Our Wedding: Picking a Honeymoon

Picking our honeymoon location was difficult. It was one of the last real decisions we made! Originally, we wanted to go to Walt Disney World in Florida.  Jackson had never been, and I hadn't been since Senior year of High School:

Post Splash Mountain, Silly Band Wearing, Good ole days. (circa, 2010) We used their online tool to figure out how much we would need to save, and we about passed out.  We didn't want to spend more than $1,000 on our honeymoon. Frugal and far fetched, we know.  Disney was 225% of our budget, and that didn't include transportation to Disney. ouch.
So we started writing down requirements for our honeymoon in hopes of typing them all in Google and finding our ideal location: -Warm in February (whose idea was that?!) -Within 8 hours of driving (I don't fly yet) -Walking City (we're cheap on gas) -Historic (we're nerds) -Enough to do but not overwhelming (we are easily distracted and like our naps). -Close to the beach, but not on the beach (we're pale) Insert beautiful Savannah, Georgia. 

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(via) In pictures, we fell in love. It was southern, old, and beautiful. We read everything we could get our hands on.  We read about the bed and breakfasts and learned that's the only way to stay in Savannah.  We read about the fact that it is the second most haunted city on the nation and made lists of the ghost tours we had to take.  We read about the history and made a list of stops we had to make along our on-and-off-all-day trolley tour.  Lastly, we made a plan to spend a day at the beach.   So here's the deal... if you have a small honeymoon budget, you can still have the honeymoon of your dreams.  We came back and did our figuring and our hotel, food, gas, souvenirs, etc. were all under $1,000.  Don't let a frugal budget get you down! Next week I'll recap our beautiful honeymoon week in Savannah. :) 

Reminder

Today at work, we had a companywide annual update meeting. Because next month is my "one year" mark, it's my first annual meeting.  We got an update on our finances, our retirement plans, and had "story time" with some of our employees.  I work in the corporate office, so I rarely get to see or hear about what goes on outside this office unless it's negative. These stories about the families and lives we're changing literally brought me to tears.   I've been passively looking for a new job.  After applying for the HR Generalist position, and a payroll position, and not hearing anything back, I made the conclusion that I would be stuck in my assistant job for a while.    After today, I realize why my efforts were nothing more than passive... why I never felt pressured to get out and look... I love my job. I love our company.    I look at this picture from my first day of work where I was overwhelmed and exhausted and oh... overwhelmed. I laugh.

  Sometimes, God gives me very subtle reminders as to why He has me where I am at any given moment.  This is your mission field, I once heard someone say. Sure this company may not provide me my career... it may not be the place from which I retire.... but I'm here now... for this season of my life... and I am so richly blessed.   

Weekend Recap

Well. This weekend was nothing special. I got to spend lots of time with my husband, which, after the busy week we had, was welcomed and needed.    Friday night, someone forgot to tell me he was heading home, so I didn't know to start dinner. He walked in and I was working on monogramming the bridesmaid t-shirts for the first of two best friend weddings this summer.  We ordered delivery dinner from E. Milano's. So good!!

 

Saturday, we spent the day with Jackson's parents. He changed my oil, helped his daddy cut the grass, and his mama and I watched Jim Carrey movies and Harry Potter (aka, we just hung out with ABC Family all day).  We had dinner with them then headed to our semi-weekly bonfire. This week it was just me and the boys. (and by boys I mean children who see how tall they can build a fire)

  Sunday, we got up for church after staying out until midnight. We went home for lunch, did some laundry and some cleaning, watched Harry Potter (obviously it's now evident I have a problem), napped, went to the grocery (underbudget for the third week! woot woot!), and came home to a dexter marathon.   I hope you all had a great weekend!! Hopefully this awful weather isn't causing you any problems!!    

Thankful for Friday

I'm exhausted. Body, mind, spirit. Completely exhausted. I would say yay for the weekend, but that will be busy, too. whine whine whine.   High Five, though, we made it to Friday again!   1. We nailed down Mother's Day gifts this week.  For his apron and Big Bang Theory loving mama,

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 For my gardening loving mama,

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And for my sweet nana, we made her a shutterfly photo book full of our wedding. :) 

  2.  Speaking of Shutterfly, I am working on getting caught up from 2012 and I am loving the way these books are turning out! They're going to make wonderful additions to our collection! My goal is to do one every year, so hoepfully come New Years, I'll be ready to order our 2014 one!   3.  ThredUP is offering a 30% off code for select items through the weekend (SALE30). I found this beautiful top and I'm already mentally preparing an outfit for summer newlywed pictures. I also found these REALLY cute things, too!

 

    4. Jackson's brother's girlfriend and I spent Thursday evening at his parents' house going through baby pictures. Can we say blackmail? Really, though, Jackson was one of the cutest babies. Huge, but adorable. Looking at him when he was born really helped me see what an 11lb 8.5oz baby looks like. killme.    5. We finally for the last time figured out what is wrong with my car.  The check engine light came back on a couple of weeks ago.  I took it to one shop, they couldn't do the tests, so they refered us to another shop.  The new shop ran tons of tests - nothing.  He looked at my gas cap (which I was told was a factory gas cap installed by the Suzuki dealership) and realized it was a standard gas cap.  Suzukis are funny with the gas caps - they can't be anything but Suzuki.  So they ordered one from teh manufacturer and didn't charge us a thing for the work.  If you're in Nashville and need a shop, Heard's Garage is awesome.  They're so great!!      

Our Wedding: Our Cakes

Picking a cake was impossible. I knew I wanted white cake and white icing, and he knew what he had in mind for his, but I didn't know where to go from there.  I originally wanted Julia's to make our wedding cakes. We were frequent customers when I lived in Murfreesboro for college.  Seriously some of the best cake in the world. However, it was a little too expensive for our wedding cake.  Jackson wasn't budging on having his groom's cake from Julia's, so we decided to see what they could make of his idea. I imagined them doing like on Cake Boss when Buddy makes the cartoon of the cake vision he has in his head. haha. Jackson wanted a wrench cake.  He is a diesel technician, so it was fitting.  He didn't want it to be too big or too elaborate.  They came up with a gigantic sheet cake and a wrench on top.  We loved it!

As for our wedding cake, all I knew is I wanted it to be simple and classy. I have always loved the look of milk glass, so I typed "Milk glass wedding cakes" into pinterest and found this:

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I sent it to Publix and our consultant, Rita, really made my dreams come true. I told her I liked the flowers, but I wanted it to all be white.  I wanted four tiers, but nothing too large in diameter.  Readers, feast thine eyes:

Not only was it beautiful, it was delicious.  Our cake topper was something special. Dad gave us a Precious Moments figurine of a bride and groom to go atop our cake. 

This was my favorite part of our reception... the cutting, the smashing, the eating. :)

We didn't get to eat any of the cake except the little bit we cleaned from our faces. Our minister's wife packed us a to-go box with our cake in it. We took it to the Opryland Hotel which is where we spent our wedding night. We were starving by the time we got there. So we ordered room service chicken and pigged out on our cake. It's parts of our wedding like that that we laugh about and will never forget. 

 

Easter Weekend!

Our weekend was filled with fun, family, friends, love, and the Lord.   Thursday (because let's be real, my weekend really started on Thursday) I worked and then took a trip to Bed Bath and Beyond. I returned a few things we got late for our wedding and had already purchased. They had these awesome Kate Spade throw pillows marked $9.99!! They had been $45. When I got to the register, they were $1 each.

 

  Friday I spent the day with dad.  We went to see my nana and just hung out all day long.  I took my car to the shop because that doggone check engine light will not go away.  Look-a-there, they couldn't find a thing wrong with it.  They recommended us to another shop which is where it spent the rest of the weekend (and probably will spend a couple of days this week). Jackson has started watching Dexter and is addicted.  He was up until 5:15am Saturday morning finishing Season 1 and we didn't officially get in bed until 7:30am. haha.   Saturday We got up at 11 and did a whole lot of nothing until it was time to go to my aunt's for my mom's family's Easter.  We just got to spend more family time which was great.  Saturday night, Jackson's parents had his family's Easter at their house.  It was great to catch up and relax with family.   Sunday We got up and went to church and had a great service and Bible class.  One of our young girls was baptized by her sweet daddy; talk about a tear jerker in the best way possible! We went to his mama's for Easter pictures

  Then we headed to Cracker Barell for my dad's family Easter.  

When we got home, handyhoneyhiney hung the paintings of the deer and doe that my sister painted for us. They're gorgeous and match our Navy, Grey, Wood bedroom.

 

 

Sunday night, we went to Murfreesboro to see one of Jackson's friends do stand up comedy.  I was totally out of my comfort zone, but I had a great time! It was great to finally get to hang out with friends of his that he has told me so many stories about!

 

FRIDAY!!!!

Happy Good Friday! I hope we're all taking a few minutes to reflect on today and its meaning.   High Five that we made it to Friday, yes? Knowing I had Friday off work made this week drag.   1. I updated our chalkboard to reflect something Easter-y that had nothing to do with bunnies, eggs, and seersucker.  Don't get me wrong, I love it all. The only time I don't love it is when it takes precedence over Jesus.

 

2.

For some reason, my teriyaki chicken kabobs were the bomb dot com this week. Not that they aren't always (toot, toot), but they were awesome this time. Maybe it's the blood I shed using our mandolin slicer to make zucchini chips before making the kabobs. I'm completely kidding - I put a bandaid on that mess!

 

3.

I found this throwback from my Senior prom in 2010.  Cue "I'm not anywhere near a size 6 anymore" thoughts, yes? haha, I'm joking.  But really, it's crazy how much we have changed in four years!

 

4.

Hubs won this toolbox at work retailed at $5,000. He bought raffle tickets to benefit one of the men in his company who needs a life-saving surgery, and he won! Now the dilemma is to keep or to sell it.  He has a massive multi-thousand dollar tool box that is perfect size, but we could really use the money. We could pay off almost half of his tool bill with that money which would expedite the plan. Of course, if we could sell it for full retail, we could split it 50/50 and pay down some of the tool bills and donate half of it to the man having surgery.  ohh the dilemma. I'm so proud of him, though! Winning is in his blood! His mama is sweepstakes master!!

 

5.

Today I'm enjoying a daddy-daughter day with my dad. I miss that old geezer and spending time with him.

   

20 Things - Mrs. Edition

I found this fun survey Christina posted and figured it'd give you guys a chance to get to know us better. Today, it's my turn. Next week, we'll see if we can convince hubs to give it a go.

1. What brings you the greatest joy?
Family, friends, hubs, and being able to praise an awesome God.

2. What are your vices?
ABC Family. Dr. Pepper.

3. What is on your nightstand?
A frame with lipstick kisses from my bachelorette party (still pictureless, of course), a lamp, a journal, and a devotional. Oh, and my iHome that is never used as an alarm clock.

4. Do you have a secret talent?
Nope. Well, I'd say I've become good at cooking, and it's secret because I don't make a big deal out of it.

5. What is your greatest indulgence?
We go out to eat far too much, but mine personally would be shopping.

6. What should every woman try at least once in her life?
I wish I had some crazy story to back up something in left field like "make out with a stranger", but I don't.  I guess I would say go out with friends and don't look at the clock. You'll hate yourself the next day, but it's worth it.

7. What makes you laugh?
When kids say funny things, when hubs quotes a movie and the quote fits perfectly with whatever is going on, Chrisley Knows Best

8. What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
I'm a homebody. It's not that I don't enjoy company or going out and having fun, but I would rather spend an evening on the couch watching a movie.  It's really not like my extrovert personality, but it's true!

9. What is on your bucket list?
Travel to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
(via) Travel to South Africa and volunteer at The Lion Park
Start a crafting something of my own.

10. What is on your feet right now?
Nothing. I wear cute shoes to work and then take them off when I'm at my desk.

11. How did you make your first dollar?
Are we talking chores, toothfairy, or job? My first job was working at Kroger.  Honestly, if the hours and work uniforms didn't suck so bad, I would do that for the rest of my life.  I am such a people person and I loved working in customer service.  I loved talking to and getting to know customers and I loved getting to supervise and organize other employees.

12. What superstition do you believe in?
I don't know that I'm superstitious, but I do thing bad things come in threes. 

13. What items in your closet do you wear the most?
Now that it's spring, I'll be living in dresses, but I have started living in my boyfriend jeans.

14. What is the best gift you’ve ever received?
hmm. I got my car for my eighteenth birthday.  I love my car no matter how sick it seems to stay.

15. What is on your liquor shelf?
We don't drink.

16. What is on your kitchen counter?
Oh, all two square feet of it? On one side of the kitchen, we have the toaster and coffee maker (for making sweet tea only).  On the other side, we have our Keurig Vue, our knife block with knives, and our utensil holder that I painted. :)

17. What would you never leave home without?
Phone, Keys, Wallet, Bobby Pins.

18. What movie has the greatest ending?
I'll be cliche and say The Notebook.

19. Who is on the guest list for your ideal dinner party?
Our best friends, Dennis Quaid, and Jennifer Lawrence

20. What is one thing you wish you had known when you were younger?
You will be fine. Stressing gets you no further than where you would have ended up anyway.

 

Our Wedding: Meet the Men

Happy Wedding Wednesday!! See the rest of our posts here! Last week you got to meet our maids, so today, it only seems fitting for your to meet our men!!

 

  We had some of the most wonderful, chivalrous men ever in our bridal party.

  Jackson's best man was his best friend, Byron. Jackson and Byron became friends in eighth grade in English class. He transferred from private school, and instead of letting magnet school eat him alive, we decided to be nice.  They lived down the street from each other and never knew it!! From then, they were inseperable. No amount of miles or time between them has been able to separate their friendship!   Next was Garrett. Garrett is Jackson's brother, so I guess there's no discussing how they met.  He has been there since the beginning of our relationship, through the breakups to tell me how stupid his brother is, and he flew all the way from Hawaii to attend our wedding and miss the superbowl on the way back!! I wanted a brother growing up, and I'm so blessed to have gained Garrett as my brother.

Next was John. Our friendship with John is a funny story.  We went to middle and high school together and we were always good friends.  On my eighteenth birthday, we went ice skating.  John decided to skate between Jackson and I and so I tried to stop to let him go ahead of us.  When I used the spikey front of my skate, the pointy part was sticking straight up in the back. John, for lack of more descriptive and greusome words, sat on my skate.  We spent my 18th birthday in the ER with John; he and Jackson became very close friends after that day. :) He is hilarious, sarcastic, gives the best hugs and the best high-fives.  I'm so thankful we had him standing with us!!   Next was Bryce. Bryce and Jackson met when Bryce was born.  I wasn't in the picture yet, but I have heard that Jackson and Bryce have always had a great friendship.  He is such a kind, gentle, Godly young man.  He was so welcoming to me when I started attending church there, and I am so thankful for his heart.    Next was Austin. Austin and Jackson also met when Austin was born.  He was also one of the most welcoming people when I started attending church there, and I love him to pieces.  He is so kind and funny and he is such a Godly young man!

 

Next was Houston. Houston and Jackson also go way way back. Houston is Garrett's age, but has been there to help mold and guide Jackson most of his life.  He has been there to help coach and encourage Jackson through some very rough spots. He has been like a brother to me for the last couple of years and I am so glad I got to know him! He is funny, encouraging, and has wisdom beyond his years!

Next was our Junior Groomsman, McKenley. Mac is Jackson's cousin's son.  He has a great personality and has stories out the wazoo.  He was so funny and kept us on our toes all day.  He is a young version of Jackson and I loved watching them interact.  He is a great kid and I'm so blessed to call him family now.   Last, but not least, was our Ring Bearer, Landon. Landon is also Jackson's cousin's son (Mac's brother).  He was hilarious and he stole the rehearsal dinner completely.  He and our flower girl had a love connection that was doomed from the beginning because, as she said, he was five and she was seven and that wasn't going to work.  We dressed him up in sunglasses and gave him a safe in which he carried the ring boxes (Sorry Landon, Spoiler, Byron had the rings the whole time...). He was sure we knew that he was the life of the party and we are so thankful for his energy. Love that kid!