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. Kelli on June 24, 2015 at 5:14 am

    Would Love a TRX I have been eyeing for years!!

  2. Sara S on June 24, 2015 at 5:15 am

    sneaky!!! Thank you for everything you do that goes into this blog…I look forward to reading it daily 🙂

  3. Kel on June 24, 2015 at 5:23 am

    Wonderful — I would love to enter the give away. I am a newer reader, so this post was new to me too!

  4. Jeanne on June 24, 2015 at 5:33 am

    Look forward to your blog every day! Love your fun spirit. And TRX workouts are a fun (but hard!!) way to mix things up 🙂

  5. Fritz on June 24, 2015 at 5:35 am

    I love all the giveaways that you do! And would be super excited to win a TRX to use at home!!!

  6. amanda khan on June 24, 2015 at 5:42 am

    Gah! I want that TRX set so bad for the house!

  7. Kelsey on June 24, 2015 at 5:49 am

    Gah. This is exactly what I need for my at-home gym.

  8. Kimberly on June 24, 2015 at 6:06 am

    I would definitely love to add TRX moves to my home workouts! Thank you for your amazing blog 🙂

  9. Anna on June 24, 2015 at 6:15 am

    I’d love to win a TRX set!

  10. Cara on June 24, 2015 at 6:22 am

    Love your sneaky giveaways:) I would love a TRX home kit… I keep telling my husband we NEED one:)

  11. Morgan on June 24, 2015 at 6:26 am

    I love this sneaky giveaway! I work from home and am trying to find more ways to step away from the computer and be more active. The TRX home kit would be awesome!

  12. Marisa Tomasella on June 24, 2015 at 6:27 am

    TRX is a fantastic workout! I would love to be able to travel with it.

  13. Anu on June 24, 2015 at 6:34 am

    Love this sneaky giveaway! Xx

  14. Sarah on June 24, 2015 at 6:58 am

    Love a sneaky giveaway! A TRX kit would be the perfect addition to this teacher’s at-home workout resources!

  15. Rachel Randall on June 24, 2015 at 7:06 am

    How sneaky! ;D
    I’d be really excited to try a TRX – heard lots of good things about it!

  16. Ally on June 24, 2015 at 7:07 am

    I would love the TRX home set! I’ve been slowly building an at-home gym, as I have a baby that doesn’t always love the gym daycare!

  17. Briana on June 24, 2015 at 7:07 am

    A TRX kit would be an awesome addition to my home gym! I fell in love with them at Orange Theory!

  18. Jane S. on June 24, 2015 at 7:09 am

    Such a great giveaway, thank you! I would love to win!

  19. Julianna on June 24, 2015 at 7:16 am

    So sneaky 🙂

  20. Maria on June 24, 2015 at 7:31 am

    Sneaky Sneaky 🙂 I would LOVE a TRX home kit!

  21. Karleen on June 24, 2015 at 7:32 am

    I wasn’t sure what ‘sneaky giveaway’ meant, but now I get it 🙂

  22. Amy on June 24, 2015 at 7:33 am

    TRX would be a great addition to my home gym set up!

  23. Sam on June 24, 2015 at 7:38 am

    Love the sneaky giveaway 🙂

  24. Hillary on June 24, 2015 at 7:38 am

    Just moved from Georgia. I miss it!

  25. Shannon on June 24, 2015 at 7:42 am

    I’m currently pregnant, but I’d love to win a TRX home kit! I remember when you lived in Valdosta because I lived in Lake City. My experience was similar to yours (not sure of it at first, but made such sweet memories as a newlywed there)–it just must be that part of I-75. 😉

  26. Emily on June 24, 2015 at 8:00 am

    love the sneaky giveaway 🙂

  27. Jill on June 24, 2015 at 8:12 am

    would love a TRX home kit to help get my post baby body back into shape!

  28. Jenny O on June 24, 2015 at 8:36 am

    Love sneaky giveaways!!

  29. Stephanie Kooistra on June 24, 2015 at 8:49 am

    TRX would be a fun addition!

  30. Jeanne on June 24, 2015 at 8:53 am

    Love the sneakiness!…and love TRX…and love your blog 🙂

  31. Christi W. on June 24, 2015 at 8:56 am

    TRX would make a great home fitness addition!

  32. Jenn on June 24, 2015 at 9:29 am

    The first video of yours I ever watched was the “egg puff” made in that kitchen 🙂 I remember being like, I WANT THAT KITCHEN! Thanks for letting us walk down memory lane with you 🙂 xo

  33. Lori on June 24, 2015 at 9:31 am

    Love this sneaky giveaway…creative! Winning a TRX home kit would be an amazing addition. Crossing my fingers 🙂

  34. Colleen C. on June 24, 2015 at 9:50 am

    I am so glad spend time in Valdosta and started this wonderful blog.

  35. Maritza on June 24, 2015 at 10:06 am

    I’d love to add a TRX to my home gym. =)

  36. Jackie on June 24, 2015 at 10:06 am

    giveaway entry 🙂 thanks!

  37. Kristin on June 24, 2015 at 10:09 am

    Gina I am SO excited about your postnatal plans! My baby is due in December so this would be perfect!! XO

  38. Megan K. on June 24, 2015 at 10:17 am

    I would love to win the TRX home kit! I was actually just looking into buying one. Such a great giveaway!

  39. Courtney C on June 24, 2015 at 10:23 am

    Yay for sneaky giveaways! I’m chillin’ with the dog at home today before picking up my very first farm share box!! I’m SO EXCITED!

  40. Alexa on June 24, 2015 at 10:23 am

    im glad you learned to love Valdosta, and i’d love a trx!

  41. Sarah K on June 24, 2015 at 10:31 am

    Would love a trx!

  42. Jillian on June 24, 2015 at 10:32 am

    I would love to add some TRX to my fitness routine!

  43. stacey on June 24, 2015 at 10:37 am

    love this giveaway!

  44. Danielle on June 24, 2015 at 10:43 am

    I would love to win the TRX kit!

  45. Hayley on June 24, 2015 at 10:46 am

    Thanks for the sneaky giveaway!

  46. Jennifer on June 24, 2015 at 10:46 am

    Love the sneakiness! And would love the TRX kit!

  47. ANgela on June 24, 2015 at 11:04 am

    prrobably my second year in my urban city- most of my friends had moved away, but I met my husband!

  48. Mama on June 24, 2015 at 11:14 am

    Thanks so much for the giveaway! Love your blog!

  49. Courtney Vance on June 24, 2015 at 12:00 pm

    I would love to win the TRX! Thanks for the sneaky giveaway 🙂

  50. Rebecca on June 24, 2015 at 12:19 pm

    I love the blog and TRX 🙂 thanks for the giveaway!!

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