SIX

Six years ago {tomorrow} I was invited to a friend's after work birthday party/end of the week happy hour. Being one that doesn't like to go places alone, I almost didn't go.

I know I have told this story a time or twenty before, but it still amazes me how things worked out. Had I not gone, I wouldn't have met Jason.

I was actually invited to another party several months prior, and didn't go. If I would have went to that shindig, I would have met Jason, as he was there too. But I was still in a ridiculously dysfunctional on again/off again relationship of sorts and wouldn't have probably thought twice about the funny guy who adjusted claims at the same insurance company I worked at.

Tomorrow is almost as {if not more, in some instances} important and special to me as the day we were married.

To the guy who bought me a Jaegar bomb and then showed me the bill--not because he had spent $69.00 {and I thought he was trying to impress me}, but because the check was....69, and he thought it was funny like a fourteen year old boy. {Listen, I never said either of us had any class} Thank you for finding me.

THE night. 2007.

Some of the "crew", that was there the night we met 6/29/2007. And at our wedding 4/9/2011

When Jason called me two days later, I knew he was into me, and I rejected his call. I was a Grade A snob and thought I was just so.much.better. and also, I was into games.  It's all I knew....and as a game player, you never answer the first time...I was also twenty-three, so what the Hell did I actually know about anything?! But I digress.

Tampa Bay Lightning draft party, 2007.

This boy...we have grown up together, fought hard, loved harder and made a life for ourselves. We're a family. Not every day is bliss, but even on our worst days, our life together is pretty darn spectacular and lovely and more than I ever wanted, could have expected, and/or even dreamed off.

Disney World, 2008.

Thank you for finding me Jason Wayne. I have NO clue where I would be in life without you.

Better is the day standing by your side,
Nichole

Two!

How have Jason and I been married two years already?! It feels like we just celebrated one year, yet here we are. We have grown so much together as a couple and as people {well I have grown, don't know how the spouse feels}.

If you have been following me for a while, you know that when I first blogged, it was about being a newlywed. And a way to document our first year of marriage. I have read and re-read some of those posts over and over again. Jason and I had some legit issues in the beginning. I know he and I both wondered what the heck we had gotten ourselves into, at times.

Marriage is work, ya'll. Some days I really dislike my husband, and some days I know that the feeling is mutual. But most other days, I am so effing in love with that guy and as more time goes by, that love just continues to surprise me, every.day. I never ever thought I would be so lucky.

About seven months in, I posted about some real struggles we were having. Our first year was rough.

Of all our beautiful photos, this is Jason's favorite. Nice.

Our second year, however has been way better and a little bit of a roller coaster! Around this time last year, J was accepted to THREE law schools. We didn't know if we were moving or staying in Tampa. All while I was trying to find a new job {after unemployment for four months}, Mister C started said law school, and then we decided to get a second dog.

One year anniversary cruise. Before all our chaos arrived.

With Jason going back to school, I became a little depressed. Just when the Crews' had *finally* had a good groove going and a nice lil' routine down, everything changed. Obviously this will be for the better in the long haul, but the first semester, while hard for the husband, was really hard for me too. And in true Nichole fashion, I didn't really keep my mouth shut when maybe I should have...and again, we hit a rough patch in marriage-land...

But you know what? We didn't fight like I know we would have in our first year of marriage. Things were tense and he was tired and I was lonely and also tired {I decided I would attempt to be wife of the year to my law student hubby and not ask him to help clean and/or meal plan so he could focus on studies and working full time. Yea, that lasted a month. No trophy for me. I digress}, but we got through the first semester and by this Spring, I was able to adjust a whole lot better to Jason being in school. Growing pains, I suppose.

Life is always going to change. And while I miss the beginning with Jason of going out all the time, and/or couch dates watching The Office, Tosh.O and Mad Men {we don't have a ton of the same tv interests, those three are about it}, I am sure someday when/if we have kids, I'll miss these current days.

My husband has taught me a lot about patience {I guarantee you he would 100% disagree with me!} and I will forever love him for that.


For our actual anniversary "celebration", we didn't do much. Two weeks prior, we had a really nice dinner at Fleming's and saw Jerry Seinfeld live, and then the following weekend went to South Florida for a friend's wedding, where we got dressed up and enjoyed hanging with friends and a generous open bar, so the need to go out and do something spectacular for our anniversary just seemed....exhausting.

We ended up having dinner at home: filet mignon, creamed spinach and a side salad, while watching Mad Men. Honestly, it was effing ah-mazing. We're old. The end. Oh and we opened the letters we had written to each other last year that could not be read until this year. Love that man.

Here is to {at least {if I am lucky!}} fifty-two more years together.

Everyday, every year I learn more and more about you, Jason Wayne. And hope we always continue to change and grow, together.

XOXO,
Your Wife

*all professional photos by Caroline & Evan Photography 

6/6/2002

Yesterday was the ten year anniversary from when I graduated from High School. I can't believe it has been TEN years already, ya'll.

Via

Where did the time go? I'll tell you I am a way  different person than I was in 2002 (naturally)! Two weeks after graduating high school, I moved into my first apartment (I still have some issues with this but at the time my parents and I didn't see eye to eye on most things). I dated quite a few losers, bounced a number of checks, ate loads of Ramen (and hot pockets, too). Made mistakes; learned from said mistakes. And the beat goes on.

I wish I could go back and make some changes but then I think that those ahem, mistakes, got me where I am today. I learned how to balance my damn checkbook and pay real bills before most of my friends. My "mistakes" helped me find a great guy that I married (after kissing many a frog); planned our wedding that got me a part time foot in the door setting up other weddings (realizing that I love to plan parties!). Made some great friends after having some selfish ones. Brought me closer to my family...

Yes, I wish I had less debt, and more savings. I wish I looked better, and felt better. But mostly, I am happy. Mostly, I didn't know what the future held at eighteen, but I am quite happy with my life (most days) and where it has taken me...Mostly, life is freakin' fab-u-lous.

I do have one question, however. When the hell did I get old?!

So sad...

I am so dramatic sad! I know I have told ya'll how Jason & I met at an after work happy hour/friend's birthday at the Green Iguana (in St. Petersburg). This June will mark five years since I sat in his seat (randomly) and we started to talk...

Via

We were  planning to go back to the St. Pete location (they have three or four more in Tampa Bay) on our five year anniversary (and stay at a hotel close by, off the water) but we just found out...they have CLOSED!

I am *so* bummed! We have been to the Green Iguana plenty of times since meeting, but had only been to "our" location twice: when we first met (duh) and on our on one year anniversary.

Now we will have to come up with a Plan B (I know, boo freaking hoo, right?).

Do you like to visit nostalgic places when celebrating or try new spots?

Celebrating One Year!

Since our wedding anniversary fell on a Monday, I "thought" we'd celebrate on the Saturday before since hubs worked. Little did I know he had other plans for us :)
We did  have a date on Saturday though. We picked up dinner from the hole in the wall BBQ joint that catered our wedding dinner (we hadn't eaten there since our wedding, so it was pretty perfect that we ate there again a year later) and took it home to eat while watching American Pie (gotta re-cap for American Reunion)

Then, after a much needed nap, Jason suggested we go to Clearwater Beach. Sadly, even though we don't live that far from the beach, we rarely go. I was game.

We walked the beach and ventured into Frenchy's Rockaway Grill for some drinks outside facing the ocean. It was dark, but still perfect.

Via

Hubs told me some very  exciting news that I can't share yet! (I know, I know how cryptic, but I will share our news once I can) to which we celebrated with a shot (we're classy, what can I say).

Sunday was Easter, and we did the church and family thing. We visited my family last and toasted to our anniversary, the  "secret" news we can't share yet and to my sister, who has her first post college job after a year! Easter was a very good day.

Monday, our actual anniversary hubs took me to the infamous Bern's Steak House. If you don't live in Tampa, you may have never heard of it. Or maybe you have. They are very well known for their steak...and wine. They have the world's largest wine collection, ya'll. Anyways, its a place I'd never been and is pretty pricey so when hubs suggested Bern's, I was there.

I didn't take too many photos (I felt silly and didn't want to point out the fact to others that clearly this was my first time there) but I can definitely attest to the food being amazing!

We shared a NY strip steak (Um, it was 18oz and they split it for you) and there were def leftovers. They start your meal with this ah-mazing french onion soup, followed by a house salad (where they grow all their own vegetables). When the steak comes out, they serve with a baked potato, crispy onion straws and veggies.

After our meal, we toured the kitchen and wine cellar before having dessert. Bern's has a seperate dessert room for sweets. Sweet mother, we were already full! But when was the next time we'd be here, so against our better judgement, we ate more.

I ordered the most amazing caramel bread pudding and J ordered their macadamia nut sundae. We could barely eat our dessert but what we could, was realllly delish!

Sweet Mother

Our first wedding anniversary was perfect and better than I could have hoped for. Oh! And Jason replaced the necklace I lost last year, I'm a lucky girl.

One Year!

I cannot believe one year ago today, I married my fave person! It feels like *so* much has changed and yet nothing all at the same time.

A year ago today, I woke up nervous. Not for the wedding itself, but mainly because I had (yet) to write my vows (I know, you'd think it'd be the guy usually, but not this time)! I took some time for myself, made a mimosa and started to write. Sadly, those vows are nowhere to be found now and all I really remember saying is, "I sat in the wrong seat at the right time"...and "Thank you for finding me, and believing in us when I wasn't ready to".

(me and some of my bridesmaids, and both my sisters prepping)

I was so nervous to walk the aisle in front of everyone that I don't remember his vows to me either (those, sadly were misplaced as well).

But I DO remember how beautiful the day was, and how much I loved our venue

{Grow old with me, the best is yet to be}

There was some drama prior to the ceremony. Not with me, but with a bridesmaid and some family members. None of it matters now and it shouldn't have mattered then. It did though and I let the ish affect me a bit. I should have pulled a bridezilla on everyone and told them to check their problems at the door. But that's not my style.

I love these girls to death!

I also lost the necklace Jason gave me as a wedding gift. That's a long story (and I fear I'll never get another piece of jewelery from hubs again!) and I will never know what actually happened to it (I had it right until my dad walked me down the aisle. That was the last time I saw it).

The missing necklace

...Once I saw Jason, however all the anxiety and stress I had, went away.

We said our vows, laughed, cried and sang (hence, why my face looks ridic in all our recessional photos. I was singing, duh) before taking family photos.

Daddio & I

Then, came OUR photos. If you ever have to choose between not having engagement photos and having them, always do it (most of the time e-pics are included in your photo packages) because it will make you more comfortable in front of the camera and  with your photographer the BIG day of.

Dances were done, toasts were made and the good times were going. We mingled with everyone that came to see us get hitched and I barely remember eating but everyone said the BBQ was amazing (it was important to both of us to have enough food so people didn't feel hungry later. I hate that after a night of drinking and dancing)

Again, we laughed, we cried, we sang.

We took goofy, photos

Cut the cake

...and danced some more

before our grand exit of sparklers to a Bon Jovi song (don't hate)

I cannot believe that it's been ONE YEAR. The wedding was beautiful (okay, so I may be biased. Sue me) and I wouldn't change a thing. But it's just one day. One albeit perfect day (even with the mishaps beforehand and the after party that never was (another long story)) to start our newest journey as husband and wife.

The real beauty comes after the wedding; they call it marriage.

Happy Anniversary, Jason. I love yer face more and more every day!