Some highlights:
- New Year’s Party
- Weikwa Springs Hike
- Awesome Blogger Meet Up Dinner
- I Fell 300 Feet
- Sadie Turned Three (and faced another epic battle!)
- Ryan’s Second Guest Post
- Fun Night Out in Downtown Orlando
January recipe highlights:
- Sugar ‘n’ Spice Pork
- Crock Pot Chicken with Sweet Potatoes and Carrots
- Salmon with Raspberry Glaze
- High Protein Chocolate Granola
And now it’s time to dive head-first into February.
February = Love Month
This month is loooove month for me and Ryan.
Today is actually the seven-year anniversary of our very first date!
Last year I shared six fun facts about us in honor of our six year anniversary, so I figured I’d keep the tradition alive and share seven fun facts this year…
Here we go!
- I always say that Ryan “wooed” me. In a world where more and more guys seem to think texting is an appropriate way to ask a girl out, I was seriously impressed when Ryan called me to ask me out on a real date when we’d only ever seen each other one time before. He impressed me ten times over when he put the effort into planning dates and “courting” me. What can I say? I’m an old fashioned girl at heart! 😀
- When Ryan and I met he had shaggy blonde hair. People said we looked alike. It was weird.
- When I asked Ryan whether or not we would be celebrating our dating anniversary now that we’re married, he said “YES! I’m not losing seven years!”
- We never call each other by our real names when we talk to each other. The only time I actually call him “Ryan” is when I’m trying to find him in a store or other crowded place.
- Whenever we try to hug around Sadie, she throws herself between us because she has to be part of any group hug. We sing the obnoxious song “Three is a Magic Number” whenever this occurs.
- Neither of us want to remain in Orlando forever. We love it here, have great friends in the area, our families live within driving distance and we are never bored, but for some reason we both have the “itch” to move out of Central Florida before we start a family. Of course jobs and other factors may influence this decision quite a bit.
- Ryan and I always revisit the place of our first date, The Cheesecake Factory, on our anniversary. Unfortunately I’ve ended up throwing up in the bathroom on the evening of our anniversary twice. I will no longer order salmon from The Cheesecake Factory.
And now, before signing off, here’s lunch!
Lunch
Egg salad served on a toasted whole wheat English muffin with a side of yellow pepper slices!
To make the egg salad I combined the following:
- 1 hard-boiled egg, chopped
- 1 hard-boiled egg white, chopped
- 1 tbsp. light Miracle Whip
- 1 celery stalk, chopped
- 1/2 tbsp. mustard
- 1 tbsp. sweet relish
- 1/2 tsp. paprika
I had too much egg salad to fit onto the English muffin completely, so I ate most of it out of a small Tupperware container with a fork. Fantastic and fantastically smelly! 🙂
Back to work. This day has been draaaagging… I think it’s because I’m anxious to bust outta here and go on our hot anniversary date tonight!
(Update: The new Fashion page should be up tonight!!!)
Maryann says
Happy Anniversary to you and Ryan!! Hope the date tonight is amazing 🙂
Lunch looks great! I will be replicating your egg salad sandwich soon 🙂
Mimi says
Happy seven years to you guys! My now-fiance wooed me by calling me instead of texting. That little thing says a lot!
Dana says
Happy Anniversary!
Laura @ prettylittlewords says
Cute!! I love that he called you…that always wins HUGE points in my book 🙂
Have a great date tonight!!
peanutbutterfingers says
i loved it to. i don’t think i could say yes to a date request by text. it seems like such a cop out!
Hope says
This is such a cute post! I think it’s great that you are still celebrating your dating anniversary! 🙂 I will do the same thing when I’m married too. There’s no reason to waste those years, like Ryan said.
That egg salad looks fantastic! I love egg salad. I don’t know why I don’t eat it more often. It’s so yummy and stinky! 🙂
Ali @ Ali Runs says
Aww what a great post! Happy anniversary! 🙂 My boyfriend and I went to the Cheesecake Factory for our first date too!!
carlee says
Happy seven years! WAHOO! I <3 you guys!
Hey Julie, if i email you can you respond sometime between today and tomorrow? I have some questions/ help I need on something?
Emma (Sweet Tooth Runner) says
Happy 7 years!! You two are adorable, and so in love! 🙂
This is my favourite one of your ‘things’: •When I asked Ryan whether or not we would be celebrating our dating anniversary now that we’re married, he said “YES! I’m not losing seven years!”
AWWWW! 🙂
Shannon @ Philadelphia Phitness Pharmacy says
Happy 7 years! I will definitely be trying out that egg salad recipe! Hope you have a great night at the Cheesecake Factory!
Jess (Daly Authenticity) says
Awe, that is so sweet! I love reading updates about you and Ryan. You remind me of my husband and I a lot. Tom TOTALLY “wooed” me. I loved every second of it. And honestly, even though we are married, he still wooes me! (As I think it should be!)
Carrie says
congrats to you both!!! i love when boys take charge too… they should plan the dates !!.. ahah in my family my parents NEVEER call me my real name either.. we all have nicknames!
Ashley @ 365 things says
Congrats! I’ve been with my husband for 10 years and married to him 5, so I know how he feels about wanting to count 7!!
LOVE tuna salad. I’m self conscience when I eat it at work because of the smell, but I figure they can just get over it!
Katy (The Singing Runner) says
I can’t believe Ryan had shaggy hair! Too funny!
Have a great date tonight! 😀
Ashley @ 365 things says
Err, I mean egg salad. I add egg to my tuna salad as well, so both stink either way..lol!
Juliene says
Happy Datingversary- as my hubby and I refer to it. We also celebrate for similar reasons and just had our 7 year as well! Have fun tonight!
Nancy K @ NancysPerfect10 says
Aww, Happy Anniversary! Wishing you both many many more 🙂
steph says
happy anniversary to you and ryan !!
i love cheesecake factory. (i actually puked once after as well… all the sugar in the carrot cake didnt settle with me) but its too good to pass up ! have a great time !
Jessica says
Happy anniversary! So sweet that he still agrees to recognize the dating anniversaries after you two were married! He looks funny with long hair…but still a handsome fella.
Have fun tonight, you two!
Kristen @ That Hoosier Girl says
Happy dating anniversary! I loved when my now hubby put thought into our first dates!
Gabriela @ Une Vie Saine says
Happy lucky seventh anniversary!! This is so sweet 🙂 My boyfriend and I “dated” for a loooong time before we became official (it was the summer before we went off to college), but I just remember how elated it was when it was finally “real.” Enjoy some cheesecake tonight!
Stephanie @ The Cookie Battle says
Unfortunately they closed the restaurant my boy and I went to on our first date, I wish we could still go back and visit 🙁
Happy Anniversary, you guys are so cute 🙂
Christine says
I am so excited to hear that you are celebrating your dating anniversary. My husband and I have been married a year and a quarter 🙂 But together for 8 years and I think people think I am insane when they ask how long we have been together and I respond 8 years and then they say well I thought you just got married 🙂
Happy Dating Anniversary!
Balanced Healthy Life says
Happy 7 years!
Amanda (Eating Up) says
I LOVE when guys call and ask for the first date. I have been tempted to tell guys many times I don’t get text messages because I really dislike how texting affects dating these days. Some text too much!
Chicago Cuisine Critique says
Happy first date anniversary to you and Ryan! I think it is so important to keep celebrating this occasion. My parents still acknowledge it, and they have been married 30+ years. 🙂
Emily says
my parents still celebrate their first date too! they started dating in 1977, and went to sonic on their first date – and every year they still go to sonic every Oct 17 just to remember 🙂
Jess@atasteofconfidence says
Happy Anniversary 🙂
Danielle says
Happy Anniversary!
Michelle says
I always find myself smiling as I read your posts! You and Ryan have such a great relationship and I love reading about it. Enjoy tonight! I can’t wait to read about it 🙂
Mariana says
Happy Anniversary, what a nice post, you guys are soo sweet!
Erin @ The Grass Skirt says
Happy Anniversary Month! You and Ryan are adorable together (and Sadie too, of course). Can’t wait for your fashion page! 🙂
mkr says
Woo date night! Can’t wait to see the date outfit. I love getting gussied up for a dinner out with my bf.
Gina says
Congrats! You and Ryan are seriously the cutest couple ever!
I hope I have a great relationship like you two one day 🙂
Shanna, like Banana says
So sweet, so cute! Love the wedding photo!
Jamie says
SO cute! People tell me that my boyfriend and I look like alike too.. I never really know how to respond! That wedding picture is so sweet.
Jenna says
Aww congratulations on the seven years!! You guys are so adorable and that is so sweet that he put so much time and effort into courting you. 🙂
Stephanie says
I am in love with you guys as a couple. Happy 7 years of being together. 🙂
Trish says
Congrats! You guys are just too adorable. I hope someday I can find a love as special as the one you share. I can’t imagine how amazing it must be to walk down the aisle and be so happy and to truly love the person you’re walking towards.
I hope you both have many, many happy years together. 🙂
Sara says
SO cute a million congrats!! 🙂
xoxo
s
Allison @ Happy Tales says
Ahhh I LOVE this!!
My Ryan *wooed* me, too!!
And Happy always *alllways* has to wiggle her way into our hugs. We now do the group hug as well after we get home from work (my lord typing that out sounds so corny… but I wouldn’t have it any other way!! It’s one of the favorite parts of my day!)
I tell, you… y’all should check out the Carolinas for a place to “settle”! It’s great… you have both the beach AND mountains! Nothing beats that… I know that Ryan and I are hoping to *settle* in our new found home of Charlotte (jobs and life permitting, of course!)
Caree @ Fit-Mama says
yum, I love egg salad! wished it didn’t smell so bad tho!! 🙂
aww, i loved reading how you two met!! I am too an old fashioned type gal and soo glad texting wasn’t popular when I met my man!!
Rachelle says
Happy Date Anniversary to you and Ryan! This is def the love month! My wedding anniversary is the 3rd of Feb! And of course.. Valentines!
Geraldine says
One of my best friends says that my boyfriend and I look like brother and sister and it really annoys me! It’s not true!!
You guys look so happy in the picture with Ryan’s shaggy hair – he looks like a surfer! Happy Anniversary 🙂
Gill (snaxandthecity) says
Happy 7 years! Ryan has really changed hasn’t he, hair-wise!
I love egg salad – what’s miracle whip though?!
Sarah K. @ The Pajama Chef says
awww happy anniversary! i looked back & the pic of ryan’s blonde hair is great!
Holly says
Congrats on 7 years 🙂 You two are PERFECT together. Absolutely beautiful!
Vanessa says
Aw, that’s cute! (I thought me and my Mister were the only cheesy ones to celebrate first date anniversaries!)
Michelle @ Give Me the Almond Butter says
Such a cute post! I absolutely adore it when guys actually put time and thought into “wooing” you. My last boyfriend did it and although it didn’t work out, I totally appreciated and loved the gesture.
Kelly says
That’s too weird because Keith and I were just talking about this last night. We starrted dating on July 3rd 2004 and Keith proposed on July 3, 2005 and we got married on April 30, 2006. We ALWAYS celebrate our wedding anniversary, obviously, but we both agree that in our minds July 3 is almost more special. I think the day he proposed means more to me than the day we actually got married. Proposing was when he chose me, got down on one knee, and asked me to be by his side forever. That is the day that I will always cherish.
Courtney @ The Granola Chronicles says
Seven years?! That’s so great! My husband and I have only been together 3 1/2 — we got engaged after one year of dating – and got married one year later. We moved it right along!