Virginia Bucket List

With less than a year left in Virginia, I've decided to make a bucket list of the things I want to do before heading south. Most are just going back to places and reliving experiences, but a few will be brand new experiences. Let me know if you'd like to join in my adventures!

1. Visit Monticello
2. Go to the Cherry Blossom festival in DC
3. Visit DC at Christmas time, including a stop at the White House Christmas Tree
4. Go to all the Smithsonian Museums
5. Visit Montpelier
6. Explore Colonial Williamsburg, including the Governor's Palace
7. Go to Busch Gardens
8. Visit Natural Bridge
9. Take a Ghost Tour of Staunton
10. Go hiking
11. Drive Skyline Drive during Fall Foliage
12. Visit Arlington National Cemetery
13. Visit Appomattox Courthouse, site of Civil War Surrender
14. Wine and dine some new wineries
15. See Crabtree Falls in Nelson County
16. Explore Luray Caverns
17. Drive to the tip of Virginia where Tennessee and Kentucky meet
18. Eat Joe Froggers at the Rising Sun Tavern
19. Visit the George Washington sites- Stratford Hall, Ferry Farm, and Mount Vernon
20. Tour the Union Cemetery on Memorial Day weekend

More things to come soon. Let me know, I'd greatly appreciate company on all my outings :)

When life begins at 23

When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible. 

 ~Nora Ephron, When Harry Met Sally

WOW! So much has happened the past three weeks! Life has truly taken the best turn. In under a year, I will be starting a new life in Florida. But before the big move can happen, lots of planning has to be done. 

To catch up on the past few weeks, here's the highlights:

1. Clay asked, and I said YES! It was the perfect engagement, surrounded by most of our family. The only one not there was my brother, who was on his way home from deployment. Check out the video on Facebook to watch the whole engagement, but here's the general gist: Clay gave me an Adventure Book (like the one Ellie has in the movie Up), it listed all the things and major accomplishments we'd had since we started dating and then the last page had "Stuff I'm Going to Do," just like in the movie. When I flipped the page, it said "Will you marry me?" and Clay was down on one knee. I was in complete shock, I couldn't breath. Thanks to Sam for catching it all on video! 

2. My brother returned safe and sound from deployment! We're glad to have him back in the USA. Thanks to all our military serving both here and abroad. 

3. I am a certified wedding planner. Even before my own wedding started spinning off, I signed up for a wedding certification class through the Bridal Society with my mom and Ms. AT, an old family friend. For two long days, we trekked up to JMU for class, learning all about place settings, material, dress designers, dress styles, hairstyles, how to run a rehearsal, how to start a our own business, what to do in ten million different situations, etc. This is definitely going to come in handy not just when I look into opening my own company, but also as my dream wedding becomes a reality. Good thing my mom and Ms. AT took the class with me :) Three wedding planners working on one wedding, hope we all have a similar view!

4. I started a new job. While I'm still at MBC, I am now the Assistant Director of Admissions for VWIL and Athletic Recruitment. I'm still working with my current students, but I've started the transition to my new role. One thing is certain, I'm definitely going to use my Communication skills. New publications, social media pages, and recruitment are just the tip of my new responsibilities. I'm also stepping in and moving back on campus as the RD for VWIL nULLs. Its going to be a long year! 

5. Going along with #1, I said YES TO THE DRESS! It's absolutely amazing, and I didn't want to take it off in the store. But that's all I can share until next year. Clay can't know a thing :)

6. We are in full wedding planning mode. Trying to plan a wedding while living with your future in-laws, your fiancee in Florida, and your mom two hours away, it gets a little hectic. But as mentioned in #4, its going to be a busy year, so the more that gets done this summer, the more relaxed I'll feel. Hence why #5 already happened. 

So there's my past few weeks in a nutshell. Life is beginning again at 23, and I can't wait to jump on board. This weekend its off to Richmond for cousin's weekend, a much needed girls weekend full of color, running, baseball, Disney princesses, squirrels, the pool, and an amusement park adventure. Not sure how they all fit together? Check back next week!