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! Never thought I’d move back to a small town/city but now that I have kids I can’t imagine raising them anywhere else.
I love these sneaky giveaways! Valdosta looks like a charming little town!
Love a sneaky giveaway!
So happy you’re able to appreciate Valdosta more now that you have the perspective and experience. It looks like a lovely little town!
I would love to win this sneaky giveaway would be awesome to have the homekit
I love your rental home! Glad you see the positive things about living in Valdosta now. It’s hard moving every few years, yet maybe a little exciting as well My husband was in the coast guard for 4 years and our time on the Oregon coast taught us a lot about life and enjoying the little things. I had my first son there alone with no family around. Made me strong.
Love love your rental home and decorating style. Yay! For the sneaky giveaway!
I love a sneaky giveaway!!! I would love to win a Trx home kit. Thanks Gina!
Love this!
Love the sneaky giveaway- I would KILL for a home TRX set up!
Oh man, I wish I could say I’ve been following you since the original Valdosta days. I think Olivia was 2 when I started reading…you were in your house in Tucson. Anyway, thank you for everything you do. I’m forever grateful.
Love sneaky giveaways! I need some new at home workout equipment!
Love your sneaky giveaway! So happy you’re finding this move easier than the first time around (though probably more work with both little ones).
I remember reading you back in the Valdosta days. Talk about things coming full circle!
Yaaaasss! Sneaky giveaways FTW!
I had actually clicked through earlier in the day and for some reason I thought it was an old sneaky giveaway until I saw your instastory 🙂 Love a good sneaky giveaway! 🙂
it was an old one but since people were seeing it again, i knew i needed to do it again 🙂 sneaky giveaways are fun
Haha I love this idea. I’m glad you love Valdosta too.
Fun fun sneaky giveaway! Would love an at home system and am so glad you’re
Loving your new home, it’s gorgeous!
I’m so glad your loving Valdosta again. Although I’ve never lived there, I was raised in South Georgia and live in Atlanta now. Georgia is a great place to live, and a wonderful place to raise children.
I love sneaky giveaways. I remember following you when you lived in Valdosta before Olivia and Penelope were born!
Would love the TRX! I used to use it a OTF but moved and had to get rid of my membership. I need some new equipment!
So glad I clicked over! Thanks for the sneaky giveaway 🙂
Everything happens for a reason for sure!!
Love the sneaky giveaway! I live in a nearby small town and while it was an adjustment to move here from a bigger city, I love it now. Admittedly, getting a Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods sure helped a lot!
My husband and I both LOVE TRX bands! This would be awesome to have at home!
Gotta love a sneaky giveaway! 😉
Love your rental home btw!
The house looks adorable!! Love it!
Glad you’re getting settled into your new place!
I like your decorating skills!!! Taking notes for my new place 🙂
I love TRX bands!!
Sneaky, Sneaky!!!! Have a spectacular day!!!!j
Date night’s on the couch cuddling. Cute! 😉
Oh my gosh!! I have been dying for a TRX kit for home. Been thinking about getting one, but so expensive!!! I would absolutely love this!!!
And I’m glad you are enjoying yourself more this time in Valdosta! You’re house looks amazing!! I especially love your kitchen!! It looks like a wonderful place to live!!
Looks like a great place for endless new memories! Love that chunky mirror in the bathroom and your green piano!
Would love a home kit!
Super sneaky! A home TRX kit is on my Christmas list… come on Santa! 🙂
So happy you’re doing well.
My husband and I just moved from a really small town to a small college city (Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Ill.) and there’s definitely perks to both places. I hail from Milwaukee (little sister to Chicago), so I was used to “the city.” But we brought our twin girls home to our first house in a small town. The yard was fenced, the street quiet, the schools good, the parks clean and not sketchy. You know, all the things you want for your toddlers. Now, we live in this bigger city, where we have no fence in the backyard and live on a busy street, so we have to keep the dogs tied up and the girls in plain sight at all times; we have to lock our house and our cars at night; we need to keep an eye out for creepers in parks and at the pool. But we gained a lot, too — like the aforementioned pool, a great YMCA, lots of parks, and creature comforts, like Target and Starbucks and Panera and Chipotle, that I have truly missed since I left the big city over a decade ago. All this to say, I feel you, Gina. Your heart and your priorities can change with every life change, and your attitude can change and adapt with it. I’m so glad you all are enjoying Valdosta this time around.
Sneaky sneaky! I would love to try a trx kit!
Super sneaky! I’d love a TRX system!!
Ha! So fun. Glad I saw your snap 😉 I’ve always wanted to try TRX.
Vintage! Love it!
Love this, would be great to win!
So fun! I’ve been lovingly TRX and would love to do it at home.
So sneaky!!! Would love a TRX trainer! Love then new house!
Sneaky Sneaky! Thanks for the opportunity!
Glad you are having a great time! I would love a TRX Trainer! Thanks for the chance 🙂
Sneaky! Love the new post! House is awesome!! Still love reading your blog I won’t admit how long it has been that I have been! LOL 🙂 😉
I love these sneaky giveaways!
Would love a home TRX kit!!
Your new home looks great- love the bar cart-area, in particular . Also love TRX, but miss the opportunity to do it regularly.
Fun! Would love to win!! 🙂