And that is why Hallmark didn’t get any pennies from us. We used our own words. And I think that is…LOVE.

<3

Once there, the weather improved & the clouds magically parted – a good sign for fun to come, and an even better beginning to day 2 of our trip! After checking in at our hotel, we ventured to downtown Charleston to check out Fleet Landing for lunch, as recommended by our hotel concierge. Excellent recommendation – we LOVED our meal! Very cool location, too. The restuarant was situated right on the harbor, and was converted from an old Navy building into a very cute eatery after sitting dormant for 30+ years. Try the flounder sandwich if you go! Trust us.

After eating, we wondered around downtown taking photos, window shopping, browsing through the huge open air market, enjoying a small treat from Ben & Jerry’s (ok, that last part was all me), and relaxing in a swing on the pier that overlooked the water. After a short break back at the hotel, with ample admiration of the views from the glass-walled restuarant on the top floor, we made our way back downtown for dinner – another amazing meal, this time a seafood feast at world-famous Hyman’s Seafood. We were impressed by the recommendations of my friend Christy, of Southern Living’s high ratings, and of the multiple awards emblazoned all over the front of the restuarant, and we can now join in the hype – they earned it! So, so yummy…awesome atmosphere, great food, and great menu selections with daily specials. Are you hungry yet? After dinner, we had drinks before relaxing in the room, watching goofy stuff on TV, and chatting until we fell asleep after a day of adventures.

The next day we spent more time taking in the view from the tippy-top of our hotel – especially the marina & the panoramic expanse of the Ashley River – before gathering our bags and getting back on the road. On our way out of town we stopped in at a local coffee shop called Alchemy, and I am so glad we did! Not only was the coffee excellent – mexican mocha for me, dark roast for J – but they also had so many tasty-looking homemade treats to choose from! Homemade oatmeal cream pies, granola bars, muffins, you name it. We settled for everything bagels, and took our time at a table by the window in the cute little coffeeshop. Our drive home was a safe one, but a very long one due to more rainy weather and a detour due to damage on the interstate. However, we came home with heads full of happy memories and hearts that continue to beat together after 3 great years of marriage.

XO

We explored, shopped (I bought an amazing thing called a Kariza – I now want to start a collection!), and strolled a little more before settling in at Moon River for a couple of beers – yummy local brews! Then we posed for pictures in a lovely little park square before enjoying an amazing dinner of tapas & sushi at Tantra Lounge. Awesome atmosphere & amazing food! Go there if you’re in town…you won’t be disapointed. After dinner, we made one more stop at Molly MacPhersons for another beer & some Old Bay seasoned peel & eat shrimp that were to die for. We squeezed a lot of fun into one day, and we were just getting started. A very happy anniversary indeed, great memories were made, and good times were had with the one I love!

Happy Almost Anniversary to US! <3

-Start planning early! We had a year and one-half long engagement, which allowed me to plan one big thing each month and enjoy the process, rather than feel stressed or overwhelmed by it. This method helped a lot, especially since I was in nursing school at the time!

-Invest in a good photographer & videographer, but remember that ensuring your personalities mesh well is just about as important as the quality of the vendor’s work, because they are going to be in close proximity to you at all times on your big day. Our videographer was good at what he did, but he was annoying and far more concerned with flaunting his level of expertise than with paying attention to our wishes for the video.

-Shop prom racks at any & all department stores or formal wear stores in the spring for potential bridal or bridesmaid gowns – many times, no one will ever know the difference! Trust me, because I did it and people oohed & ahhed just as loudly over my unique dress that cost a small fraction of one from a chain like David’s Bridal!

-Shop ETSY and eBay for wedding accessories! These are great resources for wedding favors, hair accessories, bridal party gifts, etc. My favorite eBay vendor was Butterfly*Enchantress Designs – I found perfect handmade seashell hair pins for my summertime outdoor wedding, and they will make custom orders as well. http://stores.ebay.com/Butterfly-Enchantress-Designs and http://www.etsy.com/

-I highly recommend Good to Go for catering needs – the food was amazing, professional servers, great presentation of food, and the best prices by far! (1019 Riverside Drive in Macon, 743-4663)

-Eat your own reception food! I’ll never forgive myself for having no clue just how tasty those crab cakes were that we hand-picked for our perfect menu.

-Indulge in a scheduled after-party – there is no shame in stretching out your big day into multiple festivities, and those aunties and old family friends of your parents do not need to know just how cute you sound when you slur your words, profess your love for your new hubby, and sing along to the music after lots of champagne & Irish car bombs!

See? Wasn’t that fun?!

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Happy birthday, Autumn. I wish you everything you could desire. I know I can’t give all of that to you, but I will do what I can. Here’s wishing you a wonderful day.

This is a recent photo I took of you in the mountains. I think it shows your beauty, your youth, your enthusiasm, your joi de vivre — everything that I fell in love with years ago. May your image reflect these qualities for years to come.

I love you. Happy birthday.

(Maybe the best present would be Jim Martin’s election to the Senate? Go vote, Georgia!)

Autumn, this picture reminded me how much I love you. I know we live together now and see each other everyday, but even when you’re at work (like you are now — why aren’t you home yet?) you occupy most of my thoughts. On Sundays before we were married, you would usually be with your family, and I would do my thing, whatever was interesting that weekend. Now, everything I do is about our life together. My thoughts are always on you, even when I should be doing something else. Just now, as I was checking to see if the coals are ready for grilling, I thought how great it will be for you and I to use the grill on cold, winter nights. Together. Thanks for being my baby — for loving stupid ol’ me. I love you.