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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So sneaky!!! 🙂
Love love trx!!!!
So sneaky!
I would love to try TRX
I would love to have a TRX set for home
I’d love to have my own TRX! And this is an awesomely sneaky giveaway!
You mean we don’t get a dance? Guess I’ll settle for this TRX entry. Kidding of course. Thanks for all that you do!
working in a small school. Though it felt horrible during it – 6 years later there are finally things I miss!
Would love to try out TRX at home 🙂
LOVE TRX & would be perfect for home works since I would love to get my pre-baby body somewhat back 😉
So sneaky! The TRX would be an awesome surprise. Love the post about Valdizzy. I’m from Georgia and there’s a lot to love!
Yayyy stealthy giveaway! I totally voted for the interpretive dance, though 🙂
I would love a TRX:) when my husband was in the Coast Guard , we were stationed in a town of 7,000 people on the Oregon Coast and I’m from San diego, so it was a big adjustment. It was really hard. My 3 yr old boy was born there:)
I truly enjoy reading your blog. I love the humor and fun you add to your posts. I love trying different workouts at home because I don’t belong to a gym. I have had a TRX kit sitting in my amazon wishlist for a very long time.
Wow…a TRX system? That is awesome! I believe I am going to turn the second bedroom into guest/workout room until it becomes a baby’s room (hopefully) next year.
Sneaky! not only would a TRX system be great for me to get healthier as im about to turn 50, but also for my 2 daughters to stay strong for track & volleyball during the off season!
I would love to win a TRX at home kit! Thanks for the giveaway Gina!
I love the sneaky giveaway! I used to think TRX class was called “T-Rex” class. Lol! I would love to have a T-Rex in my house!
If you could also include choreography for an interpretive dance that could be done using the TRX, that would be great x
Loved getting to read an old post. I never knew you lived in Valdosta! I’m in Orlando and Valdosta was always the place on family vacations we would stop first to get the cheap gas 🙂
I was JUST thinking about how awesome a TRX kit would be!!!
So sneaky! also love that blow-up croc! 🙂
So sneaky!!! I love that you listen to feedback. I guess that’s what has kept me coming back for all these years!!!
It’s cool seeing the results of the survey! I’m a big TRX fan– it’s helped me to find my core strength again after having a baby 10 months ago. I just got certified to teach it too!
I love this post and your positive memories of Valdosta!
Over the weekend, my boyfriend and I had plans with friends but they flaked on us. Since we suddenly had a free Sunday on our hands, we did everything from running errands, shopping, eating donuts, going to Bud’s Louisiana Cafe (which you should totally check out if you’re in the mood for creole food!), and meal prepping! It was a super productive and delicious day!
Love your sneaky giveaways! Would love to try TRX too. Enjoy reading your blog so much. Love summer shape up so far!
Thanks for all of your hard work, dedication, and sharing your life on the blog!
Love this post and the sneaky giveaway idea!
omg I love the sneaky giveaway and the vintage post! I was a blog reader when this was originally posted…can’t believe how much has changed! (Aww baby Viesa is such a little cutie pie.) thanks for all the work you do- you have totally changed my fitness life!
Thank you for the fun giveaway!
nice to do something else for a sneaky giveaway 🙂
Keep up the amazing work! this is truly the only blog I look forward to checking each day. I even love looking through old posts!
I would love to have a TRX system!
Would love to try TRX and love your blog as many others do it seems!!! xx
I would love a home TRX! 😀
Thanks for the giveaway and everything you do! Love your blog!!!
I would love a home TRX setup! I also loved reading about your adventures while in Valdosta!
ha Love the sneaky giveaway! I would love the home TRX gift. I live in the UK though- is the giveaway international?
I love being sneaky 😉
Oooohhhh….. A TRX would be an awesome addition to my home gym!
My husband and I have been building our home gym and would love a TRX setup!
it took my husband and i linger than expected (almost a year!) to get pregnant (due in july! 🙂 ). but because of that, i got to join him on so many work trips this year (he’s a sports medicine doctor) to places like new york, cayman islands, san diego, florida etc. we were lucky to have not just one but many babymoons 🙂
This was so sneaky I was convinced that this was a mistake wasn’t the post to leave a comment for the TRX!
I would love a TRX!
Slick! I’d love a TRX for our home workouts before work! We are living overseas on base and the gym is cray cray in the a.m.!
Creative
Awesome! I love the TRX
This makes me want to go shopping at Sears right now!
Love reading some vintage Fitnessista!! Would love to win! x
sneaky giveaway entry! 🙂