FORE! My month of golf...and it's not over yet!

Hey all!! I sincerely apologize for not writing more the last few weeks. It has been in incredibly busy month between work and golf and possible BIG changes!! In a few days i'll share Easter with everyone and hopefully I will be able to share those big changes soon as well. For this post, i'm sticking to golf.

Event #1 - The Masters at August National Golf Club in Augusta, GA.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
I have never been. Charles has been going for almost 7 years now. His dad, Charlie (Mr. Fox to me), has the luck and pleasure of working the 5th hole during the tournament. So, luckily he gets a few tickets for each day of the practice rounds. The rules are (from what i understand) that after 20 years of service and work to The Masters, he will receive tickets for every day of tournament...that's Monday - SUNDAY!! How exciting! You really have to be dedicated to the organization and Mr. Fox is certainly that. He looks forward to this week every year and I am just so happy that he gets to be a part of something he has loved for so long!  Me... i was just excited about going, seeing Augusta National - up close, and eating one (or two) of their famous pimento cheese sandwiches! Augusta National really is everything and more than what i had seen on TV. We were able to see so many of golf's "greats": Tiger, Rickey, Freddy, Phil, Luke, and the incomprable Jack Nicklaus! It was absolutely amazing and I was so happy to be experiencing this first with Charles, who will be my forever. OH and the Pimento Cheese sandwiches were to die for (i figured out how to copycat the recipe) and the beer is CHEAP!! Truely, what more can you ask for?  Here are some pics from that day!

Charles and the Masters board

Me and the Masters Board

At the Par 3 with my awesome visor and Charles!

Charles and his dad

Jack Nicklaus!! LEGEND!

Event #2 - The Heritage at Harbour Town on Hilton Head.

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Charles is lucky that he has such great accessibility to tickets for The Heritage Golf Tournament. He works at a very nice private golf club where many of the members are involved in the tournament and the golf community. We were given Sunday grounds passes along with a clubhouse pass, which made a lot of things easier (i.e. using the potty). Sunday, the 15th was beautiful, the day started off a little cloudy but by the time we got out to the golf course it was a crystal clear, almost hot, day! We followed Zach Johnson (i joke he is my cousin) then went and enjoyed the sun and other golfers on the 18th hole. It was an absolutely perfect day! It really was. Here are some pics from this past Sunday.

Me and Charles in front of the Harbour Town Lighthouse

18th Fairway and all the boats that watch

Enjoying the 18th in the grandstands

Zach Johnson (in the white pants)

Event #3 - Liberty Mutual Insurance Legends of Golf Tournament at The Westin in Savannah Sunday, April 22, 2012.

We have not yet attended this tournament because it is this coming Sunday. My office is a co-sponsor of the event so this time I was able to provide the 2 grounds tickets and 2 tickets into the VIP Hospitality tent :) I have my own golf connections too, ya know?! I looking forward to starting Sunday at church with my love and then heading to the course for some lunch, golf, and a few cold beverages! The forecast is iffy so I'm just hoping the weather holds out....

~M. Johnson :) :)

New Weekend Adventure

This past weekend Charles and I had an entire Sunday to spend together (this rarely happens because of his job). We started our morning at church and then wanted to do an activity, something fun, visit someplace we haven't been before. Hiking at Pinckney Island National Wildlife Preserve was it!!

Here we are at the beginning

We left the dogs at home and headed out. Bull Point was our intended destination, but would we make it?? It was going to take around 2 miles to get there but i was excited about a nice long walk with Charles, talking and laughing and taking in all that this beautiful island had to offer. It is a gorgeous island with over 14 miles of hiking/biking/exploring. Tall pines and massive Live Oaks lines the trails.

Charles wanted to pose by the first marsh we walked past...it was low tide

There is a beautiful Butterfly garden...unfortunately not the masses of Butterflies i was hoping for

More massive foliage

OH and in the above pic you can see Skull Creek Boathouse one of our favorite restuarants!

Then we started down a path that we THOUGHT would lead to Bull Point (our intended destination). I should have known by the dark shadows that we may be have headed the wrong direction.

We literally walked for an hour and a half...more amazing Live Oak trees and then we got to a clearing...

It was about this time that i realized for long we had been walking and where we were supposed to be ... and it wasn't anywhere near where we actually were.... in the picture below you can barely make out a tree line in the distance....that's where we thought we were

Finally we made our way back. My hips and shins were killing me (i apparently need new shoes BADLY to run) but we had hiked around 6 miles in gravel and grass! You'll notice the path that was so shadowy and dark is now beautiful and full of light... we were almost done!!

We obviously did not make it to Bull Point, but maybe we will when we go back (Charles grabbed a map). I am excited for our next adventure :) I'll be sure to share when it happens!

~M. Johnson :)

Details

Happy FIRST DAY OF SPRING!!! This is my favorite time of the year!! Everything is blooming (along with my allergies), the colors are so vibrants, the air is warm (but there is always a cool breeze), and people just seem happier. It is obvious that "Spring Fever" has hit my office...everyone seems to want to be outside or at the beach and work seems to get done quicker so that playtime can begin.

I just wanted to write a super quick post about my weekend. In Savannah it was St. Patrick's Day weekend, and if you are familiar with that holiday then you know what an insane party happens in this beautiful city! As for me, i avoided it, and went up to Atlanta to visit my parents and take care of wedding details. On the to-do list was to see my hair dresser and go back to my blond color (long story short that includes some woman turning me orange then chocolate brown), shopping for a wedding dress, looking at invitations, and figuring out what to do for Save-the-Dates. Mom and I also wanted to look at the menus from the caterer and work on finalizing the guest list. Overall i would say that the weekend was pretty successful!

1. I got my hair back!!! It feels awesome to be a blond again! I just feel more like myself.

2. I found my dress!!! First store, second dress I tried on! Of course I cannot post a pic of the dress but i do have this picture of me and my dress consultant. I was her first bride ever, and trust me when i say she did a fantastic job!

3. Invitations  and Save-the-Dates were designed with the help of a fabulous associate at Paper Affair. We are using a silvery grey (wedding color) and they are going to be uniquely ours :) I don't to show those off yet til i get them in all printed and finished :) Save the dates should be printed and picked up before the end of the month... It's very exciting!!!

4. We didn't get to make any final decisions on menus, but we did narrow it down. I definitely feel like we are getting there. I have discussed the pre-marriage counseling sessions with our minister, so hopefully we will begin those this summer and I am getting ready to send an email to the music director regarding the ceremony music :) And we think we have finalized the guest list...we think...

Well that's about it for now. OH and i did my first outside run with my mom ... 2 miles ran, about 1 mile walked...i was pretty proud of myself!!! Moments like that are always encouraging!

~M. Johnson :)

Sometimes...

Sometimes it's just not your day...sometimes you are so busy that you can't seem to keep it all together....sometimes you just get so tired that you can't sleep well...and sometimes you just want to fall to the floor and sit there, alone, in your own self pity...EVERYTIME this happens, I feel a little bit defeated.

You see, i am typically a VERY happy, almost giddy person. it is quite rare to find myself in "a mood" or a funk or sad. It's just not in my nature. Now, i get aggravated and ticked off like the next person, but to just be down-in-the-dumps...yeah, that rarely happens to me. Unfortunately today is one of those rare times...

I have been traveling  quite a bit lately. I was in Memphis, TN the first full week of February, then when i got back to the office i was immediately thrown into planning and preparing mode for my next 2 trips (which were back to back). I had 2 weeks to prepare a day full of appointments for my team on our Sales Mission while also preparing materials and getting the other 3 teams organized for their Sales Missions. I needed to prepare 125 binders, 125 sets of 5 tabs to go into the binders, organize a "packing party", make sure i had all of the materials from my company at everyone's disposal, and basically babysit the packing process. You see, in my job, there are times in which I must be incredibly diplomatic. This is not easy for me by nature, as i am a fairly opinionated person, but sometimes i just can't have an opinion and this packing party was one of those moments, and TRUST ME, i had a million opinions bursting to get out that afternoon. Immediately following the Sales Mission, i had a travel trade show in Louisville, KY. I had enough time between shows to hug my fiance, scratch my dogs' bellies, do laundry, and repack. Off to Louisville i went, for a week. Both trips were hugely successful and I would not have traded them for the world, but, when i got back the time changed and i feel like i am struggling to get back into my normal pace of life.

This week in itself has just been one of those weeks. I moved right before I left to go on my 2 back to back trips, so i am trying to adjust to the new living arrangement. My dog somehow got a gash in his eyelid which led to a $112 trip to the Vet. (Now, don't get me wrong, i would do anything for my dog, but $112, 2 days before the paycheck hits the bank, it just hurts a little) I have inadvertently become the contact person for a major event coming to Savannah in May (for the first time) so a lot has quickly been put on my plate. It is St. Patrick's week here in Savannah and the crazies have been in town since last week. There seems to be a constant line in our office bathroom (you can't close the potty when your office is also a VIC) and people get stranger as the week goes on, so things should get even "better"...And to top it all off, I am heading to ATL this weekend to see my parents and basically focus on nothing but the wedding. Charles will be staying in Bluffton/Savannah because he has to work. This weekend priority #1 is FIND THE DRESS!! Then invitations, save-the-dates, pick a menu, discuss flowers, order bridesmaid dresses, discuss favors, and anything else that needs to be done. I'm tired already, ha ha!! I am not good at making decisions when there are so many options, so i definitely need my mom's help so the time i have with her is precious. The process has moments that are just a little overwhelming...

Now, i know that life could be much worse, and that i have much to be thankful for, and trust me when i say i am thankful for every blessing in my life. I know God has given me so many blessings...just every now and then it's nice to whine a little. I'm am a self-described control freak and may have a slight case of OCD, so when i feel a loss of control (like the last month and a half) it just makes me crazy inside.

I'm finished with my whiny rant now...I'm sure i will be much better next week...can't keep me down for too long! I apologize if you actually read through this entire entry...I know that wasn't fun :( I will do my best to avoid having that happen again!

~M. Johnson :)

here is a picture of my Teddy and his poor wounds :(

Lent

Happy Wednesday everyone! I have been slack the last week or so about my blog...sorry :( It has been quite a busy couple of days...okay it's been a busy 10 days! I am exhausted, but alas there is no rest for the weary...at least not yet.

My future sister-in-law, Jessica, her husband, Brent, and their sweet daughter Emma came to visit twice last week. The first time they were here was on Valentine's day! This was my and Charles' first Valentine's Day, but seeing as I am not 100% into the holiday, there was really no better way for me to spend the day than with my new family. Plus...I was so stinkin' excited about hanging out with Emma. She turned 1 in October and she is just the sweetest thing! I love that Jess and Brent call me Aunt Meghan. I am really lucky to have such fantastic in-laws. Jess, Brent, and Emma left the morning of the 15th and then returned early afternoon on Saturday the 18th. It was a NASTY day in Bluffton, so we went bowling. We had a blast, even between all taking turns holding Emma and bowling pretty horribly, ha ha ha ha! Seafood dinner after and then off to bed! Of course wedding details were discussed. There is just so much excitement and I just can't wait to be a part of this family.

i LOVE this face!!! sweet, sweet Emma


I also have 2 big work trips coming  up. On Sunday, i leave for Hickory, NC, Asheville, NC and then on to Greenville/Spartanburg, SC on sales calls. 2 days after i get back i will jump on a plane and head to Louisville, KY for the Travel South show. I will make sure to bring back lots of pics.

Sometimes i feel like i don't have time to breathe!! On top of traveling and visitor's, I have also been in the process of moving. The lease was up and it was time to move, so move i did...probably not the best timing, but when it needs to be done you have to do it, right? So needless to say, it's been a little crazy and hectic! Luckily, today is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. As a United Methodist, I have always observed Lent and the Ash Wednesday Service of atonement. Lent respresents the 40 days and 40 nights leading up to Easter, where some Christians believe that they need to give up something as a fast (just as Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights before fulfilling the Prophecy). I am not sure if i am going to give up something or just promise to keep up the changes i have begun to make (healthy eating, running, being organized). I'm going to think about this today and get back to you.

I hope everyone has a blessed Ash Wednesday and now it's back to preparing for my trips...

~M. Johnson :)

Well happy Saturday evening everyone!!! It has been quite the week since i last wrote. Engagement pictures have been taken, edited, and received and I LOVE THEM!!! See the bottom of this post to see some of the fantastic pictures. Our photographer is Michael Edde and he owns Beacon Photo: www.beaconphoto.com. He is phenomenal and makes Charles and me feel so comfortable. I think this definitely shows in our photos. I cannot wait until our wedding and before that, my bridal session :)

I also had a super busy week at work and was in Memphis, TN, Tuesday-Thursday. Most of the time, i do not get to really see the cities i visit for work and this trip was no exception. I got to see the conference center and the Marriott hotel. Don't get me wrong, both were very nice, but i do wish i could get out and really experience the places i visit. I did get to see Graceland though! This is HUGE for me! My mothers is quite the Elvis fan, and so by default I am an Elvis fanatic! Graceland is tackier than i imagined and truly fit for the King of Rock and Roll! Check this out:

It really was an amazing site. The rest of the conference went well, and I feel like i promoted Savannah to the best of my ability.

In other news, I finished week 2 of the Couch to 5K program! This is SUCH AN ACCOMPLISHMENT for me! I feel great and i am actually excited for week 3. Blood pressure continues to lower, my pants continue to fit and look better and i am super excited about this journey i have begun.

Savannah/Bluffton is pretty chilly this Saturday evening. There is a cold front that is moving in, so instead of the broiled fish i was going to make, i'm making chili :) It's a cold weather favorite! I usually use ground beef, but i have lowered the amount of red meat i eat, so ground turkey it is :) My 2 extra ingredients are turkey sausage (like kielbasa, sp?) and about a half a teaspoon of cocoa powder. Not sure what it is, but that cocoa powder makes the chili absolutely to die for! I hope that you all have a perfect Saturday night and that you are staying warm! I know I am :) Enjoy some of my engagement pics below and I will talk to you soon.

~M. Johnson :)

Super Sunday

Happy Super Bowl Sunday everyone!!!

It has been quite the week/weekend for me and Charles! The week was awesome! I finished week 1 of Couch to 5 K..woo hoo! Yay me! I know it is a small step, but it is a small step to a big goal for me. Charles and I have decided that we will run the Susan G. Koman Race for the Cure in April. I am aimed to finished Couch to 5K the end of March, so this will be perfect timing for my first 5K :) AND Charles has agreed to run it with me (at my pace)  ha ha ha, he'll be walking!!  Oh and along with the C25K, I was up and in the gym by 5:45am twice this week. I really want to be in the gym first thing in the AM at least half the week. I admit, 5am SUCKS, but i feel so much better throughout the day and week.

Friday night, Charles and I stayed in and didn't do too much.

Saturday was a phenomenal day!! The Tybee Island Critz Half Harathon was held Saturday morning and i have not one, not two, not three, but FOUR friends running their first 13.1!! They all finished in AMAZING time and I could not be more proud or excited for them!!! This is the race that i have set for myself to run next year, so having them finish and not be in too much pain after is a HUGE encouragement to me.

Today, Sunday, Charles and I ventured to early service together for the first time. 8:45 am can make you forget things, like my Bibly being left in the pew. Thank goodness the minister, Karen (who is actually marrying us), found it and has it safely in the church office. After church we got in a quick workout then it was time to get ready for our Engagement Session with Beacon Photo! We had a GREAT time with Michael Edde and i can't wait to share some of the photos with you all!! We were able to incorporate the dogs and some cute crafty things i had made :) Oh and there is a cute little surprise for our GSU and App State friends!!

Well that is all for now :) I just wanted to give you an update on my week. I will share some of the engagement pis when i get them!

~M. Johnson :)