Burlington & Montreal

So, I got to check two more places off my map. Here's what it looks like for now.

I loved Vermont. The country girl in me was so happy. The air was fresh, the mountains were gorgeous, and it was just plain peaceful.

I visited the Ben & Jerry's "factory" while in VT. It was free thanks to Foursquare. Interesting, but nothing to make a special stop for. They have so many other factories open now, it's kinda disappointing. Our tour guide was great none the less.

I visited the Flavor Graveyard and LOVED finding this headstone for ice cream that contained Jack Daniels. What what!?!

View from my room at the B&B in Stowe. This little mountain town was AWESOME. Such cute mom and pop bars and restaurants. I'd love to go back when it's ski season.

(PS. Super hottie gentlemen asked me to stay and hang with him at and his friends where I had dinner, open tab, and idiot me turned him down. I don't do well with this single thing girls.)

One of many cute little cafes in Old Montreal.

A Kir Royal and fresh bread? Oui, s'il vous plaît!

The view from my lunch spot, Jardin Nelson.

One of the gorgeous old buildings in Old Montreal.

The Basillique de Notre Dame

So hard to photograph, but the interior was breathtaking.

I'm not Catholic, but I lit a candle and said a prayer at the St. Jude statue. He is the Patron Saint of Lost Causes and one of the Saints I love.

My overall experience in Montreal was dismal. I'm so glad I went and finally set foot into Canada, but the language barrier was rough. French is the language in Montreal and not knowing but the basics, proved to be super difficult for me. My first experience in a hostel was AWESOME and I only wish I would have done this method of travel sooner. I'm eager to return to Canada and visit the many other provinces outside Quebec. I was blessed with the opportunity to visit, and I'm so thankful for that!

What's In A Name?

So you're probably wondering, "Why Fifteenth & Madison?"

I spent WEEKS trying to figure out a good name for the new blog. I searched the top 100 movies of all time rated by AFI. I searched my playlists on Spotify. I racked my brain for any cute name I could think of. I just couldn't find one I loved in my list of twenty potentials. Then, out of the blue, I stumbled upon the address of the Washington Monument.

15th & Madison

The Monument has always been like a beacon for me, a symbol that I am home. I make it a point every time I visit DC, to head straight there. It's the first thing I do, sit in the grassy area surrounding it and just take it all in. It made complete sense to me that as I start this new journey of my life in DC, that this would be the perfect name for my new blog.

I can't wait to continue my blogging journey with you guys from my new home, our Nation's Capitol <3

July 4th, 2009

This is Why I'm Blessed

I'm blessed to have such awesome friends. To have friends like Wendy, who I've babbled on about over and over. I'll just say a picture speaks a thousand words. I love that both times before I left for DC, we met up to say "Bye for now." I just love that.

I'll be seeing lots of her this year as we prepare for her big day in November! Yay!

The next night, J squared (my soul sister) arrived in town from Georgia for a quick family weekend. I could not leave Orlando without picking her up at the airport and seeing her sweet face for even just an hour or two. We got some Five Guys, Pinkberry, and enjoyed each other's hugs and company. She's seriously been my saving grace y'all!

My first Pinkberry experience. WAY healthier than regular froyo joints.

Our froyo's. Mine is the fruity one on the right. Green tea and strawberry froyo with mangoes, kiwi , strawberries, waffle cone, and vanilla yogurt chips. Mmmm!

Our time was way too short being that we hadn't seen each other since Christmas, but one has to be thankful for even the little time right?

Love these girls <3

I'm Gone

{{WELCOME to the NEW 15th & Madison! Eat, Pray, Love...Live! has finally made the transition over. Excuse our dust as we work to get out the kinks and get everything switched completely. For now, enjoy the new look and keep an eye out for the meaning behind my new blog!}}

I'm gone.

I'm not looking back.

I got up at the crack of dawn this morning and am heading to my new life in DC. 

Pretty exciting. Pretty nerve wracking.

I won't lie, I'm so nervous about it, I could puke. It's so different this time.

The good news is that for two weeks, I get to stay with this awesome girl, my former roomie.

The great news, is I'll be working a contract for two weeks on Fort Meade, Fort Belvoir, Fort Myer, and Andrews Air Force Base. If any of you lovelies out there are stationed at one of those fine places, holler!

The other fantastic news is that I landed an AWESOME contract from now until September doing a series of events for a wireless carrier. The pay is frickin' incredible and is such a welcomed relief to me. I feel so, so blessed for this opportunity. Not having to look for work for a few months is a welcomed invitation.

I also got a phone call while I was in Montreal from a golf course where I applied to be a cart girl. After some serious talk with W&R at dinner one night (J's sister and FH), I decided this was something I should totally try to do on the side. I've always thought about it, I love golf, and all drunken middle aged men aside, it could be pretty interesting :)

*Knock on wood* the job stuff seems pretty solid for now. It gives me time to network my butt off and get closer to my goal of working for a military related non-profit. Perfection.

Now if I could just firm up housing!!! Keep your fingers crossed and say lots of prayers for Piper and I as we travel up the East coast this weekend. I'll be leaving her in Charlotte for a couple weeks with her dog besties (my heart is breaking!) and coming back to get her after this first round of events is done. Pray for the housing situation and everything else that comes along with this new start...again.

Thanks guys!

I'll Be Honest

I just got done sitting on the balcony in my little room at a quaint Bed & Breakfast deep in the mountains of Stowe, Vermont. I was breathing in the fresh air, staring up at the stars, and just thinking about everything I've been through. It's something I've been doing a lot of lately.

The truth is, I'm absolutely terrified at this very moment. Terrified of the uncertainty that is before me. It's something I'm not really used to. I trust God's plan for my life, but this time...it's just a little different.

I think about how just three years ago, I was passionately in love with someone who was serving in Iraq. I had known with every fiber of my being that he was the one for me. We got married, commited our lives to one another, and thought that was it for us. I thought I was finally done. I rejoiced at the thought of never having to play the dating game and being with someone who wanted the very same things I did. A family.

A few months later, I was pregnant. Then, that was gone just as fast as it came.

Two years ago, I left my husband. For the last time. I have no idea how I did it. At times, it feels like all of it just never really happened. But, it did.

Six months later, I was divorced.

Six months after that, I was back in my hometown, something I swore I'd never do, finding myself in a relationship with the person I always loved. The person I never stopped loving. The person I envisioned spending eternity with since I was 19. My best friend. My resting place. My safety net. (PS. We went YEARS without speaking, so he was a total non factor in my marriage) I figured surely after all I had gone through during our time apart, the things we went through...that this was it for us. We had done the whole "if it's meant to be, it will come back" thing. Clearly, I was wrong again. After 4 months, I was fooled, tricked, thrown to the side like what we had was nothing at all. I was "loved" by an imposter.

All of this hurt and heartbreak, letdowns and shortcomings have happened to me in the past three years. It's seriously a lot for someone to swallow at any point in their life, let alone in such a short period of time. Had things gone the way I thought they would, I'd be sitting on this balcony with my husband, maybe our son or daughter. If not that, at least with J as I had always envisioned it. I think about how much I've traveled and all I've seen since we broke up and it's just...a lot.

The truth is, as much as so many of you applaud me for my strength, and how much I share...inside I think I'm in total shreds. I think a lot of it has to do with this upcoming move.

You see, last time I moved to DC, things were so different. First, I had not been married, divorced, etc. I went to J and gave him the option of stopping me from leaving the day before I moved. He calmly looked at me and said "I know we'll get married someday." So I smiled and walked away. Totally. I left, left him behind, but always thought in my heart there was still that chance. That possiblity of finishing what was never done. Now, it's totally finished. For good. When I cross the state lines this time, there's no going back. It's for real. It's for good. I tried. It didn't work. This dream I've carried with me for 8 years, is no longer. It's done. One of the hardest parts about it, is coming to grips with the notion that maybe it was never what I thought it was. The person I thought I knew, that I put on this pedestal, and had such high regard for, never really was.

I know I've blogged about it many times over the past few months since we've split, but right now...it's just scary. As of this moment, I still don't have a place to live. There's nothing certain except for the fact I'm going. I'm making it happen and I'm not giving it up again. If ever a time to learn a lesson on trust, now it is so.


On the other side, I can look back and see all I've been through and be proud. Very, very proud. I haven't crumbled. I haven't faltered. My mission was to get back to DC and live my dreams and I'm making it happen. Nobody is standing in my way anymore. My future is all mine and that is pretty awesome.