It's Just About Me

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I am an OCD neat freak, inside the house as well as in the yard. I don’ drink/eat milk or dairy products out of glass. I love snail mail and I always send real birthday cards to friends and family; ecards are a disgrace. My dream job would be a photographer with National Geographic. I love reality TV and sitcoms and my birthday is February 6, 1984. The NC State Wolfpack will always be like my second family and nothing is better on a Saturday than tailgating at Carter Finely. I hate to sleep in and Friday is my favorite day of the week. I drink red wine over white and could never survive a day without cheese. I will always pass up a sweat treat for a salty snack and prefer to have my toes in the sand. I would rather cook than eat out and truly believe there is no place like home. I am happiest when I am with my husband and rolling the trash cans to the street on Tuesdays is the chore I refuse to do. My dream family would include three kids and I would raise them in our current house, our first as husband and wife. I hate neon nail polish and never drink soda (unless it has liquor!). I am a Power Trader at Duke Energy and am usually (always) behind on the latest fashion trends. I enjoy cycle and cardio exercise classes and just can’t seem to find the patience for yoga. The thing that melts my heart the most is helping my sister put my niece to bed; it reminds me how fast time flies when life is good and how amazing it is to have a twin who has turned into the world’s best mom. The only kind of car I have ever driven has been a Honda and I love going to the dentist; haven’t missed a six-month cleaning in years. I still have my stuffed “Doggie” that I carried around as a kid and still start off my nightly prayer the same way as my momma taught me:


“Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the lord my soul to keep, may angels guard me through the night and wake me to the morning light. I am thankful for my mom, my dad, my sister, everyone in the whole wide world and especially Jesus.”

That was the version growing up and, as you can imagine, as I have passed several stages in life, my “thankful for” list has grown a little longer :)

HUGS AND KISSES FROM ME!

Our Wedding Trailer

Blain + Matthew [Wedding Trailer] from Merigo Films on Vimeo.

Best Day Of My Life!

Progress In Life

I know I am just preaching to a crowd but goodness gracious life has been crazy busy!  I have not been home in several weekends due to some fabulous activities with family and friends, one of them being this little girl below getting engaged!

Lori and Randy are a match made in heaven and I can't wait to celebrate all year long leading up their nuptials next spring!  Bring on the wedding festivities!  Lori and Randy, I could not be more excited for you and Randy, I could not have picked a better dude for my friend :)

Love.

Last week we also had our backyard ripped out and put back in brand new!  I will share some before and after pictures later but to give you a quick idea....Our "before" backyard was full off tree stumps, flower beds, dead plants and 1000000 different types of grass. 

 Matt and I are both simple people so we had A to Z Farms come in, tear everything out, lay down zoysia sod and new beds around the house.  During the process we also decided on an irrigation system as well as a total change in the front flower beds.  We ended up ripping those out too and starting over.  Our backyard and front flower beds are so much more open and "clean" now.

We obviously need to water now to green it up but it will get there!  One step at a time!

Huevos Rancheros

Husband and I got down and dirty in the kitchen last night and again, we tried something new!

Huevos Rancheros from Skinnytaste.

I was a little hesitant because it was no where close to a "meat and potato" meal for the man but...he really enjoyed it. I also got home a little late from spin class and this was SUPER easy and QUICK to whip up! 

Fined the recipe here:  Huevos Rancheros

Our Huevos Rancheros

Skinnytaste's Huevos Rancheros

Because we have so many leftover tortillas, tomorrow night we are going to give the Crock Pot Salsa Verde Chicken a shot! I will let you know how it goes!

Easiest Crock Pot Salsa Verde Chicken

A Mexican fiesta all week long!

Mudroom Wishes

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Dearest Husband,

THIS is what I would LOVE our mudroom project to turn out like....maybe just in an antique white or something to match the family room.  It is the PERFECT setup for our space with just the right amount of storage!

Thank You,

Me

via:  Playing Sublimely

We are currently in the process of a huge backyard project; pretty much tearing out everything we currently have and re-landscaping and sodding every inch. (before and after pictures to come!)  Our backyard looked awesome last May when we purchased the house but slowly as the flowery bushes started to die last fall and the pine needles started to disappear we realized it needed a little more TLC. It was also just not our style.  We are simple.  We like grass and low maintenance.  Therefore, let the games begin next week as A to Z landscapes takes over!
AFTER that we will move into the house and give our current family room and mudroom a little face lift.  Again, its the perfect space, just needs a little TLC and organization!  Can't wait!

Granada

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No, I am not lucky enough to have an upcoming trip planned to the city of Granada BUT, last night I did purchase the Granada Rug (blue) from Ballard Designs!!!

I previously purchased a chevron runner from Ballard for our upstairs hallway that was 2'6"x8'. I have really enjoyed it but, our upstairs hallway is 13 feet long and every time I walk over it, I feel like it is a TAD too short for the space.  I have also been shopping around for rugs for our downstairs hallway by our backdoor and laundry room and I feel that the chevron runner (with it being and indoor/outdoor rug) would go much better in this space. 

Therefore, when I saw a site wide 15%-off-sale yesterday at Ballard Designs, I jumped on a runner I have been eyeing for MONTHS now.  It is the perfect size, 2'8"x10'.  This will leave just enough room on either end to still show some of the hardwoods but, long enough to fit the space. 

This will be the third Ballard Designs rug living in my home...can you say obsession.  Everything at the store is just such good quality that I can't keep my finger off the ADD TO CART button!!!

(Ballard also had a 'free swatch' promotion so I ordered several samples of other rugs I have a crush on  and possibly want for our dinning area!)

GRANADA RUG - BALLARD DESIGNS

I love "playing house" and making our home OURS!

Another Wedding Sneak Peak

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Our FABULOUS wedding photographer, Mrs.Cynthia Kain posted a little sneak peak today on facebook and it has me DYING to see the rest!

Can't wait!

Thanks Cyn!  Words can't describe how much we enjoyed having you as part of our day!

Check out her website:  Cyn Kain Photography

and her Blog:  Cyn Kain Photography Blog: http://cynkainphotography.com/posts/

A Decision To Decide

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I read her blog every now and then and sometimes I stumble upon advice that I just NEED to hear, right now, in the moment, this very second, that I deeply absorb. 

It happened today.
I read this:

A Decision To Decide by Holly Furtick

1 Corinthians 7:4 says
The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. (NIV)

The Message version puts it this way…

The marriage bed must be a place of mutuality—the husband seeking to satisfy his wife, the wife seeking to satisfy her husband. Marriage is not a place to “stand up for your rights.” Marriage is a decision to serve the other, whether in bed or out.

Yesterday there was a clip on my husband’s blog called, “the Power of a Pre decision.” It is one of my favorite teachings of his. The idea of pre deciding can change your situation and especially your marriage.
You can pre decide to forgive.
You can pre decide to love.
You can pre decide to serve.
Marriage is about decision. Not feeling. It is about deferring to the one you love, and seeking to satisfy them, not standing up for your rights.


Thank You Holly for this simple reminder; I needed it today.

Children and Sex

Sitting at dinner one night on our honeymoon Matt and I started talking about having kids.  We talked about how weird of a feeling it is to know that now that we are married we can start thinking about things like this.  When we (and God) decide that it is the appropriate time, we can try and have our own little family.

It then led me into the conversation about my sis, Blair, getting married and having kids.  Blair and Sam lived together before getting married so after their wedding it was like nothing had changed; instead of calling each other boyfriend and girlfriend, it was now husband and wife.  That was it; my brain never left the box.

But then, one fine day, the phone rang.

She was on the other end of the line and had just uttered the words "I am pregnant." 

I laughed and then I cried.  I was so excited for them... and to become an Aunt... but then it hit me....HOLY S**T!!!!!

Dad knows now that Blair and Sam have really had SEX.  omg. omg. omg.  I freaked out.

I have no idea why this freaked me out so bad but it did.  Blair is old enough to have sex (and married) and now that Blair is pregnant, Dad knows that she and Sam have REALLY had sex.  I mean honestly it hit me like a brick wall (what am I 16?! Grow up Blain).  It just came so weird to me to "admit" having sex to your parents, even when you are married!

To this day it's still a little weird but I am slowly getting over it, and one day, when the time is right, I hope to tell Dad that yes, Matt and I have REALLY had sex as well but.....(still creeps me out just to type.)

until then, I will enjoy one of the best jobs in the world and that is being an aunt to two crazy little rug rats who light up my world everyday!

Olivia Claire playing on the playground.  Blair is trying to work with her on her 'instant' smile for the camera; still a little rusty :)

It's so cute to watch them play together. 

Jackson is getting some little alligator teeth! 

She honestly gets more beautiful everyday. 

On this day her Flower Girl dress came in the mail and even though she was dirty from the park, she just had to put it on over her clothes and pose.  Such a ham. 

Easter morning discovering his a wind up chick in his Easter basket! 

Why do kids grow up so fast??? 

Dying her Easter Eggs. 

Working on that smile again in her Easter Dress 

Old man on Easter, ready to go to church 

Sister sent me this picture via text and said Olivia was making up dances in her car seat.  Mimi will be proud to know we MIGHT have a cheerleader in the making! 

I love you little doodles.

Down and Dirty In The Kitchen

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I still have not had time to go visit the social security office to change my name and we have yet to receive a copy of our marriage license but....yesterday after work, I met Matt at the bank and he officially added me to his bank account; he really does plan to keep me :)

It was also a pleasant surprise to arrive home and find out that the husband had grocery shopped and dinner was planned and prepped in the refrigerator!  He sure was "sucking up" yesterday :)

On the menu was Low-Carb Burgers from The Pioneer Woman. They were  EXCELLENT!
As always, no matter if they tasted like poo, I will never turn down him wanting to plan, prep and cook dinner.  Forever grateful that he likes to get down and dirty in the kitchen as much as I do :)

Find the Low-Carb Burger recipe HERE

Quick i-phone snap before this plate got gobbled up

YUM.



Meatloaf Anyone....???

For the LONGEST time I was a true believer that the words 'meat' and 'loaf' should NEVER EVER EVER be placed together.  It's just weird.  My momma is an excellent cook but growing up, meatloaf was simply just not a favorite of mine. 

But....since I have been out on my own and experienced how difficult it can be to put a hot meal on the table, every night of the week, after a long work day, I now appreciate the simplicity of putting meat into the shape of a loaf.  (Don't make fun of me)

Last week I cooked a meal every night.  Even though the food on our honeymoon was beyond outstanding, it was nice to be back in my own kitchen.  I decided to try my girl Gina's Turkey Meatloaf and it was a huge hit with the husband, and surprisingly myself!  It will probably appear on my table now every couple weeks just because it was so darn inexpensive and easy. 

Turkey Meatloaf - Get the recipe HERE.
(I covered my meatloaf in a little more sauce then the recipe called for.  I also made some extra to heat up and pour over our leftovers the next day for lunch!)

Let The Baker In Me Come Alive

Since our return from our honeymoon early Tuesday morning we have yet to have the time to tear into all of our wedding gifts but....I can not wait to get into the kitchen and whip up some delicious treats for "Charleston" and friends. 

With all new gear, I think its time to kick it into high drive and get this baking thing down pat. 

We received a Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer from some dear friends and I am going to put this bad boy to the test!

Our next big family-of-two event is not until "Charleston's" birthday in June so I have some time to practice. I have decided I am going to try and make him a cake by MYSELF this year. 

(HUGE step in life! HUGE)

With the help of Google and some patience I have confidence.

With a quick Internet search this morning I already started researching designs.  If you need to know ANYTHING about "Charleston" it's that he is beyond passionate for hunting just about any animal.  (Hence why him and my father, and grandfather, hit it off from the start!)

Therefore, I figured some of these birthday cakes were cute and gave me some fabulous ideas!

This one is my fave:

The following two were Groom's cakes but a little change of wording and boom, birthday cake! 

This one just screams "Charleston" with the Browning Logo, bullets, and Browning rifle.  He would go NUTs!  Although, this might be a little out-of-my league.   

(If I fail, I am definitely taking this design to a baker and let them work some magic!)

He also LOVEs to deep sea fish so if I wanted to get really creative maybe something like this :

and if all else fails....

we will stick to Shotgun Shell Cupcakes



I DO, I DO, I DO......WE DID!!!

It's done.

It's official.

 We are Mr. and Mrs. Matthew "Charleston" Cole Atkins!

Good gracious it feels fabulous to be his wife!  Nothing feels more meant to be.

Thanks so much to all of our dearest family and friends for the love and support and for making our wedding magical....and for snapping some pics for me as we wait on our photographers to come in!

Rehearsal At The Church

We said "I Do!!!" 

Lindsey Regan Thorne worked her magic on me....LOVE how it turned out!!!

Olivia Claire was our flower girl!  Such a little HAM smiling for the cameras.

 Yes, this happened.....

Dancing with my Daddy 

Wedding's are not complete without an ADPi picture 

And my K-ville girls

Dancing with my husband

Cake Lady Jill did an AWESOME job with the cake!  Just like we had pictured!

Exit: Mr. and Mrs 

On Monday it was honeymoon time!  Starting the morning off right! 

and we looked at this view every day when we woke up!  no complaints. 

Galley Bay Resort in Antigua

Just wanted to share a few sneak peaks because I could not have been more excited with how our wedding journey turned out.  My HUSBAND and I talked everyday about how lucky we were.  THANK YOU TO ALL INVOLVED!