

View from the cafe where we had breakfast Saturday morning.  Pensacola has some of the coolest places to eat.  It so easy to get down there (practically all interstate) and it's not a very crowded place...it's literally a small little island. 

We sat here, ate, and watched a group of ladies paddle boarding.  That is the coolest new sport and let me tell you; they have some awesome bodies.

The of course we headed to the beach where we lounged all day!  It was awesome.  Not too hot and enough of a breeze to keep you comfortable.  I actually got to read some and take a nap in the sunshine.  TJ on the other hand stayed under the umbrella.  It's okay...he loved it.  We even saw a nice size shark too close for comfort.  Pretty cool.

This is the view from the balcony of our room.  Man; I'm going to miss those awesome hotel rates!

We ate at Hemmingways just across the street from our hotel.  We went early enough and were able to request a table directly in front of a nice TV...you know Alabama played Penn State that night.  We TJ couldn't miss that!

When decided to wait until we got home to exchange gifts since our anniversary wasn't until Monday.  We do the traditional anniversary presents and for your 2nd year the gift is cotton.  Here is what we got...

TJ got a gift certificate for one round of Golf at "Cottonwood" Golf Course and a Cotton hat from there also.  I am so creative...what can I say!  ha ha!

I got a beautiful Cotton bathrobe!  Its so soft and its pink...my favorite color!

We had a great anniversary and I can't wait for many more!

A new adventure and another year of marriage...

I am so excited to report I have a new Job!!  I have accepted a job with Merrill Lynch here in Montgomery and start on September 20th.  I used to be a Financial Advisor (2006-2009) but this volatile crashing economy got the best of me and I was stuck changing jobs just last year.  I found an amazing job with Embassy Suites downtown and over the last year have been planning meetings and events.  I have met some of the coolest people and worked with some of the most amazing organizations.  I have truly enjoyed myself but can't fight the urge to keep my brokerage license active.  {It can only be active if I am employed with a firm.}  I worked so hard for it...it took 6 months of studying and lots of hard work!  Not to mention the benefits are pretty great too!  Wish me luck!

On another note; I am sitting pacing at home right now waiting on TJ to get here.  We are off to the beach tonight for the weekend.  We are celebrating our 2nd Wedding Anniversary on Monday!  Time flies when your having fun.  I am so excited about the trip.  We haven't been to the beach all year because of my leg injury.  I'm still not 100% but I'm getting around well enough to enjoy a wonderful weekend at the beach.  I think the salt water, sand, and relaxation is just what I need to get ready for a new job, another year of marriage, and to say goodbye to Summer.  What a Summer it's been...

I am not one to post only positive things and make people think that TJ and I have one of those perfect lives...you know what I'm talking about.  Those blogs and social sites where people only tell you how awesome their lives are and how amazing their husbands are...please let's get real!  You know life sucks sometimes; let's face it!  ha ha!  After all my sulky post this Summer I am going to dedicate this next paragraph to my Husband considering the special occasion this weekend...I've He's earned that!

Things I love about my Husband:

He goes with the flow

He says I Love You all the time

He takes care of our bulldog Ally like she's a sweet baby girl

He cuddles with me on the couch everyday

He let's me take thousands of pictures of him without complaining

He doesn't care when I blow money on shoes

He tells me how great of a cook I am

He doesn't snore

He makes time for me even though he'd rather be golfing sometimes most of the time

He watches the Bachelorette, Bachelor, and Bachelor Pad, etc with me

He is a hard worker

He's pretty darn HOT

and I get to kiss him whenever I want!!!

TJ thank you for marrying me...I am sure having fun being married to you!

A star struck Auburn fan...

Even though I am a true Auburn fan I will admit I got to meet a pretty cool man today! 

Gene Stallings the former Alabama football coach.  He came to the hotel and I had a chance to meet him and take my picture with him.  (It so pays to keep your camera in your purse...you never know when you'll need it!)

He was in Montgomery speaking to a few football teams...I really enjoyed meeting him and hope some of the Auburn coaches are just as classy as he was.  War Eagle!!!

Coach Gene Stallings and me...

Am I cheezing or what!  ha ha!

New York Wedding...in Alabama

TJ and I went to Ross Bridge last weekend for one of my Sorority Sisters' wedding.  She is a sweet southern girl from Alex City and had a crazy notion of moving to New York after college.  She met a crazy fun guy named Andy and the rest is history!

They were married Saturday at Ross Bridge.  TJ and I had a great time seeing some of my friends from college and just really relaxing at a beautiful property!  The hotel was amazing.  TJ had a tee time but weather didn't permit.  It did clear up and I got some time before the wedding to lay out by the pool with my girlfriends. 

Here are some of our pictures from the weekend!

The Beautiful Hotel

All the rooms had balconies which was so nice.

TJ and I at the reception

Some of my Sorority Sisters!!

Shrimp Boil...

A relaxing weekend with friends started on Friday night.  My friend Kari and her husband Chase came over for mine and Kari's favorite meal...a shrimp boil.  It was so nice to relax and visit with Kari and Chase.  I don't see them often enough.  They are expecting a baby this winter and it awesome to hear how their journey through pregnancy is progressing.  Here are some pictures of the yummy food...beware it will make you hungry!!

Our feast!

Me and Kari (that's TJ behind us checking out the food on the table)

Our silly husbands (they would starve without us)

A few random updates...

Well the last couple of weeks have been much better than expected.  I am still in my walking boot but go back to the Doctor on July 21st.  I hope he tells me I can take it off!  I still don't know if I'll be able to be wear a normal shoe b/c the bottom of my foot is still very sensitive and a bit swollen but I will for sure try. 

If you read my last post you know I was a whinning about all the things going on with TJ and I in the last month...well things turned out great for his birthday.  He didn't have to work and we were able to go to the lake.  We had a blast with the Normans and the Corley's.  Karen's parents have a beautiful home on Lake Martin and it's large enough for their entire family which is like 12 so TJ and I squeezed in just fine!  ha ha!  We fished, went on a boat ride, ate good all weekend, and of course did a lot of swimming and sunning!  I surprised TJ with an Ice Cream Cake (his favorite) and of course it was golf themed.  The kids and everyone enjoyed it considering the heat!  I will post actual pictures of our stay at casa de Norman later...

I started back at work on June 28th.  I was welcomed back with extremly open arms and it felt so wonderful to be missed so much.  I missed working and feeling the sense of normalcy my job brings to my life.  I love working.  I love what I do.  I have so much fun planning things for my clients and for the hotel.  I had planned a big return party on June 1st that I missed because of my injury and I was so upset.  I am looking forward to working with the University of Arkansas and LSU later on this fall when they come to town to play Auburn!  You wouldn't believe what those boys eat during a meal.  It's amazing.

I am looking forward to my 10 year class reunion and will admit I can't wait to party like is 2000!!!!  We are getting a DJ and I sure hope my boot is off so I can dance the night away.  I am still shocked at how many tickets we sold.  We have over 200 people coming and some traveling a long way.  Its really great though becasue considering the good turn out we have plenty of money for a great party.  I can't wait to see my old friends and hear what all they are up to these days.  I don't want to go back to high school for anything but it sure was a fun time in my life and I still have some amazing friends to this day that I met during those years.

This was such a random post it kind of made me want to do a favorite things post...never done one of those before...maybe next time!  Sorry it was so long and random.