Enjoying the Little Things

There are so many updates and posts that I should fill my writing time for the day, posts that would make up for lack of posting over the last couple of weeks: wedding updates, job descriptions, too many freakishly trippy dreams to count, and even a scary story to throw in with the bunch. However, for right now, I want to stop and reflect on a little moment that happened not too long ago. When I think about this moment, I still smile and occasionally scare the unsuspecting passers-by on the sidewalk with a crazed outburst of laughter.

This is Why I am Marrying This Man

It had been a very boring day for me. I had the day off and nothing to do with my free time. Chance had been at work all day, and I was spending the day over at the apartment, trying to unpack some of the things that I wouldn't need over the next three months as I travel back and forth between my parent's place and work. I wasn't necessarily committed to this task because when Chance finally came home, he opened the door to about the same amount of unpacked boxes in the middle of the floor that had existed when he had left. Without saying anything about my lack of progress, he sat down on the couch and watched a couple episodes of Gilmore Girls with me. I was on Season 2 in my circulation of the show, so in the episode, Max Medina (for those of you who actually watch GG) is visiting Lorelai and Rory in Stars Hollow. In one scene, he surprises the girls with Ring Pops before they go into the movie. As soon as this happened on the show, Chance jumped off the couch and exclaimed--yes, he exclaimed-- "Oh YA, I have you a surprise!" Wondering what he could have possibly found for me as he was working at the job site (a fraternity house at GA Tech) all day long, I watched him search his bags. He ran back over to the couch with a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavored Beans! Does he know me, or does he know me? 

I was so excited that I opened them to share! I know what you are thinking: "You share? Right." Seriously, this just shows how elated I was over his surprise. Right before I picked out a flavor I wasn't scared of, Chance suggested a game. I'd pick out a candy for him to eat, one that he couldn't say no to and one I couldn't intentionally choose for the flavor, and then he would do the same for me. 

On the first taste, Chance ate a hot pink Candy floss (cotton candy) flavored bean. 

On mine? After plopping the cinnamon colored candy in my mouth, I imagine I had a very distraught and disgusted look on my face because Chance smiled and asked if it was that bad. After my response of "It tastes like dirt," he looked at the flavor key and lost it, and I mean lost it. It had been a serious minute since I had heard Chance laugh that hard. After coughing and spluttering through his laughing fit, he announced that I had eaten Earthworm.

At this point, I was determined to make sure he ate something gross. Alas, his next selection was Watermelon.

Don't worry, this turn was followed by my eating a Rotten Egg flavored bean. 

After lamenting on my rotten luck (See what I did there?), I started reading the variety of flavors on the back of the box out loud. I came across Soap, and Chance vehemently promised that he would be done with the game if that one was chosen for him. WHELP. On his next turn, a light blueish/white bean proved to be his downfall. He spit and cursed and gagged a bit as I doubled over laughing so hard that I couldn't breathe. As soon as I grabbed the candy out of the box, I knew it had been Soap. After his William Shatner-worthy overacting, he forced me to eat one more so that we each had 3 though, and wouldn't you know it? He sure "picked real good." My final selection? A Booger flavored bean was enough to make Chance crack up again and me almost gag. 

I really can't tell you the last time we had laughed that hard. As gross and odd as our little game was, I wouldn't have traded that moment for anything. 7 years later and he can still always make me smile (Even with a mouthful of Earthworm flavored candy in my mouth). 

He is such a gift, and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with someone who knows the value of surprising me with nasty-flavored, Harry Potter-themed candy. 

That, ladies and gents, defines my Prince Charming. 

Trying to Catch My Breath

Life seems to be stuck in fast forward at the moment, and I look around and know that I'm certainly not the only one who can't seem to turn my brain off at night. For the past couple of weeks, I've been finding small, trifling things to complain about. Wedding planning catching up with me? I pout about it. Falling behind on my Italian project? Dwell on the fact that I have officially procrastinated for 2 full semesters. School graduation and deadlines tapping me on the shoulder to remind me of their existence every 5 seconds? Run and hide under the covers and complain some more.
This seemed to be my recurring pattern, with a couple of hiccups like my computer breaking, until yesterday. It was so difficult to get out of bed, and I seriously contemplated covering my head under the pillow and pretending that I never heard my alarm. I assume everyone else was in the same boat as I was because we were incredibly slow at the Writing Center. Around lunchtime, I went on my break, and I picked up my silenced phone to check messages. A text from Chance flashed across the screen showing only the words "I was in an accident..." Of course, my phone screen cut the message off right before the phrase "I'm okay." My stomach dropped before I could see the text in full, and even after I was able to read it, I was incredibly anxious until I could get him on the phone.
He was, as he said, okay. I picked him up at the Movie Stop off Barrett Pkwy. Apparently, he had been stopped at a light right before the on ramp to 575 on his way to work. A work truck rear ended him, owing to faulty breaks. His bike rack went right on through the back panel of his car.

Poor Lil' Toaster

We went straight to Kennestone just to be safe because his back and sternum were already sore. I may or may not have pestered him to go and make sure everything was where it should be. After a temporary stint in the ER waiting room, an X-Ray, and one game of I-Spy later, we were headed to fulfill his prescriptions and then have dinner with my parents for my dad's birthday. (It was dinner and a floor show once Chance had taken some of his pain meds and muscle relaxers!)

All of this to say, I am so thankful for my life: for my fiancé, my family, my friends, my education, and all of my opportunities that are pushing me toward my future career. Unfortunately, it took a very horrible experience to jar my mind and help me remember, warning: cheesy line ahead, what is truly important.

Caramel Apples, New "Digs," and Taking a Knee: Our Proposal

He liked it and put a Ring on It

I interrupt my usual program (aka my planning process lessons) for Story Time! Chance is back at Georgia Tech and is still working part-time at a contracting firm, and I am taking 15 hours of classes/16.5 hours of work all crammed into 3 days of the week. Luckily, my saving grace of a weekend gives me plenty of time to amend my procrastinating ways and to plan (or rather Pin) for the wedding. Despite all of the crazy, I still like to stop and reflect on the fact that we are engaged. Can I just reiterate that fact? Chance and I are engaged, and here is our story.

Our Meet-Cute

High School Sweethearts

Chance and I have gone to school together since the 5th grade. We didn't really meet, however, until my best friend and Chance's neighbor, Jocelyn, introduced the two of us outside of the car-riders' line. Little did I know that the baby-faced football player wearing a Saw shirt and long, blonde hair would be my future somebody. Chance later asked for my number by me locker. After a couple of weeks of talking on the phone, in between classes, and at other school's football games, we started "going out" just after Chance's 16th birthday. 

Chance claims he doesn't remember this, but I distinctly recall turning him down when he asked me to go to Six Flags with a group to celebrate his birthday. He asked me to go, and I promised to check and see if I could. After a considerable amount of thought, I made up a lame and most likely transparent (to anyone other than a teenage boy) excuse about not being able to make it. Reason being? I was terrified of getting on the Monster Plantation Ride with the heavy and dreaded expectation that I might have to kiss him before the light at the end of the monster-filled tunnel of love. Does Six Flags even realize the kind of pressure they are putting on young, slightly prude minds?! In all seriousness though, my 15-year-old brain just wasn't ready to kiss a boy I hadn't even agreed to date yet.


Photo Credit


Our first "date" could be, and has been, considered an afternoon trip to Waffle House. That's right, Waffle House. My mom was greatly concerned with allowing me to ride in the "hooligan's" newly attained Firebird (not to be confused with a new car because that thing was falling apart), but she finally agreed to a short ride to whatever eatery was closest, ergo Waffle House off hwy 20. Chance picked Mallory up from an after-school practice of the play High School Musical, presented me with a Butterfinger candy bar, and opened my car door. From then on, we dated throughout our high school career.


After a brief break and time to experience our freshman year of college, we met to catch up after months of not seeing or speaking to each other. Where did we meet? You guessed it: the Waffle House on hwy 20. We have been together through the thick and thin, loving every second of what the present holds and looking forward to what the future has in store.

I Said "Duh"

A Good Ol' Fashion Announcement: I'm Gettin' Hitched!

Talk about being thrown into a world of change. My boyfriend of 6 1/2 years proposed on November 2, 2012 of this year (story to come). I’ve heard it through the grapevine that planning a wedding it quite a lot of work (not to mention $$), so here are the goings-on of my planning process. I will be a DIY bride, planning the wedding, balancing my degree and work, and most importantly, prioritizing the relationship between myself and my future husband.