by Joey | Jun 1, 2015 | Throwback
New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings.
-Lao Tzu
If you’ve hung around these parts long enough, you know there are very few things that I allow to define me. Writer is one. Wife, another. Believer, for sure. And football wife.
I told you about
how my marriage was untraditional. How being a football wife involved sacrifices most would never assume. It’s hard for outsiders to understand what kind of toll it can take on a family. People forget the long hours the coaches put in and never know that they rarely see much reward. It’s not an easy lifestyle to keep up with. It’s unstable. And the further in to it you get, the harder it becomes.
Before I get into this, know that the five years we put into the game were important. They were hard, but they were wonderful. But we are no longer a football family.
I’ve seen my husband more in the last 6 months than I have in the last 5 years. We’ve eaten more meals together. We’ve spent more time together with friends. We’ve seen our families and we’ve taken trips. We’ve sat on the couch both dozing off to some random television show. We’ve gone to the gym together and made new friends. We’ve had conversations about nothing, laughing until we cry at the randomness. I’ve fallen more in love with the man who was a shadowy figure creeping in at all hours of the night the last five years.
If he came home tonight and said he thinks he made a mistake, that he misses the game, we’d dive back in. I’d sit in a stadium every Saturday for the rest of my life if that’s what he wanted. Once married to the game, it’s hard to get out.
I won’t get into the details of how it all went down. That’s unimportant. But the longer I sat, holding on to this secret, the more I realized it’s just a part of life. People move on from the lives they thought they wanted.
It wasn’t an easy decision. One we discussed to death and prayed constantly about. Whenever you decide to redefine yourself, it takes some time. It takes some tears. It takes a lot of back and forth, hoping you didn’t make a mistake. But that’s the case with any kind of risk, really. You never know for sure until you just do it. Close your eyes, jump, and hope for the best.
We jumped. That’s part of the reason we moved to Charlotte. When we cut the cord and took that first gasping breath of civilian air, we realized the options were limitless. We could go and do and be whatever we wanted to be. And that was such a liberating feeling, though a little sad.
Though our hours are much more in sync these days, I don’t think it’ll really hit either of us until fall rolls around. Until that first game day Saturday that we spend at the pool or…shock…sitting in a stadium as spectators ourselves.
Life does this. The plans you think you have just aren’t the right ones after careful consideration. And it’s okay to admit that. It’s okay to think about what you want. What is best for you, for your family, for the life you really want, and to go after that. Whatever it is.
And there you have it. The final piece in this whole Charlotte puzzle. The truth. It feels…weird. But it’s good. Important. Different.
And we’re just fine.
by Joey | May 29, 2015 | beauty, Loves
Sensationail Pink Chiffon
Buy it
here: on sale for $7.99!
You all know how obsessed I am with the Sensationail at home gel kit I got for Christmas. When I asked for it, I had last weekend specifically in mind. I knew with upcoming weddings, I’d want the option to give myself a gel mani. The last time I paid to have a shellac manicure done, it faded out into a weird color in just a few days and wasn’t worth the $30 I spent on it.
On day 8, everything still looks like it did on day one except it’s grown out a bit and my cuticles are more haggard than normal. I don’t know why I continue to be amazed by this system when I know going into every mani that it’ll hold up well. I’ve put my nails through hell the last eight days including traveling, last minute DIY crafts for the wedding, cleaning, and building an ikea desk.
As I was sprawled out on the floor among the sea of little parts yesterday morning, I had a momentary thought of this was stupid. I should have taken nail pics first. I was sure building that desk would destroy my nails. But nope!
Per usual, the only thing driving me slightly crazy is the fact that my nails have grown out past my normal length. The click clacking on a keyboard might be enough to drive me mad.
Heads up! The Sensationail individual polishes are on sale at Target currently for $7.99 (normally 9.99 there–the cheapest you’ll find them on a regular basis). These colors are on my list:
here,
here and
here.
Just for a healthy comparison, here is the manicure on day one!
I can’t recommend this kit enough. One of my friends who used to go get her nails done at the salon frequently has allowed me to do these manicures on her the last month and a half or so, and she hasn’t been to a salon since! I promise it’s worth it!
Buy the kit
here. Normally 49.99, on sale for $35.99! You’ll also get free shipping
and a $10 Target gift card. You can’t go wrong with that, right? The kit comes in multiple shades. I received it in the Raspberry Wine shade which I love, but I have the Pink Chiffon one linked because that’s the polish featured in this post!
*This is not a sponsored post, but it does contain affiliate links.
by Joey | May 28, 2015 | Throwback
++ As you all know, J and I traveled down to Charleston on Friday for the CLT BFF’s wedding weekend! Friday night, we did the bachelorette party. Which, let’s just say, was totally our style considering we made it out for dinner and that. was. it. After the most terrifying cab ride of our lives, we hit up the teeter, grabbed some wine and ice cream, and all changed in to pajamas. The rest of the weekend was just glorious. And look at this photo! Was that wedding not straight out of pinterest or what!
Also, there isn’t something on my shirt, it’s the light coming through the blinds
PS: I didn’t mean to be matching, it just happened.
PPS: excuse the tired eyes and the no makeup. This is real life, people
++ Lately, the gym has been my happy place. I’ve branched out from just straight running. I’ve been focusing a little more on running shorter distances faster. I’ve been trying to work on my pace for some time. The last few times at the gym, my mile times have been under 10 minutes. I’m good with that. I’ve also introduced a few “challenges” into my routine. Specifically the 30 day squat challenge and the 30 day ab challenge. Both are free apps! I’ve also been taking some inspiration from the workout clips Monica has been posting on her new fitness instagram! The RBX Active Capri Leggings I’m rocking in the pic are freaking awesome. They actually pull the moisture away from your body, keeping that dry feeling all through your workout. I’m not sure about y’all, but I’m a sweater, and I can’t stand feeling like I jumped in a pool mid-run.
Sorry for the shamelss selfie. How else was I supposed to show off the frames?
++ Firmoo was kind enough to send me another pair of glasses. I stepped out of the box the last time I ordered from them, but this time I stayed more in my comfort zone. An extra pair of glasses never hurts considering how much I hate wearing them so I’m constantly taking them off in random places. It might be time for contacts, though. Either way, I’m pleased with these frames. They were on the cheaper side of the options available here, which might be why they feel a bit flimsier than my other pair. But they are still good enough quality considering they are a secondary pair and they are a fraction of the cost. You can get your first pair for 15% off here. The ordering process was a breeze, once again, and the glasses arrived in no time! In case you’re worried about purchasing glasses online, Firmoo offers a “try on” feature on their website where you can upload a picture to try the frames on your face. I haven’t been disappointed whenever I’ve used them!
++ Things continue to be absolutely crazy around these parts. I keep telling myself I’ll get it all under control one day, but that has yet to happen. I know things are only about to get crazier with summer just around the corner. A lot of my friends are teachers and they’re counting down the days. I’m over here thinking what am I going to do with four kids all day every day? I joke, really. It’ll be just fine. But I’m not sure one can ever be prepared for summer hours.
++ My office is on my todo list for this weekend. I know the weather is going to be gorgeous and the pool will be calling my name, but I have to buckle down and get this done. Our half a second bedroom (because really, it can’t claim to be a full second bedroom–a twin bed wouldn’t even fit in there) is still filled to the brim with boxes I haven’t bothered to unpack. I need to get my hands on a desk (I’m thinking this one) and figure out if I can mount the TV on the wall to eliminate a piece of furniture because like I said, there is verrrrrrrry little room in there. Here’s hoping I actually accomplish this over the weekend!
Okay friends! The good news is it’s already Thursday! Now, it’s your turn!
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by Joey | May 27, 2015 | Throwback
we’re so fancy.
Five years. I don’t know why, but that feels like A Big One. Our five year anniversary was on Friday. We made a point to drive in to Charleston a bit early so we could grab lunch at one of our favorite restaurants (King Street Grille, in case you’re wondering).
I wore a white dress, though a bit more casual than the one I wore on that day five years earlier. He ordered a beer. I ordered a glass of cab. And while we waited for our food, we talked.
A lot’s happened in these five years, huh? We realized that living in Athens felt like a lifetime ago. How is it possible it was only five years ago?
My one goal for the next five years? To move only once. Since our wedding day, we’ve moved five times. Raleigh to Athens. Athens to Charlotte. Switched houses in Charlotte. Charlotte to Buies Creek. Buies Creek back to Charlotte. I’m exhausted.
Our last five years have looked pretty much how you’d expect the first five years of any marriage to look. I will say I think we’ve had an unfair serving of tough times, but for the most part we’ve spent the last five years learning. We’ve stepped and stumbled trying to find our footing. We’ve fought and made up. We’ve shared some losses. We’ve made friends and lost a few. We started new traditions and revived some old ones. All the while, carefully weaving our lives together, creating an unbreakable bond.
To think our next five years could be as eventful as the last is an exhausting thought. When we stood together on that altar, holding hands, listening to the priest speak about the future and what marriage would mean, we had no idea, friends. We were young and in love, and that’s all we knew. We had no money. We had no real plans. We had no clue. And while there are moments from the last five years I’d rather keep hidden between the pages of my paper journal, there is a overwhelming sense of accomplishment here.
It might seem silly, feeling accomplished for making it this far. Marriage is and will always be hard. But I feel like the first five years are pivotal. Especially if you get married as young as we did. We’ve done a lot of growing up. We are most certainly not the same people we were back then. And there are many couples who just don’t make it through that. Add in the amount of crap we’ve had thrown at us, lost opportunities, countless moves, new jobs, losing jobs, sickness, just to give you a taste, and sometimes I can’t believe we wake up each day ready to face whatever comes our way.
But he makes me laugh. And we always come out on the other side of whatever life tosses in our direction closer than we were before. We are a united front.
And if you asked me what I think the next five years will look like, I’d laugh and say who knows. Because that’s the truth. I saw none of this life coming. You can make all the plans in the world, but your life will unfold before your very eyes.
So in the next five years, my only hope is that we still face things as a united front, ready for whatever comes our way. Oh, and that we only move once. If at all.
That’s doable. Right?
by Joey | May 21, 2015 | Throwback
>> My obsession with iced peppermint mochas is back. I’d have one or multiples every day if they weren’t so stinking expensive. It can seriously brighten my mood instantly. I’m okay with that.
>> We leave for Charleston tomorrow for one of my best’s weddings! I have been looking forward to this trip for quite some time and I can’t believe it’s finally here! We actually got it worked out that J will travel down with me on Friday (originally, he was going to come separately on Saturday) and this makes me extra happy since it’ll be our 5 year anniversary! Hopefully we’ll get to visit a nice restaurant for lunch to celebrate before we have to separate for bachelorette stuffs.
>> Sometimes being an adult is freaking hard. And I’d really like to figure out how we can just…I don’t know, avoid the whole having to make big decisions and have hard conversations things. I’m thankful for good friends (old and new) who make the whole adult thing just a little easier.
>> When I got home on Tuesday, my neighbor wanted to take the pups for a walk. It’s been absolutely gorgeous lately (though a tad hot), but the evening was just beautiful. When she and I walked back into the complex, our neighbor was at the park with her dog (Savannah, who we watch), so of course we had to go over. While we were there, our other neighbor showed up. When we were leaving, after letting the pups play forever, we were approaching a guy who was working on a bike. It wasn’t until that moment that we realized how ridiculous we looked! Four women, four dogs of various sizes and breeds. It was like a puppy posse rollin’ up on that dude!
>> Today is my Friday!! I’ve got a jam packed evening which includes first stopping by a friend’s happy hour before rushing home and getting alllllllll the things ready for this weekend! That might just include giving myself a gel mani and practicing my hair and makeup. And steaming my dress. And packing all the things. What is it about traveling that just makes me a stress ball, for real! I’ll be happy when we’re en route and the vacay can officially start!
Okay! Your turn!
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