Day 3- Your first love

As I said in the DAY 2 post, Ryan & I started dating in high school. I had one other serious boyfriend for 1 year in high school & at the time I thought I was in love with him.
Looking back on that time, I now know I was not in love with him. I might have loved him but I was not IN LOVE with him, I think there is a huge difference.
I tell many people (family & close friends) I love them & I truly mean it but there is only one person I have ever been in love with & that is Ryan. I believe to be IN LOVE with someone you have to have an unconditional love for them & a romance with them.

“The feeling of ‘in love’ entails two aspects – ‘being in love’ and ‘falling in love’. When you fall in love, certain neurochemicals and hormones are released into the system, which narrow our logic and awareness. This is why some people say that ‘love is blind’. On the other hand ‘being in love’ is different because here your blinders come off, and you can have love as a choice and it requires your resolute attention.”

This blog is supposed to be about your first love though so…
My first love would have to be Amber Nicole Brown. For those of you that don’t know, she is my identical twin sister. Having an identical twin has been an amazing experience for me (& I hope for her too). Since day one of my life I have always had someone there with me. **Side note- In our teenage years I would not have been writing this blog because I am sure I would have been to busy destroying Amber’s room for wearing my clothes. Haha we had some interesting years from the age 13-15** We might not get along every minute & we have had some hard times but in the end we are always going to be there for each other. I love her unconditionally & I am so proud of the woman she has become. Love you Bam :)

"She is your mirror, shining back at you with a world of possibilities. She is your witness, who sees you at your worst and best, and loves you anyway. She is your partner in crime, your midnight companion, someone who knows when you are smiling, even in the dark. She is your teacher, your defense attorney, your personal press agent, even your shrink. Some days, she's the reason you wish you were an only child." - Barbara Alpert

Day 2-Meaning behind your blog name

HIGH SCHOOL SWEETS ~ Ryan & I starting dating at the end of our sophomore year of high school. At the time I didn't know he would be my husband. We met through my twin sister & track. Before we dated we were friends & he used to tell me "it would only take 5 minutes to fall in love with him." He was very funny, witty & friendly (& still is) .
We fell in love very fast...it took longer than 5 minutes lol . Thinking back about that time, we were probably very annoying to our parents lol. We wanted to be together every minute & talked on the phone for hours!! haha Ryan & I have an amazing relationship. We have grown up together & have been able to spend many holidays, celebrations & every day life together (8.5 years & many more to come). Being high school sweethearts is very unique & I am so lucky to have Ryan as MY husband. I look forward to our future together. There are many things I know we will accomplish TOGETHER. I love my husband & I love the feelings I still get when I'm around him, snuggling with him & especially when I am kissing him!!

30 day blogging challenge

So lately I've noticed I'm horrible at keeping up on my blog- even Roxanne said the other day that I need to pick it up lol
I've seen a couple of my fellow bloggers start a 30 day challenge to recommit to blogging. Katie started this idea & many people have followed. If you want to look at some of the blogs I follow take a look @ Christy, Laura, & Theresa
So I am going to try it, here it goes...

Day 1 Introduce yourself & 15 interesting facts

I'm Tiffany & I'm 24 yrs old. I'm married to the love of my life, Ryan :) We have been together for 8.5 years. My friends & family are the world to me.

1. I have always wanted to be a nurse & my dream is to work in an ER. Then I would love to get my masters & be a nurse practitioner in an office.
2. I love being a wife.
3. I can't wait to have a family. Ry & I want to wait a couple years but when we are ready I will love being a mom.
4. I regret not playing sports in high school.
5. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Target... in Lafayette the security guard used to recognize me ... it was funny & embarrassing.
6. I love taking pictures & wish I had a lot of money to spend on new cameras & lots of editing computer programs
7. My twin sister & I have a bond like words can not describe.
8. I wish I was more involved in a church group/community.
9. If there was a class for Sweet TEA addicts (McDonalds) I would have to attend on a daily basis.
10. I have a slight OCD ... I try to keep it in check but sometimes I cant!
11. I love the BOILERS & the Colts :)
12. I get goose bumps & sometimes emotional when I see a car crash/ambulance
13. I thought I was scared of spiders until I met Ryan. He is petrified of spiders & if we ever have a spider in our apartment I have to kill it. lol
14. I can't wait to go back to school... I might be in school for the rest of my life to get to my end goal!
15. I am excited to start my daily blogging. I hope everyone enjoys it!

Pictures

Here are a few pictures ... sorry they are backwards in order! Hope you enjoy them.

Baby Noah - 1 month old :)

Love my sister <3>
MNF w/ My dad & Ryan

Halloween 2010

My NERD crew

PU Game :) GO BOILERS

Introducing Noah :) Amy is so lucky to have such a sweetie

Night out in Broad Ripple

Harrison vs. HSE GO RAIDERS & #64

Ry & I with the new Mr. & Mrs. Marando

3 of my favorite people

Ry & I @ the Wedding

Taylor & I in the party bus

The Bride & I

Mr & Mrs Marando

7 weeks until 2011

I can't believe there are only 7 weeks left in 2010! WHERE HAS THIS YEAR GONE??? I've been so busy with work & life!! To catch you guys up on the last couple of months I will post some pictures when I get home from work.
Since there are only a couple more weeks until Thanksgiving, Ry & I have been talking about our plans for Thanksgiving day. We both have Thanksgiving day off but work BLACK FRIDAY. :( I wish Thanksgiving was a 3 day event. Both of our parents are divorced & that makes the day kind of difficult. I wish we could be 5 places at once. These are all the people that have already contacted us about Thanksgiving--- My stepmom's side of the family (Noblesville) , My mom's side of the family (Monticello), My dad's side of the family (Indy), Rys gma's side of the family (South Bend) , & Rys dad & stepmom's side of the family (Lafayette). I have no clue what we are going to do.......

So much has happened since my last post:
1. One of my best friends Katelyn & her husband Ryan got married on 9-25-2010! It was such an amazing day!! Everything went as planned & the weather was awesome. The wedding party was so much fun & we had a great bridal party entrance. Kate & Ry's professional pics are so great & I think they are already adjusting to married life!! I love them both & I am glad they are together. They are an amazing couple.
2. PURDUE FOOTBALL GAMES are back in full swing - I am so bummed that I am only going to a couple games this year. The Boilers are having a rough season with many injuries & new players but I WILL ALWAYS support the BOILERS!! Not going to the games has been a big adjustment from the other years when I didn't miss a game ** Super Tailgater lol
3. My brother Jared who is junior at Harrison High School completed his football season. They lost to Jeff in sectional but the team as a whole did great this year. I am so excited for Jared to be a senior next year. He is currently looking into colleges & is very interested in going to an out of state school.
4. Ryan's cousin Amy had her baby - Ry & I went to the hospital in Lafayette to meet him & check up on Amy. Baby Noah is so cute & I can not wait to spend some time with him at Thanksgiving! He looks like a little doll baby (boy doll of course). One thing I thought was very interesting at the hospital...Ryan did not hold Noah. He said he thought he would hurt him & didn't know how to hold him. When we were leaving I asked him what his plans were for our future baby? He said he would hold our baby because it would be his... haha he is so funny.
5. We celebrated Halloween ...which is one of my favorite holidays! Sara, Amber, Stephanie & I dressed up as nerds. Our costumes were so much fun & comfortable. By far one of the best outfits I've worn out to the bars. Usually I wear heals, wearing flats to the bars was great. It was a fun night we went to the Broad Ripple bars & hung out with friends. Ryan was Waldo & loved it!
6. Amber & Sara moved out -They both were living with us for 2 months while they searched for a new place in Indy & found jobs. It was fun having them & hanging out. Ryan goes to bed around 9:30 so it has been nice having company. Their new place in not even a mile away from the bars in Broad Ripple. Their house is old but so cute. I spend all day last week painting & helping them get moved it. I used to think I like to paint but not after Saturday. I wish Amber & Sara the best in their new place & I'm glad it is only 15 minutes away! Love u both

Hope you all are having a great day & I will post pictures later :)
xoxo- Tiff

Family

Today I was thinking about family. Last semester I took a Marriage & family course @ IUPUI and our first homework assignment was to define family. Our professor said every semester she gets a tons of different answers. When I went home I thought long & hard about my definition of family & how it has grown. When I was little I thought family was just that, blood family. As I have grown my definition of family has too. Now I believe family is anyone who is a great part of your life, even if they are not your actual family. I think there are some real (blood) family members that I do not consider my family because of situations or problems with them. As I have gotten older I also look at family different. As a child I loved my family, as a teenager I couldn't wait to get away from them, and now as an "adult" I love my family! I am so thankful of each person in my family & friends (that I consider family). I believe I am the person I am today because of my family & friends. Family, old friends & new friends each have taught me a little lesson about myself. My sister always says she believes people come in & out of your life for a reason! I now believe that is true!
So ...CHEERS TO FAMILY & GREAT FRIENDS!! I love you all! <3

"Family isn't about whose blood you have. It's about who you care about."

TWITTER

THIS IS FOR EVERYONE WHO IS NOT ON TWITTER ... you should really try it out!! When I first tried using the site I thought it was lame & didnt enjoy it. I think I thought that because I didnt know how to use it. Also I didnt have many followers & people to have little convos with. NOW it is one of my favorite social networking sites! Dont get me wrong I still enjoy facebook but twitter is different & new!
FOLLOW ME ----> @tiffanylmay