Romance Spotlight: Julia

Hello everyone! Welcome to my weekly ROMANCE SPOTLIGHT!
Julia from Black Tag Diaries  is here today to share a SUPER CUTE and romantic story with us. 
I hope you take a moment to stop by her awesome blog and say hi!
(Oh! And be sure to check out her Thankful Thursday linkups)

Take it away Julia!

Hi there. I'm Julia over from Black Tag Diaries. I was absolutely thrilled when Mackenzie asked me to guest post... I always love reading about her Friday night date adventures. Her posts have inspired me to try out some thrifty date night ideas of my own:)

So. A romantic story... Hmmm... let's see...

My husband Lance and I have been married for almost 8 years now... there are lots of stories...

I could tell you about how he took me to get a tattoo for our 6 year anniversary... or how he was inducted into the Husband Hall of Fame... or how he still leaves me love notes around the house.... or what 7 years of marriage looks like...

Or... I know... how about the strawberry story? It's one of my favorites... One that occurred several years ago, long before the days of marriage...

Lance and I were in college and simply smitten with each other. But we were in that awkward stage of dating... you know... when you both are crazy about each other, but not quite sure how/when to let your guard down... you know... that stage.

Anyhow... Lance had a pretty strict rule that he abided by during his college years... "No flowers for a girl... unless it's the girl I love and am going to marry."

Pretty smart rule if you ask me. Well, I remember one Valentines Day in particular when we were dating and Lance came over to my apartment with one... dozen... long... stemmed... bright... red...

...STRAWBERRIES. Yes. Strawberries. It was one of the sweetest gifts I have ever received from a guy. Those simple strawberries said so much more than "happy valentines day." Those strawberries said, "hey, I like you... a lot." But more than that, they said, "I'm a guy that stands by my word and I don't take things like 'I love you' and 'Will you marry me?' lightly..." I loved that about Lance... and is something I am still so, so thankful for.

...Because it wasn't too much longer after those strawberries, that I got the flowers... and the ring;)

Thanks so much Julia! Loved it!

See you next Tuesday with another ROMANCE SPOTLIGHT!

Happy Dating!

Ice Cream Sculpting

Most dates we have work out really well. They are successful and fun. 

This was not so successful. 

Poor Hubby. He tried. He really did. 

The date was Ice Cream Sculpting and it was one of his calendar dates. 

He thought it would be fun to make sculptures out of ice cream.

Only problem is that ice cream melts. Fast. 

Hubby managed to do a cookie-cutter-penguin-thingy but I had zero results. 

Don't get me wrong, we still enjoyed time together and eating our melted ice cream. It's just that the original "sculpting" plan was a bust. 

So the moral of the story is...do not try this at home. 

We tested it for you and it doesn't work. 

So considerate of us right? 

I will be back with a success story soon. Promise!

Happy Dating!
Linking up:

 

Romance Spotlight: Kelly

Hello everyone! I am so excited to be starting my weekly ROMANCE SPOTLIGHT today! 

Kelly from CHECK...one...two...three has been nice enough to share the story of how she was proposed to. 

It's SO STINKIN' CUTE!

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did and take a minute to go say hi to her over at CHECK...one...two...three!

Take it away Kelly!

I realized today as I was looking at blogs that it's the 7th.

6 years ago I was doing radio and it was a Friday. The show was wrapping up and I see Brandon's face at the studio window. He was waving, as soon as the "on air" sign went dark he swung open the door and said "Hey! I am picking you up from work!"

My co-hosts snapped their heads in my direction to see my reaction. I said "huh? why?"

Brandon said that he had the day off and we were gonna go up to Baltimore to the aquarium. I looked at the guys (my co-hosts) and said "oh it's friday I got a ton of things to do ....I have promos, and spots to finish up...I think I have to voice a couple of lines for an endorsement too..." The guys just waved me off and said they'd do it. Hmmmmmm....that was VERY UNLIKE them....


As I climbed into Brandon's truck we made our way down the highway. We stopped at 5 guys burgers and fries (we had never heard of that place before it was pretty new) and off we went. When we got to the Baltimore exit Brandon just kept on driving..."um babe...where are we really going?! you just passed our stop!"

Brandon reached behind my seat and uncovered a suitcase with a drop cloth...MY suitcase.

"I think we should go to the beach this weekend instead....Miami!"

My jaw dropped! Miami!?! And he said yes, "you keep talking about going to the beach and going to Florida - so we are going! Right now...our flight leaves in an hour..."and with that he took the BWI airport exit and off we went!

FUN CITY! When we got there it was super late but we went down to the beach anyway. It was so warm. The next morning we played on the beach and went exploring in South Beach. My mom and Brandon had packed my suitcase so it was jammed with every shirt and outfit option you could think of, it was great.

That night Brandon was getting ready in bathroom and was fiddling with his side-burns...I had never seen him act like that...he never cared about his facial hair. We got in the car and went for sushi. Afterwards we wanted to walk on the beach.

brandon was eating so fast, I couldn't understand why then

All of a sudden Brandon started talking:

"Kelly, when I first met you I said that God has more good thoughts about you then there are sands in the seashore," as he did this the moon shown on him as he scooped down and picked up a handful of sand- I saw something twinkling in his palm..."I want to be with you to experience all those good thoughts, and things...I want to be with you forever...." then he got down on one knee and I thought

'ohmygosh....it's happening...this is what THIS feels like....he's proposing!"

"Kelly will you marry me and be my wife forever?!"

I was jumping up and down and yelling YES YES YES! It was  like an out of body experience because I was just so stoked.
He picked me up and twirled me around...It was pitch black besides the moon light so I ran to the closest light (a nightclub that was on the beach) and looked at my ring.

that night we celebrate at a Kareoke bar that was attached to the hotel

We called our families that night and friends. And 6 months later we got married at the exact same spot.

the day after our engagement 

the day of our wedding

Anyway I was just thinking that today when I saw the date and thought I'd share the story...it was an amazing night - can't believe it was 6 years ago!

 If I knew back then how life would be I would have never guessed it.  But that's just like God, all you have to do is say "yes" and He takes care of the rest.

Thanks so much Kelly! Loved it!

See you next Tuesday with another ROMANCE SPOTLIGHT.

Happy Dating!

Linking up:

We are THAT family Wifey Wednesday

SnowLess Sledding

Happy Friday everyone! I love Fridays because that means it's Date Night!

Hubby and I have been super bummed lately because we haven't had any snow here in Virginia. We have been wanting to make snow angles and go sledding! But Hubby had a fantastic idea for a date and put it on our date calendar. 

That's right! Sledding on grass with cardboard! I was pretty skeptical and didn't think it would work but it did! It was so fun!

We found a steep hill and gave it a go. It's great. No snow down your pants or in your shoes!

Sweet B even went down a few times. 

And the best part about it? Free baby! Oh yeah!

Grab some cardboard lying around the house and go! And even if you don't' have any you can grab an empty box from a store or recycling bin. 

This would be a great group date and is also very family friendly. Love those. 

Give it a try! I was really surprised at how fun it was!

Happy Dating!

Linking up:

Made by you Monday We are THAT family Wifey Wednesday

Wanted

Wanted: Guest Posts!

Have you been on any super cool dates lately? 

What about a romantic story to share? Like when you and your hubby met or when he proposed?

I want to read them!

I don't know about you but I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE cute love stories and date nights!

You know the kind. The ones where your heart races and you can't help but squeal with delight. 

So I have decided to devote one day a week to them!

E-mail me if you are interested in guest posting and we can talk dates and topics.

pmwhiteley@gmail.com

I am so excited!

Can't wait to hear about your romantic lives!

Cheesy and sappy welcome....even preferred!

Happy Dating!

Christmas

OK guys. Last Christmas post I swear! 

Hubby and I were able to visit both of our families for Christmas this year. While flying all over the place with a toddler is no cake walk, the pros to spending our vacation in two different locations are worth it. 

For instance we got to have...

Spend time with...

 Experienced...

And came back with...

Worth all the screaming on the airplanes?

You bet!

Happy Dating!

Snowmobiling

If you are around snow this winter, try going on a...

They are so great! What better way to bond with your hubby than on a big powerful machine? While we were visiting family around the holidays, we got to do just that. Too bad there was hardly any snow.  My Dad sent me this picture of him riding with a neighbor a few weeks earlier.

Now those are the conditions that I prefer! Oh well. Beggars can't be choosers. We got to go and that was the main thing. 

Crisp cool air. Big, loud, powerful machines. Romantic?

Why not? 

Happy Dating!

Linking up:

Temple Date

Hubby and I are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. That being the case, we love going to the temple! I can't think of a better way to spend time with my Hubby actually. It is such a beautiful place and always reminds me of our wedding. 

I have been to a few temples in my day. I would love to visit them all, or at least as many as I can. 

The year that I was pregnant with Sweet B, Hubby and I were able to attend the Logan, Utah temple and afterwards went on an Ice Skating date near it. 

I received my endowment in the Seattle temple. It is also where two of my sisters were married. 

Hubby and I were able to visit the Nauvoo temple on our LONG drive out to Virginia. It is so beautiful inside!

While we were dating, Hubby and I went and did baptisms in the Washington D.C. temple. It is the closest temple to us right now and we love it when we have a chance to attend.

I've been to a couple of temples outside of the U.S.A. The Costa Rican temple was such a neat experience for me. I couldn't understand a word but felt the spirit so strongly regardless.

My family roots go back to Cardston, Alberta Canada. My Grandpa helped build the Stake Center next to this temple and my parents were married here. I have a lot of family history in Canada.

Oh! And my hair caught on fire inside. Funny story. Remind me to tell you about it sometime. 

This is the Tri-Cities, WA temple. I was able to attend the open house and dedication of this one. It was also my temple district growing up.

The very first temple I ever did baptisms for the dead for was in Idaho Falls. It is what I requested to do for my twelfth birthday. 

And lastly, the Salt Lake City Temple. Our temple. This is where Hubby and I began our happily ever after. This is where we were sealed together for time and all eternity. This is the place.

It's funny. As a kid I always swore that I would never get married here. I thought it was too popular. But now I know why it is so popular. The beauty inside is like nothing I have ever seen. Every temple is gorgeous, but to me, the Salt Lake temple is on a whole different level. And I was surrounded by all of it while getting married to my best friend. 

Like I said. I can't think of a better date than visiting the temple together. 

What about you? Which temple is your favorite? Where did you get married?

Not LDS? Click HERE to learn more about the temple.

Happy Dating!

Happy Birthday Hubby!

Hubby had a birthday earlier this month!

We did presents at home and then the two of us went out to dinner!

Luckily, some good friends of ours watched Sweet B for free! 

Thank you "C" family!

Hubby elected to eat at Edelweiss. It's a cute little German restaurant not to far from us. 

And in Germany the Christmas festivities don't officially end until January 6th, so there were still Christmas decorations up at the restaurant. 

I love signs like this. They just make me smile. 

And I'm sure people were "smiling" at me when I took my camera to the restroom with me. 

It has been a long time since just the two of us have been out to dinner. 

Birthdays are special though. 

Especially for this guy. 

Happy Birthday Hubby! I love you Mein Schatz!

What do you do for birthdays? I'd love to know!

Happy Dating!

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