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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Sneaky giveaways are my FAV!! Would love to win an at home TRX kit! Thanks again for the pop!
Posting a sneaky comment at my desk at work. I am glad I stumbled across your blog years ago, and am thankful for the smiles and healthy lifestyle advice you share with to us all.
I look forward to reading your blog everyday! Thanks for the fun giveaway!
Your blog is truly my favorite!
Wow, what a wonderful giveaway! Your blog is one of my faves and I’m enjoying trying to power through the SSU workouts.
Oooh– this IS sneaky! 🙂
love the blog – and giveaways!!
i like the sneaky giveaway on a vintage post 🙂
I love TRX and would be ecstatic if I won! I used to teach it to my clients when I was a personal trainer and I miss it!
Living with my parents out of college. They are a HUGE blessing in my life!!
I would love a TRX kit!
yes please!
Hello! 😀
so sneakyy! love it
I LOVE your blog and read it every day. 🙂 Thanks for the giveaway!!
Sneaky giveaways are fun 😉 Thanks for thinking of your readers!
So sneaky!
I love sneaky giveaways! Thanks!
Super sneaky! Love it! I had my first baby last summer, and I’ve been more consistent with my workouts than ever before. Wawho! I’m starting to get bored with my normal go to’s. I would LOVE to try adding in TRX to the mix!
My mom just got one of these and I am so jealous!
Love the sneaky giveaway!
i wanna try trx so bad!! fun sneaky giveaway lol
I would LOVE to get a TRX kit!!!! Eeeeek!
Thank you for the giveaway! Awesome!!!
i like the idea of secret giveaways!
I would love to try TRX!
I’d love to win the TRX!! 🙂
I like your sneaky giveaways Gina! Thank you!
my two favorite things about this post are that glorious bowl of indian food….and the ridiculous faces you and the pilot are making haha <3
I absolutely love your blog! The TRX would be an awesone addition to my home workouts.
I’m loving the sneaky giveaway. 🙂
I love TRX! I attend classes at the gym I go to during my lunch hour. Such a fun way to break up the day!
Pumped about this sneaky giveaway 🙂
Love this sneaky giveaway 😉 An at-home TRX setup would be awesome! I love when OTF uses TRX in the floor exercises and it’d be great to be able to do some at home, too!
Super sneaky! TRX would be amazing outside in the park near my house…
We are neck-in-neck with our pregnancies so it’s so fun to read your updates. AND I can’t wait to follow your post- and pre-natal fitness ideas! An at-home TRX kit sounds AMAZING and just what the post-natal doctor ordered!
PLUS, I live in Georgia, not far from Valdosta, so this super sneaky giveaway was MADE for me and baby-to-be!
All the best to you in your pregnancy,
Kelly
Thanks for all that you do! I look forward to post-natal fitness – I’m 9 months out and its always a process.
sneaky sneaky give away 🙂 yay for surveys!
Thanks Gina! Pumped to hear you’re working on a post-natal plan!
Love the sneaky giveaway!
Sneaky sneaky! Love it! I’m sure we would all still enjoy the interpretive dance 🙂
sneaky sneaky!! 😉
Ooh, sneaky sneaky! I’d love to win a TRX, so I could get a good workout at home, instead of having to drive 30+ miles to the closest gym 😉
Thanks for the opportunity to enter
Yea sneaky giveaway!
I have been reading this blog for so long and you always inspire me with your fitness, attitude and positive outlook! Keep it up!
I love sneaky giveaways!
Thanks for sharing your results! I really love the Focus On posts, and would love to learn about HOW you made the change from fake diet foods to real foods, and the balance you’ve achieved over the years from dabbling in different trends (southbeach, GF, restriction, etc). Thanks Gina keep inspiring me!
It’s amazing how hindsight gives a whole new perspective!
Very sneaky by the way!
I love the sneaky giveaway idea, very clever!
Thanks for the giveaway!