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.
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:
(the kitchen was my fave, by far)
Dinners at 306 North, Two Friends and Charlie Trippers
Being SO close to Jacksonville and Orlando
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
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.
Main Squeeze
The INDIAN RESTAURANT 🙂
Fresh organic fruits and veggies, harvested before our eyes at Robert’s Farm
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…
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 🙂
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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Love your blog!
I would love to have a TRX at home!!
I cracked up when I saw the title of today’s post – post baby bod when she’s still pregnant?!? Haha. I’ve loved your blog for many years, and I’m excited to see what’s coming up.
What an awesome giveaway!
I’ve been reading your blog for years! I’ve lived in Valdosta for four years, finally leaving next month. I can’t say I’ll miss it, though. I’d love to win the TRX.
this is for the sneaky giveaway! I liked reading these old posts! I started reading your blog when Sarah Jio featured the Breakfast Cookie on her Glamour blog back in early 2010!! You’ve been a huge influence!
Thanks for sharing so much of your life and knowledge on the blog! I’d love the TRX set – I have a 1 year old and have to make the most of at home workouts!
Such a fun and very sneaky way to do a giveaway! Would love a TRX home kit as the husband and I do most of our working out at home. He actually asked if he could move the weight bench into the living room the other day (and was actually serious)! Ha!! I kindly said no.
So awesome. I have really been wanting to try TRX! And, I really liked the Valdosta post. I have had similar experiences and at the end you still end up missing those places you thought you “hated.”
I love your blog and have been following it for several years. You seem like such a kind and genuine person. I would love to win a TRX to change up my home workouts!
🙂 I love sneaky giveaways!
Definitely sneaky! I would be so stoked to win the TRX!! So glad you ended up in Valdosta and started this blog!
I love the mix of things on your blog! I’d love to win a TRX. I’m too chicken to try it at my gym since I don’t really know what I’m doing. 🙂
I would love a home TRX set up! Thank you!!
Thanks for the giveaway!
I love throwbacks & your posts about Valdosta are some of my favorites! Keep up the good work I recommend your site to all my friends and coworkers
You are so fabulous! Thank you for making this the only blog I need! 🙂
Thank you for the awesome giveaway! 🙂
THANKS for the sneaky giveaway option! We’re like your Fitnesninjas…xo!
Yay sneaky giveaway!
Love the sneaky giveaway!
aww viesa! Love the sneaky giveaway 🙂
TRX would be a great addition to our home exercise equipment! Thanks for offering this to your readers.
For one thing, I don’t think my name is that common and within the first few comments I ready see 2 other Courtneys! (Hello!)
Secondly, I love your blog! My good friend Evita introduced me to it and I’m so glad she did.
I didn’t “know” you back then, but this post makes me giggle because I’m a Southern girl and have never missed all of the fancy shops because I’ve never had them to know what I’m missing! Ha!
I remember your Valdosta days! Your indian food posts always made me so hungry.
Love the sneaky giveaway idea!! And love reading your blog everyday on my lunch break 🙂
I love your blog! Motherhood turned out WAY better than I imagined!
😀
I’ve always wanted to try the TRX at my gym but it’s only available for members with personal trainers.
I would LOVE some TRX equipment!
oh my gosh, what an amazing giveaway!!! You rock!!
Loved reading this “vintage” story as I wasn’t reading back in the Valdosta days 🙂
I’d love this for home!
Sneaky! TRX looks so fun!
I’ve been interested to try TRX!
What a great giveaway! I just laid the rubber floor for my basement gym-space this weekend….TRX would be a perfect addition!
Fun idea! I always enjoy the tips and learning something new from your blog! Thanks for the opportunity to win a TRX home kit – what a great workout method!!
I have been dying to win one of your giveaways, they are all so great! I would love to win a TRX!
I love that the place you didn’t like to begin with blossomed into your career you love!
Lol sneaky indeed!
LOVEE the sneaky giveaway idea!!
Sneaky makes the best giveaways, keep them coming 🙂
😀
So fun to go back and read that post so many years later…and so weird to read a post without
Livi being a part of it….
So sneaky! Love it!
thanks for the survey and asking what WE want to see here. 🙂
I would LOVE a TRX!!
Hahaha Gina you crack me up. I’d love the TRX kit!
very sneaky! would love to win trx!!!