A visit from life, love & puppy prints - HELLO Carolyn!

 Well hello there! :)

 I'm Carolyn, and normally I blog over at life, love and puppy prints. 

However, today I'm taking over Stilettos and a Fishing Pole! 

As you're reading this post, Jess and her man-child husband Aaron will be enjoying their anniversary trip in Destin.

Can we say JEALOUS?!?!?!

I'm so excited for Jess and her husband, and so glad that they're having a blast celebrating their one year... but I have to say admit...

It makes me SO EXCITED for our one year anniversary trip! 

 Jake (my handsome hubby) and I were married on September 30th, 2011 in downtown Saint Paul, MN.

It was one of the BEST days of my life, and I'm so excited to celebrate the anniversary of such a special date!

That's right! In about a month - the husband and I will be flying here:

 Lake Tahoe!

EEK!

Neither one of us have ever been to Tahoe, so we're super excited to experience it all together for the first time. I've done a ton of searching online to start planning what we want to do while we're there... and let me just say. It's going to be a pretty great trip! 

Here's some of the stuff we have planned... 

Hiking

Jake and I aren't huge nature people... 

but we definitely want to go hiking and experience the natural beauty that Tahoe is known for!

Aerial Trams

Since Tahoe is a huge skiing and snowboarding area... there are tons of aerial trams to bring you to the top of the mountain. Aerial trams will bring us there, let me take pictures and stay nice and cute. Perfect! :)

Stateline

Stateline is literally the state line between Nevada and California, and it's lined with old school casinos and hotels! I can't wait to go do some vintage style gambling! Hopefully we have as much luck as Jess and Aaron have had on their many cruises! :)

 Squaw Valley

The 1960 Winter Olympics was held in Squaw Valley, and even though we're going to be there before the snow hits... I can't wait to see this place! The history and the sights should be pretty amazing!

Food

Jake and I LOVE food, and we love trying new restaurants. I can't wait to try out some of the yummy restaurants around Tahoe!

I can guarantee there will be quite a few food pictures happening on my Instagram feed!

Mansion tours

Jake and I love going through old mansions and learning about the history of the families that lived there. The gorgeous details that go into these houses is amazing, and I can't get enough of it!

 Relaxing

While I'm SO excited to do all of those things... the thing I'm most excited for is to spend time with my husband and RELAXING while enjoying the gorgeous scenery. Yes please!

_______________________________

I'm going to go back to counting down the days until our anniversary trip, but first... 

I want to wish Jess and Aaron the happiest of anniversaries!

You two are an adorable couple and deserve all the happiness in the world!! :)

First Wedding Anniversary = DESTIN



Aaron and I could not be more excited to

be celebrating our first wedding anniversary in just three weeks.

Wow! Where has time gone?

After hours & hours, day after day of research of

finding the perfect place to celebrate our first amazing year of being

husband and wife - we have finally found our place...

Destin, Florida

I've always heard it was beautiful & people talk highly of. After reading it was voted the #1 beach in the Southern Living Magazine I figured I check it out - oh yes!

The water really is that crystal!

I'm so excited to experience it but most of all I'm so happy to be able

to spend the whole weekend with Aaron.

 {Are those kids underneath the pool water? Uhh, weird?}

Reservations were booked yesterday.

Ekkk!

Now it's time to research places to eat, entertainment,

daily-do's, beach adventures, & definitely some kind of fishing experience.

I'd love to surprise Aaron with an offshore adventure.

Ticket Bookings = Paper?

 Hmmmm....

Have you ever been to Destin, Florida?

What do you suggest?

If you are interested in Guest Posting about your 1st anniversary,

please contact me ASAP - I will give all details through email.

Dear high school sweetheart,

You had me at hello on January 16, 2001. I can remember that night like it was yesterday. There you were sitting in your white ford truck with Justin & Brandon. You stole my heart and never gave it back. And I never wanted you to. I thank god every single day for you, all of you.  I can't wait to explain to my little girl or boy on the day s/he is experiencing her/his first love that the little blue eyed boy who captured mommas total heart was her/his daddy.

Aaron, you are my world & you have been since day one.

I love you. Happy 11 years of life together.

♥ Your Wife, XoXo

Picture taken  February 2001 - ages 16/15:

at a friend, McKenzie Pickett's house. We were with two other couples, hanging out... falling in love. I can still remember walking around the Pickett's house along with the other couples... my heart was pounding & blood was pumping 90-to-nothing. I was full of smiles.. and stopped breathing when he grabbed my hand.  I was falling

I never want to forget this day. I never will.

All I can remember about this day was...
{Are you ready for this mom?}

After prom, we all went back to Aaron's {parents} house. Which was planned.
Us and about 7 other prom dates. Well, I had to be home at 1:00am, no later...
my parents would have killed me. Well, we fell asleep and I woke up at 5:00am knowing my parents get up at 6:00am. I screamed. He jumped up. We got my stuff together in about 2.5 seconds... no joke, I was scared to death. Knew I was going to walk in to my parents starring at me at the table.
Well i didn't. They were still asleep. THank God. At 10:00am I woke up and was REALLY nervous.
I walked out to my mom smiling huge asking me how Prom was.
I knew I was safe. Later {in picture} Aaron came back over to hang out.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Our Story:

God knew what he was doing when he made this little tomboy who always had a bow in her hair while baiting her own hook... she grew up being the complete opposite.

She was the first girl to ever take his attention away from "I'd rather be fishing."

♥

met in January 2001
became... as my parents would say
"steady" January 2001.
we were kids.
we were in high school.
we went steady all throughout high school...
for the most part.
he had my heart from day one.
i had his attention but it took longer for him
to settle in.
#now comes college.


ouch.
i lived in an apartment with my girlfriends.
he still was at home.
{mommas boy..yes}
parties. break-ups. crying. finding ourselves.
we made it.
it was rough.
it was only the beginning.
now comes the first time we lived together.
#2008


wow.whoa.what happened?
you're just not ready to play house at 22.
well we weren't. we were far from it.
reality hit us.
big time.
wait - let me correct that.
reality hit ME.
this was a bad idea.
we were on two different roads of 'knowing what we wanted'.
i moved out 8 months later.
hardest thing i've ever done.
not really moving out
just everything that came along with it.
okay and yes - moving out.
a day/moment i never want to feel again.the hardest moment{s} of our history yet.
however, it was the best thing that ever happened to {us}.


he is a bachelor.
i live with my parents.
something I never thought i'd ever have to do again.
he was high on single life.
i was broken to pieces.
shattered.
torn apart.
alone.
he partied & ...
partied.
well, he was a bachelor.

my heart was brought interest elsewhere.
 yes, with a guy. a great guy.
not with aaron.
i was swept off my feet.
aaron begged. cried. pleaded. but partied.
he was still in the same mind set.
not ready for the serious-ness of a relationship & love.
make sense?
he was a bachelor & wanted that life.
he needed that.
#five months later.

he hasn't given up.
i found myself. my life. my confidence.
my heart.
which was with aaron.
he was my heart.

best valentines day yet was our first
day back together - 2009.
the.perfect.date.
love took some time to find us again
the real love. the trust. everything that comes with it.
we moved in together with time.
still a few bumpy roads but nothing
was worth giving up.


June 2010 spent our time
 moving into his late great grandfathers home.
it was given to us.
it was remodeled to make it our home.
it was a very good time in our life.
we found the our happiness - together.
happiness was alive, living, and regained.
we found partnership.
we found respect for each other and most of all...
we became stronger friends
best friends
& lovers all over again.

September 2010 Aaron picked out THE ring.
December 26th he was on one knee.
we planned my perfect fairy tale for eight months.
the happiest, most joyful experience.
became husband and wife on September 3, 2011.


Life now...
is spent building our roots.
 a lot of couch-time. dinner dates.
 time with family & friends. new traditions.
& a wife trying to cook like momma does.
 #notquitethereyet
starting our family.
making plans knowing nothing can beat us.

 

Happy Anniversary to Mr. Wonderful

Ten years ago today, My Journey with Aaron started!The best years of my life!!!

♥Happy Anniversary Babe♥

He is the perfect Friend, the perfect companion! 

He is my Soulmate...

 My Lifetime Love!

He is my greatest joy and my biggest inspiration! 

He's Amazing.

God knew what he was doing when we brought us together ten years ago!

Baby, I can't WAIT to be your wife♥

It's Thursday Five

Happy Thursday

How to Play:
Post why you've been...


Blessed

Delighted

Joyous

Cheerful

Jolly

... on your blog. Then link up over at MannLand5. That Easy!

Here are my reasons-

1. I am absoultely, positively, hands down, completely blessed to have a companion who supports me in everything. [Of course they should always...] We've come so far since age 15, & it's really awesome to have faced the challenges of growing together at a young age. We've grown so much respect & support for one another... geez, I'm guilty of wearing the biggest smile right NOW. Whatever I need or want or whatever he seems to think I need or want... He bends over backs to surprise me with it.  It's truley amazing to share life with someone like him.   I'm the LUCKIEST girl in the world.2. I became delighted on Sunday, to know that my best friend, Danielle, was going to be spending the day with me. I felt like kid again. We laughed hysterically, while re-living the childhood game playing Mario 3 on the Ninetindo. It was Awesome. Although, we had to take a break due to our fingers being sore from pressing the buttons to hard, so we decided to join my Sister in Law Bridget, Brother in Law Patrick, & their son, Reid in the Pool. He was adorable! After that, we road around our small town on the Mule. [No...Not the Animal] Click HERE to view what I'm talking about. It was great!
3. Today is my Parents 10 Year Anniversary. Ten years of Marriage. Seventeen years together!
4. boy oh boy... was I cheerful, when Aaron & his friend Jon drove up Sunday with our new Refridgerator. [only to become sad when my carpet didn't arrive yesterday.. ugh] We didn't plan for a new one... It Happens! It's very basic.. but niice! .. [& still paying cash for everything.. which makes BOTH of us cheerful.. yet, our pockets are dry & empty]
5. My Mom & I went to go watch my Nephew, Austin play in his Baseball Tournament Friday Night. Although they called it, due to the Lightning, the 45 mins. that we did watch was great! He's a great player... & they won! yay!

THere it is...I'm all done! 
Now it's YOUR turn. Don't forget to Link Up!Have a HAPPY Thursday... [Tomorrow is Friiiday ;D]♥ jla