Why I Love Valdosta

Welcome to the sneaky giveaway via this vintage post. Just leave a comment below to enter to win a TRX home kit! I’ll pick the winner this Thursday night, midnight EST and announce in Friday Faves. xoxo

 

 

I know what you’re thinking. You saw the title and probably thought “What in the what? LOVE Valdosta? She couldn’t stand that place”

As you guys know, I wasn’t the biggest Valdosta fan on the planet and definitely made it known a thousand handful of times on the blog. Even though I wasn’t in love with it at first, Valdizzy now has a special place in my heart.

When we first drove into Valdosta, with the Pilot in the U-Haul towing his Jeep and Viesa, myself following him in my car with Bella, I wondered what in the world I got myself into.

valdizzy

It had a Wal-Mart, no Trader Joe’s for four hours, the mall had JC Penney’s and Sears instead of Dillard’s or Nordstrom,  a Victoria’s Secret with the 80s style gold heart wallpaper (shopping ability is critical haha), and I was a little afraid of the unknown. Despite being in North Carolina for a couple of months with the Pilot (which I loved), I hadn’t spent much time in the South. I didn’t know any of the wives yet and was about to start a new job as a department store Area Sales Manager.

Even though I’m a very positive person in general, quite a few times I’d mention to the Pilot that I was unhappy and felt trapped in my new situation. He said to me “One day, probably after we move, you’ll think of Valdosta and miss it. We’ll have good memories here, I promise”

He was totally right.

The Pilot is so wise like that 😉

Since we’re about to find out our new assignment (any day now, please!!) I thought it would be fun to reflect on the things I really do LOVE about Valdosta.

Our condo:

casa house

house (3) closet

crannie

(the kitchen was my fave, by far)

Dinners at 306 North, Two Friends and Charlie Trippers

goat cheese fritters

tuna

Being SO close to Jacksonville and Orlando

beach

 goofers

The PEOPLE. People in Valdosta are so friendly and kind – I was very fortunate to build friendships with my clients, fellow trainer and boss at the gym

IMG00017-20100104-2028

The lifelong friends I made through the squadron. The wives, now my closest friends, ended up being like family to me, especially while the Pilot was away.

flowers 

Main Squeeze

juice

The INDIAN RESTAURANT 🙂

019

Fresh organic fruits and veggies, harvested before our eyes at Robert’s Farm

roberts

goofies

My dentist (he never hurt me with the tooth-scraper)

All of the memories that I’ll never forget….

Legendary dinner parties, gardening, when the Pilot saved the dog, grilling together, pool days, girls nights, date nights, cuddling on the couch and watching movies…

pilot 009

Starting this little blog, which ended up being the most amazing, exciting, best job I could ever wish for. You’re all 100% the reason why this little space is so much fun 🙂

me 

If I didn’t start out in Valdosta, I wouldn’t have the blog, or you guys <3

Things work out the way they’re supposed to, right?

xoxo

Gina

When was the last time a less-than-stellar situation turned out way better than you imagined??

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1,043 Comments

  1. Kandace on August 2, 2017 at 1:08 am

    That was tricky!

  2. Jennifer on August 2, 2017 at 1:18 am

    <3 <3 <3 love the sneaky giveaways!

  3. Margaret on August 2, 2017 at 1:19 am

    Sneaky giveaways are fun

  4. Jaclyn on August 2, 2017 at 1:34 am

    Love the sneaky giveaways and that Indian food looks amazeballs! I’ve been dying for a TRX kit. I hope I win Thanks for having such an awesome blog, Gina!

  5. Leah on August 2, 2017 at 2:00 am

    ??Your sneaky giveaways!

  6. Andrea G on August 2, 2017 at 5:38 am

    Love the sneaky giveaway! I stumbled upon your blog while you were pregnant for the first time, so I clicked to check out the older posts!

  7. Diana on August 2, 2017 at 6:21 am

    Oh this is so cool! Love this little sneaky giveaway!

  8. Rebekah on August 2, 2017 at 7:10 am

    Fun, sneaky giveaway! I also moved to a place, in my early married life, that I was not excited about. It ended up being a great experience with many wonderful memories.

  9. Lacey on August 2, 2017 at 7:54 am

    Sneaky!

  10. Stephanie S. on August 2, 2017 at 8:13 am

    This was a sneaky one! I’ve been following along since you were in Valdosta the first time – it’s so fun to see how much has changed since then!

  11. Katherine on August 2, 2017 at 9:20 am

    Sneaky giveaways are the BEST.

  12. Justine on August 2, 2017 at 9:57 am

    Love the sneaky giveaway!!

  13. Amanda K on August 2, 2017 at 10:55 am

    Great sneaky giveaway – would love the TRX kit!

  14. Josephine on August 2, 2017 at 11:18 am

    You’re so sneaky!

  15. Diana on August 2, 2017 at 11:30 am

    Best of luck the second time around!

  16. Sam on August 2, 2017 at 11:41 am

    So glad you are loving your new (old) home:)

  17. Jill on August 2, 2017 at 12:10 pm

    Hope you have a great Wednesday, everyone!

  18. Erika on August 2, 2017 at 1:12 pm

    Sneaky giveaways are the best!

  19. Michelle on August 2, 2017 at 1:30 pm

    This is an awesome sneaky giveaway! Looking forward to your new adventures in Valdosta with the girls!

  20. Tiffanie on August 2, 2017 at 2:54 pm

    Thank you! I love sneaky giveaways!

  21. Heather on August 2, 2017 at 3:21 pm

    Cool giveaway idea!! And using the TRX straps at my gym is one of my favorite things!!

  22. Christy L. on August 2, 2017 at 4:30 pm

    Hey! Sneaky giveaway! Feeling the military spouse transitions– we are going to Japan next!

  23. Katie on August 2, 2017 at 4:35 pm

    Ooh, sneaky sneaky – love it!

  24. Jackie on August 2, 2017 at 5:00 pm

    Love the sneaky giveaway! ??

  25. Rebecca on August 2, 2017 at 9:12 pm

    Even though I recalled seeing something about a giveaway on your Instagram, actually clicking on this post from the new Valdosta post and reading about the giveaway had me confused for a sec, haha

    Enjoyed reading as always!

  26. Laura W. on August 2, 2017 at 10:53 pm

    yay for sneaky giveaways!

  27. Anna on August 2, 2017 at 11:03 pm

    Oooo trx are one of my fav at orangetheory

  28. Molly A on August 3, 2017 at 10:03 am

    Sneaky giveaway! I love it! I also love TRX!

  29. Caitlin Cloutier on August 3, 2017 at 3:58 pm

    love the sneaky giveaway!

  30. Brittany V on August 3, 2017 at 8:27 pm

    Soooo sneaky! <3

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