First things first: The Fashion page has been updated! I tried to address all of your fashion-related questions from my New York trip, including nail polish colors and some of my friends’ accessories. Possibly the longest Fashion page post ever!
Dating Anniversary
Last night I took the night off from blogging to be a lazy bum and soak up quality time with Ryan. I missed that guy!
Today is actually a special day in our relationship… It’s our dating anniversary!
We went on our first date on February 1, 2004, so today marks eight years together.
Past anniversary posts:
Even though we’re married now, we cannot seem to let go of our dating anniversary. Unfortunately this will be the first year we will not be returning to the scene of our first date. Since we’re no longer living in Orlando, driving 1.5 hours just to eat dinner at The Cheesecake Factory didn’t seem logical to either of us because, let’s face it, The Cheesecake Factory isn’t that good.
I actually got food poisoning after eating there on one of our anniversaries and spent the night puking. Never again will I order the miso salmon!
We’ll probably just do a nice dinner at home since I’m over eating out at the moment after this weekend’s NYC trip, but I do have some lovey-dovey ideas up my sleeve.
Workout
Today’s workout was tough! It wasn’t hard because I did anything out of the ordinary or particularly difficult, but my body seems to lose strength even after few days away from the gym… or, you know, a few days of eating and drinking whatever my heart desired. I was feeling quite lethargic!
I began with 20 minutes on the elliptical before completing the following upper body workout:
Burn baby, burn!
Breakfast
This morning I took a little extra time in the kitchen to make a yummy breakfast.
I brought 1 1/2 cups 2 percent milk to a low boil on the stovetop before adding 1/4 cup of steel cut oats and letting them simmer for about 20 minutes.
I then added about 1.5 tablespoons of peanut butter and a dash of pumpkin pie spice to the mix before topping the oats with fresh raspberries and chopped mixed nuts.
Served with a cup of Godiva caramel pecan bark coffee and more mixed nuts.
It was quite the nutty breakfast!
Book Club Link Up
Later today we’ll be discussing The Night Circus, the book selected for January’s book club! So far I have links to book review blog posts from the following people to include in this afternoon’s post: Cheryl, Leah, Julie and Caitlin. If I am missing your post, please email me ASAP so I may include it in the roundup!
Question of the Morning
- If you’re married, do you still celebrate your dating anniversary? If you’re not married, do you think you would celebrate both your wedding anniversary and dating anniversary?
We celebrate both because, as Ryan says, “I’m not losing eight years just because we got married!”
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I definitely think you should celebrate your dating anniversary! Ryan is right, you will always have been together longer than you’ve been married. My fiance and I plan on celebrating our dating anniversary after we are married. I’m not giving up almost 6 and a half years 🙂
Haha my husband and I definitely celebrate our wedding anniversary and dating anniversary! They’re conveniently several months apart, so we always have something to look forward to. 2012 in May will be 2 years of marriage and September will be 6 years of dating! Occasionally we celebrate half anniversaries too with a cute card or a night off of studying!
I’m with Ryan. I don’t want to lose 6 years just because I’m married!
so cute! I had brazil nuts this morning too 🙂
Even though we are married (since June), we had our 10 year dating anniversary on January 19! I was more excited about it then my hubby, and some friends were into it and others said it doesn’t count! I wrote on his wall on facebook “10 years” with hearts and he called me to make sure we were not celebrating haha! Later that day at work I received a beautiful orchid, assuming it was from him, turned out to be from a client!
I think having two anniversaries is such a cute idea! Though I’m not married yet, I definitely think that is a great thing to incorporate every year 🙂 it let’s you remember all the good times from the past and to look forward to all the new ones in the future. Have a wonderful dating anniversary day! P.S. your breakfast looks amazing, as always!
awww y’all are too cute together! btw, love our names 😉
We celebrated our first dating anniversary last year at the same restaurant as our first date. 🙂 I’d like to continue that tradition.
Ryan is adorable with his comment about losing eight years. We don’t commemorate our dating anniversary anymore but we’re also approaching 17 year dating anniversary this May. What? 17 years? Holy cow.
Marci
Our two anniversaries are only 3 days apart so we celebrate both together 🙂 Yes, it was planned!
how cool!!
happy dating anniversary! you guys are too cute. my husband and i don’t celebrate our dating anniversary… no particular reason, it’s just not something we ever have thought about doing after we got married. i suppose also because it would be right around christmas which is already crazy enough that time of year. but hey, i’m all about more celebrating, so maybe i should convince him we should start celebrating our dating anniversary too?? 😉
don’t let go of that dating anniversary! my parent’s first date was a Phillies game in August (a bajillion years ago)… however, they still celebrate it. my dad usually brings my mom home some pretty flowers, etc.
and that is why I have to forever be a phillies phan. 😉
happy anniversary, cutiepies.
such a sweet story!
my husband is not an anniversary person and he made me give up the dating anniversary the second we got married! i suppose it was just an excuse to demand flowers, anyways 🙂
Aww, happy dativersary! That’s cute, and I definitely think you should hold on to it.
Even though the coach and I briefly broke up to figure some things out, we still count the entire time together as how long we’ve been dating. Ironically, the day we started dating (again) was the same as it was the first time around – in a different month – so we only have to fuss with one number 😉
aw I love that you still celebrate your dating anniversary even though you are married! My parents claim “they don’t remember” when they got married to they never celebrate an anniversary. I will be celebrating all anniversary’s possible, I love an excuse to celebrate!
That is so cute that you guys used to return to the scene of your first date every year! Happy dating anniversary – and ps. that first photo of the 2 of you is awesome. I think it should go in one of those many frames around your house! 😉
The hubster and I do hold reverance to our dating anniversary (Jan 3), but sometimes we don’t do anything special. Most of the time we look at the calendar and say “Ohhh, it’s Jan 3rd” and look at each other and smile. Other times, we might do something.
For us, January 3rd, marks 17 years together and this year we have our upcoming 10th wedding anniversary.
Happy Dating Anniversary to you and Ryan! You two are so adorable. 🙂
I think Matty and I will definitely still celebrate our dating anniversary when we get married. It’s June 11, which just so happens to be a day of incredible weather every year. We love to go to Amherst or Boston for the day and just soak up the day. Hopefully I’m not jinxing the weather now!
My hubby and I have been married for 2.5 yrs but dated for 7 before that. We celebrate our anniversary with a weekend away, but we keep the dating anniversary low key. Usually dinner out or just haning out and doing something fun. We are lame and just love being together.,,,aka homebodies. haha
Happy dating anniversary! I’m getting married this December and our dating anniversary is in October. I’m sure we’ll continue to celebrate both although our dating anniversary will probably more low-key once we’re married. Plus my birthday is in October and his birthday is in November, so the fall and winter is full of holidays and things to celebrate!
Happy dating anniversary! Ours is coming up on the 23rd, but we aren’t married yet… we’ll be celebrating 2 years, which feels like forever, I can’t even imagine 8!!!
The only time we went to the Cheesecake Factory, we were going out for a special dinner… but our table was like 2 feet away from another table with 4 people at it. We were so awkwardly close to them that it felt like we were having dinner with them. Not a fan!
Of course celebrate!! What an excuse to have a nice night out or do something extra special 🙂
you guys are so cute–my fiancee and I also celebrate both, soon to be all three, dating, engagement, and wedding! always room for celebrating in our lives.
We don’t really “celebrate” our dating anniversary but usually get each other cards or just make mention of it on the day. For some reason my husband says that date is easier to remember than our actually anniversary! Maybe it’s b/c he had 7 extra years to memorize it.
That’s the only downfall of getting married- after building up to X amount of years, your back to day 1! Happy anniversary!!
We don’t “celebrate” it but we do acknowledge it. In fact, it was 17 yrs in Jan.
The Kidless Kronicles
congrats! that’s awesome!
My husband and I celebrate our dating anniversary too! We started dating Sept 13, 2004 and were married Oct 8, 2011! We celebrate our engagement too, which was my birthday! Easy to remember 😉 we are always looking for an excuse to celebrate and are big on V day, even sweetest day too!
Our dating anniversary is this month too! February 20th! We have been married for 5 years, but we still remember our dating anniversary. We don’t really do anything for it, plus it’s so close to Valentines Day, but we always tell each other Happy February 20th!
Our dating anniversary is on my birthday and is also the day we get engaged, so I’m pretty sure if my hubby forgot it head’s would roll 😉
Love that red dress/outfit!
And congrats! I always joke with Torrance that when we get married it will have to be ON our dating anniversary since we have been celebrating it forever and its stuck in our head! (We have been dating for almost 9 years)!
Y’all are cute! My fiance and I don’t necessarily celebrate our dating anniversary anymore, but we always reflect and talk about it. Our wedding and dating anniversaries will be 5 days apart and all around the 4th of July, so I think regardless of how we celebrate, both things will just be rolled into one. 🙂
I think its great to celebrate both your dating and wedding anniversaries. Even if the dating anniversary becomes a smaller celebration, it is still something exciting and significant. If you didn’t begin dating, you would never be married! It’s a small celebration to remind yourself of how much you love each other.
Also, I love your hot pink shin sleeves. I’m sure you’ve mentioned it before, but where did you find them? I’ve been on the hunt for cute ones, but can’t seem to find anything decently priced.
here ya go: https://www.pbfingers.com/2011/11/21/workout-wear/
We have been married 10 years and we still celebrate our dating anniversary – I love it! My parents always celebrated theirs and I thought it was so neat, I knew we would always celebrate both in our family. Congratulations on your dating anniversary!
we don’t. we kind of look at each other and go “oh yeah…” we celebrate our wedding anniversary. we’re lame.
Our dating and (upcoming) wedding anniversaries will be about two weeks apart…so I don’t know how/if we’ll celebrate both. Right now though, my fiance still acknowledges it monthly on the 18th (“happy 16 month anniversary!”) He usually remembers before I do! We’re going to see Wicked and stay in Portland for our 18 month anniversary in March! He’s the best!
We celebrate our dating anniversary every year at the Brickyard 400 (NASCAR race in Indianapolis)… because that is where we met! It’s quite the party… and pretty redneck… but I promise we have all of our teeth 😀
Happy Dating Anniversary Fagans!!
I got food poisoning at The Cheesecake Factory too! Except I’m a big baby and won’t step foot in one ever again, because like you said … it’s not THAT good 🙂
Your coffee sounds delish!!! Happy Dating Anniversary 🙂
My 8 year dating anniversary is today too, well I still call it an anniversary because we are not married yet. But today it is also my boyfriend’s birthday so we celebrate our anniversary on Valentines Day.
Not married yet, but I think I would only celebrate one anniversary (wedding)… However, the month I’d like to get married is near the same date we started dating, so who knows, could squeeze both in! 🙂
I’m getting married in September and my fiance already suggested that this would be our last time celebrating our dating anniversary. Wah :*( Congrats on 8 years, that is so exciting! 🙂
I say, why not celebrate it!? It’s just one extra day to treat as a special day!
We definitely celebrate both! Our wedding anniversary is July 11 (and will be 4 years this summer), but our dating anniversary is August 8 (and will be 12!!! years this summer!). We hate to lose those years too just because we got married! Have a great night!
I think my bf and I would def celebrate our dating anniversary.. it’ ssuch a special day! And heck, I’ll celebrate anything if it means wearing a cute dress. PS. LOVE that red dress and boots- I’m assuming it’s on one of the fashion pages? I need an amazing outfit to wear to see the boyfriend after he gets back from his deployment next week. 🙂
ha..so im not the only one, i just got food poisoning from cheesecake factory over the weekend!
when we get married, im sure we will celebrate our dating anniversary too. my parents still celebrate their dating anniversary after 28 years of marriage 🙂 (31 years dating anniversary)
oh no! what did you order? it has actually happened to me TWICE!
oh gosh! i ordered the crabcake sandwich and we took cheesecake slices home for dessert, i wasnt sure which one it was since i didnt get sick till later on that night…but now im thinking maybe it was the crabcake since you got sick from the fish there too. what did you eat the second time?
p.s. ive sworn off that place forever i think, lol!
I got married last summer, so we haven’t had our first anniversary yet. 🙂 We have celebrated our dating anniversary every year though- However, our dating anniversary is 6 days before our wedding date, so it got overshadowed last year. I think we verbally acknowledged it. 🙂
We’re going to Colorado for a week to celebrate your 1 year this July. (We always take a trip there in the summer, and will just make sure it overlaps with July 17th this year) I can’t wait!
Sorry to comment hop but I’m from Colorado! I hope you enjoy your time here. Summer is definitely best because the weather is awesome. Do you mind if I ask where you’re planning to visit?
Oh- I’ll have to check out your blog! We’re visiting in May (to attend BLEND) and in July. Staying near Boulder in May and probably Denver in July. We usually stay in Denver and drive all over – out to Breck and Frisco, Boulder, Golden… wherever. We hike the whole time (and bike and kayak) and just kind of wing it each year, depending on what we feel like doing each day. We’re trying to move out there soon!!
That sounds so wonderful! I just moved from Denver and I miss it already. It’s a great place to live because there’s always something going on.
aw i love this! 😀
That is something I’ve always wondered about!! I’m glad other people celebrate their dating anniversary because I feel like honestly that is just as important as your marriage anniversary! Why would you forget about the years of your relationship that brought you to the point of marriage? I’m not married, but hope to celebrate my dating anniversary as well as marriage. 🙂 Happy Anniversary!
My husband and I always celebrate our dating anniversary in a special way. Plus, it’s fun to talk about how nervous we use to be around each other :).
I just posted a review of The Night Circus on my blog. Its here:
http://girlgoneveggie.com/?p=1242
And I hope Josh and I still celebrate our dating anniversary when we’re married. I’m quite fond of it! 😀
My bf and my dating anniversary is Dec 29th, right in between Christmas and New Years, so it tends to get a little lost in the fray a little bit. Also, our families tend to disagree with our anniversary date (we go by our exclusivity as our dating anniversary, but we had dated casually for 5 months before that). So I feel like ours might sadly be forgotten if we have another anniversary to celebrate in the future!
Happy Dating-iversary 🙂
My Mr & I don’t celebrate our dating anniversary, but I think it’s great that you do! We just got married last October 1st, and since then we’ve been doing a special dinner on the 1st of every month to celebrate our “Month-iversary” — tonight is our 4 Month-iversary 🙂