Day 3-Your first love

My first love...wow this one is hard...I guess I will start by going through the different phases of love in my life. I didn't really date in high school as much as I had crushes which I thought at the time was love, but turns out as I look back all is was was a crush. I didn't have my first real boyfriend til college which turned out to be a on and off 6 year relationship. I would say that we loved each other, and that relationship will always hold a special place in my heart because I grew up in the relationship, but looking back even though it taught me a lot of what it is like to be in a relationship, it wasn't real lasting love.

My second long term relationship I thought I was in love, but I realized after that I could never show all of myself to that person. There was always something that I was holding back. It was a relationship that I had in my mid-twenties that really taught me who I was as a person and what I wanted and expected out of a relationship. Hiding part of who you are to please another is never a good idea. One thing I learned it to love unconditionally, which my parents instilled in all three of us. But real love isn't just loving unconditionally, but is also having someone love you unconditionally back. I think I was just in love with the idea of being in love.

Which brings me to my one and only true everlasting love, my husband, Chris. I guess the saying third times a charm worked in my case...I just think that God saved the best for last. He is the one person in my life that I can just be me. I don't have to pretend I am something I'm not. I don't have to be afraid that if I tell him something or if I do something wrong he'll leave. He loves me unconditionally. Being in love is a choice that is made every day to love the other person. That's what unconditional love is. Being there no matter what and loving that person through everything. The following is something that I believe speaks to the relationship that Chris and I have...This is part of what was read at our wedding that defines not only our real love but also having that real love with God as the center...God will lead you into such situations that will bless you and develop your characters as you walk together. He will give you enough tears to keep you tender, enough hurts to keep you compassionate, enough of failure to keep your hands clenched tightly in His, and enough success to make you sure you walk with Him. May you never take each other's love for granted, but always experience that wonder that exclaims "Out of all this world you have chosen me." And that is what real love is to me. I have chosen Chris and he has chosen me, and I couldn't have ever asked for more...I love you, Chris.

Day 2-Meaning behind your blog name

Well my blog name has to deal with my nicknames...so without explaining those since that is day 20....here is my meaning... Am, Ams, Am Jam and AJ are my nicknames jamboree means a noisy celebration ...so Am's Jamboree seemed to fit since it combined all of my nicknames and since I love to celebrate and my friends, family and I are quite noisy :), that is how I came up with the title of my blog :)

Day 1-Introduce, recent picture, 15 interesting facts

Hi Yall! An introduction... ...my name is Amber! I am wife to Chris, daughter, sister, I have 5 besties that are all across the country, mom of a pomapoo Daisy, an avid sports fan and just a normal gal from Texas transplanted to South Carolina!

A recent picture...not sure if I have any but I am going to use this one that Chris took of me from my iphone at Disney. I love Disney, as does my family and it has been 3 decade long tradition that when the family goes to Disney we take a picture with the Indian on Main St. Seriously, I am not good at this stuff but hopefully you can bear with me as I muddle though this!

1. Chris and I met June 21, 2008 in Jamaica when I was at a friends destination wedding and he was on vacation. It was my last day there and his first, we had less than 24 hours together before I had to head back to the states. After that we dated long distance for 6 months before I moved to South Carolina, 2 months after that we got engaged (which is actually 2 years ago today). We got married June 21, 2010 in Jamaica exactly 2 years from the day we met there
2. I graduated from Baylor University in 2003 with a BBA in Marketing and decided in Jan of 2008 to quit my job in Waco and go back to school at the University of Texas in Arlington to get my MBA. When I moved out to South Carolina in 2009 I transferred to their online program and graduated in May 2010 with my MBA. THANK GOODNESS that is over!!!!!
3. I love to do list! I cant focus to get anything done if I don't have one. I love the feeling of accomplishment when I scratch it off. Plus if I don't write it down I won't remember. I know its awful but I hate forgetting things and I feel awful when I do!!!!
4. I am stealing this from my sister here but love Dr. Pepper. Please don't suggest I drink diet, I cant do it, it's gross and just not the same! I would rather go without it than drink diet.
5. I love sports! College football is my favorite but I miss going to college basketball and baseball games as well. But I also love my Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers. It was so much fun watching them in the World Series even though we lost it was an amazing experience for me after being a fan for so long!
6. Another that I am stealing from my sister is I am a terrible cleaner, I stink at it. I can keep the house straight and organized but when it comes to cleaning toilets, vacuuming, mopping and dusting I HATE and I mean HATE it!
7. I have recently started a new job at Aerotek and have been there for 2 months. I am so glad that after 3 years of being in school and not having a job to finally be contributing to society again doing something productive. Not that getting my MBA wasn't productive or important, but I just feel like I am doing something now especially since I help with putting unemployed people to work.
8. Tends to be that I have a lot in common with my sister so here is another that I am poaching but with my twist. I have 2 sisters...I'm the most sensitive one. Just ask anyone. I'm also the the quietest of the 3 of us, which most people that know me outside of my family wouldn't believe but when I am with them it is hard for me to get a word in edge wise. Robyn is my oldest sister who lives in TX and Heather is my middle sister who lives in NM. Way too far away for my liking, but we all do what we have to do.
9. I don't like to feel like I am not included. It is a major insecurity of mine, I know its bad but I feel like if I am not included its because I am not liked and as you will see in # 15 that's a major issue.
10. Chris and I just finished our first remodel project in our house, we bought our house in Sept 09 and there were just a couple things we wanted to change. So this year since we didn't have the wedding to save up for we chose to remodel our guest bath. Pictures to come...its not cleaned yet and we don't have the towels yet so I want to wait to post until it is perfect. It was a real team effort, Chris did most of the work having pulled the vanity, toilet and floor out, then tiled the entire thing, while I helped where I could by painting and picking out the new hardware, paint color and decorations. I am so proud of it, it makes me smile every time I see it. It's my favorite room in the house because it is the first room in our house that is Chris and I together, not just joining the stuff we already had.
11. I started couponing this weekend. Chris and I are looking for some extra ways to save money so after talking with some close friends that were doing it we decided to try it out. It was quite awesome, our first bill was 187, we ended up saving 89 and spent 98!
12. I love Texas country music! Or as Chris and others call it Red Dirt Country. It is my favorite music and I wish it was on the radio more here, since it's not AT ALL. Listening to it really helps me when I get homesick because it just takes me back!
13. I am very particular about my food...I am a very picky eater, but I eat my food in order to what I like the most...I eat my least favorite first and save the best for last, I guess I just like to have my favorite taste in my mouth when I am finished. I also would prefer to eat on plate that have separation like when you bought you food from the lunch room in school. I just don't like my food touching, I know that it all gets mixed up in my stomach but I really don't want my corn or corn juice mixing with my mashed potatoes!!!!
14. I am a perfectionist. I want things to be perfect and when things don't work out the way I want I get really bent out of shape. This also leads to me being organized and I don't like it when I can't find things! and I am really hard on myself if I make a mistake! In fact so hard that I don't have to have others mention it because it will just make me feel worst!
15. Lastly, I am a people pleaser...if you ask I will do everything in my power to do what I can to help. I want people to be happy and I do not want to be the cause of them not being. I don't like to hurt people's feeling and if I do I feel awful! I just want others to like me and to have a good time when they are around me and also to feel as though I really care about them because I do. I hate it if anyone is disappointed, mad at me, or doesn't like me. It just tears me up inside like I have failed somehow. Granted I know that I won't get along with everyone or that not everyone will like me but I would still like it it they did. Well not sure if this was entertaining to any of yall but I enjoyed it.

It was super hard for me to think of things and I hope I didn't steal too many things from my sister :) Well til tomorrow....OH and lastly, I love me some red wine!

30 days til 30...blogging challenge

So my 30th Birthday is on March 30 and I decided that I'm going to begin a 30 day blogging adventure! My Bestie and sister started it and finished it and I thought it was a great way to end my twenties. So I will be starting it tomorrow and post everyday until my bday.

I think it is a great way to get more consistent on my blogging because as all you know I am terrible at keeping up with blogging so here is the outline of my blogging challenge.

Day 1-Introduce, recent picture, 15 interesting facts

Day 2-Meaning behind your blog name

Day 3-Your first love

Day 4-Your parents

Day 5-Your favorite recipes

Day 6-A picture of something that makes you happy

Day 7-Favorite movies

Day 8-A place you've traveled to

Day 9-A picture of your friends

Day 10-Something you're afraid of

Day 11-Favorite TV shows

Day 12-What you believe

Day 13-Goals

Day 14-A picture you love

Day 15-Bible verse

Day 16-Dream house

Day 17-Something you're looking forward to

Day 18-Something you regret

Day 19-Something you miss

Day 20-Nicknames

Day 21-Picture of yourself

Day 22-What's in your makeup bag

Day 23-Favorite vacation

Day 24-Something you've learned

Day 25-Put your iPod on shuffle, first 10 songs

Day 26-Picture of your family

Day 27-Pets

Day 28-Something that stresses you out

Day 29-3 Wishes

Day 30-a picture

So here it to 30 days til my thirties! Let me know if you want to join my challenge!!!! OH and Keep me accountable!!!

Neglect...

Neglect...it is what I have done with my blog. And I am sorry. I keep thinking that I have to have something to talk about in order to blog, and the truth is that not much is going on in my life. I am still looking for a job and it sucks really bad! It's driving me crazy that's for sure and putting a strain on me so I am now doing a mixture of a couple of things. One, I am working at the cruise ship terminal checking people into the boat...please if you are going on a cruise anytime soon make sure you either have a passport or a real birth certificate not the one with the feet that the hospital gives you. It really makes me sad when we have to turn people away who don't have the right documentation! Second, I am working at The Limited, which sucks because it is retail, but I am trying to think of a positive about it so I get a great discount which is great...here is a strange thing, all the girls I work with there all have a college degree and started working there because they can't find an 8-5 job here...isn't that just wonderful (insert sarcastic tone of voice here)! I am going to start on Monday occasionally helping out some friends of ours here at their company and I am also babysitting Kate (the girl I use to nanny for) whenever they need me. None of these things are what I expected to do or want to do after I finished my masters but you do what you gotta do. I know that in the end God will provide the job that I am suppose to have I just need to wait for that time.

So that brings me to my next story which is the only exciting thing that has happened recently...Last week I was watching Kate while Ami went out on the town for a friends birthday. She said that she would be gone for a couple of hours that they were just going to dinner. This was at 8pm, so logically I am thinking somewhere between 10-11 she would be home. Bout 11 I started dozing on the couch, well at 11:20pm I wake up to a knock on the door...I assume it was Ami since it was pouring down rain and all I saw was the umbrella thinking it was her I opened the door...to my surprise it was a man in his late 30's asking to use the restroom because he was walking home and he lived around the corner...I'm sorry but not NO but H to E to the double L NO! He gave me his business card and tried to give me his wallet but I said sorry I am not comfortable and shut the door in his face. And then tried to relax enough to calm myself down he didn't necessarily scare me but the situation did. When Ami got home she called the cops because there had been some strange things going on in the neighborhood recently so that was that and she called the number on the business card. The next morning she got a call back from this guy who turned out to be the guys boss. Apparently he had been drinking but in my case it was still not cool and I have learned a couple of things...one, even if you are expecting someone to get to your house late at night make sure you check to make sure it is them and two I never want a door with glass that you can see through because if someone is at the door that you don't want to answer you can't do that very discreetly if they can see you and then it just becomes awkward.

OK, I will try not to neglect writing again but hopefully something will happen soon that I will actually be exciting to talk about. Hope everyone has a great evening!

Well, I'm a Mrs. Now!

So it's kinda sad that it has been almost 3 months since the last time I posted...but I warned you it could happen! The weeks before the wedding were crazy and quite stressful! In the month before the wedding I was in 10 different states! That was because mom dad and I drove back from TX and Chris and I drove to Ohio, but man oh man it was a lot of traveling and a lot of stress! Turns out U.S. indited drug dealers from Jamaica that cause 150 deaths or something like that on a small island doesn't help a soon-to-be-bride getting married there. Either way, alot went on, lots of hard decisions for Chris and I to make and it was not a fun situation and I really do not wish on anyone three weeks before their wedding, let alone any time in their life. I cried and cried and cried and it was not fun, but after decisions were made I put on my it's my wedding and I am going to do my best to make it the best I can face and went on with life, and now just try not to dwell on it too much or it makes me sad.

Now our wedding was fabulous I had lots of friends and family there and it all went by so fast that I really wish I could go back and just enjoy it a little more verses trying to just get everything done and taken care of but oh well, that's part of a brides job right! Well overall the wedding was just amazing and super special! I'll even put in some pics
Me and CPWhole Group

So, we left the RIU the day after the wedding to head to our honeymoon spot which was about 15 minutes down the road at the Couple San Souci...it was a great secluded hotel that was great for couples and we met a couple of great ones, but the downside was that it rained everyday of the last 5 days we were there and by the end we were done and ready to come home and get back to everyday life! I know insane but there is only so much to do when you are on an island and its raining and Chris and I are active people and we get bored! But overall we had a great wedding and honeymoon so what more could you ask for.

Well after the HM we got back to CHS and both had to get back to work, luckily my work week was only a 3 day week and I got to get some stuff done around the house! That weekend was the 4th so CPs family was in from CLT and Tampa so we got some more family time with them which was definitely great times! The week after the 4th I found out that I only had 2 more weeks left working with Kate which was definitely bittersweet, mainly because I didn't have a job lined up since things got so crazy before the wedding I didn't have as much time to look for jobs as I would have liked and so here it is 3 weeks after that and I am offically unemployed, not something I like to be but I am looking and trying to keep up with this house wife stuff! We had a garage sale last weekend which was my first ever to be hosted on my own, I have no desire to do it again for a while but we did get rid of some stuff so that was nice. Now for the second week in a row I am working on cooking dinner every night which is a feat within its self considering I hate to cook but we have definitely become the boring married couple! Hopefully I wont wait as long to post next time and it will be with good news of getting a job! Well I will see yall soon! TTFN!
aj

6 weeks and counting

WOW so its been a while! So much has happened I will try to start from where I left off...Sweet Sixteen, well we won our sweet sixteen game but lost in the elite eight to DOOK...SO SO SAD it was really hard for the entire family but I am over it now, it was nice revenge that a day later our lady bears beat the lady blue devils to make it to the final four! Which just so happened to be the day before my birthday! It was sad that we lost but I look at the positive and at least when both of our BU basketball teams lost it was to this years National Championship Team! Good Job Bears! I am proud to be a Baylor Bear! Sic'em!!!!

My birthday was great CP and I didn't do too much he just took me to a really awesome restaurant downtown and it was really good! And he got me clothes for my birthday and did a great job! A girl can always use some clothes! That following weekend was Easter and I headed to TX to see my family for my bridal shower and bachelorette party! It was lots of fun got lots of great stuff! Unfortunately, spring in TX did not like me and I came home sick!!!

The past couple weeks nothing too big has been going on just trying to workout and lose more weight which I haven't done until this week!!!! I was on a platueau for 6 weeks! not good when your wedding is coming up and you are working out 5 days a week and only eating 1200 calories!!!! BOOO TO that!!!! I can not wait til Jamaica when I can eat whatever I want!!!! I think I am just sick and tired of dieting, it sucks! Too much detail work for me involved in counting calories! But I will keep up the working out after the wedding I have worked too hard to gain back the 17 lbs I have lost! I only need bout 8 more and I will be a happy girl for the wedding so we will see if I can do that.

CP and I have started playing tennis, we haven't played a game yet but it is great quality time that we get to spend together not in front of a TV!!! And it's even more fun to play with other people! Thanks Amy and Kaz for introducing me to it! (CP already knew how to play but I hadn't ever picked up a racket, and if I have to say so myself I am doing much better!)

This weekend we are going with Amy and Kaz to Pawley's Island. It's about 2 hours north of us and close to Myrtle Beach. We are not going to do too much maybe play tennis go, to the beach/pool, play cards and hang out! It will be nice to kick off the crazy season that is called my wedding!

Monday will be 6 weeks til the wedding and I am headed to TX so mom and I can get some last minute stuff done, then her, dad and I are driving back and they will be here a week. Then memorial day weekend CP and I will head to Cincinnati for a shower up there that CP's mom is throwing us, then to Charlotte the following week for his brothers HS graduation and then finally its the weekend before the wedding and we will be here, hopefully not stressing too bad and then off to Jamaica for the wedding! Its gonna be INSANE!!!!! So if I don't get on here much you will know why! Anyways so this is what's going on in my life...Hope everyone else is having a grand ole time!

And OMG I almost forgot the most important part that has happened so far!!!! As of Sunday I offically have an MBA!!!!!! NO MORE SCHOOL FOR ME EVER!!!!!!!WHOOOPPEEEEE DOOO DAAAA DDDDAAAYYYYYY!!!!!! ( I just annoyed my bff for using more than one letter in my words sorry age, but had to show exactly how excited I am about that!!!! hehe!!!!

aj