Going the Distance

A Rundown of my Exes

Have you ever taken a step back, thought about the past, especially relationships, and think "what the heck was I thinking?"

I've had my fair share, and now that I'm with MG, who's pretty much the best thing since sliced bread (I may be biased, but I don't care), I can realize just HOW far I've come.
Here's the rundown of some of my exes:

The First Love

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He was the guy I dated in HS, and then off and on all the way through grad school. He was absolutely the nicest person you'd ever meet, honest, and an incredibly hard worker. I honestly have no bad things to say about him. He showed me what it was like to be treated well, was super sweet and kind, and helped me through a lot of transitions in my life. The only problem was that we didn't have that romantic chemistry. We were best friends, but there wasn't that SPARK.

The best things I got from this relationship was knowing the type of man and relationship that I wanted. And that I was too young to settle for something, when I knew it didn't feel right for the long run.

The Guy Not Over His Ex (aka the "separated guy")

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He was separated when we started dating, and assured me that he was over his ex (she had cheated on him), and that it was just a matter of waiting for the time that the divorce could be finalized --in Maryland you have to wait a year. Meanwhile, later in the relationship, he was seeing and talking to his ex without my knowledge. And on a trip to visit him and his family after Christmas, I found out he'd been out with another girl the night before. Fun times. (So much for learning from your heart-break and never doing that to someone else, right?)

Best thing I got out of this relationship was Cooper. And an understanding of how not to be needy.

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The LDR (aka "the cheater")

He was my Long Distance Relationship that I almost moved across country for. Almost. And thank goodness I didn't. He was also a liar and had at least 2 emotional "cheats" on me....still undetermined on the physical, but we'll go ahead and guess yes.

Also came from a family who would not accept me (and was pretty rude to me in general) because I wasn't Jewish. And one in which, apparently, all the males in the family had cheated on their significant others at some point.

Apple doesn't fall far from the tree, eh?

Best thing I got out of this relationship was to trust my gut and instincts the first time around.

The ~~emotionally unstable~~ Emotional Roller Coaster

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A friend set us up, soon after my breakup with The Cheater. He gave lots of attention in the beginning which was something I'd been missing in my last relationship. And then he turned into an emotional roller coaster. He told me he loved me in about a week's time (and got upset when I didn't say it back), and he got his feelings hurt or upset at the smallest of things, to the point where I never knew what I was going to say that was going to get to him. He also took more selfies than any male (or female, for that matter) ever should.

Best thing I got out of this relationship was an understanding of how people can get trapped in a cycle of drama. And how to stand up for myself and my needs.

Mr. Right

And then, who strolled into the picture, but MG.

The guy who never gives me a reason to wonder or doubt, despite the cheaters in my past. The guy who treats me like a girl should be treated, and gives me butterflies. He's the one who makes me try new things, gives me a shoulder to cry on and arms to wrap me in when things get tough, and he balances out my worry-wort tendencies with his laid back, easy going personality. He makes me laugh, even when I'm mad at him, but then also listens when I'm upset. I can take him anywhere and he effortlessly socializes and makes friends instantaneously. He brightens my day just by walking in the door from work, and makes me feel special with the little things that he does. He isn't perfect, but he's perfect for me. He's my best friend.

My mom always told me growing up that every relationship that I had was one that would bring me closer to the one I was supposed to be with. Looking back, I totally see it. There were a lot of things I had to learn in order to be able to have this wonderful man and this amazing relationship, and to truly appreciate it all. At the time, it was rough going through break-ups and having my heart broken, but in the end, it was totally worth it.

Weekend Highlights!

Boy did this weekend fly by in a blur!

You'll see why once I share my highlights from this weekend with you.

My highlights included:

-Reading on the deck after work on Friday since the weather was incredible

-Not really a highlight, but Cooper had an intense seizure on Friday early evening. It was the worst one he's ever had. Luckily he was fine after everything and back to himself quickly, but it was a scary moment for both of us.

-Drinks at our old condo with our friends

-Seeing a comedy show late Friday night with my friends from work and our significant others

-Laughing so hard my cheeks hurt

-Getting followed on Twitter by one of the comedians from the show the next morning

-Praying away the rain from the morning....

-My friend Bree's wedding: ceremony, group pic and a parade from the ceremony site to the reception which happened to be through a street fair that was going on (so cool!)

-Cocktail hour, signature drinks (yum!), Moroccan touches, table 6, reconnecting with old friends, and selfies!

-My hubby whispering the sweetest thing to me during the reception and making my heart melt (love him!)

-The cutest cake (and super yummy too), a surprise dance for the bride from the groom (so sweet!), and LOTS of dancing to an awesome band!

"Rockin and Mo-roccan" :)

P.S. wasn't she beautiful???

The small details that went into this wedding were incredibly beautiful. The reception had to be moved inside last minute because of the weather earlier in the day, but you'd never be able to tell! It was SO pretty--much prettier, tasteful and elegant than some weddings Ive been to that were planned to be inside all along!

-After-wedding drinks at Virtue with the bride and groom and a big group of friends

-Spending Sunday recuperating. Coop was a prime example of what a lot of Sunday looked like:

-Lunch at our favorite spot

-Couch naps

-Watching my Skins pull out a win with a 31 point spread!!!! Woooooo!!!!

-Early to bed

-My blog friend Christy got married this weekend on Saturday, too. She has a beautiful picture up on her blog today from her big day--go take a peek!

What were your highlights from the weekend?

Linking up with these ladies today:

Oh Hey Friday Favorites

Oh haaaaaaaay Friday! What's happening? Took you a bit to get here, didn't it?

Well, thank goodness you did, because this girl is ready for the weekend and some

Friday Faves!

{1} Favorite Friday Event

Tonight my girl friends from work, and our significant others, are all going to see a comedy show together. We've been busting our humps this school year, so it's been nice to have this to look forward to. We're meeting up beforehand at our old condo (where one of the couples now lives) for some pre-show drinks and apps. I'm super glad that I have these girls in my school life and "real" life as friends--they're the best!

{2} Favorite Feel-Good Story

In a world where there are some sucky people out there, especially ones who are supposed to be role models (*cough cough* Ray Rice *cough*), I love a good story about people who use their position to do good. JJ Watt from the Texans befriended a boy with Down Syndrome online, and the kids at the boy's school didn't believe him. So what did JJ Watt do? He made this video, to prove them wrong. Love!

{3} Favorite "Reward"

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Remember how earlier this week I said that MG and I decided not to spend any money this month on clothes or things for the house? Well, I found a nice way around that in the form of my cash back rewards from my credit card. Not only did I get a $100 gift card to Home Depot (for a new fancy thermostat that MG's been dying to get), and a $50 gift card to Kohls (you know I can spend that up in a hot second), but I still have $75 left in rewards that I can get. I love spending money without actually spending money (and I kind of love that spending money gives me money in the end, too)! We'll call this a #winwinwin

(P.S. how sad is it that MG's excited about a thermostat? Adult joys, I tell you...)

{4} Favorite Funny Pins

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{5} Favorite Weekend Event

BREE'S WEDDING!!! I'm SO excited for my friend--she's one of the nicest people I know, and I love her to pieces. I'm so glad that she's found the guy who makes her happy and I can't wait to celebrate their love. I love being there for my friends and I can't help but be happy for anyone who has found the one they want to be with! Cheers, Bree!!

#morrocanmemarried

Side note: Sending happy wedding day wishes to my blog buddy Christy this weekend since it's her wedding, too! I hope that everything goes smoothly and that you love the flowers ;)

I hope you have a snuggle-tastic weekend!

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9/11-Where Were You?

It's hard to believe that it was 13 years ago that 9/11 happened.

It was our generation's Pearl Harbor....they say you'll always remember where you were the day it happened.

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I was a freshman in college, in my dorm room getting ready for my English 101 class. I was talking on AIM with my mom and all of a sudden she said that someone had flown into the World Trade Centers. I turned on the news to see the second plane hit. And then the Pentagon.

The rest was a blur. I went to my class like I was supposed to and in our small class, we were all talking about what had happened. It was then that I heard about the plane in PA.

Our teacher came into the room, and we told her what had happened.

I think she thought we were joking or something because she carried on with class as usual (the next class we had, she addressed it with us).

I went to my next class, since things hadn't been shut down yet, which was sociology and at that point, the university had been closed. We sat in class, and my professor put the news up on the big screen in the lecture hall. My boyfriend at the time and I just sat there and watched in stunned silence.

After a while I went back to my dorm. You could see the smoke from the Pentagon from the top of my dorm building (I was in Maryland).

I remember going to a candle light vigil that night, on campus, and being shocked, stunned, in disbelief.

Our whole world had changed in a matter of minutes. Lives were lost. I had friends who had parents in the Pentagon, and other friends who had parents who worked in NYC.

I'm taking this moment today to remember all of the people who lost their lives in the events of that day.

And to salute all of the members of the fire, police and other rescue teams who risked their lives to save the lives of others.

I pray for the families who lost their loved ones that day.

We will never forget.

I Confess....

This week, I confess that.....

......I'm a little bit sad that Bachelor in Paradise is over. I really enjoyed it--a lot more than Bachelor and Bachelorette seasons lately.

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......I love proposals. Makes me all sappy :)

......I drove to work on Monday and as I got closer, I had a pit in my stomach

......I found an old bag of clothes in my closet at home that I'd meant to donate well over a year ago #oops

.....MG and I both agreed to not spend anything on ourselves (clothes etc) or the house for the next month to try and save a bit

......it's not easy.

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.....I haven't tried any new recipes in the kitchen lately, and I'm feeling like I need to soon

#Pinteresttotherescue

........I've been keeping a lot of people in my prayers this week

.....hearing one (or more) songs that you're loving at the moment on your drive into work can make the morning just that much brighter

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........an impromptu hour long phone convo with your bestie can cure the worst of days (love you, Genna!)

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....I can't look at the link-up at work because my work security has it filtered...because of the word "hump"

......I'm super excited for my friend Bree's wedding this weekend!!!

Happy Wednesday! :)

Sometimes/Always

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Sometimes.....I like to lay on the couch, in total silence, and read my Kindle.

Always.....if I'm laying down, I get sleepy (and might take a nap). Every. Single. Time.

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Sometimes....it feels like some friendships are overwhelmingly one-sided

Always....I have my best friends who call or text regularly to check on me, cheer me up, share random stories/funnies, or just to chat!

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Sometimes....I wish I didn't work in the school system. The pay stinks, the demands and parents can be more overwhelming each year, but...

Always....working with kids, seeing their smiling faces every day, watching them make progress, makes me think I could never leave this job.

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Sometimes.....I daydream about telling people how I REALLY feel about them.

Always....I take the 'higher road' and keep it to myself (but those daydreams sure do help lol)

Sometimes.....I get nervous thinking about the future

Always....I know that with MG, we'll be a-okay #lovethatman

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Sometimes.....people talk about me behind my back (and sometimes I find out about it)

Always....I remind myself that that person is just insecure with themself if they have to spend their time talking about me (especially when it's about things that have nothing to do with them)

Sometimes.....Cooper is a silly pup

Always....I love him to pieces

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Sometimes.....I get nervous doing new things.

(Almost) Always....it ends up being really fun and I'm glad that I did it.

Sometimes.....people make me roll my eyes at stupid things they say or do

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Always....I just laugh and "shake it off....shake it off" (yeah T Swift!)...or I text my best friends about it later haha

Sometimes..... I wish I could re-live my wedding and the fun events leading up to it.

Always.....I look back at the pictures and videos and revel at how lucky I am to have all of the amazing people who are in my life :)

Weekend Highlights

This weekend went by in a blur--I can't believe it's already Monday! Luckily this weekend gave me lots of fun stuff to get me through the Monday morning blues.

My weekend highlights included:

-Friday night 'dinner party' with our friends Mike and Wendy.

-MG made grilled pizzas (soooooo yum!)

-I made my feta dip (always a huge hit), and have determined that The Perfect Pita makes the absolute best hummus ever (and eating it with cucumber slices is perfect).

-Getting to put some wedding gifts to use:

-Our brother-in-law staying for the night, on his way to get their new puppy

-Saturday errands

-Cuddling on the couch with Coop

-getting in some good quality time with my Kindle

-Dinner out at Cava with our new friends who rented our house before we bought it

-Flaming cheese (if you've never had it, you need to!)

mmmm my mouth is watering just looking at it :)

-An encounter with 2 drunk guys, one of whom fell over in the middle of the street....twice. On his own.

-After dinner drinks at Circa

-Sleeping in on Sunday (and sleeping for 10 hours! I never do that!)

-The most perfect weather on Sunday

-Watching the first games of the season at a friend's birthday party/football get-together (too bad my Skins lost, but at least the Cowgirls did too!)