Life's Surprises...

Life...why have you surprised me so much this past year?

Some good. Some awful. Some just blissful things have happened.

Let's focus on the good.

My career is back on track...in more ways then one. 

I decided to not talk too much on here about what I will now be taking on, for fear of jinxing it (no just kidding) but really I want to try and keep that part a bit private for now until I feel comfortable divulging. 

I know this is going to sound cliche, BUT I have seriously never been happier in my life.

I have a wonderful man that makes me giddy with happiness, sure we aren't perfect and have had some obstacles these past almost six months now but I am just so blessed to have someone that I found that loves me the way he does and makes me anticipate our future life together being one of much love and just pure joy. 

Just a few of the things my boyfriend does that make me feel like the luckiest girl....

- He calls me beautiful every single day.
- He cooks for me, without me asking him to...I mean yes he's a professional chef but even if he works all day he always makes sure I have something delicious to eat...oh and he let's me try out new recipes on him and always tells me what an awesome job I did and how much he loved my dish.
-He calls me cute nicknames...that no one else would ever get besides us.
-He texts me even when he is busy running an event, just to say hi or calls me on a quick break to let me know he's thinking of me.
-He watches Dancing with the Stars and Pretty Little Liars with me...and he gets into it (sorry babe haha).
-He helps me bring in whatever I have in my car from going shopping or moving items, even if he's had a long day.
-He will go and hang out with my friends just because they want to meet him, and say how much he enjoyed whatever we did.
-He takes time to get to know my family and also makes me feel included with his family...so important.
-He shares my love now of USF Bulls football and he taught me all about his team the Tampa Bay Lightning...:-)
-He let's me plan activities for his kids when they come visit us and makes me feel even more included when they are around.
-He let's me help design/ decorate our place and always tells me what an awesome job I did on something as small as hanging a photo up.
-He loves to take selfies with me #letstakeanotherselfie
-He speaks in hashtags with me over text, about the most ridiculous things. #weareridiculous
-He and I can talk for hours and just laugh till it hurts.
-He jokes around with me and we can be goofy together, even in front of others his laugh is contagious.

and last but not least...

-He makes me feel like the most important girl in the world and loved every day..I couldn't truly ask for anything better in life.

*Coming up next time on the blog I will share photos and details from our first ever dinner party we hosted this past weekend!*

xo
Lauren

Learning a new sport...becoming a "super" fan.

For those of you familiar with the Tampa Bay area, you know we LOVE our home team sports teams. 

I have been going to the USF Bulls football games religiously since I was in college (back in 2001) and also frequently get the opportunity to go see teams play like the Tampa Bay Lightning, Tampa Bay Bucs, Tampa Bay Rays, Tampa Bay STORM, etc. Tampa sure is a busy place full of fun sporting events!

Recently, I started to being to go to more Lightning hockey games, my boyfriend is a HUGE what I call a "super fan" of theirs and I have loved learning more about the sport and supporting yet another Tampa Bay team!

I've been to four games so far this season all thanks to friends that have offered us tickets or special deals going on and have had a blast each time. We usually start out and "pre-game" (kinda like tailgating for football season) at Splitsville in Channelside about an hour before game start so we have plenty of time to take advantage of happy hour specials (the drinks and food inside the arena where the Lightning play is crazy expensive!!!!) and get pumped up for the game. 

I've also started building my "Bolts" wardrobe week by week and now am up to 4 t-shirts and a pullover (perfect for the chilly atmosphere in the game). Next up I'm thinking a jersey!

Decked out in our Lightning gear!

The game itself is full of awesome fans supporting a great hockey team and the energy is contagious.

I really have enjoyed getting to learn the sport and love running into our friends and family at the games, it's so fun especially since we live pretty close to where the arena is, makes for a fun night out during the week and "date night" per say. 

We also make sure to end the night with a trip to the Bud Light Party Deck where they have a DJ and serve $2 beers! The view is simply amazing of downtown Tampa, highly suggest checking it out next time you are at the arena. 

Do you support any local sports teams? What is your favorite game day tradition?

xo
Lauren

Halloween 2014

Like every year, I always look forward to any fun holidays like Halloween.

We really didn't have many plans in mind since my boyfriend is a chef and he often has to work weddings or private events on the weekends.

We found out last minute he was off so we went searching for some last minute costumes and decided to go out to a local bar and meetup with a couple friends for a low key night.

Arrrrrr! These costumes as pirates were perfect for us and also will be able to multi purpose them for Gasparilla coming up in a few months here in Tampa :-) 

Had a great time and also love that it was our first year carving a pumpkin together.

Things like this remind me how different my life is now but how much I am looking forward to what the future holds.

Can't believe it's already November, Christmas is next month which is just crazy to think about...

Hope everyone has a great one! 

xo
Lauren