Engagement Photo Session

As part of the wedding planning process, Philip and I of course had to find a photographer. We did our research, and looked at a couple of options, but ended up going with a suggestion from a friend. 

Making a big decision for your wedding, or anything in general, can be quite frightening. Are you making the right decision? Did you really look at enough options? No matter what the scenario, there are your normal jitters that come with making big life decisions, and choosing the one person to capture your wedding day... well that's up there on that big decision list.

As part of our Wedding Photography Package, Philip and I were given a free 1 hour Engagement Photo Session at a location of our choice. We ended up choosing Phillippee Park for a number of reasons. 

1.) Our Photographer had a ton of experience with that location and knew it like the back of his hand. His portfolio was full of beautiful pictures he had taken there.

2.) It had the perfect environment/atmosphere we were going for. A rustic/outdoorsy type of shoot with tons of greenery, beautiful trees, the opposite of Florida and beachy!

3.) Phillippee Park is kind of an iconic place for us. We spend a ton of time there! We take our pups there for swims, we've had family reunions there, my 23rd birthday party, it's just a really fun park with some really great memories. 

The day of the photo shoot, I have to say, my nerves were SHOT! I was a stress ball. So many thoughts ran through my mind.. Will this be awkward? Will I be uncomfortable? I don't know to pose!! I hate getting my picture taken. The list goes on. The one thing I can say about having a really great photographer, is having someone that makes you comfortable, pretty much immediately. From the very first picture we took, he had Philip and I laughing, smiling, and really making it a romantic and bonding experience for the two of us! We left feeling connected on a whole new level. My nerves and fears vanished within seconds. 

Oh, and if I had any doubt or concerns about my decision to choose Angela Clifton Photography for our wedding day, let's just say those concerns absolutely vanished when we got our proofs!! 

I am still keeping a couple private until we decide which one we are going to use for our Save the Dates.. we currently have it narrowed down to two so hopefully we can figure that out soon! 

Moral of the story is:

- Find a photographer that you feel comfortable and yourself around

- See your proofs and have the sense of feeling that you totally made the right choice

- Photo shoots with your S.O. are crazy romantic and should happen WAY more frequently. 

XO.

Siesta Key Weekend

Wow, it has been far too long since I have posted! Sometimes, life moves in fast forward, and before you know it 6 months has passed and well, here you are. 

In the spirit and celebration of the fact that Philip and I just got our photos back from our engagement shoot (here's a little teaser - more pictures to come after we choose the ONE for our Save The Dates)

I figured I would do a post reminiscing in a really great weekend, with my really great fiancé! 

This past September, Philip and I celebrated 9 years together. We knew that although work was crazy, and we had a million and one things going on, we had to get away for the weekend! So, get away we did. 

Philip and I rented the cutest bungalow beach house for the weekend on Siesta Key Beach. We found out about Gumbo-Limbo rentals and I have to rave for a second because our expectations were blown out of the water. Not only was our room beautiful, clean, walking distance from the beach, but the entire rental square is secluded and feels like your own piece of paradise! From private balconies with cute landscaping, to a private pool and lounge area, we could not have asked for better! We stayed in their "Hibiscuis Suite" and it was the perfect space for some R&R! 

Our first night we arrived around 8 PM - we went straight from work. Not only were we exhausted, but it was Friday night.. so we figured the best thing to do was find a walking distance bar, eat some good food, and have one too many drinks! haha We ended up at The Siesta Key Oyster Bar, and I am so glad we did. Not only was it walking distance from our bungalow (YAY, no need for a cab) but we ate some of the best food and had amazing drinks. I ordered the Lavender Mojito.. I mean, who even knew something that amazing even existed? We finished the night off leaving a dollar with our names on it, the place was covered!

The next morning, we woke up to a beautiful view...

I have never seen a more beautiful, peaceful, and CLEAN beach! We layer out for a bit, swam, collected shells.. it was the perfect beach day! After a few hours of soaking up the sun, we needed carbs! We headed over to Another Broken Egg cafe and enjoyed a big breakfast! 

I got a Mexican style omelet with home fries, and Philip got the Eggs Benedict with home fries.

After stuffing our faces, we headed back to... the beach! haha & then after the beach we headed to... the pool! Once we were a bit done with the sun, we got cleaned up and hit the road to explore Siesta Key/Sarasota and ended up stumbling upon... 

The Mote Marine Laboratory! 

Did I mention, on that specific Saturday they were having a deal making their normal $20/person admission only $7/person. Surprisingly, it was even that packed. It was a really great, well maintained facility, that acts as a rehabilitation unit for animals that were injured in the wild. 

Once we left the aquarium we did some more exploring, and found this pretty cool statue remembering the "unconditional surrender". 

We then decided Mexican food was in order at least ONCE on our trip. Thank God for Siri and locating Mexican food within so many miles. She helped us find The Hub!

You tell me that does not just look mouth watering delicious! - because it was! We then hurried to the beach to catch the sunset. 

We ended the weekend off, watching the sunset, spending one last night in our perfect beach bungalow and really just enjoying some peace and quiet with each other. I cannot wait to spend more weekends like this, just the two of us. 

Crazily enough, with everything we have going on between upcoming holidays, wedding planning, and maybe some more surprises up our sleeves, it's kind of mind boggling to think that the next time we will take another vacation will be our Honeymoon! (Now just to figure out where we want to go.. haha)

Another one of those life updates

Life has been a whirl wind lately. Every now and then I have to remember to stop, take a breath, and relax! 

Work has been eventful! I love working for a company that is continuously tackling new projects and new goals, it keeps me on my toes and I feel like I learn something new every single day! 

Where to even begin, what we have been up to the past couple weeks! 

Philip and I took some time to go on a double date with our favorite couple, Joey and Carissa and went bowling! We learned that, we shouldn't make fun of Philip for asking people to wax his ball, because it actually does make him bowl better, Joey and Carissa are the ultimate kings of hot sauce and I am pretty sure don't have working taste buds! And last but not least, I SUCK AT BOWLING. 

Shortly after that, we went to the Safety Harbor Seafood Festival with my Mom, Sister, and her best friend Rebecca (who might as well be my sister because we have known her since the day she was born). 

It was a really fun event, and the weather was beautiful so we didn't completely boil under the Florida sun! We spent the day walking the festival, trying some really good seafood, listening to good music, and checking out the set up shops that were there. 

I got seriously the ultimate hook up, what you see here is the world's best crab cake, piled on top of yellow rice and craw fish, with a Greek salad! 

It was a really fun day! I love all of these local festivals and want to make a point to go to more in the future. 

Shortly after that, Phil and I went out to celebrate...

For those of you who don't know, over the last couple of weeks, Philip has been transitioning his career and has put in his notice with his current company and will be starting a new career path a week from today! & it just so happens, we are going to be working together! Yup, that's right, Philip got a job with my company! He will be at one of our branches, and I am at the corporate office so while we won't work together very much, it's still very cool to work towards the same goal and vision. 

We just recently attended our first work event together and it was so much fun! Each year our company, in partners with one of our vendors, hosts a Day at the Races! It turns out to be such a great event, where I think it was safe to say everyone had a really great time! 

I of course jumped at the opportunity to wear a pretty dress and feel a little bit like one of the Blue Bells for a day! 

So handsome! 

Well, family and friends, and hopefully some blog readers. That is it! That is what life has been like in our household lately. With the change of jobs, we are already excited to start looking a little deeper into the future at houses, and have a more specific location in mind now! 

As March comes to a close, I again can't help but look back and think about how much changes in our lives over the matter of years, months, even days! 

If only now I could queue: "On the Ride" ....

 Just sing it in your head! haha

XO.

Life has moments hard to describe
Feeling great and feeling alive
Never coming down from this
Mountain we're on

Always knowing we're gonna be fine
Feeling great and feeling alive
Never coming down from this
Mountain were on
The view is so clear
And it's crazy up here
Life is amazing with you on the ride

Wedding Planning (Part 1)

So, you're thinking about getting married?

Well at least we are! I have to admit, this entire wedding planning process is WORK! Philip and I knew from the moment he proposed that we were looking at a bit of a longer engagement, due to a couple of things. For one, money. Planning a wedding cost some serious money! Even if you want to go low key, like we are trying to do, you are still dishing out a lot more than you would expect! Stress, we did not want to be rushed in making decisions and getting things done. We both work full time jobs and didn't want our wedding to be another one of those. Time, and what I mean by this, is time to enjoy this phase in our lives that we are currently in, the engaged phase. For us, this is the only time in our lives, we are ever going to have the title of "engaged" or "fiance" and I really didn't want to rush through this period like a bat out of hell. I wanted to enjoy this time with Philip, as an engaged couple! 

So, as we take this journey, as an engaged couple, I thought it might be fun to share with you guys the steps to planning our wedding, some fun DIY and crafts that we are working on, and more to publicly document our journey down the aisle! 

Hope you guys enjoy, I will be doing a post soon on our venue, why we chose the one that we did, and how to best select a venue for your wedding! This seems to be the first step, at least for us, and really helps start the planning process! 

XO

Young & Engaged...

I am young, and in love. 

I am young, and engaged. 

I am 22 years old, and with the man I want to spend the rest of my life with, so who's to say I am too young to know this? 

What is the worst part of being young and getting married you may ask? 

Everyone on the outside's reaction. Strangers, Acquaintances, even some family members. There is always the question of, why? Don't you want to wait a little longer, make sure he is the one? Why are you rushing? 

Here's my take or my response to everyone, if you're in the same situation, if your thinking to yourself that we are to young, here's my side of the story. 

In my opinion, the ultimate goal in life, is to live it to the the fullest, experience amazing things, travel, start a family, have a career that I love, and a home that I find solace in, make amazing friendships and change people's lives for the better. Leave this Earth with a sense that I lived my life fully and wholly and true to myself. Why would I not want to spend all of those moments with Philip by my side? 

Philip is my very best friend. I can laugh with him, I can cry with him, I can go to him for advice, I can fight with him, he is my person. He is the first person I want to call when I have good news, and the first person I reach out to for help after a bad day. He pushes me to try my best and strive for the best and motivates me to try new things. He doesn't hinder me from having a life outside of him with friends and hobbies and an identity aside from a couple. 

I have not lost myself in our relationship, I have found myself, and who I want to be. 

Philip and I have had our amazing days and we have had our dark days. We fight, all couples do, but we don't let those fights define us. We have experienced life together as children and as adults and have dealt with hardships that life can throw at you. We have seem death, loss, money problems, and I am not saying we are fully equipped to handle anything from left field, but I am saying that together we are stronger. 

There is no age limit to finding your soul mate, you can be 15 or 50. 

I found it quite interesting a couple of years ago when I would hang out with single friends and go out and have fun and what not, you know, girls night! I would go out expecting an all girls night, just fun times with my girlfriends. I would leave Philip at home and go out and realize that all my single friends were searching for what I had at home waiting for me. Everyone would get glamoured up and look absolutely stunning in the hopes of meeting a nice/attractive guy that you could find a connection with. 

If I have my perfect person already, why would I want to continue testing the water, trying to see if the grass is greener. 

Philip is the one for me, I have known that since I was 14 years old. There is something about love, that when it's real and it's right, you'll just know. You'll feel it from the moment you meet. There is an electricity between the two of us that just draws us towards each other and connects us on a level that only we can reach.

Being 22 does not mean I am rushing things, being together for 8+ years means I am ready to commit myself and my life to one man, until death do us part. 

I guess my point of this post, was just to spread the word, that not all people that get married or fall in love young are crazy or have a lack of reality. If anything, I think I have grasped reality, grasped what I want out of life, and someone just for me to share it with. 

XO

Date Night - The Key to Keeping Your Spark Alive!

What is the key to success in relationships and marriage? Philip and I have been together for over 8 years now and while I am not saying we have a perfect relationship, I do feel like we have a once in a lifetime love. 

Now, don't get me wrong, with the wrong person, if it is not meant to be, it just won't work. 

On the other hand, with the right person, and a lack of work, it can feel wrong. I used to wonder how people can go from being head over heels in love, to absolutely hating each other in a matter of a lifetime. 

I think, at least Philip and I's philosophy is dating! You should always date your significant other. I don't care if you've been together for 6 months or 6 years, love is a verb. Love is something you do to another person. It is not a noun, a tangible thing, it is an active feeling that should be shown, through small gestures, kind words, precious moments. 

If you think of your love as a verb, and not a noun, you could have one of the most important key's to a happy and healthy relationship! 

Over the years though, the old dinner and a movie can become quite repetitive, so I thought I would share with you some dates we have been on, some that are on the to do list, and more to give you inspiration to actively date your S.O. and show them your love!

Feeling Adventurous?:

- Get outdoors! Go for a walk, a jog, a nature trail, a hike. Pack a backpack with some waters and snacks and explore a local nature preserve. 

- Kayaking and Canoeing! If you don't have your own, you can find local places that typically rent them for the day. 

- Fishing! Philip is the definition of a fisherman, he lives, sleeps, eats, and breaths, fishing! Even if it's not really your thing, it's a great way to bond, and there is typically a lot of down time that leaves time for talking.

-Have animals? Take your pups to a local dog park. Not only is this a great place to make friends and get outside and spend QT with your other half, but your pups can get out and make friends too! 

- Go camping! Search in your area for local campsites and pack your bags for a night. If you're lucky maybe you could also do a bonfire and some s'mores! 

-Go sight seeing, does your town have a city life? A downtown area of sorts? Go for a walk in downtown and see the sights. Most downtown areas also have some awesome quick lunch spots, grab lunch while you're out. 

-Go ATV/4 Wheeling.

-Rock Climbing! Many places have indoor rock climbing centers where you pay for the day and can rock climb as long as you'd like! (This is one of the dates on our to-do list)

-Work out together! Hit the gym!!! Races can be really fun and bonding! We have done a couple 5K's together and each have been great.

-Do you two have bikes? Go for a bike ride! If not, you can typically find a place locally that rents them. 

-Go Rafting or Tubing!

-Rent some jet ski's (Another on my bucket list)

-We have something pretty awesome here called Treeumph! Its a tree top obstacle course! Incredible! Check your area and see what unique things you have. 

- How adventurous are you feeling? Feel like going a little crazy? Skydiving, Bungee Jumping, talk about a bonding experience and an adrenaline rush! 

Feeling Romantic?:

- Go out for a romantic dinner for two, take turns picking the place, that way you can both enjoy different foods! Philip is a big lover of a hearty meal, and I love me some sushi! It's fun to switch it up often.

- Fondue can be super fun and romantic! It is one of my favorite ways to celebrate, but tends to typically be expensive! Have your own fondue night at home (we did this for our recent anniversary to enjoy some alone time and save money - maybe we will have a repeat and I will blog some recipes!)

- Massages! Whether you want to go to a spa and get a couples massage or offer them to each other it can be a great bonding experience. Philip and I tend to switch off 20 minute massages weekly. 

-Cooking can be one of the most romantic things you do together. Help each other and make it an equal job, set the mood with some light music! Once your done, have a candlelit dinner for two!

-Spend some time swimming or in the Jacuzzi! 

-Have a low key night in, snuggle up and watch a movie! Redbox is a great option for new movies and it is super cheap! They come out with new releases every Tuesday! 

Places to go, Things to see:

-Movie Theatre, once again, take turns picking the movie so they interest you both.

-Local theatre to go see a play, musical, or comedian! We have had some of the best times at the Performing Arts center and the tickets usually aren't too crazy! 

-Go to a concert! Whether its one of your favorite performers, or a concert in the park, music is one thing that can really set the tone for an amazing time! 

- Gun Range! Shooting is one thing that intrigued me but also frightened me, it turned out to make one hell of a date night! 

- Go out together! Going out to bars, lounges, and clubs doesn't have to just be for single people! Go out and have a drink with your significant other. One of my favorite movie scenes is from "Four Christmases" when Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn go out to a club together and pretend not to know each other and he has to win her over all over again - so cute!

-Hit up the library together! Whether you like to read, need to study, or just want to browse, the library usually has private rooms where you can go in together to read, talk, rent movies and what not. 

-Are you religious? Faith is one thing that two people can really bond on, and going to church together for me always felt like something that bonded us. 

-Does your town have a local brewery or winery? Maybe a tasting? Go and try some local brew. 

-Spend the day together at the beach! 

-Do you have a local flea market? Phil and I love spending weekends at the flea market looking for odds and ends and rare finds that we can restore and make beautiful again!

-Go to the zoo! Most zoo's have some really fun behind the scenes things you can do as well like animal encounters and what not!

-Do you have a local amusement park? We have a ton near us, from Busch Gardens/Adventure Island to Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure! Spend a day there riding the rides and trying new things!

-Go grocery shopping together, somehow Phil and I tend to have some of the funniest moments in the isles of Target.

-Shop together, pick things out for each other. 

-Murder Mystery Dinner's are so much fun! Our area has one on a train and is such an amazing experience. 

- Go to a local festival, here we have some pretty awesome ones from the Strawberry & Blueberry Festival, to the Renaissance Festival.

-Do you have any local museums! We have a ton around us from MOSI (Museum of Science and Industry) to the Photography Museum, the Dali, and so many more! 

-Go to a car show, Phil loves the exotics and I love the antiques, we go fairly often! 

-Go on a dessert date, ice cream, froyo, just get whatever feels right.

-Drive In Movie theaters can be so fun and are usually cheaper than the theater - plus you can bring your own food and drink! 

-Ikea! Hear me out on this one! Ikea can be such a fun date day, especially if you already live together. Philip and I love to go there and spend the day "shopping" for our future home. Taking pictures of things we like, dreaming out our future house, and they have a cafeteria where you can get lunch! 

Holiday Seasons? Get Festive!

- Spend New Years together, watching the fireworks, or the Ball Drop. Share your New Year Resolutions and a midnight kiss!

-Color Easter Eggs together!

-Carve/Paint pumpkins together while watching a scary movie!

-Go to a costume party together. 

-Corn Maze's can be super fun, check your area in the Fall!

-Go to a local Haunted House!

-Pick out a Christmas tree together and decorate it.

-Decorate your own stockings or ornaments.

-Is it snowing in your area? Get outside and let your inner child shine! Make snowmen, snow angels, have a snow ball fight! 

-Have a Christmas Scavenger Hunt! I'll do a post on this as the season gets closer!

-Make a gingerbread house together! Or make two and have a competition for who can make the better one. 

Games & Sports?

-Play video games together!

-Play a board game!

-Go to a sports game together, there are so many choices - Football, Soccer, Hockey, Baseball, watch the game at a sports bar with some delicious food and a beer! 

-Play pool together.

-Go bowling

-Mini Golf!

-Go Carting! 

If you can, go on vacation together! Whether its for a week or just the weekend! 

At the end of this post, my point here is, it doesn't matter what you do. Just do it together!

Never, Ever, stop falling in love with each other. <3

XO