Baby Stuff

No, not ours. Shopping around for Erika's baby shower. This crazy boyfriend of mine had to test out the baby play pen display. (To see if it really is indeed worth the $300 ticket price) T'was not.

Confusion

Homemade

I love quick and simple salads at home!

Thanksgiving Hosts

So, we finally moved!  We could not be happier with our current living situation.  The management is amazing, the entire community is extremely community oriented,  no more going down 14 floors and back up after walking Shelby, quiet neighbors, walking distance to everything, my goodness-- The list of things I love about our new apartment is never ending.

This had to be the most amazing Thanksgiving dinner I've ever had.  I think it was a combination of the goofy morning we had (we kept forgetting ingredients), the turkey still being frozen at 3pm, and most importantly, that we hosted it together for our family!   It was a hectic day in the kitchen, but blissful nonetheless.

I love my life.

Reminiscing

Coming to Corner Bakery reminds me of him.

Koala-ing

Fall Into Place

Our new neighborhood! (Pre furniture shopping)

Furniture Shopping

Jumbo Slice while searching for our rustic furniture in DC.

Home Sweet Home

The past few months have been absolute insanity. We've been on the market to purchase a home together, but the end of our lease is near-- we definitely don't want to settle on a property. After much thought we decided to look for an apartment suitable for the two of us, plus Shelby & Pebbles. We were in our way back home from Costco and did some browsing on our phones for nearby apartments that would allow Shelby. (50lb+ Pitbull). We got a tour of some pretty apartments. Once we got to the last property, we fell in love!

Today we sent in our applications, application fees, and deposit. Now we just wait until we hear back from the apartment complex. :)

Super excited for our new journey together.

Sunday at Parent's

Fall Breeze

Furlough = All day with Shelby. ♡

My Love

Road Trippin

Ours

I open my eyes from my favorite, most pleasant resting place.  From my pillow. It resides in a nook in between his arm and his chest.  I can hear the soft pitter patter of his heart beating, and I smell the faint scent of his slept in cologne.  After long nights, I catch occasional vibrations that travel through my head and into my body from his soft snores, that somehow send me into a peaceful slumber.  I long to go to sleep every night, only to awake from my special place every morning.

Goodbye Summer

This is the end of another beautiful season that we've had the opportunity to spend together.  In a way I'm kind of sad, but luckily Maryland is a state with 4 seasons.

We Play with Our Food

Alone Time

I will never get sick of our alone time.

My Superman

My Superman. I never knew that there was someone so real out there. Someone that could truly love me unconditionally, transparently, and sincerely.

My journey ...
The past few years have really chipped away from my soul. They were emotionally draining. I was l lied to, physically abused, cheated, called names, and cursed at. I have no one to blame but myself for allowing it. I put up with it for so long. Not because I was in love, but because whoever was in my life at the time was another phase. Another phase of self discovery and growth.

Ex #1 taught me how to be an adult. I was young, I didn't know how to take care of myself. He was always frustrated with me. Everything I ever did was wrong, or simply just not good enough. I spent all of my time trying to be the grown up he wanted me to be, but I was not. I was only 17, it was too early. I was bored. I always felt emptier around him than I did when I was alone. When we were together, most of the time we were surrounded by silence. He wasn't interesting, we had nothing in common, and I had no care in the world for the bland stories he would tell. Sometimes, I'd hide in the closet...or even pretend to be using the bathroom. Just so that I could be by my lonesome. One day I realized that I wasn't in a relationship because I was in love. I was indeed in this relationship because I was lonely. Once I began being by myself, I learned it wasn't that lonely afterall. I would definitely appreciate being without him. In the end, I learned how to be alone and okay with it.

Ex #2 taught me that you should never do too much for an individual. Because they will suck every last drop of energy and joy out of your soul, even when you're gone. They will take it and leave you completely dry and alone. All he ever wanted was to have his cake and eat it too. I was dumb enough to fight it. I thought he would change. But he never did. It's because we are two people that should not have crossed the same path.  He was the loneliest and most broken soul I've ever met. He definitely had his share of heart breaks, but it was not my job to sit around for the consequences. Our relationship lacked the emotional layer. If I had to describe it, I would have to say that it was airy. There was absolutely nothing deep about what we shared. It pretty much ended at loud temper tantrums and when trying to display affection, there was nothing but empty meaningless words. I did a lot for him during the course of the 4 years we were together, but that only crippled him from becoming independent. He was always dependent on others for everything. In result of our roller coaster of ups and downs, I learned how to deal with just about anything and still come out alive.

Ex #3 taught me how to keep my silence. He wasn't a communicator or an emotional person. His gestures were always text book, never anything genuine. He treated me like I was less of a human being than himself, and constantly belittled me. Having coming from the relationships I did, I was equipped with the skill of being alright alone, and being able to deal with just about anything. So I was tested. I was pushed to the absolute furthest a person could be pushed. He was condescending and insecure. I was uncomfortable in the relationship, and unhappy with the person I was altering myself to be for the sake of the relationship. I wasn't able to be myself. That killed me. Overall, I learned how to communicate in a calm manner without ever being explosive. No matter what was being said to me. In this world, everyone is equal-- No one will ever have the power of making me feel any less than I am... Ever again.

Now..

My dearest dearest Phong....
Every day feels like I'm living in a fairy tale. My life is so surreal. Every moment spent together is magical. I feel so special, so adored. I feel like it's just the two of us in this world and no one else matters... When we're apart, I still feel him. There isn't a second in the day that I don't think about him. He's sentimental, loving, gentle and strong, confident but not arrogant, passionate, incredibly sexy, thoughtful, considerate, sincere, sweet, charismatic, well mannered, smart, respectful, honest, a gentleman, ambitious, determined, hilarious, witty, creative, ok... Every piece of amazing you can possibly imagine. His personality is so versitile. He can be goofy and cute one minute, and be serious and passionate the next. Every morning I wake up next to him, I think to myself.. That I'm the luckiest girl in this world. To spend every single day with this perfect man. I finally found someone I can depend on, that can depend on me in return. There's a balance, we know how to appreciate each other. I don't have to ever hold back or hide my feelings. I'm so grateful for everything he does and the way he makes me feel. I love his graceful heart and his beautiful soul, that shines through his eyes and into the world. The best I ever had.

My love, my life, my everything.....my once in a lifetime, I love you with all of my heart and and soul; with everything that I am and what I've yet to become.

I love you.

Yesterday's Feastings

Sunday Funday has turned into adventures of Phong & Jessica's good eats! We were simply talking about barbecue and ended up stopping at a spot in the middle of Old Georgetown Rd. Had a romantic picnic outside before heading to the mall. Followed by dining outside again, feasting on crabs, oysters, and shrimp. Summertime fun. (:

Coleslaw, Ribs, Pulled Pork Sammich!

Close up of my sammich.

Oysters, shrimp, and crabs, OH MY!

Summer Adventures

Pleasant View

Sunday Funday at the pool with my boo. <3

Things to Do

His handwriting is cute. ...... & my nails are a mess.

Kitchen Closed

Every Monday. :)

Happy 4th of July!

It's truly a blessing to be able to spend holidays with family and people you love.  I'm so lucky to have such an amazing boyfriend.  Waking up to him every morning makes me so happy.

I love you babe!

Preoccupied

It has been about 3 months since the last time I've blogged.  Sad, I know.
Falling in love will do that to you, right?  When your world is consumed by just one individual, and all that is relevant are the moments that involve them.
I'm finally happy.  Really happy.

He Likes it Natural

I guess I never went out looking so bare, especially when meeting people for the first time.
When I'm with him, I feel secure. I feel beautiful. Like nothing and no one can stand in my way.
Thank you for making it easy to be comfortable in my own skin.

xoxoxxx

My Boyfriend

The first man that catches your eye- no matter how hectic your surroundings, or how many other men are around. He has an unavoidable charm, and his smile doesn't just light up the room... Once you get a glimpse of it, you won't be able to take your eyes off of him.

It all began 6 years ago... A sudden attraction between two people, that were separated by their own distractions. A relationship never blossomed at the time, not even the slightest friendship. But just like magnets that get separated, we found our way back to each other. What began as an innocent encounter, had suddenly become a lot of emotions, intertwined ever so tightly, piece by piece- I feel it. I feel him.

My soul is smiling, and my heart flutters blissfully. The eyes that once wept oceans of tears, have been dried & lit up by thousands of warm candles; the moment he looked into them. His voice, lifts me up into the clouds, into a beautiful daydream
and gently twirls me back down to reality. When he touches me, it's electrifying-- I feel him... To the deepest of my core.

I never have to question the way he feels about me, and I trust him with my life. He loves me despite my many flaws, unconditionally. He doesn't make me jealous, or play games with my heart. There isn't a single moment he tries to change me, or make me uncomfortable with the person I am. He's always there and never breaks his promises. Never disappoints me, or breaks my heart.

He's my everything.

Phong Pham, I love you.
Now and always.

Missing Them

Otterbox

Gym was great last night. I feel like I'm getting back to my routine. Even though it was one day. Loving it! Loving my phone case even more though. How the hell did he find a perfectly "Tiffany Blue" phone case?