Roses: Sincere Love & Passion.

I used to hate flowers. I know, I know... how does any girl hate flowers? But when you never received them, what's there to like about them? Of course they're beautiful, but when you see other girls receiving flowers, and you're left with nothing... it causes you to see flowers as something negative and associate it with pain. That is, until, I had the kind of boyfriend that did buy flowers... Sal gave me 6 dozen on our first Valentine's Day together to be exact. I still wasn't too big of a fan of flowers at that time, but they were a big deal to me. They meant something more... so I ended up preserving 1 from each dozen [flip the flowers upside down, tie together with string or ribbon, and spray with hair spray] and while the colors have faded, the flowers have stayed together and I'll have them forever.

During the first few years we were together he would give me flowers for all sorts of occasions, from anniversaries, birthdays, and celebrations. It was sweet really, but he started to realize that I couldn't take care of the flowers and they would be dead within hours. I must not have a green thumb, although the bamboo plant I have IS still alive [do those just last forever? ha]. Anyways, after awhile he didn't buy me flowers for much of anything, and to be honest, I didn't mind it. Until that nagging feeling came back, that feeling when you look around and see everyone else has what you want, especially from your boyfriend. Instead of giving me real flowers on my graduation, he bought me a two cartons of ice cream and two boxes of snow caps, as well as two huge fake roses, and then again on our anniversary [aside from our trip to Niagara Falls] he brought me a carton of my favorite ice cream ... now I love ice cream and all, and he knows that, but there are just some days when a girl needs flowers, am I right?

Roses, red roses specifically, represent Sincere Love & Respect, Courage & Passion - what girl doesn't want red roses from the man she loves? 

I talked with Sal about this, and he hadn't thought that I even wanted them anymore, and thought ice cream would make me much happier [which it did for the few minutes it took for me to devour it]! In all honesty, I wasn't mad or upset about not receiving flowers, it's nicer to be surprised with them, instead of knowing that an important date is coming up and expecting them.

On Valentine's Day, I was in court for jury duty, as well as the days after, and I also had work, so I wasn't home for most of the week during the day, and Sal also had work, so we knew we weren't going to see each other. Thankfully we were able to go to dinner during the weekend, and I wasn't expecting anything else because he honestly shows me his love each and every day of the year. And then a knock came at the door, and I had in my hands 1/2 dozen red roses in a vase wrapped with a red bow, and they could not have been any more beautiful than they were - such vibrant shades of red, it was hard to look away. You could see instantly why they represent sincere love and passion. 

Flowers, especially red roses, are always wanted, not always needed, but definitely loved when surprised. 

Just Because

Did you ever receive a text that just made you smile? I get those quite often, but then there are the texts that make your heart beat fast, those texts that make you nervous?! I still get those 5 years later from Sal. Two weeks ago, Sal texted me asking me if I'd like to go to dinner with him, just because. I, of course, said yes! I was super excited and to be quite honest, nervous. Can you imagine, nervous to go to dinner with my boyfriend of 5 years!? He must be doing something right, ha! We're always up for trying new places, and lately Sal wants to surprise me all of the time, so he told me to dress casual, but nice. After much debate about what to wear (I swear this happens every time Sal wants to take me out), I pulled together the perfect outfit, and got a few compliments during the night.

He took me to Sevilla, a local restaurant that specializes in Spanish cuisine, and I won't lie, I was a little hesitant when we first walked in. Not only was it dead for a 6:00pm on a Sunday, but the people that were occupying the tables were much, much older than the two of us. The wait staff barely talked to us, which annoyed me to no end, well that was until we received a pitcher of sangria and escarole soup, both exceptional. The sangria was free, but it was the best sangria I've ever had, hands down. The soup... the soup was out of this world, even though Sal and I were a little nervous to try it, being that we've never had escarole, but we were not disappointed. I ended up enjoying the fact that the wait staff let us have time to ourselves... talking, figuring out what we wanted to eat, and just enjoying the food. For appetizer, we ordered mussels, which has become my favorite, and has always been Sal's favorite. For dinner, I ended up ordering the flounder stuffed with shrimp and crab meat and Sal ordered the paella. My dish arrived with rice and veggies on the side, and Sal also had veggies. The dinner was delicious and the portions were huge! We ended up taking half, if not more, of our meals home. That didn't mean we weren't able to try the dessert though! I was going to try the cheesecake, since I'm a cheesecake fan, but when Sal ordered the orange sorbet, mine didn't seem too appetizing, especially when they both came out of the kitchen. Instead of eating the cheesecake and disappointing myself, we wrapped it up for his dad to eat later, and we shared the orange sorbet, and it was a perfect light cleanse of the palate for after dinner.

We held hands in between courses, and after we were finished. Even though friends of mine have made fun of people that do that, and couldn't believe that Sal and I are "one of those couples," I actually love it. It makes me feel connected to Sal, even when we're sitting across the table from one another. I guess that's something you learn when you grow up... ignore what others think about you. You're not living your life for them, you're living it for you. Afterwards, it took us 20 minutes to snap a picture of ourselves together, since I not only love documenting every thing, but I need it to be perfect too. You'd think Sal would understand this after 5 years, but no... and I don't think he ever will, which is fine with me as long as he smiles in the pictures! (ha!)

It's funny, at the end of the night no matter who pays, we always say thank you to the other person. Just because he's my boyfriend, and just because I'm his girlfriend doesn't mean that we need to buy each other dinner every weekend. It's still something that's appreciated and I love that we let the other person know that every time. And we always, always end the night with a kiss.

Steak 'n Shake

Whenever I would visit my family in Florida, I would make sure that I stopped at Steak 'n Shake while I was down there because unfortunately, there were none in or near New Jersey. I would always get the same thing while I was there - the steak burger, fries, and a cookie dough shake. Anyone that knows me, knows that I am obsessed with all things cookie dough - ice cream, cookie batter, shakes... everything. The steak burgers are cooked perfectly, the fries are thin and crispy, and the cookie dough shakes are to die for.

Maybe it was a good thing that the only way I could eat a burger and fries was if I was headed to Florida, that way I wasn't tempted to eat it all of the time. Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on the way you look at it, they built a Steak 'n Shake in NYC, and while I tried to plan many trips out there, I was never able to go. It wasn't until months later that I found out that they had put a Steak 'n Shake in a nearby mall in NJ! I was psyched, okay maybe psyched isn't the best word... I was beyond psyched, just ask my boyfriend. I immediately told him we needed to go, and eventually we did! I was so excited, but so nervous that it wouldn't taste just as good as I had remembered it in Florida. We ordered, sat down, and when we took our first bite it didn't taste the same... it tasted better! The shake had to be my favorite part by far.

Now I don't eat burgers and fries all that often because I'm usually eating lean, clean, and green, and a burger with fries and a shake definitely isn't great for you, but everything is okay in moderation! Sal and I sat there and savored our meals, and then afterwards we walked around the mall. It was great being able to spend time with him, enjoy a meal and then 'workout' without even realizing it, afterwards. It would have been worse if we ate and then went home and laid around. I'd consider our night successful, and I haven't been tempted to go back there in the weeks that followed, but writing this post makes me want to go back, at least for the shake!

While I don't recommend eating at fast food restaurants, I do recommend at least trying Steak 'n Shake if there's one in your area. Just don't let it become a daily or weekly occurrence. Remember - everything in moderation.

Niagara Falls {Part 2}

You can read Part 1 here.

After a well rested night, we decided to wake up and head down to the buffet breakfast. We fueled up on healthy food, before heading to the room to change into workout clothes. Yes, we decided to workout on vacation. When Sal and I go away, we always try and make sure we're always physically moving, whether it's swimming with sharks in Dominican Republic or biking a 10 mile path in Vermont. We enjoy working out together, and it's something that we don't get to do too often when we're home because of our work schedules. I was able to get in a 5K on the treadmill, and an ab workout. We were sweating by the end of our hour workout, and ready to shower and start our day.

Today would be our day. We hopped in the truck and started our drive to the wine tasting that we had scheduled. Sal and I have become those people, yes you know what I'm talking about, the adults that attend wine tasting, and sip wine with other wine lovers. I have to admit though, I love it. On our drive there we admired the botanical gardens and the beautiful bodies of water, as well as a few large vineyards. Pellar Estates, though, was probably the most modern and gorgeous looking estates, even in the negative degree weather.

While we waited for our tour and tasting to start, we walked around admired the architecture of the building and met individuals that came from near (other cities in Canada) and far (Italy)! When the tour started, the guide tried to save us as much time outside as she could, but we did eventually go outside to see the vineyards, which was pretty awesome if you ask me, considering at our Vermont tasting, we didn't see where they grew the grapes. Afterwards, we went into their basement where they stored the wine, and enjoyed a fine tasting, where the guide showed us how to drink three different wines to really enjoy the taste of it. It was interesting to listen to all the different ways to make it taste better, and by the end of it Sal and I had purchased a bottle that we will hopefully be drinking soon! I think I could've bought more than one bottle though, that's how much I enjoy wine! We also grabbed two souvenir 'glasses' to add to our collection.

On our way back to the area we were able to snap a picture of a beautiful view overlooking the river. 

Then we were off to see Niagara Falls up close and personal, but not before we paid for parking once again! We quickly went inside the building though to take a look at all the shops and the view from the inside. While we were inside we found out that although the Maiden of the Mist doesn't run in the winter, we could still go Behind the Falls! We essentially went underground, and behind the falls, where it was even colder that it was outside next to the falls, if you could imagine. 

I think this might've been my favorite part of the trip though, being able to take pictures this close to the falls... together. It was romantic, and I might've mentioned, several times, that it'd be the perfect spot to pop the question. Sal just laughed... guess he has bigger plans up his sleeve! 

When we had enough of the freezing cold, we headed back up to see Niagara Falls in all its cold, cold glory. I wasn't kidding when I said it was cold, the mist from Niagara Falls turns everything to ice. While it makes for a beautiful picture, it also makes for two frozen individuals. 

Afterwards, we headed to Tim Horton's to grab a quick bite to eat - soup and a panini - because it was the only place, it seemed, that we could park without paying a dime! We didn't realize until later that supposedly Tim Horton's is a big deal. On our way back to our hotel room, we stopped and booked reservations for dinner at the hotel restaurant. We relaxed a bit after an exhausting day, looking out at Niagara Falls from our view, that we might've preferred over being up close to it. We faced the small couch towards the window, and just sat there for what seemed like a long time, but in reality was probably only a couple of minutes, and just enjoyed each other's company, not speaking. It really stands out in my mind as a really intimate moment during our trip - looking out at this great wonder, together.

We began getting ready for dinner, and headed down to enjoy what was probably the best food we had eaten in Canada. While I enjoyed a shrimp dish with rice and veggies, recommended by our waiter, Sal enjoyed the steak, of course, with fries and veggies. It was incredibly delicious, and I even had room left to enjoy a taste of Canada's chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream, which I'm sorry to admit, isn't as good as the ice cream here in the U.S. 

The design of the restaurant only made the night that much better - it was spectacular, and yet calming and inviting. 

When we were done, we decided to head on outside and look at all the lights that they had up, from Disney characters to Christmas and Hanukkah characters, and while I snapped more than one picture of the lights, I thought this one was the best. It changed from the American flag to the Canadian flag. 

When we had finally seen all of the lights, we went back to our hotel room, with plans of popping open our wine, but I guess our minds had other ideas, because we ended up in bed, fast asleep... well at least I did. On our last morning there, we went down for our buffet breakfast, and then started packing up our room, but not before I snuck in one or two more pictures of Niagara Falls, because I clearly didn't take enough pictures! At more than one point during our trip, it started snowing, but the snow there was like rain in Florida, it would go on for about 5 minutes, and then it would stop and it'd be as if it never snowed, or rained. What amazed me was the fact that one minute it'd be snowing and you couldn't see anything, even if you tried... like the falls had disappeared all together, and then the next minute you could see the falls, and they seemed even more beautiful than the last time you saw them. 

We've been told that we went during off season, and it's better when you go in the summer, however, I'm not quite sure I'd go back to Canada, and I think Sal would agree with me. It was a wonderful experience, and we now have many, many more memories, but I think one trip to Canada is enough for me. 

Niagara Falls {Part 1}

For our 5 year anniversary, Sal planned a trip for us. I received an amazing booklet, that he had made with all of the information and where we would be headed on Christmas Eve. We were headed to Niagara Falls in January! We didn't realize that it was going to be as cold as it was, but we were smart enough to pack warm clothes, and when I say warm, I'm talking about long johns, winter jackets, and hats, gloves, and scarves! The morning that we were set to leave, Sal received an upsetting phone call... his grandma had took a turn for the worst the night prior, and had passed away that morning. I was running late... I was supposed to pick him up at 7:30am, but hadn't gotten there until 7:45/8:00am, so fortunately for him he was able to be with his family when the phone rang. I'm thankful I was able to give him that time with his family, before we were together on a mini-vacation for three days.

We started driving, and before we knew it we were driving through Pennsylvania and New York. That was when we decided to stop for breakfast, not only because we were starving, but also because the wind was so strong that my truck was literally swerving on the highway. It was dangerous and had caused us to lose time and gas. So we thought it was better to stop and fill ourselves with breakfast! We ate breakfast at Perkin's, and luckily enough for me they had a few healthy options! We were back on the road before we knew it. When Sal and I drive short distances or get stuck in traffic, I'm not the most pleasant person to be stuck in a car with... I don't know what it is, but I just get anxious and annoyed, but on long trips in the car or truck with Sal, it's not so bad. We think of ways to pass the time - whether it's blasting our favorite country songs or talking to each other about anything and everything. Before we knew it we were crossing into Canada, somewhere we have both never been before. While we've been out of the country before, we haven't driven out of the country, so it was interesting to see how customs worked - they ask you a ton of questions and check your passports before they let you through.

We arrived at our hotel and began checking in, but not before the wind almost took off my truck door! It now makes a pretty loud noise whenever you open it... thanks Sal! When we got to our room, I was in awe at our view of Niagara Falls... it was beautiful, incredible, spectacular... all of the above. I'd never seen something so naturally beautiful in my life. We decided that we'd see it up close the following day, since it was already past lunch time. After we threw our stuff in the room, we headed downstairs to Starbucks, for me, and the bar for him. I have to admit though, the Starbucks was completely overpriced... $5 for a small tazo chai tea latte, that would've cost me under $3 in the U.S!? Insane. Sal enjoyed his Canadian beer, almost as much as I enjoyed paying $5 for tea!

Afterwards, we relaxed a little and planned out our vacation, before heading out to dinner. Sal wanted to try Planet Hollywood, because he had never been to the one in NYC and he is a big time movie genius. Ask him any question about any movie and I promise you he will know it, even if all you do is quote a line directly from it. We drove down the street, to what looked like Atlantic City... I kid you not, the lights were insane, and it was way too commercial for my liking. There were restaurants, casinos, bars, and arcades everywhere. It was disappointing to say the least - why take something so beautiful and natural like Niagara Falls and throw a bunch of money-making buildings and advertisements right down the street, but I guess that's just it, it's a tourist location, where they know they can make money. What was even worse about this though was the parking... we searched for twenty minutes to find parking under $20! Can you believe that, during off-season they charge you $20 to park to go into a restaurant to eat. Eventually we found parking for $12, what a steal, right? But when we got to Planet Hollywood, no one seated us... we looked around and there were maybe ten tables filled, with no one eating. We asked the man that seemed to be the only one working there, and he told us it was at least a thirty minute wait, because only two people were working.






We quickly left, disappointed, and headed to the Hard Rock cafe, which was right down the street. It was alright, aside from the Sangria. We just couldn't wait to go back to the hotel and hope that our second day in Canada would be better.

Gingerbread Houses & Christmas Lights

Another yearly tradition that Sal and I have been doing these past five years is making gingerbread houses when Christmas approaches. While our houses had come out less than perfect in the past - okay they fell apart and were unworthy of any gingerbread house contest, this year, we tried making it differently. Instead of putting it together first and then decorating, we decorated first and then put the pieces together. Don't follow the directions on the box - it's like they want you to fail! We split the pieces up and worked on it together, asking each other how things looked and laughing when we couldn't get the chimney on. So while our house looked great, the chimney may have ended up halfway down the roof. I have to admit though, this has been our best house - so far!

We also love to grab a cup of hot chocolate and drive around looking at Christmas lights. The amount of lights we see, however, has drastically declined. I'm not sure if families are trying to save money by not putting Christmas lights up, or if they're just not in the spirit, but the towns that we thought for sure would have them up, were dark and deserted. Luckily enough for us I came up with an idea the week before - come up with a playlist of 10 songs that reminded us of one another. Sal thought it'd be perfect to share our playlists with each other during the ride, and that's exactly what we did. So instead of being annoyed at how many lights there weren't, we held hands and smiled at each other, while we listened to our playlists. It was fun trying to guess how many of the same songs we had on our playlists, and it was interesting to listen to the lyrics and really understand why we chose each song. Gingerbread houses, Christmas lights, and romantic playlists - Talk about a perfect night?!

Homemade Dinner Date

Whenever Sal wants to make dinner for me, I always let him, because let's face it, he's an amazing cook. He doesn't cook just anything either - think big - chicken francese, filet mignon, and mussels to name a few of his go-to dishes. He had ideas the other night, and I let him go with it, especially when he mentioned chicken francese, except I told him not pasta - I don't eat heavy dinners anymore because I hate going to bed with that full feeling. He gathered the ingredients and came over my house to start the meal. While he was cooking, I enjoyed watching. I mean there are few things sexier than when a guy is cooking dinner for you.

I set up a small salad for the two of us as he cooked mussels for an appetizer and chicken francese. He is perfect at timing while cooking, something I certainly have to work on, and everything was cooked perfectly. The mussels were done, so we sat down with a bottle of sangria and dug in. Now I wasn't always a fan of mussels because they not only look weird, but I figured they tasted funny too, until I tried mussels that Sal made for me one night, and since then I've been hooked! I didn't think we were going to finish all of them, but I guess we were hungry because there was nothing left but the shells!

We were then ready for the chicken francese, and Sal presented the dish quite well, I'm not going to lie. Taste is important, but presentation makes it that much more delicious. 

Along with the chicken, we had a small caesar salad and warm bread. I can't even begin to describe to you how amazing dinner was. Sal is such an amazing cook, I secretly want to enter him into a competition on the food network channel, like Chopped. If you see him on there one day, you'll know it was my doing! 

Afterwards, we washed the dishes, and we headed to the coach to watch the football games with our new jerseys on - yes, I wear a Packer's jersey sometimes. I figured the least I could do was watch some football with the man who had cooked such an incredible dinner. I wasn't even full after, it was a perfect amount of food and it was light, having just a side salad. I baked some cookies, and we enjoyed them, as well as strawberries that he had bought. The combination was extremely tasty! 

It's always nice to have relaxing nights in, instead of going out and ordering at a restaurant. 

When you can find a sweet man that can cook, you've got a keeper! 

I used to be...

I used to be jealous of all the happy couples I saw when I was out with Sal. Not to say that we weren't happy and in love, but we weren't always as affectionate as others in public. My friends would tell me that we looked as if we were best friends, instead of boyfriend and girlfriend.

Now here we are 5 years later... Sal and I are still together, meanwhile all of these couples that I was jealous of at one point or another, have broken up.

I laugh now... Why had I even been jealous? It was as if they were trying to fool everyone, along with themselves that everything was fine and that they were some happy couple, when clearly, behind closed doors, they were not.

Sal and I don't have to be affectionate in public, at least not to show each other or anyone else how much we love each other, because if anyone took a glimpse at us, they'd notice the little, subtle looks when we glance at each other, the small smiles, and laughs. Because after 5 years, sometimes we can talk to each other without even uttering a word. It's magical, really.

Our relationship works for us. This is not to say that all couples can act like best friends above everything else, and it's not to say that some couples that display public affection aren't happy... because I'm sure some couples are.

It's to say that there is no reason to compare one relationship to the next... to think that one relationship is better or that one couple is happier than the next, because everyone's definition of happy and definition of a relationship varies.

If you were to ask those couples if they thought that Sal and I were going to still be together in 5 years, I'm sure most of them would have said no. Sal and I are both extremely stubborn and strong-minded individuals, and while we both love each other with everything we have, we also argue often because we may not agree about everything. Many have probably been there for an argument or two, but at the end of the day, those arguments didn't matter, they didn't mean anything. We were, and still are, best friends above all else, above being boyfriend and girlfriend, and I wouldn't trade that for anything in the world. I think that's what made this relationship last as long as it has. We're there for each other 24/7, we are open and honest about our feelings and have great communication, and we love each other unconditionally.

Don't be jealous. Don't compare. Just know that love is love and it doesn't have to be paraded around or shown off like a trophy, because if it's real, true love... people will just know. The love Sal and I share was never forced, it just happened.

Happy 5 Year Anniversary - I love you Salvatore Michael, forever and always. Thank you for making these last 5 years, this last half of a decade so incredible and memorable. I don't know what I would have done without you. I can't wait for these next 5 years to see what's in store for us.

12.17.07

It's going to be LEGEND... wait for it

... DARY!

This year, there were no surprises for Sal on his birthday like there were last year. He didn't mind though, because he had some plans of his own. He's been obsessed with How I Met Your Mother for the past few months and wanted to make his 23rd birthday LEGEND... wait for it ... DARY! So of course he decided to make everyone SUIT UP! I told the girls that he invited to wear plaid shirts though because we were headed back to Colorado Cafe, one of the few country bars in NJ, with a mechanical bull that is sure to make anyone's trip worthwhile!

That afternoon, before we headed to the bar, I gave him one of his presents and then we decided to grab a birthday lunch - my treat. A burger and fries was all he wanted, and even though I wanted the waiters and waitresses to sing to him, I decided against it, for which he was all too grateful for. It's okay, I'll get him next year ;)

We got our cowboy boots on, and dressed to impress, no seriously... suit, tie, black pants, and for me a dress.

When we arrived, we weren't the first ones there, and soon all of his friends were there. Everyone stared at us, and one person even asked why we were all dressed up - of course, Sal told him it was for his birthday and the guy was instantly upset because it was his birthday too and all him and his friends had on were party hats! We laughed until it hurt, and some of us drank a little too much, and with myself being the D.D, I was able to watch everyone have fun and snap a few pictures here and there. Most of his friends took their turns riding the bull, and it was great to try and see who could stay on the longest.

Everyone's music was played, because Friday nights they play all different genres, and so we all made our way to the dance floor several times during the night.

Even though we left before everyone, Sal had an incredible night with all of his friends. You know you had a good night when you need a taylor ham, egg and cheese on a bagel the next morning!

Happy Birthday Salvatore! I love you, and I hope you had a truly legendary night. Here's to the next year!

[via instagram: kristynnicole1]

A Celebration Date Night

When I passed my certification exam, I was extremely excited not only because I passed, but because my nights would no longer be filled with studying and reading. I must admit, I give Sal a lot of credit for coming over and sitting with me as I studied. So when I passed, Sal was just as excited as I was. We immediately planned to go out that weekend to celebrate. We chose to go to a restaurant a few towns over because the chef was a Chopped Champion.

I ordered a glass of white wine, while he ordered a beer. We cheered; I was now a Certified Child Life Specialist. The atmosphere was perfect, they put us in the back corner, so it felt like we were alone. We ordered mussels for our appetizer, but I must admit they weren't as good as we were hoping. I was really disappointed because I thought our whole entire meal was going to be bad. Thankfully we didn't leave, and we had amazing entrees, and the dessert wasn't too bad either!

Once the food was devoured, we just sat there enjoying each others company, sipping on our drinks, talking and laughing. Overall, I'd definitely recommend this restaurant, and the title is definitely deserved... just don't order the mussels!

Afterwards, we headed home, but not to call it a night! Instead, we picked up my brother and his friend and headed to the bowling alley. Sal and I hadn't been there in years, but we both looked at each other, knowing that the first time we hung out was at a bowling alley with two friends. We were 16 and apparently the bowling alley was the cool place to hang out, especially on Fridays during laser bowling!

We played boys v. girls and even though we won the first time, the boys got better throughout the night, and beat us, and then beat us again. I had the top score of the night, which I was pretty proud of - 132!

We still didn't go home after we left the bowling alley. We took a long drive, listening and singing to country music, and there's honestly no better way to end the night.

Apple Picking in NY

I can't remember if I've ever been apple picking, maybe once or twice when I was little, but that's it. Ever since Sal and I have been going out, I've wanted to go with him, but every year we miss it - not realizing that we have to go in September to get the best apples.

This year, when Sal and I didn't have to go into work until later in the evening, we decided to pick a place and go! I was so excited that we were finally going to be picking apples together, something we'd never done together. Like I've said in previous posts, I love going on new and exciting adventures with Sal, doing things we've never done before. We headed to NY bright and early, and were the first ones at the orchard. I loved the views while we were driving, and loved them even more when we were picking our apples.

Even though it rained the night prior to, we weren't going to let a little water and mud stop us, and I'm glad we didn't because it ended up being beautiful out. We grabbed our bags, parked the car, and walked the orchard for over two hours looking for the best apples, and sneaking in some kisses under the trees.

We enjoyed an apple or two as we walked on the paths, talking and just enjoying the time together. Sal has always taught me that while we don't get to spend a lot of time together, it's the quality of the time, not the quantity of time, that really matters. I was never one to understand it; I always thought more was better, but quite recently I am more aware that it's better to enjoy the two hours we spend together, than spend the two hours complaining that we don't see each other as much as I'd like. I swear, if I could see this man every day I would - he's just that great.  

While the bags got heavier, my arms got weak, and Sal ended up carrying both bags down back to the car (because as you can tell - he's just THAT strong). We had two big bags full, and our stomachs were growling, so we headed into town to grab some lunch. Sal knew of this great deli, so after we found it (yes, we may have passed it without even knowing it) and ordered our lunch, I suggested that we find a lake (since there are so many of them) or a park, and eat lunch with a great view. We didn't end up finding a natural lake, but we did find a man-made lake - who would've thought when you're looking for something you can't find it, and when you're not, it's right there. We unpacked our lunch and enjoyed the rest of the afternoon, before we headed back to the real world, and off to work. 

On Having an Active Relationship

I think it's great when you find that one person that you can go and workout with, whether it's classes at the gym, walking around the lake, or playing a sport together. For the past couple of weeks, Sal has been inspired by me to work out more. When we hang out on Saturdays we try and make our day active as possible... together. It's such a great way to push each other, and that's exactly what we do - he tells me to keep running, I tell him to slow down, ha just kidding - but really, he's right there by my side telling me to run faster, and go another round.

We usually jog around a lake, which is absolutely beautiful. I feel when you're surrounded by a beautiful landscape, with people just as motivated and active as you are, it becomes easier to work out. When we have time or the weather's nice, we become a little more competitive - whether it's in the batting cages, playing a game of basketball, or racing to the end of our jog.

It's an awesome feeling knowing the one you love can share this active lifestyle with you.

(right after the batting cages)

We hold ourselves accountable during the week by texting each other the workouts we did that day and  sending pictures of our healthy meals. Not only do we make it count during our every day schedules, but even when we're on vacation, like our time in Vermont - we made sure 100% of our vacation was spent actively from hiking and biking to using the gym and horseback riding. It was incredible how much happier and relaxed we were each and every day we were there (I mean I'm sure the calming atmosphere helped, but so did exercising everyday)!

It helps that we're both willing to try new things - whether it's swimming with sharks, hiking up a mountain, or indoor rock climbing. It helps keep the relationship fresh and new (even after 5 years), and keep us happy and healthy - together.

A Surprise Date

Imagine, after almost 5 years, a boy can still surprise you and make your heart beat faster than you ever thought possible. Sal decided he was going take me somewhere for our weekly (well almost weekly) date night; however, this time it was going to be a surprise. He told me after work that he'd be picking me up and taking me somewhere. It was a Wednesday night, and I had the slightest inkling as to what we were going to be doing. He knew I knew, especially when we headed Parkway South. Every Wednesday during the summer, Seaside has fireworks on the beach, where spectators can gather on the boardwalk to watch. 

We've seen them once or twice during summers past, so I was extremely excited to see them this year, since we hadn't gone down the shore once together. It was cold, so I threw on a sweatshirt jacket, and we headed to the boardwalk - with the biggest smiles on our faces. We decided to grab a bite to eat while we waited for the fireworks to start. Little did we know, that when it rains, they call off the fireworks. It had rained all day, and continued drizzling into the evening. 

We were slightly disappointed, but we weren't going to drive back home yet. Instead, we decided to make the most of it while we were there. After a delicious dinner, we decided to play a few games, and by me I mean Sal, that is until we reached the stand where they had "beer pong." You had to throw ping pong balls into liquid filled cups in order to win. I ended up winning that one, as well as the water shooting game. We won a few prizes, and it was adorable watching him try his hardest to win me a prize. Even though I ended up beating him and winning my own prizes, it was cute watching him try! 

We also entered in a raffle to win a couple of kayaks, because, hey you never know! 

Driving home that night, I couldn't help but smile. It really is the simple things in life with the one you love that makes you happy. 

Little Surprises

Sal felt awful that he couldn't make it to my first graduation, since he had taken off for my second graduation and we were going on vacation just a few weeks after that. Of course I was upset, but I understood. I'm actually glad he didn't come because it was miserable in the rain! I still wanted to see him though, but with him working nights it's a bit difficult to see him during the week.

When I got home that day, he said he had a surprise for me and that when I wake up it'll be there. I couldn't sleep after he told me that and I was bursting with excitement!

That next morning I woke up to find this...

Seriously, how adorable is he? A box filled with two pints of cookie dough ice cream, my favorite, and snowcaps, topped off with a cute little note. According to him, he knows me better than I know myself, but I'd like to think that he's just a good listener!

It's the little things, like this, that make me smile.