30 Things About Me

I stumbled upon a good friend's album they did a while back where she showed 30 things about herself in photos. I love photos, so this really caught my eye. So here's my 30 things:

1. You

I have to say, it was really hard to find a photo of just me. Photo cred to Hollie D. Photography

2. You, from at least a year ago

Ok so it's me and the back of Darren. Engagement pix by Hollie D Photography in Oct 2011

3. Something that makes you happy

My 3 favorite girls in the whole world, looking great on our wedding day.
My Goddaughter Layla, my sister Samantha, and Coco. It warms my heart every
time I look at this photo. By Hollie D. Photography

4.  A place you'd like to visit

Bora Bora, Tahiti. Yes please! 

5.   Something that makes you laugh

Mel's birthday back in Charlotte a few years ago-hilarious! She fell over while having a good time
during the  pre party festivities :)

6.  Someone you love

Duh...this guy. My hubby Darren. This was a few years ago when we were first dating, on a Charlotte visit. 

7.  Someone you miss

My girlfriends! Everyone is busy and we are all pretty far away, but I LOVE when we get a chance to get together!

8. Your favorite band/musician

Maroon 5. I took this when I FINALLY went to see them in concert after 10 years of loving them. August 2011

9. You as a baby or child

Happy happy happy-I LOVED that desk, played at it every day at my grandma Elaine's

10. A photo you like for any reason

It's dark, you have no idea what is going on here, but I know, that this was a few moments before one of my
best girlfriends was about to walk down the aisle. I had no idea this was being taken, and that is usually the
best type of photo. One of my all time favorite days! 

11. A night you loved

Best night of my life, thus far-wedding night! We had a blast! Not sure what is up with my face here-hahahha
Photo by Hollie D Photography

12. When you were happy

In case you can't tell, I am deliriously happy in this moment. This was right
after our big first kiss as husband and wife.
Photo by Hollie D. Photography

13. One of your favorite movies

Office Space!  This is especially good after a rough week at work.

14.  Your best friend

My best friend and love-Darren
by Hollie D. Photography

15. You and a family member

Me and my little brother (well, he's big now I guess) Lil David
Photo by Hollie D. Photography

16. A photo from your childhood

Blowing out candles-Happy 4th birthday! 

17. A trip you'll never forget

Summer 2010-Family Vacation to Duck, NC-were I met Darren

18. Your town

Huntersville, NC. Our new town! When looking this photo I found an article. Huntersville was recently listed as one of Forbes best places to move. In 1990 the population was 3,000 and now it is at 50,000 today. 10 miles north of the city of Charlotte, everything is new and clean-country and city-the best of both worlds! 

19. A photo from last summer

30th Birthday dinner-July 2012

20. Something you ate today

Smoothie made by my sweetie

21. Someone you find attractive

The most handsome guy in the whole wide world

22. A photo you associate a good memory with

Any time we are out and about...or just sitting on the couch-that's a good memory.

23. Something you want to do someday

Someday I'd like to actually enjoy exercise...instead of dreading it like I do right now.

24. What you want to be when you grow up

Someday...when I grow up and have the funding for it, I would LOVE to own a dog store/bakery. I would love
to work with Coco and play with sweet dogs all day. Besides, who walks into a dog store cranky? Everyone is happy!

25. Something that inspires you

No matter what is going on in my life, I can always find hope and inspiration here!

26. Your favorite subject in school

Yearbook. English was a somewhat close second.

27. Something you look forward to

Visiting with my family! In a little over a week.
Don't worry, David finally shaved. I think he was working on the Duck Dynasty look.
It probably only took him a month to grow this mess! 

28. Something/someone that made your day

This little one makes my day, every day! This was at the dog park recently. 

29. Your favorite person from history

Jesus, of course! Best person in history and now!

30. A photo you find beautiful

Saying our vows, I love the way he's looking at me.
Of course...photo by Hollie D. Photography :)

So that's a little...ok...a lot about me. How about you? I'd love to see some friends play along with this! 

Karma..

My friends, let me introduce you to my daily dose of karma. I do something annoying, and in turn, something annoying happens to me. 

Exhibit A: Coco is relaxing-snoozing away, and I convince Darren to wake her by getting her monkey to hug her. Coco is not amused. 

*Please excuse the photography...I'm not a photographer, and I am using my iPhone in a  not well lit area.

Exhibit B: I am playing on my computer. I forget that a full glass is behind my laptop. I move the laptop back, and the full glass spills all over our new, clean carpet in our brand new place. JEN FAIL! I was certain Coco would ruin the carpet before we ever would. I never spill anything. But as luck would have it, Coco is once again laughing at us because I'm the one that screwed up. Notice the monkey smiling in the background. Coco was sitting beside it but I guess she was disgusted with me and walked away once I snapped the photo. Woops! 

Lesson? Don't mess with Her Majesty. 

Moving...it's my specialty

Anyone that knows me well could tell you that since I left home for college...I've moved-A LOT!  I stopped counting after 11 times a few years ago, but I am certain it is probably close to 20. It wouldn't surprise me. Most people probably find this strange about me. While I know it's not normal-I am totally okay with it. My grandmother moved every few years throughout her entire adult life.  Like me, she liked change. She didn't like for things to become stagnant.  I like to joke with my mom that just like my Nannie..."I'm a rolling stone..you can't tie me down!" Usually I keep my moves fairly close to home-or close to my parents. I always kept it within an hour or so driving distance. That all changed recently!

A couple of years ago when Darren and I were still pretty new in our relationship, we went to visit my best friend Mel in Huntersville/Charlotte, NC. I'd been to Charlotte countless times to visit, so I knew I loved the area. By the time our weekend visit was over, Darren was hooked as well. I remember the moment in the car on the way home when he said, "I could see us living here. We need to move here!" Fast forward 2 1/2 years, different jobs, and getting married. In September of 2012 we decided, it's time to just do it. We started getting all of our ducks in a row and by December we were visiting the area to pick out exactly where we wanted to live. We decided on Huntersville, just north of Charlotte. We immediately fell in love with the area near our home, so much to do and many things within walking distance. Earlier this month we finally did it, we moved out of state!

It's been 3 weeks and we are slowly getting the place together. Because of my multiple moves, I tend to purge my things each time we move, so we have less and less "stuff" each time. We pretty much had to start from scratch on the decorating front. We've already had 3 trips to Ikea...ok poor Darren has had 4 trips, and several trips to Homegoods and Target. That along with a lot of online shopping, canvas ordering, and ordering prints of wedding pics, we are hoping for it to soon come together. If I feel really productive, I may even post some pics!

The most exciting part of the house to me so far has been decorating the office/guest room. I am lucky enough right now to work from home, and since I spend a lot of time in my office, I want it to be Jen-friendly. Meaning lots of wedding photos and decor to match-in pink, white, and gray. It is a work in progress! Can't wait to see how everything looks here in a month or so.

We are really loving the area so far. I have a feeling once spring and summer comes along, we'll really be loving it. There is so much more to do down here, and our favorite thing about the area...it is SOOOOOO dog friendly. Dog parks, malls that are dog friendly, even bars and coffee shops that are dog friendly. Coco is loving it. Since she is our child, this was a priority for us. We love driving and walking around and seeing smiling faces walking their dogs. There are a lot of dog freaks here. We fit right in! ;)

Notice the drive time...6 hours, 3 mins...359 miles. Whew! Needless to say my friends and family were a little bummed about this. We plan on coming home to visit as much as possible though, and hopefully they'll come to visit soon too!

Dirty 30

"The only time you really live fully is from thirty to sixty. The young are slaves to dreams; the old servants of regrets. Only the middle-aged have all their five senses in the keeping of their wits." -Hervey Allen

"Time and Tide wait for no man, but time always stands still for a woman of thirty."
-Robert Frost

I came across this post recently that I started back in JULY of 2012...woops! Looks like I've been a busy girl ;) I'll do my best to start putting up more posts, just in case anyone reads these things...

When I first turned 30 back in July, I didn't feel any different. I have to say that 6 months later...I DO feel 30 now. Maybe it's all the changes in my life since July, or maybe some of that middle aged wisdom kicked in. But I feel different. 

Thought this was appropriate...

HA!!! Happy Sunday ya'll!!!