Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Love Is In the Air: Linking Up with 'From Mrs. to Mama' Today!!!


Since the day when I was old enough to 'celebrate' Valentine's Day with a boy, it has always seemed that there are two sides when it comes to the mushy stuff, and more specifically, when it comes to the holiday: we'll call the two sides the 'Lovers' and the 'Haters' (bear with me, friends). I am a 'Lover' through and through, always have been and always will be. I totally buy into Valentine's Day, and have been lucky enough to be spoiled over the years with flowers, candy, jewelry, and even a puppy!

Anyways, I love a reason to celebrate love in the ordinary things, and throughout ordinary days, and Valentine's Day just gives us all another reason to do so each year! When I heard that Becky was hosting her 'Love Story Linkup,' I knew I couldn't pass it up! She even put together some questions for her readers to answer based on whether you're currently 'taken' or 'single'; so much fun, right?!

Taken Ladies

1. How long have you and your significant other been together? It will be five years in March! Unless you count those five months where I was playing 'hard to get?' Then, we reached the five year mark back in October :o)

Celeb Costume Party: The Beckhams, October 2008

2. How did you meet? {What's your "love" story?} I have been asked this question many times, and the funny part is that I don't remember the exact time and place where B and I met, but I'll give you some background on our 'story.' We both attended James Madison University in VA, and were in the same class. Although we lived on opposite sides of campus freshman year, we soon found ourselves living across the street from each other in an off campus, town home neighborhood filled with other JMU kids. Our roommates had a class together, and I had recently broken up with my high school boyfriend, so she took me to a party at their place to meet some 'new guys.' It was around that time that I first met B and about 15 of his closest friends. And, did I mention that they were all adorable?!

Fast forward to junior year; I was now dating a different guy (not part of B's group), but would still see B and his friends a few times per month. They threw fun parties, and it was hard to say no to cute guys all the time :o) Well, I'm sure you can guess what happened next; the college bf and I broke up (for the third time), and I decided it was time to try and get to know other guys. 

B and I didn't start dating until after we graduated in 2006, but there is one memory that I have from senior year of college that I would love to tell our children and grandchildren some day: One afternoon shortly after my last breakup with the college bf, I was sitting on the front stoop outside my college apartment (B was still my neighbor at this time) thinking about how it was that I got to senior year of college and basically had to start all over again with the 'dating scene.' I always thought I'd get married and start a family at a young age, and I was feeling discouraged by the whole thing. I remember thinking "God, I wonder what the man I'm meant to marry is doing right now, and where he is?" At that very moment, B must have been leaving for class because, he drove right by me in his old Jeep. I know that may sound made up, and it didn't hit me at the time, but it really happened, and looking back now, I know it was God giving me a tiny glimpse into our future. 

August 2007

3. If married, how long have you been married? We just celebrated our 1 year anniversary on November 5th!

Our Wedding: November 2010

4. If you are married, where did you get married at? Big or small wedding? We had a 'medium' sized wedding at my church in Hometown, NJ, and reception at the Hyatt Regency in Jersey City.

5. Do you have any nick-names that you call one another? Nothing too 'pet-like,' but he calls me "Babe" and I call him "Honey" most of the time :o)

6. Name 3 things you love most about your honey. He is genuine, hardworking, and his laid back demeanor really balances out my crazy, OCD tendencies.

Chincoteague Island trip: May 2007

7. Tell us how he proposed? It was Thanksgiving weekend of 2009, and I had a bachelorette party in VA, followed the next morning by my best friend's surprise bridal shower in NJ. Needless to say, I was busy and distracted. Little did I know that shortly after I hopped in my car to head to NJ, B hopped on a train bound for NJ, and spent the next few hours setting the perfect scene in my parents' backyard (with a little help from my Mom and sister). 
 
A few short hours later, I came home to the biggest and best surprise of my life, complete with a handwritten letter, 2 dozen roses, our song playing in the background, and my handsome hubby-to-be getting down on one knee and asking me the words I had been waiting to hear my whole life. My sister even managed to hide in the bushes and capture it on camera! It was better than I could have ever imagined, and we celebrated that night with a big family dinner, and a romantic night at the Hyatt where we eventually had our reception!
Engaged: November 2009!
8. Is he a flowers and teddy bear kind of guy for v-day, or strawberries, champagne, and rose petals? I think B is a flowers and champagne kinda guy :o)

9. Are you a sunset dinner on the beach kind of girl, or pop a movie in and relax on the couch? Can I choose both? More often, we're a curl up on the couch for a movie couple, and we love it!

10. Tell us one thing you'd like to do with your significant one day. If you could do anything? Go anywhere? B studied abroad in Australia for four months in college, and I would love to go back there with him some day and have him show me around!!

11. Tell us what you plan on doing on this Valentine's Day. We don't have anything crazy planned this year. Just dinner at a local wine bar and two tickets to see The Vow!

12. Are you asking for anything this Valentine's day? I have my eye on a few pieces of furniture for the house, but I think we may be foregoing traditional gifts this year.

13. Give us one piece of advice of keeping a relationship strong and full of love. Set time aside for each other; date nights, a cup of coffee on the deck, glass of wine on the couch, etc. I love turning off the TV, putting on some music and just catching up with my man. I think it's most important that your relationship stays a priority, even with how busy life gets!

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

Pure joy. This still makes my heart race!
Thanks, Becky for getting this linkup started! It has been SO much fun to look back through old photos, and to actually write down our history here on my blog where I can keep it! 


So, what are you waiting for? Head over and link up YOUR love story!!

22 comments:

Melissa at Tall Blonde Blog said...

Adorable and that engagement photo of him waiting for you, priceless! You guys are too cute!

Aliya said...

Awwwwww, I still remember the first time I met B and how smitten you were!! Nugs :)

kourtney said...

I love this post! I think I'll have to steal it for V-Day! ;)
The celeb costume party pic is awesome! And again, I just LOVE your wedding dress!

Angie said...

Awww what a guy!! Such a wonderful story!! What a sweet and thoughtful proposal!

LOVE all of your wedding photos...have I told you that before? My oh my, gorgeous!

B F said...

Adorable! Love all the pics :)

Quinn said...

OMG your proposal was like something out of the Bachelor!! B is one romantic guy..you lucky girl:) Love all the old pics of you two and the wedding photos are absolutely gorgeous.

..and thank god you're finally following me!! What the hell took so long?! :)

Jessica said...

Woohoo!! JMU!! Right down the block from my work :D

Holly said...

Looove all your pictures and your story is beautiful :)

New follower :)

www.hollymarieee.blogspot.com

{annie_loo} @ The Farrar Four said...

What a sweet post. That picture is beautiful. Surely shows the love you have for each other. I may have to do this for Valentines Day. I'll have to scrounge up pictures though because mine aren't digital.

Coming to your blog from ILYMTC! :) New follower as well!

Unknown said...

THank you SO much for your comment!! I just read through pages of your blog... LOVE it! And you were the most gorgeous bride!! Can't wait to read more!!

Megan Gillesby @ something beautiful said...

such a cute love story! new follower!

with love,
meg

follow me @ http://somethingbeautifultheblog.blogspot.com/

Kristina said...

New follower from the link up! I too agree that your relationship should always be a priority!

Unknown said...

So sweet. I love this! & I'm your newest follower :)

Mrs. Mama said...

your pictures are beautiful. as well as your story. you guys sound like such a fun couple, we would totally hang out IRL!

that last picture really captures the love. what a great choice.

Roxy said...

I know I should comment on your love story (a sweet one at that) but I just had to swoon over your cathedral veil! You were a beautiful bride!

Roxy
This South Korean's Got Seoul

Karen said...

Beautiful pictures and I LOVE your proposal story. So sweet!

Unknown said...

GORGEOUS picture at the end! You know what's funny...I remember Ashley posting the pictures of your engagement before I "knew" you and thinking it was the most romantic thing ever! Love your story!

Anonymous said...

This is so heartwarming! I love that your engagement was captured, and the photo of him beforehand. You guys are so stinking cute together!

Lindsey said...

Absolutely beautiful!!! What a gorgeous couple you are and I think B's proposal almost resembles a Bachelor scene proposal ;) nice job B!!!

Summer said...

what a great story! I am lovin' how ya'll dressed up like the Beckhams and omg the pic of him waiting for you to propose reminded me of a scene off the bachelor how awesome! I just loved this story super cute

J and A said...

Ah this is so sweet. I love the costumes! So awesome. What a great story.

Andee Layne said...

such beautiful pics! so sweet xo