Why I Love Valdosta

February 17, 2011 |

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. Whitney on June 23, 2015 at 2:49 pm

    Love your blog and sneaky giveaways!

    Reply
  2. Amy carpenter on June 23, 2015 at 2:53 pm

    The next three summers are going to be a little rough because I’m going to have to leave my husband and my dog for five weeks straight for grad school in another city.

    Reply
  3. Savanna on June 23, 2015 at 2:55 pm

    Yay for sneaky giveaways!! I’m so excited for the post-baby body section coming up on the blog!

    Reply
  4. Christine on June 23, 2015 at 3:01 pm

    Would love a TRX kit!

    Reply
  5. Kaylin on June 23, 2015 at 3:02 pm

    Yay! I love sneaky giveaways on throwback posts 🙂

    Reply
  6. Rachel on June 23, 2015 at 3:06 pm

    Love your creativity. Would love to win.

    Reply
  7. Larissa on June 23, 2015 at 3:15 pm

    Would love to win this, i have been wanting TRX forever, mostly after seeing it on your blog. I don’t run due to an ankle problem and love following your HIIT workouts and strength training!

    Reply
  8. Jen Ramirez on June 23, 2015 at 3:18 pm

    Love your Blog and this sneaky giveaway!!

    Reply
  9. Stephanie D on June 23, 2015 at 3:23 pm

    Super excited for the pre and post natal workouts since I’m 28 weeks and still going strong on the working out for the most part! Also love me some TRX

    Reply
  10. Jana L. on June 23, 2015 at 3:30 pm

    Home TRX kit giveaway ftw!

    Reply
  11. Julie on June 23, 2015 at 3:31 pm

    Great choice for your throwback post! So true that we can see the positive in “bad” situations after the fact

    Reply
  12. sarah on June 23, 2015 at 3:31 pm

    i remember i started reading your blog during the valdosta years!

    Reply
  13. Jenny Bauer on June 23, 2015 at 3:33 pm

    i love giveaways! Thanks for all of your hard work Gina!

    Reply
  14. Alexandra on June 23, 2015 at 3:33 pm

    Entering the trx giveaway – thanks Gina!

    Reply
  15. Kailey on June 23, 2015 at 3:41 pm

    Thanks for always being awesome, Gina! 🙂

    Reply
  16. Michele on June 23, 2015 at 3:45 pm

    Love this! Ab work on the TRX is my fav. I’d love to have one at home!

    Reply
  17. Grace Gillis on June 23, 2015 at 3:51 pm

    Thanks for the sneaky giveaway!

    Reply
  18. Amanda S. on June 23, 2015 at 3:52 pm

    We PCS’d to Georgia a couple of years ago from Hawaii (home), and though I don’t like the weather and can’t wait to move, I have made a few wonderful friends here and will always be grateful for that.

    Reply
  19. Michelle on June 23, 2015 at 3:54 pm

    I would love a home trx. Just had a baby in May and have been doing a lot more home workouts!

    Reply
  20. Angie on June 23, 2015 at 3:56 pm

    oooh, sneaky!

    Reply
  21. Rebecca on June 23, 2015 at 3:56 pm

    Love a sneaky giveaway!

    Reply
  22. Christina on June 23, 2015 at 3:57 pm

    Great sneaky giveaway!

    Reply
  23. Allison on June 23, 2015 at 3:57 pm

    Love a sneaky giveaway 🙂 Thank you for all you do and always giving back! 🙂

    Reply
  24. Courtney S on June 23, 2015 at 4:10 pm

    Awesome sneaky giveaway (:

    Reply
  25. Meagan on June 23, 2015 at 4:14 pm

    I love the sneaky giveaway!

    Reply
  26. Caroline on June 23, 2015 at 4:17 pm

    Awesome sneaky giveaway! I love TRX so much!!

    Reply
  27. Vanessa Binicki on June 23, 2015 at 4:18 pm

    Awww I LOVE going back to your older posts and re-reading them, so this was cute! You’re adorable for the sneaky giveaway!

    Reply
  28. Cate on June 23, 2015 at 4:23 pm

    I’m here about the sneaky giveaway…

    Reply
  29. Rachel on June 23, 2015 at 4:25 pm

    So excited for your post-pregnancy workouts! I’m due in January, so it’ll be perfect timing 🙂

    Reply
  30. Danielle on June 23, 2015 at 4:27 pm

    I love sneaky giveaways 🙂

    Reply
  31. Amanda on June 23, 2015 at 4:31 pm

    Ahh! I would love a TRX kit!! I have been wanting one forever!!

    Reply
  32. melissa on June 23, 2015 at 4:34 pm

    Love it and the sneaky giveaway (:

    Reply
  33. Amanda on June 23, 2015 at 4:35 pm

    Sneaky giveaways are amazing!

    Reply
  34. Sarah E. McC. on June 23, 2015 at 4:37 pm

    TRX home kit would be amaaaazing! Also, loved reading this old post! I didn’t start reading your blog until a few years ago, so I wasn’t familiar with the time you spent in Valdosta. Glad you were able to count your blessings from your time there!!

    Reply
  35. Christa on June 23, 2015 at 4:37 pm

    Love a sneaky giveaway!

    Reply
  36. Kristal on June 23, 2015 at 4:38 pm

    My situation hasn’t happened yet 🙁 Moving to a new city in 2 weeks and hoping it turns out better then it feels right now!

    Reply
  37. Kristen L. on June 23, 2015 at 4:38 pm

    cute idea! It’s funny how things change but also how much some things stay the same when you read old posts!

    Reply
  38. Melissa on June 23, 2015 at 4:40 pm

    My trainer has TRX in his studio but my local gym doesn’t have any. I’d love to win so I could incorporate these in my workouts all the time (my muscles will both love and hate this awesome prize!!)

    Reply
  39. Andrea on June 23, 2015 at 4:44 pm

    Love the sneaky giveaway!!! 🙂 Would LOVE TRX!

    Reply
  40. Erin M. on June 23, 2015 at 4:47 pm

    Sneaky giveaways are great!

    Reply
  41. Kyla on June 23, 2015 at 4:47 pm

    very sneaky. I’m so excited for you and the new addition to your family.

    Reply
  42. Ashley H on June 23, 2015 at 4:49 pm

    love the sneaky giveaways!

    Reply
  43. melanie on June 23, 2015 at 4:51 pm

    love your blog and looking forward to continue reading your posts!

    Reply
  44. Abi on June 23, 2015 at 4:53 pm

    I love sneaky giveaways 🙂

    Reply
  45. Julia on June 23, 2015 at 4:55 pm

    here for the giveaway – I’ve really enjoyed reading your blog over the past few years!

    Reply
  46. Chris on June 23, 2015 at 4:55 pm

    I love the sneaky giveaway!

    Reply
  47. Morgan S on June 23, 2015 at 4:57 pm

    Love the sneaky giveaway! A less-than-stellar situation turned way better just this evening. After a long day, I took a walk by myself and realized a little relaxation was just what I needed!

    Reply
  48. Danielle Roseboom on June 23, 2015 at 5:00 pm

    yay just love ur blog!

    Reply
  49. Lindsey on June 23, 2015 at 5:04 pm

    TRX home kit! Yay!

    Reply
  50. Jody on June 23, 2015 at 5:15 pm

    Sneaky,can easy indeed!!! Lol

    Reply
    • Jody on June 23, 2015 at 5:17 pm

      The hang? That was supposed to say sneaKy sneaky . Lol

      Reply

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