About Me

My photo
Welcome to the Garrick family blog!!! Tanner and I got married on May 23, 2009 and I am using this blog to chronicle the events of our marriage! I wanted to create someway for us to remember our first year but to be honest I am not very good at keeping a journal so I thought I would try blogging.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Day 4: Your Parents


My parents and I

I consider myself very lucky to have my parents. When I was younger my biological parents separated. It was just me and my mom for a while. When I was about five years old my mom met Manny and the three of us became a family.

My mother is a very headstrong, independent, and opinionated person. I admire her for all those traits. She knows when something needs to be said and what to say to make you feel better (most of the time). I joke around with my husband and tell him that my mother is my conscience, she taught me right from wrong, however sometimes when a decision is hard I call my mom just to hear what she thinks. My mother has always encouraged me to be a better person and taught me that sometimes in life you have to work for what you “WANT”!!! My mother’s most famous quote is “It’s good to want, when you want you have goals. “ When I was younger I always hated that saying but as I have gotten older I have realized why my mother taught me to work for what I want. I consider myself very fortunate to have a mother that encourages me, loves me, and that I can confide in.


My Mom and I!!!

I will start by saying I absolutely HATE the term stepfather. It sounds so distant and impersonal. With that being said I will now tell you about My Manny. My Manny is my father; he raised me along with my mother. I never felt that I missed out on having a full time dad, like some children with divorced parents. My mother and I were lucky that Manny came into our lives. He didn’t have to treat me like a daughter and yet he did. He was at every cheerleading practice, soccer game (I played one season), gymnastics practice, school play, swim meet, graduation, and every other significant event in my life. He did homework with me and helped me study and even listened to me read papers when I was finished writing them. I consider myself very fortunate that I had someone to do all these things with. The best part about my Manny is that unlike some fathers he didn’t take the responsibility for me because he had to he did it because he wanted to!

Me and My Manny!!!

I have the absolute best parents. I have always felt that I can come to them about anything and everything. Like most families we have our moments but that doesn’t change the fact that my parents are incredible and I wouldn’t be the person I am today without them.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Day 3: First Love

Growing up I remember watching movies and seeing people who were "in love" and wishing that one day I would also feel like they did. When I started dating in high school I never really experienced LOVE I dated people, one in particular for nearly two years, however it just never felt right. I cared about them but I knew that I was not in love. For a while I thought that the kind of love you see in movies and that your parents tell you about is unattainable. Then one day sitting on a barstool at Summers’ (Tanner’s former job) I looked at my best friend and realized that I have a “crush” on him. I remember avoiding him for two weeks after that realization because I couldn’t be interested in my best friend. Several months later I got brave and told him I was interested in him and that we should go out on a date. Not too long after our first kiss I realized what it felt like to truly be in love. It isn’t just about sweet romantic things and it isn’t like the movies it’s much better. It’s the everyday things that let me know how much I truly love him. Its waking up to my coffee already made because he knew I would want some, its laying around on lazy Sundays and doing absolutely nothing together, its laughing uncontrollably together over silly things, and talking about everything and nothing until the wee hours of the night. Love is knowing that it isn’t easy but every day working at it because it is worth it. I often find myself thinking how did I get so lucky to be with someone who loves, supports, and encourages me regardless of anything or anyone else. I consider myself to be truly lucky to have Tanner in my life and I am so blessed that I get to go through the rest of my life with my best friend.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Day 2: The meaning behind your blogs name!

I think my blog name is pretty self explanatory. My maiden name is Pinon but on May 23, 2009 I was fortunate enough to marry my best friend Tanner Garrick! I took his last name and shortly after we married I decided to chronicle the first year of our marriage using this blog. Hence the name the Garrick’s First Year!!!

Friday, October 15, 2010

Day 1: Introduce yourself

Well, if you are reading my blog I hope you know who I am! My name is Victoria Garrick formally Victoria Pinon. I am 24 years old as of TODAY and I am married to an amazing man! I love my life, my family, and my friends. Here are 15 random facts about me!


1. I married my best friend from high school. I never expected to fall in love with him but I am glad I did.

2. I have three younger siblings that are my world. I would do anything for them.

3. I am blessed to have a mom, who drives me insane, but I would never change for any reason. She is absolutely my best friend and confidant.

4. I consider myself lucky to have my Manny (dad) not everyone is as lucky to find a Manny who loves you and encourages you.

5. My biggest aspiration in life is to be like my Abuela!

6. I am a teacher. I love my students and YES I take it personally when people who know nothing about education tell me how I should do my job. I am there every day to teach, love, and support students who may not get support and love anywhere else. My biggest challenge is making these kids believe they do deserve the best and can achieve anything they set their minds to.

7. I have had the same group of friends since I was about 3. My new friends from SC are like my second family as well.

8. I absolutely LOVE Cooking and Baking. Food in general is my obsession!

9. It takes me a while to warm up to people I sometimes come off as snobby but its just that I am easily intimidated.

10. I am not good at forgiving people. Once someone has made me angry or betrayed me they are out of my life. I need people I can depend on not sketch individuals.

11. I graduated from Carolina (GO COCKS) and I am starting my masters in May.

12. I am not a religious person however I do believe in God. I hate when people try to preach to me. I prefer to practice my beliefs my way without the influence of others.

13. I DO NOT like animals yet I have two dogs that I love. Other people’s animals gross me out!

14. I am a little anal about a lot of things I hate being late, I hate when others are late, I love to have attention and hate being ignored, I am 100 percent a type A personality.

15. My secret dream in life is to own a bridal boutique and help people look beautiful on the most important day of their lives.

So, Those are my fifteen random facts. I hope they give you a better idea of who I am as a person!

So, Those are my fifteen random facts. I hope they give you a better idea of who I am as a person!

30 day Challenge

Day 1-Introduce, recent picture, 15 interesting facts
Day 2-Meaning behind your blog name
Day 3-Your first love
Day 4-Your parents
Day 5-Your siblings
Day 6-A picture of something that makes you happy
Day 7-Favorite movies
Day 8-A place you've traveled to
Day 9-A picture of your friends
Day 10-Something you're afraid of
Day 11-Favorite tv shows
Day 12-What you believe
Day 13-Goals
Day 14-A picture you love
Day 15-Bible verse
Day 16-Dream house
Day 17-Something you're looking forward to
Day 18-Something you regret
Day 19-Something you miss
Day 20-Nicknames
Day 21-Picture of yourself
Day 22-Favorite city
Day 23-Favorite vacation
Day 24-Something you've learned
Day 25-Put your iPod on shuffle, first 10 songs
Day 26-Picture of your family
Day 27-Pets
Day 28-Something that stresses you out
Day 29-3 Wishes
Day 30-a picture
I found this 30 Day Blog Challenge and will be participating in it. I won't promise I'll write something every single day- because I know I won't but I will do my absolute best to keep up with it. :)

Why did I ever WANT to grow up?

I am completley aware of how insane this sounds however, I feel that I must get it off my chest. Today is my birthday, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME. I should be pretty excited except that I'm not. I turn 24 today and although I know that in the long run 24 is still fairly young I just can't help feeling OLD! I understand that I am being ridiculous and am perfectly aware of how crazy this is. I just can't help the feeling. At 23 I still felt as if I had every right to make poor decisions and act crazy and wild and not worry about anything because I have the excuse "I am ONLY 23" Now I feel that I no longer have an excuse to not act like an adult. Twenty-four seems like an official adult age. Although overall I must admit I am not quite like other 23 year olds I still am fighting my way against adulthood... Why did I ever want to be an adult when I was younger. I should of listened when mom said "stop trying to grow up so fast"!!! I should have taken extra years in college instead of doubling up on classes to graduate on time. I should have gone straight to grad school, not bought a house, or a car, and live the life that most immature/irresponsible 23 year olds live...But now its to late I am 24 and officially an adult. This makes me a little sad! Goodbye my youth! I know I am totally being dramatic but thats me so appreciate it!