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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I’ve been reading your blog since the original “Valdizzy” days. I have loved following your journey through the years. You’ve had a positive influence on the way I eat and the way I work out. Thanks for that and thanks for the sneaky giveaway!
Yay! A sneaky giveaway
TRX kit would be great for some outdoor workouts while summer is here!
We moved to a small town in Georgia as well! I’m still in the shock stage and hoping to grow fond of it. I’m glad you found the best of the situation and love it now!
Love the positive outlook despite what was an initially difficult situation. And happy to see more positive changes for you on your move back. (Also, love the link for the sneaky give away.)
I just moved to Georgia, too! The extra free time has been good for focusing on my fitness. I’d love the trx set!!
Yay to the sneaky giveaway!! I would KILL for a home TRX set up!
Sneaky sneaky!
(TRX is the BEST. Stoked about this)
Hip Hip Hoooray for sneaky giveaways Thanks!
So fun! I’d love a TRX kit.
Super sneaky! And I remember this post from waaay back in the day!
Yeah TRX!!!
I’ve been reading since the Valdosta days!! This has always been one of my favorite blogs!!
thank you for reading for so long <3
We’ve been here a year and I’m trying to love it. It is growing on me 🙂
So cool to see it all come full circle!! I think ive been reading since near the end of Valdosta round 1. And very sneaky 🙂
Fun sneaky giveaway!! TRX in my home gym would be AMAZE for my PT clients!!!! Thank you 🙂
I love sneaky giveaways!
Love your new house!
We moved to Seattle three years ago and it was HARD, but we just moved away from Seattle and back to a familiar city. It’s so nice to know where you are going and to have a dentist/doctor/etc that you already know!
Love this post. So glad you’re enjoying round 2 in GA
We’ve moved 7 times in 6 years and I haven’t always loved it, but I try to be in the moment because I look back and love different things about each town. I now remind myself to always take pictures of the “feel” of the town AND our front door to one day remember! So glad you got to spend time there and it brought about the blog! And that you are back for round 2!
Great look back. Now I’m off to read the current day post.
Sneaky giveaway…too fun!!
Yay! So happy for y’all!
Yay, sneaky giveaway!! As a military family, we lived in southeast Georgia and central Florida. There were definitely things I love about both, but I’m sooo excited that we moved back home a couple of months ago 🙂
I’ve been reading your blog for many years and remember your first time in Valdizzy:) Thanks for sharing your life with us!
I love the sneaky giveaways! Also I really want a trx at home.
I’m glad you’re enjoying Valdosta more this time around!!
sneaky sneaky!!
Is it bad that this flashback makes me feel old? Apparently I have been reading for a long time! Love the look of the new place 😉
I went on a seven mile hike today to see the most beautiful waterfalls surrounded by the Rocky Mountains. I love getting outside! (And the sneaky giveaway, yay!)
I love a sneaky giveaway, especially such an awesome one! I’d love to win this. Maybe it would be the push I need to finally get my butt in gear and DO something.
Thanks for the giveaway!!! So glad you’re enjoying your new home.
YAY giveaway!
So sneaky!! I grew up in Orlando, but haven’t been up to all these places you mention!
Love TRX!
Glad your liking Valdosta more this time!!! And also love sneaky giveaways – this would be amazing in the new home gym I’m putting together!!!!!
super sneaky! Such great throwback pictures!
Fun way to do a giveaway!
Oh my gosh!! I’ve been a reader since the early days and it’s so great to see you come full circle. I’m so happy you and the girls and the pilot are loving being back!
TRX!!
sneaky!! i would LOVE a TRX!!
Your posts give me hope! Fellow military wife/mama here and we just moved from beautiful Coronado to right outside Homestead, FL. Talk about culture shock! Trying to stay positive but it’s been difficult! It’s crazy to read your post because I’ve literally had the same convo with my husband about feeling trapped. Thanks for giving me some perspective:) I’m sure by the time we leave here, there will be things I love! Just need to focus on the positive!
Its hard to believe that I’ve been reading since your Valdosta days! It feels like it hasn’t been that long, but so much has happened since then! Love your blog!
Thanks for sharing a vintage post. Love to learn more about your blog. And I love TRX.
Sneaky, sneaky! <3
So glad you are happy in Valdosta now!!
Yay for the sneaky giveaway! TRX would be an amazing addition to our home gym! 🙂
Love the throwback post! I’ve been reading since the original Valdosta days. Fun that things have come full circle for you!
Very sneaky. ;-). I just moved to Seattle for a similar situation and I’m hoping I end up loving it here (right now it is so far away!)