I love my husband every day, but there are some days in which my love for him is overflowing. Yesterday was one of those days. There was no particular incident or reason that my love for him was evident, but I started thinking of some of the many reasons I adore my husband.

1. He kisses me before we go to sleep at night (every night!) and before we part ways in the morning. Those really are my favorite parts of every day.

2. He watches Keeping up with the Kardashians with me. It’s my newest guilty pleasure (don’t tell anyone!), and he watches it with me. We record it on our DVR, and I usually try to watch it on Monday or Tuesday, and he always says, “Don’t watch it without me!”

3. He goes to Sephora with me and supports my new nail polish obsession. He even helps pick out colors that he thinks would look good on me.

4. He’s very diverse in his interests. He loves cars and bikes, rock climbing/bouldering, hiking, fishing, gardening, watching TV on DVD with me, etc… He has so many interests that it’s hard to keep up sometimes, but he’s never boring!

5. He wants to grow old with me. My biggest hope in life is that we are given the opportunity to grow old together.

That’s enough mush for today. Happy Friday!

Husband and I have been going back and forth with the decision on whether or not we should move in January to be closer to school. Just thinking about it stressed me out, and I finally found my inner Rory Gilmore and made a pro/con list inside my head. We made the decision to… stay where we are. It just made sense to stay.

• We don’t pay rent. Husband’s grandparents own our house, and they are willing it to us one day, so they have told us to treat it like it’s our house. I love the fact that we have three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a large kitchen, a dining room, a living room, a family room, a nice deck and front porch, AND a large yard. If we moved, we’d have to downsize (to a one bedroom, most likely, for what we’re willing to pay) and probably pay at least $800+/month in rent. Plus, we would probably be in an apartment, so there wouldn’t be a yard.
• We’re close to family. Husband’s family lives on the same street as us, and my family is just a 15-minute drive away.  On the other hand, if we moved, we’d be about an hour away from our families. Not ideal.
• I’d like to keep my job. If we moved to Chattanooga, I’d have to commute to work five days a week (VERY early in the morning), and it’s about an hour drive. OR I’d have to find a new job, which is not something I want to deal with.
• Staying does mean we will have to make the hour drive to Chattanooga for school, but it will be in the evenings for me, and most likely not every day. I have very good diesel mileage (I drive a Volkswagen Jetta TDI, and it gets at least 40 mpg), so the cost of fuel will be much less than what it would cost for us to rent an apartment. Shortening our commute to school just didn’t seem like a good enough reason to move.

I have to admit, I thought I’d be more upset about our decision to stay. I adore Chattanooga, and I would love to live in the city (as we live in the middle of nowhere right now). When we made the final decision, though, I just felt relieved. I was more stressed with the idea of moving to Chattanooga than I was with staying. (I wasn’t looking forward to finding an apartment, paying rent, being away from my family, and commuting to work or finding a new job.) I’m not saying we’ll never move to Chattanooga, but it’s not in the cards for us any time soon.

We’ve lived in our house for a little over two years now, and we still haven’t settled because we always had the idea that we’d be moving for school. Now that we’ve decided to stay, we’re really looking forward to settling and making the house our own. We already have some projects in mind (some will happen soon, but we’ll be saving up for some as well).

• Painting. Our walls are a sort-of beige color. Very boring. We’re hoping to paint our bedroom a seafoam green color. I’d like to paint our main bathroom sage or a cream color. I’m still trying to decide on a color for our office/guest room. I was going to go with grey with yellow accents, but I think I want to stay away from grey since my cubicle walls at work are grey!
• Unpacking our “storage” room. One of our rooms is our designated storage room since we don’t need it now for a bedroom. I’d like to finally unpack it and clean it up a bit. I may even turn this room into an office and just keep our second bedroom for guest purposes.
• Building a storage building outside. Husband has been wanting to do this, so he’ll finally be able to!
• Landscaping. I can’t wait to plant flowers and shrubs! I’m also planning a small herb garden for next year.
• Staining our deck and adding a patio. This is something I am so excited to finally do!
• New furniture. This will be done a little at a time, but I’d really love a new sofa and dining room table.

Of course, all of this will probably be completed over the course of several years, but it’s nice to be able to look ahead that far into the future. I’m very excited to take you along on our journey!

Happy Anniversary to my dear husband!

(A video I posted on our two year anniversary.)

As you might remember, Husband and I went to Asheville, NC for our honeymoon nearly three years ago. I’m not sure why we decided to go there of all places (though it probably had something to do with our visits to the Biltmore Estate and wanting to return to check out the rest of Asheville … Plus, my grandparents lived near Asheville when I was young). The first time we went, we stayed in a B&B for a few nights. We went back last year to celebrate two years of marriage, and we decided to stay at Hotel Indigo. Hotel Indigo is in the perfect downtown location. We didn’t drive our car that entire weekend because we were able to walk to all the restaurants downtown.

I’ve been working six days a week since April, so I decided I wanted a vacation this past week. Since we’re both taking summer classes, an extended anniversary trip is out of the question this year, so we decided to take a short trip to Asheville once again. (We were in Asheville for just twenty-four hours, so it really was a short trip.) I booked the hotel a couple weeks ago (Hotel Indigo again, of course!), and we waited for May 16th to come along. On that morning, we packed an overnight bag and made the 3-hour drive to Asheville, NC. (I love that it’s so close!)

Hotel Indigo. We arrived at Hotel Indigo about an hour before check-in, but they checked us right into our room and handed over our key and breakfast vouchers. (We got the breakfast rate because it was so great last time!) After grabbing our bags, we headed to our room on the fifth floor, and it was nothing short of beautiful. The location alone would sell me on the hotel, but the rooms are the icing on the cake. They’re extremely spacious and we absolutely love the giant king bed and huge shower. We got a room with a view last year, but we opted not to this year (for a cheaper price), but we opened our windows, and we still had an amazing view–downtown Asheville to the left and beautiful mountains to the right.

The Chocolate Fetish. After spending about an hour relaxing in our room, we decided to walk around town a bit. We went to the Mast General Store because they have a ton of outdoor clothes downstairs (which Husband loves). We were there to window shop, mostly, so we didn’t purchase anything. After spending some time there, we looped back around town and made our way to The Chocolate Fetish. They have the most amazing chocolates, and after taking a look around, I bought some salted chocolate caramels. SO delicious. If you love chocolate and visit Asheville, please stop by there.

Laughing Seed Cafe. We made our way back to the hotel to relax a bit more before heading to dinner. We went to the Laughing Seed Cafe last year and loved it. It’s a vegetarian restaurant, and while neither Husband and I are vegetarians, we’re always up for trying something new, and I’m glad we did! We have been waiting all year to go back. We walked to the restaurant and we were seated immediately. We sat inside this time–last year, we sat outside on their patio–because it was a bit dreary. I ordered the berry bliss herbal tea to drink (it’s delicious!) and we both ordered the tico burrito for dinner. This burrito is amazing! It has spiced tico tofu, and I love it. It also comes with a salad (I got mine with chipotle ranch dressing) and blue corn chips. The entire meals cost us about $30 (without the tip), so it’s really not pricey for a good dinner! (Last year, I also tried the whole grain risotto with grilled tempeh, and it was amazing, too.)

After dinner, we made our way back to our hotel; I had a salted chocolate caramel for dessert, and we relaxed for the rest of the evening. It really was the perfect start to our mini-vacation.

(stay tuned for Day 2)

Have you ever been to Asheville, NC? What’s your favorite part? (We love the food!)

I’ve been dying to write a recap about Asheville, but I wanted it to be perfect. I know there is no way I’d be able to completely do it justice, so I’ve decided to share some of the highlights along with pictures. I’ve told myself that I can’t write about anything else until Asheville is written about, and there are several things–Four Little Pots, healthy eating, my baby-kitties–that I want to write about, so it’s now or never.

Hotel Indigo is probably the most amazing hotel I’ve ever stayed in. It was literally a 5-minute (or less) walk to everything downtown (so we rarely drove over the weekend), and the room was beautiful with the most amazing view of the mountains.

Not only that, but the staff was very welcoming, and after tweeting pictures of breakfast from the hotel restaurant (@PhiBarAsheville), the man who tweets for them came to our table to introduce himself AND we’ll be getting a twitter discount–see, twitter is good for something!–during our next stay at Hotel Indigo (@AVLindigo151). (Believe me, there will be more trips!)

The food in Asheville has always been my favorite part, and this time it was no different. We ate at Early Girl Eatery, Laughing Seed Cafe (twice!), Tupelo Honey Cafe, Bistro 1896, and My Father’s Pizza (on Black Mountain). We ate a delicious and filling breakfast every morning at our hotel–I had a bagel with cream cheese, a HUGE fruit & yogurt parfait topped with granola, and a large cup of organic chai while Husband enjoyed a scone with his parfait and water.

Friday evening, while we were waiting for dinner at Tupelo Honey Cafe, there was a drum circle going on in the park right next door. We were able to enjoy some (free!) entertainment while we waited fifty minutes on our table (we wanted to sit outside, so we opted to wait as long as that took), but it literally felt like ten minutes. Earlier in the day, we went to Laughing Seed Cafe for lunch. It’s an award-winning vegetarian restaurant, and I admit, I was a little nervous to try a vegetarian dish–I didn’t know what to expect!.  tried their Tico Burrito (It had tico tofu, sour cream, avocado, cheese, and I can’t remember what else), and it was probably the most amazing thing I’ve ever eaten. It was so full of flavor! Along with my burrito, I had a blue corn chips and a salad with creamy ranch dressing. I drank an herbal tea called Berry Bliss that was sweetened with honey. We even liked it so much that we went back the next day for dinner (I had whole grain risotto with grilled tempeh–amazing!).

Saturday evening, we walked by the same park that had the drum circle the night before, and a jam band was playing. I just love how everyone gathers together to enjoy music and creativity. People were dancing around and smiling–it was lovely. I tried to get a video, but I wasn’t close enough, so it didn’t turn out too well. Ah, maybe next time!

Sunday morning, we had to leave, but we didn’t want to end our trip too quickly, so we made our way to Black Mountain. It’s maybe a fifteen minute drive from downtown, and we absolutely love the small-town feel of it. We got there before anything opened, so we walked around some and enjoyed the quiet. I ended up buying a few gifts for my family there, and we also ate at My Father’s Pizza. Honestly, they have the best pizza I’ve ever had. Eventually, we made our way home (we live less than three hours from Asheville), but I’m already hoping to go back next year, if not sooner.

This trip was the perfect way to celebrate our 2-year anniversary and begin our third year of marriage. I couldn’t ask for a better place to be. I absolutely love that Asheville is a big city, but it’s a relaxing, laid-back city. I’m already looking forward to our next trip back.

Today, Husband and I journey to Asheville, North Carolina for a mini-vacation/anniversary trip. We have been officially married for two years, and I couldn’t be happier. I made this video for your viewing so you can get an idea of what our wedding day was like. (The song on the video is the song we danced to at our wedding, and it has always been “our song.” Of course, the band actually plays “metal” music, so this is different than a lot of what they’ve done. I even have a custom necklace that says “If a dream could last forever, I would hold you here…” from the song.)

June 17 – Happy 2-year Anniversary! from Megan Hill on Vimeo.

It’s Monday. We all dread Mondays, right? Especially when you’re in the office by 5:30 a.m. (yes, that was me this morning), and you just really want to be home. I, however, don’t mind so much today because later this week, Husband and I will be making our way to Asheville, North Carolina to celebrate our 2-year wedding anniversary, and I’ll be able to enjoy a 5-day vacation from work. It’s all worth it.

Two years ago, Husband and I woke up the morning after our wedding and made the 3-hour drive to Asheville, where we stayed in a cute bed & breakfast. While not necessarily perfect for a honeymoon (it being very close quarters and all), it was still perfect. The breakfast was absolutely amazing. The room was stunning (with a clawfoot tub and exceptionally comfortable bed)! The owners were friendly and welcoming. It was a wonderful experience.

Last year, we stayed home for our first wedding anniversary. We were just moving into our own house, and we were planning on going back to school, so we didn’t really have time to plan a vacation. This year, though, we were ready to go back to Asheville. It is probably one of our favorite cities–one we’d actually consider moving to one day. This year, we’ve decided to stay in a hotel–Hotel Indigo. It’s atcually a fairly new hotel, maybe around a year old, and it’s in the heart of downtown, so we’ll be able to park the car and walk everywhere we need to go. It’s perfect for us, since most everything we enjoy is downtown, especially the restaurants!

Our favorite part of Asheville is the cuisine. One of our favorite restaurants while we were there was Bistro 1896. We were able to eat outside, and it was beautiful. We’re definitely planning on eating there again. We have a list of a few restaurants that we plant to re-visit, but we’re also looking forward to trying new things now that we know our way around a little better.

After our trip, be prepared for photos and recaps. I’m just so excited to be in a place that feels like a home away from home!

Is there a city that feels like a second home to you?

What are your middle names?
Leigh & Tyler.

How long have you been together?
Such a hard question to answer. We’ve been dating since January 13, 2007. We’ve been engaged since November 6, 2007. We’ve been married since June 17, 2008. However, we were emotionally “together” long before we started dating.

How long did you know each other before you started dating?
Before we officially started dating, we had known each other for two years.

Who asked whom out?
He asked me if I was his girlfriend, so I guess he asked me out in a way.

How old are each of you?
I’m twenty (twenty-one in less than two weeks!), and he is twenty-two (twenty-three in a little over a month).

Whose siblings do you see the most?
Hmm. Maybe his? He has a younger brother that lives less than one minute from our house. My siblings (a younger sister and younger brother) live about 15-20 minutes from us.

Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple?
Probably balancing out our schedules.

Did you go to the same school?
We went to the same high school, though he graduated shortly after we met. 

Are you from the same home town?
I’m actually from Florida (though I moved to Tennessee in 2001); he’s lived in the same town his entire life.

Who is smarter?
He is so much smarter about random things. I’m pretty much only “book smart.”

Who is the most sensitive?
That would be me.

Where do you eat out most as a couple?
It just really depends. We don’t have one specific restaurant we eat at all the time.

Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?
Florida to visit my family (about nine hours away).

Who has the craziest exes?
Luckily, we don’t deal with exes. We both have them, but they’re not people we have to come across often. Thankfully. (We each only have one significant ex, and we haven’t talked to them in years.)

Who has the worst temper?
Probably him … I usually don’t get angry very easily, though I’ll cry at the drop of a hat.

Who does the cooking?
We both do. When we lived together before getting married, he cooked most often. Now, we both share the task.

Who is the neat-freak?
Honestly, neither. We have our moments of neat-ness, but we can be pretty messy. I think I’m more organized in my head than he is. (I even keep a mental schedule of what HE has to have done!)

Who is more stubborn?
Husband. Boy, is he stubborn! 

Who hogs the bed?
I like to think we share it equally.

Who wakes up earlier?
Me. I wake up around 5-5:30am (for work), while he wakes up hours later sometimes.

Where was your first date?
Oh, geez. What would I consider our first date? I mean, we went out with some friends a year or two before we started dating, and he paid for me. Our relationship has always been so backwards. For instance, we knew we’d get married BEFORE we even started dating. I think we meant so much to each other that we wanted to wait until we KNEW it would last.

Who is more jealous?
We’re both jealous people, I think, but I’d show it more. Luckily, we don’t have anything to be jealous about right now.

How long did it take to get serious?
A day? Like I said, we told each other “I love you” before  we started dating. I think it was serious the day we met, though we didn’t realize it right away.

Who eats more?
Husband.

Who does the laundry?
I usually do, but he helps out if I need him to.

Who’s better with the computer?
I know my fair share about how a computer operates, but he knows more of the WHY it operates.

Who drives when you are together?
It depends on which car we drive. Even then, we take turns. 

*I saw this over at Amber’s and Rachel’s.

I’m stressed.

There, I said it. Honestly, I’m not even sure why I’m stressed. I guess it could be the fact that my hours at work are flip-flopping each week. Or the fact that I feel like I have little time to relax. Or the fact that I procrastinate, letting all of my school assignments pile up until the day before they’re due. (I still hold firm that I work best under pressure.) Or the fact that I made a C on my first English paper. (Okay, maybe I don’t work best under pressure.)

Both nights of Tuesday and Wednesday were my breaking point(s). I arrived home after work (I’m on the 3pm-11pm shift this week), and Husband was busy doing homework. He’s a procrastinator, too, I know this. It irked me, though, that he wasn’t waiting for me when I got home. I just felt a little bummed out because I really haven’t seen much of him all week, and I wanted to spend some time with him, cuddled on the couch while watching Gilmore Girls. I’ve almost felt like roommates rather than Husband and wife.

Needless to say, I was mad at him for mostly stupid reasons … but with both of us stressed out of our minds (a recent death on his side of the family plus school and work), we tend to take it out on each other. Last night, we sat up until nearly 5am, talking. It was mostly back and forth, but in the end, I think it made us both feel slightly better to vent.

For the most part, I don’t discuss negative moments in our relationship, but sometimes, I think it’s necessary. We all have those moments. It doesn’t make us love each other any less; what proves that is the fact that we stick through it, and after it’s all said in done, we cuddle in bed together for the night, holding each other’s hand.

I’m a big fan of lists lately. Why not add another one to the pile? One that will, perhaps, make you gag a little. (Or want to stab me with a spoon.) Either way, I enjoy reminding myself of how great Husband is.

Reasons I love Husband (Well, some of the reasons … in no particular order):

-Yesterday evening, I hugged him, and he held my hair between his nose and hand while saying, “You smell so good.”
-Also yesterday, he said, “I have a lot of like in me for you.” Awww.
-He goes with me to see movies he doesn’t necessarily want to see. (The Ugly Truth, for example. However, he did end up liking it!)
-He puts up with me when I cry over nothing. (This happens often.)
-He kisses my forehead when he thinks I’m sleeping.
-He can be sweet and mushy. (Don’t tell him I told you.)
-He listens to me talk about blogging and twitter.
-He watches Gilmore Girls with me (we’re halfway done with season one now), and he LIKES it. (He might not want me to admit that either.)
-He’s letting me get a kitten! (Yes, we’re getting him on Friday. I’m excited. It’s a little boy, and I’m still thinking of a unique name. Suggestions?)
-He tells me I’m pretty on days that I feel ugly (without him even knowing I feel that way).
-Even when he isn’t tired, he lays down next to me when I want to go to bed at 9pm.

(To be continued, I’m sure.)