Fathers Day

This year, I would have liked for Father's Day to simply disappear from the calendar, but alas. It didn't.  And it won't. Ever. 
I've spent days changing the channel any time a department store commercial, electronics commercial, or even grocery store commercial came on telling me everything I needed to do for my Dad for Father's Day. I can't do any of it because I no longer have one of those. 
I've been handling it well for the most part.  Until Now. 
I miss my Dad more than I know how to say. There are almost 100 times a day that I think about calling him to tell him what just happened, because that was my life. Good things happened, I called Dad. Bad things happened, I called Dad. Just because, I called Dad. He was my best friend and my go-to for things as simple as "I'm walking across campus and want to say hi."  I wouldn't trade our Saturdays for any high school party, I wouldn't trade my weekends home for any weekend hanging with friends, and I wouldn't give up any Friday night spent playing Jeopardy with Dad for anything. I would give anything to be able to have any of that back. 

Happy Father's Day to all of the Daddies out there. If you have yours, hug his neck extra tight today. 

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!!

Friday!

Happy first Friday of 2015!!   I did a quick recap of what we were getting everyone for Christmas, but haven't gotten around to doing a haul. Honestly, I probably won't because Christmas isn't about the awesome things we get, it's about family and giving and celebrating our Savior.    Instead of doing a whole big post about it, here are my five most favorite things we got for Christmas! We were so richly blessed by our families!!   1. Only the best thing to ever happen to our bed... this mattress pad was like getting a brand new mattress.  We sleep without tossing and turning, now!

 

2.

I got all of the seasons of Greek on DVD, and Jackson got the box set of Sons of Anarchy!

 

3.

My long coveted Laundry sign from World Market! I can't wait to hang it in the Laundry closet for clothes that need to hang to dry, Jackson's work pants, etc.

 

4.

My remote to my new car stopped working without warning a few weeks ago.  They're ridiculously expensive, so I asked for one for Christmas. My sister found a website that has them for a fraction of the price! Funny story, we had it cut and it doesn't turn, so we have to buy another one, but it was definitely one of my favorite gifts. 

 

(via)

 

5.

One of my favorite movies is Somewhere in Time.  Its theme is the one I walked down the aisle to.  It is one of Dad's all time favorites, too.  I didn't have my own copy and really really wanted one, so my sweet brother-in-law and sister-in-law bought one for me for Christmas!!

 

 

I have loved reading your Christmas recaps!! 

 

New Year's Resolutions

2014 was one for the books.  We got married, spent our honeymoon in beautiful Savannah, GA, we conquered all kinds of speed bumps and road blocks and newlywed woes.  It brought work trips, promotions, and lots of growing up.

 

 We became a family, and that was the best thing 2014 brought us.

 

I'm so excited for what 2015 may bring.  We're starting the year with a promotion on my end, a commercial driver's license (and promotion) on his end, and so much to be thankful for. I've made my list of 2015 resolutions with lots of space for life to happen.  I didn't want to make a resolution list that became a checklist for the year, rather, a "skeleton" that we will flesh out as the year goes by!

 

   

Wishlists!

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago in my confessions that I had already started working on a birthday/Christmas wishlist. I was so glad to hear I'm not the only one! ;)   Before getting married, I feel like my wish list was very me-centered. Clothes, money, underwear (I know, #adultprobs), shoes, etc. Now, I feel like my list is still semi me-centered, but moreso, it's home and marriage centered.  Here are some of the things from my wish list:  

Laundry Wall Hook // Signature Bracelet // MTSU Sweatshirt Muggle Mug // Couple's Devotional Bible // Shelf Dividers this infinity scarf // Target gift cards  

 1. The laundry wall hook is 100% necessary, and the next time I get a ballin coupon, I'm going for it! Jackson hangs his work pants in the laundry room when he gets home because they stink so he doesn't get oil and grease everywhere. I hang wet clothes (jeans, slacks, bras) so they can air dry. TOTAL necessity, right?

 

2. I have fallen in love with the concept of a signature bracelet.  I would love to have Jackson's "Love always, JH" on a bracelet in his handwriting.

 

3. Alumni swag. Can you ever have enough?

 

4. Anyone who knows me knows I'm a HP geek. I cannot get over how many awesome HP items there are on etsy. I love the mug, these monogrammed shirts, This deathly hallows decal, and this time turner necklace. I have a problem, but hey, #notsorry

 

5. I love our Love Languages Bible, and I would love to have another to work from!

 

6. Any wife who shares a closet knows there are some things that just need their own spaces.  My purses, sweaters, his jeans, etc. could all have their own cubbies with these awesome shelf dividers.

 

7. I love scarves. I wear them all summer, all winter, and every chance in between.  I love the semi-neutral colors in this one - it could go with anything and everything!!

 

8.  Target gift cards. Do I really need to go there?

  What are on your birthday / Christmas lists?!

Holidays in the Little Hiney Home

I woke up in the middle of the night last week and thought, this is our first round of holidays as a married couple in our own home! holy smokes   I'm a fall freak, so of course my mind automatically went to the items I will need to decorate for fall, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and my birthday! I pulled up my panorama picture of our living room, and started marking where pumpkins would sit, where leaves would hang, and where our scarecrow would stand. THEN I realized that after Thanksgiving comes....... CHRISTMAS! I'm getting way ahead of myself I know, but I only get a first Christmas once (Lord willing!)   Here's my must have list for this year! First, Fall:

 

 

I will definitely have to make one of these. Maybe out of fake pumpkins so we can keep it?	(via) I have an adorable crystal jar for these
(via) I cannot believe this is only $30! I would love to have this on our front door!	(via) These guys are so cute! They would make a great bar decoration between our kitchen and our living room!
(via) This was on my "hmm...maybe" list, but the more I look at it, it gets cuter and cuter!	(via) This garland is adorable! I haven't been able to think of a place for it yet, though.
(via) I would love to see this hanging right over our TV on that blank wall!	(via) As much as I love doing appliques now, there is no way I could pull this off, so I'm completely okay with buying it! How cute!

Next, Christmas!!

(via) I am in love with these stockings. Love love love. I had my heart set on Mr. & Mrs. Stockings, but it'll be so much easier to transition from Mr. & Mrs. to Daddy and Mommy someday if just our initial is on them!	(via) I don't know when reindeer garland became a thing, but I couldn't help but fall in love with it! How adorable is this?!? It would be so cute hanging between the pictures in our gallery wall!
(via) I somewhat like the idea of having a neutral tree skirt and sewing a fun border around it, slapping "The Hinners" on it and calling it a day! I will probably look for it a tad cheaper, though!	(via) Here is where we may enter world war 3. I have grown up with a shiny star on my tree, I don't know what has gone on his tree, though. It may cause some internal conflict, too, because I can't decide if I want to start new traditions or choose whose tradition we like more.
(via) I think I want something simple on our door for Christmas. Something not distracting or overwhelming.	(via) The last thing to do is decide on a color scheme for the tree! I really like these - they're really neutralish without being bland. Jackson grew up with colored lights and really bright ornaments, so we'll see how he likes these. ;)

     

4th of July Weekend!

Happy Monday. I can guarantee you if I were at work, it wouldn't be so happy; I'm soaking up every second I can of this long weekend! 
Friday Jackson and I went to Dickson for the Fourth like we always do. One of our best friend's moms hosts a huge cookout with real home-smoked pit bbq, lots of sweets, and we always shoot shotguns and do fireworks! I made a beautiful cake that disappeared before I could get a picture of it!! We shot clay targets for hours, and then ended up going to a park to watch the city's fireworks. They were great, but we kinda wished we had gone downtown to see the nationally ranked Nashville fireworks!! 

Saturday

We slept in until ten, got up and made camp in the living room. We didn't move until it was time for me to go to dinner with my best girls! We were going to try this new sushi place in Donelson, but they were closed, so we went to my favorite Mexican place - Los Tres Amigos! We then went to Green Hills for the Cheesecake Factory and sat for hours just catching up, beaming about how wonderful married life is, and naming our unborn children.  I love life with them! Jackson did the last bit of work he could do before we had to call in additional professionals for my car.  It's taking longer than I expected, but I'm trying to enjoy the positives, like the morning drives to work that I get to spend with Jackson. 

Sunday

Jackson and I went to church, and then went to his parents' for lunch.  We had some deep conversation with them about tithing and finances.  We have so much more insight and feel so much better! After that, we went to the grocery and then rested for a little bit.  We went to Waffle House for dinner and then Chuck's for snowcones! 

Our work has decided to extend the 4-10 hour days a week, so I am off on the next eight Mondays.  The lack of a car, however, has left me stranded to do cleaning, cooking, organizing, dusting, PLL watching, gallery wall hanging.  I hope you had a great 4th weekend!! 

Mother's Day

Mother's Day is always an interesting day for me.

 

 

I love my mother, don't get me wrong, but sometimes (often) it is hard to like her. 

  

 

My mother has struggled with alcoholism since before I was born. She didn't drink when she was pregnant with me, but she did while she was pregnant with my sister. She is very hard headed and stubborn and really has never wanted help. When I was in eighth grade, she came to retrieve me from soccer practice and we were almost in a head on collision on the way home. She was charged with a DUI and was admitted to rehab the very next day. I remember crying my eyes out the day Dad told us she would be coming home because I knew she wouldn't change. I was right. She didn't change. She has never changed, except the brand of alcohol she consumes. When she's sober, she is a wonderful mother. She and I could really be friends if she would stay sober. But she doesn't want to.

 

 

Mother's Day is a day for me to put on a fake smile while I watch her unwrap a bracelet and cry tears because she knows she doesn't deserve it. On quite a few Mother's Days, I was questioned with a "that's it?" when she opened her gifts, or a "Go spend it with Ginger!" as I left for church. Often, the day before Mother's Day is a drunken-mother-to-angry-daughter fight about my Dad's mom, my Nana, and what a wonderful Grandmother she is as opposed to my Mom's mom who has never told me she loved me. It's not that she doesn't... she just can't say it.

 

(Nana, Dad and I on my wedding day)

This brings me to Ginger. What a blessing my Mother-In-Law is.

 

 



She has loved me since I was 16, and has prayed over my relationship with her son from the beginning. Sure, she's not my mother, but she cares for me as if I were her own. She is always an ear to listen, a scold when we have made stupid mistakes, and love when I feel discouraged. She will be a loving grandmother to my children, and I am so thankful for her.

 

For me, Mother's Day is mostly about celebrating women in my life who have set an example. Last year, and from here on out, I realize that includes my mom, too. Mind you, she wasn't a positive example, but an example nonetheless. She is an example of all of the things I don't want to be, and a kick in the pants to become the good things I want to be so I don't end up like her. 

 

I am so blessed to look back and have friends' mothers, women in church, etc. step in and provide the love, encouragement, guidance, and discipline I needed. I don't know who I'd be if they didn't invest in me. Mother's Day is about women like that.

 

It's a strange thought to me that someday I will be a mother and to think about my daughter blogging about me. I wonder what she'll say. My goal is to have her say, "My mom is my best friend. She guides me and prays for me, and she's always a listening ear. I hope to be just like her one day."

 

Bachelorette Party // Mother's Day Weekend

Hi friends.   Sorry I missed you all Friday. I was totally consumed with the stress of planning a bachelorette party, Mother's Day, etc. haha. :) The party went off without a hitch. Well, except for the awful cake plan falling through. It's okay... I improvised.    Enjoy the appropriate photos:

 

 Saturday, Jackson and I spent the day with our parents. He went to hang out with his dad, as did I.    Sunday was Mother's Day (also known as my least favorite holiday ever.. more on that later this week), so we spent the day hanging out with Jackson's mommy. We had lunch at Cracker Barrel, gave her her gift, and came home to nap the rest of the day away.