Life Lately

I feel like more often, I'm writing "catch up" posts... what's been going on lately.  Mostly because days dont amount to enough for a post all on their own.  And we've literally been running ragged these last few weeks and weekends.   We recently had a bowling date with our sister in law and friends from church. I'm so terrible, but it is really a lot of fun.

 

Sunday, we woke up, went to church, got lunch, went to Lifegroup, and went to a graduation party.  I was gone from 9am to close to 6pm. 

 

We're back on our summer schedule of four 10-hour days a week and I have Mondays off again.  This Monday, I went to Dad's to hang out with my sister before she leaves for London on Friday.  Lucky duck.

  Nashville summer has been bearable lately.  Like windows up napping in the storm kind of good weather. If the storms wouldn't make life so humid, it'd be even better. 

    We had a milkshake date with my best friend and Jackson's best man. She's going to Wisconsin for the summer. He's going to Mississippi for forever. So we had a "farewell please come home soon we don't do well without you" date.... that lasted until Midnight.... and I had to be up at 5AM the following day.... today.... I'm dying. haha.

 

Jackson and I are taking a trip this weekend to reconnect. Just the two of us.  The Little Hineys are taking on Holiday World this Saturday.... and I am pumped.

Easter Weekend 2015

Our Easter Weekend was busy but so much fun!   Friday, I hung out with Dad all day. We went to Kohls, to Ross, and to Target before coming home and binging on The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Seriously one of the funniest shows ever. Friday night, Jackson, Byron, and I went on a date. We went to Cracker Barrel and to see Furious 7.  I bawled like a baby at the end. Seriously, you need to see it.

  Saturday was the busiest of days.  We had an Easter Egg hunt at church, but before I went there, I had to go get more craft supplies, get groceries, unload groceries, and then get to the church.  The craft went really really well, and Jackson and I even made one, too. ;)

 

Saturday afternoon, we went to Home Depot to get supplies, and we built a new fire pit in place of the one we've been using for years.  Side note, if you've never shopped somewhere like Home Depot with your best friends.... do so. It's hilarious.

 

Sunday was Easter and Jackson's Daddy's birthday. We went to church for a great Easter sermon, had steaks for lunch, opened presents, and went home and napped. Sunday was quite a great cap on a full weekend.    I can't wait to see all of your Easter recaps!!

Little Hiney Christmas

Our Christmas week was full of rest, family, fun, and quality time.   I hope your Christmas was just as full! It was our first Christmas as a married couple, and we enjoyed it to its fullest!

Coming Togetherness and Traditions

One of my favorite things about being married so far is combining our family's traditions.  Christmas has given us the perfect opportunity to explore what things are special to us that we want to keep, what we want to do new, and what we can compromise on. 

 

We were raised differently in many aspects, but our Christmas traditions were different, too.  My family didn't have a specific tradition for putting up the tree, but his family likes to do it the day after Thanksgiving.  My family loves things like pajamas and cookies (and carrots for reindeer!) served on a specific Santa plate.  I had never seen the Polar Express, and now, after seeing it (and then watching it four more times in three days) we have decided to make it a tradition in our family.

 

I love this "coming togetherness" that is marriage. 

I love combining our two families into one as we develop traditions and habits we will pass onto our children someday. 

 

Thanksgiving 2014

Our Thanksgiving weekend was a long, busy weekend full of family and no rest! Isn't that how that works, though? You have days off so you stay up too late? No? Just me? Cool.   Thursday, we had lunch/dinner with my mother's family.  Afterward, Dad, Mom, Cameron and I went to Walmart where Dad proceeded to almost get in a fight with a man who called my mother something not so nice.  I think Walmart is where Christmas Cheer goes to die.   I woke Jackson up early (8am) Friday morning to put up our Christmas decorations. Wife of the year, I know.  We have our Black and Gold Vandy tree up and decorated! Tree skirt is a work in progress.  If anyone knows where I can get a cute one under $20, I'd be grateful! Our favorite part was hanging The Ornament we bought on our Honeymoon! Waiting a whole ten months to hang it was torture!

Then we went to his family's Thanksgiving and ate our little hearts out all over again! We played almost an hour's worth of Uno, and then Jackson got tired which resulted in puppy snuggles:

Saturday, we did my Dad's family's Thanksgiving and played with my cousin's children.  There aren't any pictures of that, though, because we were too busy throwing children in the air and spilling coke on them. (oops.)   Also unpictured: Getting hooked on the game "My Singing Monsters" Watching all of the GREEK our hearts could handle Catching up on The Walking Dead Eating an entire bag of Rolos and Caramels All of the awesome items I crossed off of our shopping list Both of us being sick and piled up on the couch All of the empty DayQuil packages on the counter  

Thanksgiving is STILL on Thursday

No, this is not a rant about wanting to move Thanksgiving to another day of the week.... It is a tiny rant about how underobserved (is that a word?) Thanksgiving is.   It has come to my attention.... more so this year than ever before.... that Thanksgiving is like a speedbump on the way to Christmas.  It's like Thanksgiving is here to slow people down before we hit the "Christmas Rush"... but... It's almost like those big wide speedbumps that you really don't have to slow down for.  It makes me sad.   Thanksgiving is the bees' knees in my opinion. Why? Friends and Family. Food. Football.   But it's more than that. It's a time to be thankful, to really stop (I mean like brick wall, not speed bump) and enjoy the things we all have.  It's not a time to put up our trees and lights and presents. There's a reason the "Christmas Switch" is not flipped on the radio until the day after Thanksgiving.  Because we're not there yet.  Because we don't need to plow through one holiday to get to the big one. Because it's not all about presents and decorations and who gets what.   It's about just being. Being still. Being thankful. Being in the presence of those we love. Just. Being.   I understand that would require a massive slowing down of our lives for a millisecond.  I understand that's not something our culture is familiar with.  In the everyday hustle to get to work, through work, home, through dinner, etc. we make it a habit to rush. We rush to get to Friday, we rush through our weekends, and we look up and we're turning our Calendars to December before we realize we've left March eight months ago.   I challenge you to take a breath and just revel in the beauty that is this holiday.  Don't worry about Christmas.  It's still coming at the same speed it always has, and I promise you, it will still get here.   Tiny note because I feel bad: I love seeing all of your beautiful trees! I promise, I do! I'm not condemning anyone for going ahead and getting their Christmas stuff up! In my home, we don't; in your home, you do! both are just as  great!

20 things I've learned in 23 years

Today's my 23rd birthday! Blink-182 told me no one would like me at this age....     It's not 18, I've been legal for five years (??!!?!) It's not 20, I kissed teenage years goodbye three years ago (??!?!) It's not 21, I've been legally allowed to drink for two whole years (never have I ever!)   But it is 23. My first birthday as a wife. The first birthday I get off of work in forever My 10th to celebrate with Jackson The last on a weekday for years   I'm spending today sleeping in, hanging with my daddy, celebrating with Jackson, and reflecting on 23 years of life.   Here's what I've learned   Stop rushing life - I am a rusher.  I rush through life, fun events, the little "insignificant" things to get to the big things.  Rushing life has caused me to miss the importance of things in the here and now.   You have to let people in - I spent a lot of time with walls.  I didn't want anyone else inside those walls, and I was just fine, thank you very much.  College and friends broke those walls down and shared real and raw life with me.  The walls make you miss out.   There's value in hard work - Whether it's a day completed at the office, or a project you complete just for you, there's value in it.  I never understood people who don't have work ethic or drive to work. The reward is often self-gratifying and warrants a pat on my own back, but hey, that's okay.   You don't get an opinion unless you're informed - I have turned into one of those obnoxious adults who, in an argument, wants to hear the reasoning behind why someone thinks how they think.  I hold everyone (even myself) to a high standard when it comes to forming opinions.  Unless I've researched something enough to have all of my facts, I don't get to argue my opinion.   Some days call for no makeup and sweatpants - This one is pretty self explanatory.  Some days are like that, and that's ok. You don't have to be dressed to the nines every day.  Sometimes, pajama pants are just fine.   Confidence is key - So much good comes from having confidence.  Whether it's an awesome outfit that you thought you'd never pull off, or a public speech, confidence makes the difference.   You don't need everyone - Being an extrovert, this is a huge deal to me.  I get my energy, my "go" from being with and amongst people. It's dangerous to think you need everyone.  You don't.  I promise.  Some people will only work against you for the rest of your life. It's okay to let them go.    Splurge, you will end up wasting it anyway - Honestly, I have learned that some things are splurge worthy. For example, my Nikon D3100 that has been used twice was totally worth every penny.  Looking back, I can always remember the things I didn't splurge on and reallllly wanted; I can't tell you what I bought with the money I saved.    Don't change for people - This one is huge.  I went through high school not knowing what it was I wanted, who I wanted to be, or who I really was.  I let my friends, boyfriend(s... there were only two besides Jackson), and parents tell me who I needed to be.  I remember going to college and breaking down because I didn't know who I was.  My year away from home really made me realize what I wanted and who I wanted to be.  Once I became that person, I realized I was happy. Sure, there are still people who don't like me, but do you need those kind of people anyway?     Dad was (and always is) right - I used to joke that Dad was never wrong, but the older I get, the more true it is.  My dad was 39 when I was born, and he had done some living.  He had been through the 50's and 60's, high school and college, wars, jobs, friends, etc.  You name it, Dad has a story about it.  He was right when he said me and my friends from high school would grow apart, when he said I was always going to love my mother no matter how awful she can be, and when he told stories about the values of hard work. He is always right.    Smile at everyone - Don't know them? Doesn't matter.  I have resting grumpy face, so I, personally, have to make an effort to smile at everyone.  It started out as faking it so I would stop getting asked what was wrong with me.  Then it became a habit.  I'll never forget the day someone posted on our "college confessions" page (lame, I know) that the blonde haired girl in the elevator of whatever building wearing a grey striped shirt with a "CMR" monogrammed backpack smiled at them and changed their day.  Do it! It's worth it!   Sisters stick together - Cameron and I didn't really grow up close.  We were so alike but so different that we didn't really mesh well.  I was the social butterfly and she was very academic.  We didn't see eye to eye on a lot. I would have traded her for $20 back then, but I wouldn't trade her for the world now.  I know she is and will always be there.    Say "I'm Sorry" in moderation - There is always a reason for someone to be sorry, but that doesn't mean it always has to be you.  I was guilty of apologizing for things that weren't my fault, apologizing when there wasn't anything I should be sorry about, and talking myself into thinking it was my fault.  I'm sorrys are only okay when they're said by the person truly at fault, and when they are meant wholeheartedly.    It's too hard to hate people - Holding grudges, hating people, being mad for long periods of time is simply exhausting.  What's the point, anyway?   Stop talking - I used to get myself in a lot of trouble trying to talk my way into or out of things.  I'm a talker, and I'm a confident talker at that.  I can talk to anyone, about anything, and arguing is my specialty.  The problem was that I was always forcing people to listen.  By shutting up, I was able to learn so much more about life around me.   Leave it to mystery - This goes mostly for clothes.  I was a high schooler who would let it all hang out.... until I realized no one wanted to know me better. There was no depth and no mystery.  My junior year, I got my wits about me and went "Jackie O" and realized that my relationships changed drastically.   Hostess gifts are not optional - Even if it's a Thank You card, the hostess deserves a gift.  It doesn't matter if it's Christmas, if it's family, or if it's a friend for a sleepover.  Follow your dream - This time last year, I didn't even have an embroidery machine. This year, people are coming to me to embroider things for them for Christmas.  There's no telling where it will take me by this time next year!! All because it was something I wanted, Dad Santa invested, and boom!  You're Beautiful - I'm not a size two, I have a butt too big for jeans that fit everywhere else, I am short, my hair is frizzy, and I have breakouts.  But by golly, I'm beautiful, just the way God made me.   Ask; the worst someone can say is no - Whether it's the raise you want, the discount on something awesome, etc... don't be afraid to ask because the worst someone can say is no.  If you never ask, you never know how it might have turned out.    

Thankful (Round 1)

Each day last week, I've challenged myself to find five things I'm thankful for! I highly recommend doing so - it brings a silver lining to a rough day! :)  So does taking pictures with a dog. Preferrably your dog, but any dog will do. ;)

    My sweet husband who works overtime A job that lets him work overtime A new car that is dependable  My dad's humor and kindness A small home with not too much to clean   Being able to stay on Mom's insurance so we can save Jackson's benefits being affordable and really great A kitchen I get to make a mess in when I cook My bed and a full night's rest The covenant of marriage and what it means to us   The defrost setting  Quality, face to face time with people. Friends who agree that playing hide and seek in a dark church is the bomb coffee Sweaters   Netflix binges Vacation days for my birthday and the whole week of Christmas A husband who tries Space heaters Naps   A boss who is human and understands life Pinterest Our brother and sister-in-law coming home for Christmas Getting to see my sister here and there when she's home from college The blessing of being able to go to college   My embroidery machine that allows me to add some change to our pockets Checklists Glasses for days when I don't want to wear makeup

Umbrellas My sweet Nana who loves anyone and everyone   A photographer who is willing to do our bridals almost 10 months later! ;) Boomer A husband who helps me clean the hard things 10+ year friendships Old pictures of Jackson and I  
 

Friday!!

I am so thankful today is Friday!! I hope you have all had a wonderful week, and an even better weekend ahead!!   1. My brother in law and his wife finally announced that they eloped this week! Remember the secret I had back in July?! Whoop! There it is! They eloped back in July and have been waiting on rings to take pictures to announce it. haha.  We are excited to welcome her to our family, and even more excited to have them home for Christmas!

  2. We have had a rainy week in Nashville, but that's okay because with rain comes rainbows! This one ended on the runway at the airport, and I saw a plane go right through it.  Craziest, weirdest, coolest thing I've ever seen!

  3. I get to spend time with my daddy tomorrow!! Jackson is going to the duck blind to do some work, so I'm taking the free time to go hang with my dad!    4. I made the cutest leaves for garland for Friendsgiving! I made them with a clear vinyl pocket so we can put our "What I'm Thankful For"s in the inside!!  

  5. Yesterday, I went out to start my car and it just would not start.  Come to find out, I had a dead battery.  Probably because I've had the same battery since I bought the car.... $200 and lots of crocodile tears later, I got to spend some quality time with my sweet husband.

 

Linking up with Karli and Amy and Lauren and 5 on Friday

Friday!

1. I used our $0.10 off to get gas this week and it was under $3 for the first time in forever.  This is a sight for sore eyes, but it was so so welcomed!! 

2. I had to take a work trip on Wednesday to Lawrenceburg, but hey, our boss bought us Dairy Queen on the way home! :)   3. I installed the iOS 8 update, and I have to say, I'm not really impressed.  It made my phone look prettier, but there's nothing really special or different about the way my phone works.  I do like that I can answer a text in an app without having to go to the messages, and the "recent" bubbles at the top when I double click.  But other than that, meh.   4. We have zero things planned this weekend minus a bridal tea on Sunday after church for which I have to make cake balls. Insert eyeroll here.  I'm looking forward to a weekend of relaxing and football.... and maybe picking up the Conjuring from the redbox because Jackson has never seen it!! Wife of the year, right here.   5. Thank you all for your sweet words and prayers for our family's possible new adventure with Jackson's possible new job.  Keep praying!! He talked to the boss of the department who said he was highly recommended by a guy he used to work with who now works there! I hope you all have a wonderful, restful weekend!!  

Linking up with Karli and Amy and Lauren

Fires, Family, and Football, oh my!

Our weekend seemed like a five day weekend! We spent so much time resting, so much time with friends and family, and so much time watching football.   Friday, Jackson and I came home, ate dinner, grocery shopped, and came home to spend some balcony time because it is really starting to feel like fall here in Nashville. 

 

Saturday, I got up early thinking I would need to go help Dad wrangle cats to take to the Humane Society, but he decided against it, so we spent some time just laying in bed, resting and relaxing.  When we finally got up, I was all over the laundry, cleaning out things we didn't need/use anymore, and dishes. Oh, and watching the Vanderbilt game. It was good to finally just have some time to do things like that.  MTSU played WKU, and thankfully kicked butt.  Their spray paint on our horseshoe was enough to make me livid. Jackson's parents wanted to cook him a birthday dinner, so they made ribs, potatoes and beans, and we ate dinner with them.  We then had our first bonfire of the fall. We had a whole bunch in the spring, and a couple this summer, but it's finally fire weather.

 

Sunday, we got up and went to church, we had lifegroups, and I went to Jackson's Cousin's Babyshower.  It was so much fun! I love spending time with family!! We had a fire Sunday night, too, so my hair reeks of fire smell this morning.  It was so worth it, though.  We are living up this weather!

 

Friday!

 

1. I got these awesome boots for $11.24 from JustFab.com.  I have been looking for a cute pair of wide calf boots that didn't cost over $40 for forever. Win!    2. I updated our chalkboard wall this week for football season. I'm not going to lie, I squealed and took a screenshot when the Tennessee Titans Instagram liked my picture. ;)   3. My sweet baby sister felt like I was competent enough to help her with her resume and cover letter for an internship application.  Not to toot my own horn, but I'm resume champ. Love her! (Ignore the mushy mush in the green. ;) )

 

4.

One of the three musketeers (the one on the right) is moving to Texas in October.  I cry everytime I think about it, but I am taking it as a chance to throw a party for her.  I love throwing parties, and this is the perfect excuse! 

 

 5. This handsome man's birthday is tomorrow.  This is the tenth birthday we have spent together, and every year I love him more and more.  I have planned breakfast in bed, helping dad capture and take kittens to the humane society (that one has no significance to his birthday, I just promised Dad. haha), maybe some exploring, presents, and then dinner at the cheesecake factory (where he has never been?!)!

Linking up with Karli and Amy and Lauren

September Goals

I hope you all had a wonderful Labor Day Weekend! I hope there was some family time, dove hunting, and rest! Mine was complete with a girls' brunch at Goodness Gracious.  Anyone close to Nashville needs to try it. It's in Readyville, but 100% worth the drive!! 

  It's time to make goals for September; looking back on August, it feels like it was a week long! Did anyone else's August fly?!   Let's see how I did with our August Goals: 1. Read our Bible and pray together every day.
2. Start working out 3-4 days a week
3. Go through boxes we moved into the apartment and haven't looked at since
4. Handwrite our vows in our wedding book
5. Handwrite our vows and frame them next to our mirror in the bedroom.
6. Buy and start reading "If I Stay"
7. Pay off emergency credit card from car repairs so we can save for truck tires.
8. Spend more time with my nana.
9. Take Boomer to a dog park
10. Decide if we want to add a puppy nugget to our family.   3/10. That's a 30%, and an F in most school systems. We went through two boxes filled with Waffle House coffee mugs, flags from countries friends have visited, and hats with too much dust on them.  We threw out clothes we will never wear again. We did pay off all of the car repairs, but we used the card for a couple of important things that came up, so we aren't paid off 100%.  We have started saving for truck tires, though.  We decided that it would be wonderful to add a puppy to our family, but right now it's just not a good idea. Puppies need attention and time, which we don't necessarily have.   Better luck, September.  Here are September's goals: 1. Read our Bible and pray together every day 2. Start working out 3-4 days a week 3. Handwrite our vows in our wedding book 4. handwrite our vows to frame them next to our mirror in the bedroom 5. Spend more time with my nana. 6. Clear all boxes from the top of our closet and unnecessary bags from the linen closet.  7. Start decorating for Fall come the 22nd. 8. Drink less soda 9. Go camping once 10. schedule (bonus if I complete them!) bridal portraits. 11. Give away shoes I don't wear and pack up summer shoes

Friday!

Happy Friday!! I don't have five great things to share about my week, so this week, we'll be doing five things about my husband that I love.  I promise not to be too mushy gushy. Most of these will probably end up having little to do with him, so Happy More-Random-Than-Husband Friday   1.  I love what a simple man he is.  He doesn't need or ask for extravagant things or elaborate gifts. He doesn't ask for a big weekend vacation, rather, to go shooting guns on Monday for the holiday.  He is more than satisfied with a day of snuggling and a special dinner for his birthday.  He is 100% okay with Hamburger Helper when I'm tired, and rants about how wonderful it is.    2. An evening is an evening well spent if we have dinner, a good show/movie on TV, maybe an hour of dying laughing at some of our kids from church because we found their Vine channel (the one below made me die laughing... and crying...I couldn't figure out why. go watch her stuff), maybe some football (Seriously Titans and Vandy, neither of you could pull it together?!?) and good sleep.  This week, Jackson has been letting me sleep for a while when I fall asleep on the sofa because he knows I've been exhausted lately.  

3. He lets me order cards like these (no worries, they were free this week) and sign his name to them.  He never has any idea what they say (well, sometimes) so when people come to thank him, he nods and smiles a lot. It's really funny to watch. 

  4. (Mush&Gush alert!) I love his selflessness.  Wednesday, I was feeling a little awful and I fell asleep at 8 on the sofa.  Not only did he not bother me, but he ran the dishwasher and put up dinner and his laundry.  Can we just talk about how awesome that feels for a second? When you wake up at 12:35AM to go to bed and hear the dishwasher running, you just want to kiss your husband. However, the bed is calling your name, so you stumble into the bedroom and mumble a Thank You when he gets into bed.   5.  He has always been my biggest fan.  I found pictures like this yesterday from my Time Hop that said 7 years ago!(If you don't have that app, you need it!). It reminded me that for the last 10 years, he has been my cheerleader, without fail.  When I need it the most, he is there to tell me how wonderful I am and that I can do anything I set my mind to. 

   How were your weeks?!

Linking up with Karli and Amy and Lauren

Birthday on a Budget

One week from Saturday is Jackson's 23rd Birthday, and his first birthday as a husband.   

    I spent weeks trying to think of the perfect gift.  I was researching guns and accessories and making it 10 kinds of complicated. I kept thinking about gow awesome the Titans tickets were last year, and how I could never match that! I wanted to make it birthday of his dreams on our newlywed budget.   Here's how I made it work:   Plan in advance By planning ahead, you give yourself plenty of time to watch sales, to change your mind, and to think of the perfect birthday components.  If you wait until the last week, you may be forced into the gift and not enjoy it as much. I started planning three weeks in advance.   Listen to him; he will tell you what he wants While going through his closet, he commented about really wanting a pair of American Eagle jeans.  He followed that by, "when we have extra money for them."  My heart started to ache just a bit because his luxuries had to wait until our budget allowed.  Insert lightbulb here; I remembered his birthday was a few weeks away! While it's not a huge expensive present, it's something he wants which is just as special.   Wait for a sale By giving yourself a few weeks, you can wait for a sale.  I waited them out until jeans were under $30 and I had an awesome coupon.  By shopping a sale, you are able to stay in your budget or free up more money for little gifts to go with it.  I plan to fill his pants pockets with iTunes gift cards and Date coupons!!   Be original Believe it or not, guys are aware of the lists like "Best five gifts for your husband's first married birthday" lists.  I was guilty last year of Googling "What to get male on the last birthday before you're married." I was totally busted! The more you intentionally listen to him, the easier it is to be original. For example, Jackson also has never been to the Cheesecake Factory, so I plan to take him there for dessert!! :)

Weekend Update!

Happy Tuesday! I feel like it has been forever since I blogged or talked to anyone. Thank heavens for long weekends.    Friday, I worked and then came home. I didn't do much Friday night except for rest.  It was much needed.  I worked on one of the three polos I'm embroidering for the pre-school at church.

Jackson went to the church lockin with the mindset that he was not staying all night. 6AM when he was crawling into bed.....   Saturday, I woke up early to go with my parents to move my sister into her dorm in Chattanooga.  I sent pictures to Jackson all day to make sure he was included in the fun of the coffee, carsickness, campus and lunch.

   Sunday was my daddy's birthday. We went to lunch at Cracker Barrel where I beat this guy at Checkers.  okay, I'm lying. I hadn't played checkers in ages, so we had a lot of fun. :)  

 

and last but not least... I had my interview yesterday. It was great.  I was interviewed by three ladies who all said they were impressed that I was so calm in my interview.  She said she could tell I was a people person and that I was confident.  phew! I'm glad that anticipation is over... now to wait to hear back!

 

I'm catching up on all of your weekend happenings, and I hope you're having a great week so far! We're past Monday, and that counts for something, right!?