BATTER UP!!

Today is Coach's official opening day of his 2014 Summer season! 

And what a big season he has ahead of him as he has four teams instead of three this year. 

16U Black

16U Alpharetta 

16U Louisville Slugger

16U Prime

That is 80+ kids instead of 60+.

Can you say growth in the world of travel baseball? 

I can. Why you ask? Because I have been flying solo more tryouts, scouting, practices, scouting, scrimmaging, scouting, listening to lengthy phone calls, and staring at the back of his head for the past two plus weeks as he crowds over his laptop responding to emails and frantically working on rosters. 

I will have to admit this season snuck up on me pretty fast. For whatever reason, I had next weekend as opening in my mind and was excited to have one more week with my Boo somewhat around the house. Needless to say, that was rudely interrupted sometime within the past 72 hours.

BUT

I wouldn't change it for anything and I wouldn't have it any other way. 

Every single night alone makes it worth it because I know Shane is on the field doing what he LOVES. Coaching his players, teaching them correct fundamentals and preparing them for college and professional playing levels. He is passionate about helping these young men and seeing them progress successfully to the next level.. I wish you could see his face when he gets a phone call from a player saying he's signed with a college or especially on draft day when they put on that new jersey! His face just lights up and I love seeing that huge grin he wears from ear to ear!

I'm certainly not going to sit here and pretend its easy not having my husband home at times. It's just flat out hard sometimes. But, I have a wonderful family to keep me company, a super-duper BFF who just happens to be the best chef in the world who keeps my belly full, a MIL who teaches me a few of her mad antiquing skills, and last but not least, the 3 Amigos, the chicky-chicks, and Trio keep me busy. 

Coach is nearby this weekend and I plan on being in the stands at some point to check out these new players he's is super excited about! There is so much talent in TE its unreal and they are certainly making a name for themselves. 

In 2011, his Team Elite White took 2nd in the USA Championship East event and last year they won the Inaugural Metropolitan Baseball Classic at Citi Field, which you can read my recap here or this article from Baseball America.. Really ALL the age groups in TE are talented. 

Just check out their website and see all the players who have signed/committed.

Can't wait to see you on the field, Coach! 

I wish everyone could see how much heart and soul you pour into this every year!

Good luck to you, your coaches, and all the players for a great summer season!

Body Aches, Braids, Road Trip, & Animals

As I am uploading pictures, I realize it's close to 1AM and I should have been in the bed a LONG time ago. BUT, I am one of those people who catch their second third wind and here I am. My New Year's resolution was to get in bed at a decent hour, and with the exception of probably twice, I have miserably failed. 

I did manage to get up and get going this morning. I am on Week 3 Day 1 of T25 and I haven't missed yet! Whoo hoo for not missing and keeping with the program! I am loving having something new and I love me some Shaun T! 

One of the girls at work lent me her Rainbow... holy smokes can we say DA BOMB.. I got an extra workout today shampooing our carpets. I would much rather have been painting of some sort or taking part in some kind of craft. My knees feel like they are shot, my back feels like it's broken in half, my elbows are on fire, and my feet need their own specialized massage. I'm whining. My body hurts. It's honestly been hurting for awhile now. I guess that's what happens when you turn 29 ish-ish. For real tho... I am praying all this throbbing STOPS in my knees and elbows. Ain't nobody got time fo dat and I have been miserable.

IN OTHER NEWS....

This past week, I did hair for 8th grade formal and a wedding. Braids have been and remain the thing to do these days. It is so much fun creating behind the chair and having your client love it! 

Sunday, Me, Gigi, Mama Jane and Pop made our way to Greenville, SC for lunch with Aunt Kay and Uncle Jack and some of our cousins. It was so good to see all of them and catch up! Me and Gigi are so ready to get back to Kentucky! Mama Jane even mentioned going to Florida to see her other sister sometime soon. I love some road trips!

I got back around 6, started on my cleaning in the house, looked out the window at one point and noticed the horses near the house. I made my way outside to say hello to Trio and couldn't help but to capture this shot. Weird, in my all of my last couple of years living here this is the first fog I have seen like this in the pasture.

And, today, when I was resting my feet and enjoying some fresh air, I heard a familiar racket. A little Blab named Mara that has MacGyver for her middle name made her way into the dog food. She's always got food on her mind. Bless her heart, when she was just a puppy she somehow managed to push this bin OFF the TOP of the table, causing the lid to pop off, and ate until her stomach drug the ground. She was miserable for days.

Notice I haven't finished my frame yet that I started on last week. (You may have seen it already on Instagram) Too busy and not enough hours or days in the week. I have a wonderful idea for it tho! I can't wait to share with all of you when I finish!

Well that took a little longer than expected.. Coach mentioned the word BEACH and I got sidetracked for a second a little while. 

10 Things I have learned in 1 Year & 6 months of Marriage

I woke up today and realized it was the 17th and started adding in my head.. today Coach and I have been married for 1 year and 6 months.

It seems like yesterday we were putting together last minute things, me rushing out the door for pictures, (because all the men were late and I thought I was late when the photographer walked thru the door), waiting on my late groom for our First Look he was busy eating, talking with my Dad asking him how the chair situation was before our walk down the aisle, listening to my cousin's beautiful voice as we filled our mason jar for our Salt Covenant, being introduced for the first time as Mr & Mrs, dancing our tush's off, and being whisked off on a golf cart to begin our life together as one. 

I'm not going to sit here and pretend it has been a year of just absolute bliss.. there have been many ups and downs.. angry moments, happy moments, disappointing moments, gratifying moments.. 

In all that though, there have been learning moments.

Here are ten of those in no particular order.

1.

AGREE TO DISAGREE

There are going to be things from time to time that will not allow you to be on the same page. If you cannot come to an agreement, try to compromise or just save yourselves from all the arguing and agree to disagree.

2.

FORGIVE. FORGIVE. FORGIVE. THEN, FORGIVE SOME MORE.

No human is perfect. We both have done things that have been hurtful to one another. You can't keep hold of those things or hang those things over your spouse's head. Choose to forgive and forget and move forward. 

Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Ephesians 4:32

3.

PICK YOUR BATTLES

You are going to fight, bicker, and argue. 

It is not worth it to pick on every. single. thing. that gets on your nerves. Remember you have quirks that irritates your other half too. Save the argument for something that is really important. Choose your battles wisely.

4.

COMMUNICATE

I think Coach would agree with me that we are still working on this one. Whether it's something that is as small as your plans for the day to something that is really bothering you.. communicate with your spouse! It just makes life easier.

5.

ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR SPOUSE

Tell him he's handsome. Thank him for those amazing cheesy eggs he makes you. Tell him how amazing the yard looks after a long day of cutting grass. Tell him what an awesome job he did coaching his players on the field. Ask him did he have a good day and how was practice.

You are your spouse's biggest cheerleader. Lift them up.

6.

CONTINUE TO DATE ONE ANOTHER

Dating doesn't stop once you get home from the honeymoon. Coach and I still have date nights.. and I still have fun learning things about him, especially his days of playing baseball. We are still learning and will continue to learn about and from one another. Leave love notes, send a sweet text, have a movie night at home cuddled up with one another, and no cell phones at dinner!

7.

KEEP GOD #1

God. Family. Children.

This is what we believe in and keeping God first and foremost in everything. We have watched Him rain down His blessings upon us because of this.. He is the ONLY one who can help our marriage, our problems, supply us of our every need. Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy, including marriages, and because of this, WE need HIM more than ever.

8.

MARRIAGE IS WORK

I may step on some toes here but I think at times some girls get wrapped up in 'idea' of a wedding.. the flowers, decorations, and the dress you have always dreamt of.. Marriage is HARD and it is WORK and something you CONTINUE to work on. You have to tend to your relationship like a garden, fertilize it, keep the weeds out.. water it and watch it GROW! It is definitely not a honeymoon 100% of the time. 

For better, for worse.. til death do us part.

9.

WE NEED A BIGGER BED

Or maybe just a bigger comforter. 

I steal the covers, he steals the covers. 

Oh look, you have half the comforter and the other half is in the floor.

10.

RELAX AND HAVE FUN!

I know I have been so up tight at times trying to be a good wife, do the right things, etc., that I have been way to serious and forgotten to just have fun. Don't forget to laugh and joke around with one another! Last night I know Coach was trying to finish getting some of his work done.. I kept trying to get kisses from him, picking on him, he started laughing, I started laughing, and it was just a great, fun moment. 

Shane, I am so thankful to have you and that your are mine. I know we have had our moments but I wouldn't go back and change one second of it, even if I could. It makes me happy to have you as my better half and go thru this thing called life with you right beside me. I wouldn't want to be going thru it with anyone else. I learn from you and continue to learn from you. You bring out the best in me and God knows you still love me at my absolute worst. I am so thankful we have supportive friends and family, praying for us and for our marriage. I pray we continue to keep God first, keep pushing forward, continue to date, keep learning from one another, and remember to laugh and have fun! God certainly blessed me with YOU! 

I love you to infinity and back with all my heart and soul. 

A New Season is Around the Corner

It's almost here. 

A new season. A new schedule. A lot of new players.

But there is one thing that Coach and I have made into a tradition.. helping him distribute uniforms. This is our third year of tackling this job together and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Our living room becomes a sea of shirts, pants, and ball caps and somewhere, underneath all of that, there are 3 precious puppies who patiently wait for their living space to get back to normal. 

Or you can be a stubborn little heifer and just help yourself to shirts as your bed.. Coach didn't even see Kyli at one point because she was camouflaged with them. Ha. 

This year Coach has about 80+ kids instead of 60+.. his 16U teams are definitely growing to say the least! 

Our setup:

I call out the kids name/size, the # they would like, Coach grabs the shirts/pant/hat, I bag it with their name, and then write down info... and we keep going and going and going.

Our favorite numbers are 11, 15, 22, and, of course, 17. 

11 is Coach's popular baseball number..

15 was my softball number..

22 is Coach's birthdate and the last digits of my number..

17 is one of Coach's old baseball number and our Wedding date.

It's fun for me too to try and remember who gets these numbers, so when I am on the field I feel like I am watching somebody I know! There have been a couple kids I have known on the team in the past but it's rare since kids come from all over.

I spy a Saint Bernard mix..

Some time later we were all finished! 

Coach is really excited about another season and has talked about the talent he is already seeing among the kids. 

I am hoping to get to one of his practices in the next couple of weeks and check it out for myself. If not, there are always tournaments. 

I love watching my handsome hubby on the field doing what he loves!

Happy Mother's Day!

I hope all the mom's out there had a wonderful, relaxed, blessed Mother's Day! 

My Mom just recently moved, so I went over to her new place and helped her hang pictures. This was her request for the day. If you haven't heard, she is THE biggest Gone With the Wind fan.. I am talking if it were life and death and you needed someone on your side to answer GWTW trivia questions.. she's the woman you would want. I learned a few things myself today..

.. like, Clark Gable was the only one not to win an Oscar for his role in the movie..

.. They had already started to film the burning of Atlanta before Vivien Leigh was even cast..

.. Leslie Howard and Vivien Leigh are both English..

Did you know any of those?

We broke for lunch and even stopped by Dairy Queen to see my little brother, Kolton, who has just gotten a job there. I think he was a little embarrassed because as soon as he saw us behind the counter he disappeared and we never saw him again. Bless it.

Mom and I took our lunch back to her place, we ate and then got back at it.. Boy I think I have found where my love of pictures comes from.

Towards the end of our day together, we ended up on the swing outside enjoying the shade and breeze. I loved watching the chipmunks too.. so cute to watch running around.

Mama Jane stopped by for a few minutes for a surprise visit! I even got a Mother's Day gift too. I saw tonight a post tonight on fb.. My kids have Paws. So cute! She was so funny.. "Now this gift doesn't mean I am pressuring you into having a baby." And she means that.

After I left Mom's, I headed over to Shane's Grandmothers house to visit her and my MIL. Oh my goodness there were cupcakes, brownies, and banana pudding and banana pudding, brownies, and cupcakes. I visited with her, Grandma, and Tracie.. we talked a little while and then started looking at Country Living and other crafting, antique magazines. I found some really cute stuff that I would LOVE to do! 

I hope all of you had a very Happy Mother's Day!

 I know I enjoyed all the visiting and time together and pray for many more with all these amazing women in my life.

32 Things that make Me Happy

Browsing around blogs awhile back (a month ago now), I saw this fun link-up first on Lauren's blog.. I went to the link-up but the host had already closed. Boo. This has been on my to-do post list ever since! Just thought it was would be fun! Better late than never right?

In no particular order...

1~

THE BEACH! 

If you have been following for any period of time you know that I love, love, love the sand between my toes! The breeze, the salty air, the warmth on my face...

I am already itching to get back. 

2~

Chocolate. Chocolate. And more chocolate. 

I buy the Ghirardelli baking chips for our Peanut Butter Bites.. I don't make them as much I used to because they are LOADED with calories.. and lets face it, I can't eat just one. 

So I will slowly try and eat a few of these sweets for any cravings I have.

3~

Crafting and Painting.

I could seriously do it 24/7.

4~

My handsome husband. 

5~

Candles.

 I have them in the house ALL the time. They have always been one of my faves. We were given a Scentsy for one of our wedding gifts and I got another one for my birthday... AND the BFF has signed up with Scentsy recently!! YAY for something that smells better than smelly dogs!! A couple weeks ago, Amber and I sat in her basement and obsessed over the samples she had just gotten in the mail. I need to place an order!

6~

This amazing woman on the left..

I have so much to learn from her. 

She has my back, she can be brutally honest with me, the gives the best mama hugs ever, she helps me with all my sewing shenanigans, I can hit her up anytime for advice, her salon pop-ins always make my day and is my cooking inspiration. Mad cooking skills I tell ya!

7~

Spending time with my family.

I really need to work on this and do better. I actually started tonight.. I have a gap Friday and I'm going to my Mama Jane's to spend my lunch with her. 

8~

Hot bubble baths.. 

My friend at work does this every night. I need to take the time and follow suit. I know I would sleep better!

9~

Friends.

I watch reruns every chance I get and I can't decide who I love the most.

10~

The 3 Amigos.

They know who their favorite is. ;)

I can't help but to love on them all the time.

11~

Looking thru old photos. 

Last week, I started going thru a box of pictures and a couple of albums my grandmother and Mom gave me. I found my parents wedding photos, pictures of all my cousins on my Dad's side when we were young, a few pics of me and Kolton when I was a Freshman, and even a few pics of my Paw- Paw and Papa Simon. 

I even found my picture holding my first paycheck ever with a mouthful of metal!! 

I was 16 here.. can you say looking like a HOT MESS! Mama Jane took this picture. I showed Coach and he said "Nice pants." BAHAHA! Oh my at this photo.

So fun and sweet to be able to look back at old memories.

12~

Shabby Chic decor. 

i. am. obsessed. 

And I still love burlap too.

13~

Being able to watch Coach do what he does on the field.

He is absolutely passionate about what he does and it truly shows. You can see a special bond between him and his players and he is there for them 110%! I can't wait to see him on the field this season! 

14~

Miranda Lambert.

I agree with you on this one Lauren!

Absolutely love this woman. I hashtagged not too long ago.. #moremirandalesskardashians

Her music has always been perfect for me and I LOVE that she helps dogs get rescued. 

She has been a long time favorite!

15~

Sunsets.

There have been plenty on the farm here that have been absolutely breathtaking.

In Key West, all of the island stopped at sunset. I was right there with them.

16~

Cupcakes.

I love baking them for the family and salon.

Before Easter I hadn't made any in a long time! Reese Cup requested from my FIL. 

Designing with the icing is so fun!

17~

Writing in a journal. 

I know technology has become the way now but I'm all about picking up a pen and paper and just letting the pen take it away. 

18~

Trio!

My very own horse. I was able to spend some extra time with him Saturday afternoon. I brushed out the rest of his winter coat and got the dreads out of his mane. This Saturday he will get a bath. I know he is going to feel so much better.

19~

The Sassafras Salon!

What an amazing group of people to be working beside! Everyone is so positive and uplifting and such a pleasure to work with. We have so much fun and I should have a 12 pack from all the laughing we do!

20~

Non-chain restaurants.

Connie and I had so much fun at Ganache Saturday. Coach and I used to go to Mike & Val's in Winder after church all the time until they closed. Speakeasy in Athens is SOOO YUMMY! We really should take advantage of all the unique restaurants in Athens. I just love the character they hold.

21~

Starbucks Green Tea.

Lately I have been adding one shot of honey to it. So delicious.

22~

Massages.

They are the best things ever. I can't wait til my next one. I'm long overdue.

23~

Hydrangeas.

I can't wait for ours to bloom! Hurry up!

24~

Mexican food.

I have noooo cut off when it comes to this. I thought about it for dinner last night but had 0 energy to stand in the kitchen and make. No restful sleep the night before.

25~

Snowboarding.

We missed it this last winter but we will be back this year! 

I. Cannot. Wait.

26~

Headpieces!!

27~

Mason Jars.

I had them in my wedding, they are all around my house, and we have a couple we drink out of. 

28~

Diamonds.

They are a girls best friend and it just happens to be my birth stone.

Love me some bling.. real and costume.

29~

Tractor rides with my husband.

Preferably down to the pond. It's so peaceful there and is so sentimental.

30~

Getting my hair done.

It's such a treat to be on the other side of that chair getting some pampering.

31~

Christmas.

It has gotten to be one of my favorite holidays. I love the whole feeling it brings. 

Don't forget decorating. And, we have started a new tradition with the family coming to our house Christmas Day for lunch. It's such a warm holiday.

32~

Waking up in the mornings and having being blessed with another day here with family, friends, my husband and my puppies. 

Life is precious and we need not take it for granted.

What I'm Loving Wednesday

How is everyone's week so far? We are half way to Friday! 

Whooo hoo!

Here is what I am loving today:

I am loving that Coach and I got to spend the morning together! His baseball summer season is about to get started and he will be MIA.

2011??

I am loving T25!

25 minutes and you are finished! I am on Week 1 Day 3 and definitely feeling these workouts! You will be super sweaty by the time 25 minutes is up! I have taken my measurements and weight and hope to see some results in just the first week. (I follow a fitness page on facebook and people are having some awesome results with this program.)

I am loving this warmer weather! It's such a nice change. I cannot wait to get my toes in some sand this summer!

I am loving this baseball wreath. I must try and get this together this weekend. Thanks so much Amber for sending me this PIN!

What are you loving today?

Raising Awareness for Williams Syndrome

A few weeks ago, Sassafras was asked if we were interested in sponsoring a Crazy Hair booth at Crows Lake in Jefferson. This was for a fundraiser to help raise awareness for Williams Syndrome. We were more than happy in doing so!

Saying that we had LOADS OF FUN is such an understatement! We were so happy to be there and what a blessing it was to be apart of such a good cause. I think the precious children blessed US more than we did them.

It ended up being such a beautiful day! There were Bouncers, Swirlees was handing out free yogurt, you could get your face painted, take your best shot at the dunking booth, run in the 5K, and so much more! 

Oh yeah.. Hairy Dawg even showed up!!

He sat down in one of our chairs and wanted the works..

We had so many kids that by the end of the day we had used up almost all of our supplies.. let the creativity really begin! The kids were still happy tho and didn't complain at all. And I have to brag on all the yes ma'am's and thank you's we got without the parents even saying a word!

Facts about Williams Syndrome:

• It affects 1 in 10,000 people worldwide
• it's a genetic condition that is present at birth and can affect anyone
• it is characterized by medical and cognitive problems
• children with WS tend to be social and friendly
• tend to have a love for music
• WS individuals experience many cardiac problems, commonly heart murmurs
• earliest observation of WS include low birth weight, trouble breastfeeding, facial dysmorphies, heart murmur, 

We cannot wait for next year!

Recourses: williamssyndrome.org en.wikipedia.org/