Bella and Mommy
Bella and I love matching! It was such a pleasure to shoot with Sarah Marchwiany Photography in Greensboro, NC. Below are some of my favorite shots!
Photographer: https://www.sarahmarchwianyphotography.com/
Matching Outfits:
https://liketk.it/48hDR
TALK ABOUT CRAZY FAITH!
Buckle up, because the 3 team is in the 2022 NASCAR PLAYOFFS! There are 28 races in the regular season which means each team has 28 chances to get into the playoffs either by winning a race or by points. Daytona was the last race to make it into the playoffs where the top 16 compete for a championship. We were 22nd in points so we were in a must-win situation.
A little over two months ago, I listened to a sermon by TD Jakes called ‘It’s a Faith thing,’ and every little thing in that sermon spoke to me. I knew that getting into the playoffs would be ‘a Faith thing.’ I wrote in my calendar ‘It’s a Faith thing’ on every Sunday for the rest of the regular season up until Daytona. The Bible scripture in Austins car was Romans 8:28. I didn’t realize that Daytona was a Saturday night race until it was rained out and pushed to Sunday. After we left the racetrack, a notification popped up and said ‘it’s a Faith thing’ for Sunday, August 28. My heart sank because 8/28 is so special to us. Romans 8:28 is our anchor verse. When life gets crazy, we anchor ourselves with that scripture. ‘And we know that in ALL THINGS God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose.’ All of us were so excited and just knew that God was up to something special.
The week of the race, NASCAR was replaying Austin’s Daytona 500 win which was so special to our squad because it was the first race that Paul was on Austin’s pit crew. Paul filmed pieces of the win and tagged us on social media. He said, “From the moment I turned on the TV and saw our Daytona 500 win recap, I knew we were going to win that race. The goosebumps I felt in that moment was unreal. It was nothing but God showing me that sign.”
Days before the race, I had a FaceTime call with a former NASCAR journalist and dear friend of mine, Mrs. Ronda Rich, and I had told her that I knew we were going to win! She wrote this Faith statement on her Facebook page and I wanted to share it here.
Before the race, I think we prayed three or four different times. We put Holy oil on his race suit and a Bible scripture to protect his car. Sunday at 10:00 AM, the race cars took the green flag for the final race of the regular season. During the race, things weren’t going our way but we kept saying ‘it’s already done,’ and an incredible calmness would come over Mariel and I. With about 25 laps to go, we were one lap down but a caution came out so that put us back on the lead lap. The very next lap, the cars up front started wrecking and it was chaos. It involved every car in front of Austin. Austin went from 21st to 1st in 5 seconds and we were screaming like CRAZY. Then, all of a sudden a major storm came over the racetrack with rain and lightning. We jumped on the golf cart and raced to pit road because we thought they were going to call the race due to weather. We had so much joy because we watched God take Austin from 21st to 1st in 5 seconds and I have never seen a race car do that before. It was like God had His hand on Austins car guiding him to the front. We ran out to pit road and we were so overwhelmed with God’s goodness! I started doing a victory dance and singing crazy Faith. It was the precious hand of God and I know it was because of everyone’s Faith!
Austin, Paul, Mariel and myself have a ‘squad’ text so before the race our chat was going off. Paul was saying, “I know we’re going to win.” Mariel would say, “It is already done.” I would say, “CRAZY FAITH.” This community that God has blessed us with is truly so special. When one person lacks something, the other one steps up and vice versa. We have witnessed Jesus in amazing ways and watched Him do incredible things in our lives. To God be the Glory!
During the rain delay, Austin hung out at the bus. He didn’t like me dancing and celebrating because it wasn’t over but I kept saying, “IT’S A FAITH THING! I GOT CRAZY FAITH!” Before he went out, he asked for prayer one more time so we prayed together and I just looked at him and said, “God said go finish it.”
There were only 21 laps to go and after a 3 hour rain delay, we started back racing. Austin got passed by the 2 car and when the time was perfect he took the lead. With 6 laps to go, we all ran out to pit road and watched the 3 car cross the finish line. It was the perfect scenario! God is just good like that. When His hand is in it, it is perfect! It had been 73 races and almost two years since the 3 car was in Victory Lane. Thank you Jesus!!! If you’re in professional sports, you know how hard it is to win. Especially in NASCAR, because everything has to come together perfectly. The driver cant make mistakes, the crew chief has to make the right calls, the engineers and road crew have to make sure the car is fast, the spotter has to tell the driver the right calls, and you need Jesus to dodge the wrecks.
WHAT A FINISH! WHAT A WIN! It was Bella’s first race and the first time Ace and Bella got to experience Victory Lane. Better yet, we were all together! WHAT A DAY! To God be the Glory!!
Now that were home, God led me to this scripture and I wanted to share it with you all. Acts 20:24, “My only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.”
To God be the Glory! Share this with someone who needs a good ‘crazy Faith’ story! Our God is so good and He makes a way where there ain’t no way! I heard a preacher once say that when you see God do a miracle for someone else that means he’s in your neighborhood and get ready because what he can do for one, he can do for another. We’re all God’s children and He wants to bless us beyond our wildest dreams. The real question is — is your heart open to Him?
Pray with me:
Father, thank you for the breathe in my lungs and for waking me up this morning. Each day is a gift from you and we thank you for it. Father, remove the blinders from our eyes so we can see you and hear you. We know that you are a miracle worker, a way-maker, a life changer, and only you can do the impossible. We ask you to please come into our situations where we think there is no hope and restore our Faith. We thank you, praise you, celebrate you right now for what you’re going to do. In Jesus Christ name we pray, amen!
Instagram @bAbyboldly
As a first time mom, I didn’t know what all I really needed for my hospital bag. There are TONS of blogs and “checklist” but it can still be overwhelming. As I was researching I came across the coolest company and had to share with you guys! Babyboldly.com has hospital bags for expecting mamas with EVERYTHING you need! And when I say everything, I mean they went above and beyond.
They offer three types of bags for different budgets and two different colors. The minimalist bag for $120. The happy medium for $170. The fully prepared bag for $225! I snagged the fully prepared bag and it blew me away.
One of my favorite things is the actual bag. It was made for organization and I’m going to use this for a lot of things. It can transition with you into motherhood to a diaper bag, pumping bag, work bag, over night bag, gym bag, beach bag, or weekend bag. It has pockets along the inside on both sides of the bag and I love the way it opens up. The entire bag opens so you can see everything inside. Absolutely no digging for anything.
This would be the best baby shower gift for expecting mamas! It takes one less thing off your ‘to-do’ list.
Here’s a list of everything inside the bag!
Instagram @babyboldly
What you get:
Overnight bag (two color options)
Shower Flip flops
Bath towel
Robe
Lip balm
Changing pad
Toiletry bag with shampoo, conditioner, body wash
Plastic Envelope (for all your hospital papers)
Vanity kit - cotton balls/swabs, nail file
Face wipes by Burt’s Bees
Natural deodorant
Natural toothpaste + tooth brush
Hair ties
Folding hair brush + mirror
Maxi pads
Pure honey sticks
Massage ball - I LOVE this!
Thank you cards + pen (Coolest thing ever)
Nursing pads
Organic nipple balm
Phone charger
Water bottle
A Book to read - "This is Ridiculous, This is Amazing" Parenthood in 40 Lists by comedian Jason Good
I found this bomb company through google search and after I received my bag… I was so impressed! All the products are top notch. I highly recommend this amazing company. Click here to shop!
Happy shopping expecting mamas!
XO
Whit
Pregnancy is a beautiful thing but it can be scary in the beginning. You start gaining weight, your clothes don’t fit like they used to, your bras hurt, jeans are too tight and you realize this is about to be the most selfless thing you’ve ever done.
A real life human is taking over your body. It’s telling you what to do and when to do it. You just have to tell yourself that every pregnant woman feels this. You’re not crazy… you’re just human. For us, once we found out the sex of our baby, that’s when everything became so so exciting! It made the experience more personal. I started talking to him and Ace was kicking for the first time. Not to mention, it’s time for shopping, planning and decorating.
I made a list of things you should do right when you find out your pregnant!
Buy bigger bras
Get a pregnancy pillow
Stretch mark oil
Stretchy pants (if it’s winter)
Flowy/stretchy dresses (if it’s summer)
Prenatal vitamin with iron
Making sure you have bigger clothes BEFORE you need them will make your life so much easier. A lot of my friends (and me included) had a mini panic attack when we couldn’t fit into our clothes anymore. This will save you from unnecessary added stress. Size up one size in the beginning and one more towards the end.
Start thinking about your meals. Your doctor should give you a list of what to eat and what not to eat. All of a sudden you start eating more but your body needs real/healthy Whole Foods more than ever. Try to stay away from snacks because anything packaged will have high sugar/carbs and it’s not what your baby needs. You will always have your days where you can’t help but to eat bad. However, if you have a game plan with your eating it will save you from a lot of issues down the road.
Good foods/snacks/what to order:
1.Fruit - pineapples, bananas, apples, grapes are all great snacks
2. Nuts
3. Meat and veggies - this holds me over and makes my baby happy! Chipotle bowl with chicken and steak. Black beans, veggies, corn, sour cream, salsa, and guac! I live for this meal and eat it almost everyday.
4. Greek Yogurt with a little honey and granola
5. Costco - organic super foods smoothie has kale and fruit. This has helped with my “sweets” craving
6. Halo Top - if you need something sweet, eat this protein packed ice cream
7. Salads! On the go? Chick Fil A - Cobb salad with honey mustard dressing hits the spot everytime
8. Lots and lots of water
9. Atkins Protein Bars - I worked out my entire pregnancy and continued to eat these 3 days a week
10. EGGS! Ace might come out looking like an egg because I ate so many. They fill me up and there’s so many ways to eat them
My Favorite stores:
I didn’t want to spend a ton of money on maternity clothes since it’s such a short time of your life. I ended up buying all my clothes from the list below. I stuck to stretchy dresses and purchased them in every color I could find. I would also buy stretchy midi skirts that hit below my knee and switched out the tops. Pregnancy fashion is really simple. Buy clothes that lay on your skin. Nothing too tight.
Fashion Nova
Nordstrom
Forever 21
Target
H&M
ASOS
Nasty Gal
Happy Pregnancy to all the mamas out there! Don’t be afraid to reach out to your doctor, family or friends for questions!
XO
Whitney Dillon
Photography: Jodie Brim Photography / Instagram: @JodieBrimPhotography
We decided to wait until the 18-20 week mark to find out the gender of our baby and I’m so glad we waited. The gender reveal had SO MUCH suspense and excitement and I think its because we broke it all up. We didn’t announce until 3 months and did the reveal at 5 months. Next on the list is the baby shower and then it’ll be baby time. I feel like a lot of people rush everything and then you have a long waiting period rather than breaking up the excitement so the process doesn’t feel as long. I can’t believe I’m already HALF WAY and I do feel like the rest is going to fly by.
So as you all know, WE’RE HAVING A BABY BOY!! I have dreamed of being a boy mom for as long as I can remember and I’ve NEVER seen Austin so happy in my life. The first night I met Austin (July 11, 2015), he talked about having a family one day. I knew from the get-go having a family was his biggest dream and I can’t believe we’re here! I remember when we got married, we started praying hard for all of this. Even throughout everything, we’ve continued to pray and pray and pray. There are so many risks involved in a pregnancy, all you can do is lean on God.
We’ve been looking forward to throwing a gender reveal party ever since they became popular. This adrenaline rush was the equivalent to winning a NASCAR race. We all felt like we were in victory lane celebrating a MASSIVE win.
We shot off the biggest cannons I could find. We choose the cannons that were FULL of smoke and confetti. We also had our friend fly over us and drop more smoke. I ordered 10 cannons that were 32 inches. We had 10 guys set them off because they were pretty powerful. We did a short countdown…. 3-2-1… and we also went “live” on instagram so everyone could see.
Also, thank you to my family and friends who drove all the way from Tennessee to be with us. I can’t thank you enough for making this day so special!
Needless to say. BEST. DAY. EVER!
I wanted to share some of the companies I used for the reveal. If you’re in the Charlotte area, I highly recommend any of these awesome people.
I also have to give a BIG thank you to my mother-in-law Tina. She did the entire set up. I don’t have my family here to help and she always comes in clutch. Thank you Tina! I love you!!
Cannons: PoofThereItIs.com
Candy Bar: All candy was from PartyCity.com and Amazon.com
Balloon Backdrop: Confetti Castle - Instagram @ConfettiCastle
Baby Dillon Cake Topper: ETSY.com/AtomicKraftwork
Cakes: Deweys Bakery
Cupcakes: Deweys Bakery
Flowers: Homegoods and Reggie’s Flower Shop
Food: Served Fruit and finger foods
Beverages: Pink and Blue punch made by Childress Vineyards
Photography/Videography: Jodie Brim Photography
NASCAR Productions also filmed the event. It will air during the week of the Daytona 500
BABY BOY….. you are so loved already! We can't wait to hold you, meet you, and tell you all about the last 10 months. We are patiently waiting on your arrival!
All our love,
Dad and Mom
Thank you Jesus!
What a fun journey this has been so far. I’m officially 3 months pregnant and it feels so good to be able to tell the world. We had to tell a lot lies to everyone who had been asking and wondering, including our own family. And literally half of the NASCAR community. LOL. Austin and I promised our doctor we wouldn’t tell anyone until my 3 month check-up. So we stuck to it.
Funny story, I had NO idea I was pregnant but my trainer thought I had symptoms of being pregnant so she told me to wait until the next morning and test. I woke up the next morning and forgot about what she had said but Austin was like, ‘hey babe, take that test.’ So I took the test and waited a few minutes. Nothing happened and it seemed like the test wasn’t working which is exactly what my last test did so I just assumed I wasn’t pregnant. So, I take Gucci Girl out to go potty and come back in the bathroom. And boom... WE ARE PREGNANT! I yelled at Austin, “HUNNY, GET UP OMG!” Lol. Even though the test said pregnant, we didn’t believe it.
I called the doctor and she got in me the same day. Literally, hours later I was at the hospital. They triple tested to make sure it was accurate. When Doc came in the first thing she said was “Congrats, you guys are definitely pregnant.” Then she asked if we wanted to do an ultrasound. We were only 6 weeks pregnant at the time but we got to watch the baby’s heartbeat. Baby Dillon is a wild one. He/she was swimming all over the place. I immediately started tearing up. I was watching my baby dance in my belly!!!!!
We were laughing because as I was making my next appointment a guy came up to Austin and said good luck this weekend. LOL!
A lot of people in NASCAR had suspicions of me being pregnant because in Phoenix during pre-race I almost passed out. I was so incredibly fatigued that weekend. I didn’t get out of bed except to eat and that was it. The week before we were in Vegas for PBR and I was 100% fine. But those few days in Phoenix weren’t good for me. I ended up not going to Miami for the championship race because I didn’t want to do the same thing again. Y’all know I can’t stand missing races so I had to lie and say I was doing something for the jewelry company. Lol.
Meanwhile, sneaking this from RC (Austin’s grandpa) and Mike Dillon (my father in law) was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. RC was so worried about my health and Mike called me a few times saying you might be pregnant. Lol. They are SO detailed I couldn’t be around them because I was afraid they would put two and two together.
Our next sneaky plan was to tell everyone at Thanksgiving! My family and Austin’s family all in the same place at once.... I knew this would be so special.
Right before it was time for the prayer, Austin asked everyone to gather around the kitchen because he wanted to start a new family tradition. Little did they know, we were about to tell them about Baby Dillon. He asked everyone to get out their phones, click on ‘video,’ and push record. Once everyone had their phones on record, he said, “Whitney is pregnant.” We got EVERYONES reaction from every angle. It was so good!
I think the coolest thing about it all was RC’s reaction. I’ve never really seen him cry or tear up over anything. He had tears in his eyes from the moment we told him to the time they left. It was just so special. I’ll never forget that Thanksgiving.
We had to keep this secret for ONE month. If you know my husband, you know this was the hardest task he’s ever had to do. The only people who knew were our moms and of course Pauley and Mariel.
Later on, we FaceTimed our friends and family and recorded their reactions.
We are SO EXCITED to be first time parents! Baby Dillon, you had a lot of people praying for you and all I can say is that you are so loved already.
I can’t say this enough but thank you Jesus!
I love decorating for holidays and Halloween is one of my favorites to decorate. It took me a lot of trips to the store, returning/exchanging, and playing trial and error to get my table right so here are a few tips I have for decorating!
Usually, the more on the table the better. One mistake I kept making is that I wouldn’t buy enough and it just looked bare. Its better to over buy and return what you don’t need but chances are you will use it.
For the plate setting, do all 4 - The placemat, service plate, dinner plate and salad plate or bowl.
Have a focal point. Mine is usually the tallest item on my table.
You need different levels to give dimension. So if your focal point is the center of the table you should add things that are shorter and smaller in size. See my table for a better description
Must have a table runner. Sometimes I use two
Pick a color scheme. Usually, stay between 3-4 colors that go together
Start with what you like and stick to the theme. The biggest “no no” is getting multiple themes within one table
Candle holders and silver cups that always stay on my table
Here is a photo of my table for Halloween. Everything you see is from Home Goods, Pier One and Hobby Lobby. I will say that Hobby Lobby has 40% off right now and Home Goods always has the best deals.
One thing I keep on my table year around are two clear and silver candle holders. I also keep the same silver wine glasses on the table as well. This helps so you don’t have to buy brand new items each time for your table.
As you can see I did two table runners just to give it a little more dimension.
I did a variation of skulls and pumpkins. I stayed with the colors white, black and silver. To add a pop of bling, I added in some glittery pumpkins.
Happy decorating!
Cheers,
Whit
Photo from Pinterest
Have a vision for your life. My dream job was to work in television. Work towards that goal everyday. Even if it feels like you are off track. JUST KEEP GOING! Everybody’s path is different. This was mine and I hope it inspires you to do everything you want to accomplish. This has been a WILD ride…. Cheers to the next 10!
Being the first in my family to graduate from college - I graduated with my bachelors degree in four years. It was my goal to do it in 4 years and A LOT of blood, sweat and tears went into achieving that. Thank ya Jesus!
College athletics - I cheered all four years in college. I have always loved, lived, and breathed cheerleading. Being a cheerleader in college was a whole other level. Balancing school and cheering every game for football and basketball was really challenging. It kept me really busy and dedicated. I was captain my senior year and the responsibilities grew greater. This began shaping me for the future.
Live in a different city, at least once - I moved to a different city where I didn’t know anyone. I moved to Nashville after I graduated in 2012. After you graduate college, it’s a really weird time in your life. You’re starting a new chapter... and a scary one. You feel so lost and it sucks because you have to start at the bottom of the totompole and work your way up. I was in a new city trying to find a new job with no friends or family. I had so many moments where I asked myself, ‘what have you done?’ But now, I realize that was the best decision I ever made.
Don’t be “too good” for anything - I landed a crappy first job in the corporate world making $24,000 a year WITH a 4 year college degree. I was going door to door, business to business, selling copiers and printers. I would call my dad at least once a week crying but he pushed me to stay in it. He always said be the hardest working in the room and you will succeed. Good thing is, you will move up quickly and you’ll be making double before you know it.
Take a risk - I auditioned for an NFL cheer team without trained dance experience. I cheered in college but its very different than professional cheerleading. This was legit one of the coolest things I had ever accomplished. Over 400 girls auditioned and I was one of the 27 that made it. This was truly a pivotal moment in my life. Looking back, this is where it all changed for me.
Don’t force it - Friendships, relationships, or anything in life. I found that fighting to hold on to something that is not fighting to hold on to you will ruin you. Free yourself of anything that makes you feel trapped, unappreciated, disrespected, and lonely. When you let go of toxic people, you make room for so much greatness your life.
Have a roommate - Some of my funniest memories are living with my best friend in a crappy house with no internet or cable. All we had was us and legit cockroaches. We paid a lot of money to live in a good part of town but the house was caving in. It was disgusting. We were paying our own bills and we were proud of it. THIS is my favorite past time. Living with Kristen and Mariel completely changed my perspective on life. I would call mom and be like THANK YOU for doing all that you did for us. You never realize what mamas do until you have to do it. HA! This experience humbled me. Never ever forget where you came from... and for me, I’ll never forget these amazing times.
Be single - This was always hard for me because I love relationships. I was single for about 1 year until I met my husband. That year was one of the most fun I’d ever had. I really grew into who I was so when I met Austin I had so much confidence in who I was. I had my own life, my own friends, and I took pride in that. I just think it takes time to discover who you are. Give yourself that time to grow so that when you do meet your significant other, you’ll be ready and it will be right.
Vision Boards work and so does journaling - Make a vision board and journal daily of what you want most. Whether its a career, a partner, or spiritual. It is a journey! But I found that if you make specific goals, you will reach them much quicker than you think. Even if its as simple as reading 50 books a year, write it down.
Travel to a different country OR go somewhere new - experience is key. I had the pleasure of traveling to Japan for the Super Bowl. It was really cool connecting with other NFL cheerleaders around the league. The trip was eye opening, fun, exhausting and memorable. That year I had on my vision board to travel to a different country. And it happened. Pretty cool!
Have a mentor - It’s always so nice to have someone to talk to or look up to in all aspects spiritually and mentally. I had a really good community around me at the time. I looked up to my boss, coach, preachers and others who were around me. These people helped shape who I am and I’m thankful for that.
Learn to let go and follow God’s path - I had to let go of people who I didn’t want to let go of... But when God is tugging at your heart you have to listen. Trust me! He knows.
Be thankful - because appreciation goes along way. When you’re appreciative of what you have, you’ll end up having more. Focusing on what you don’t have will make you believe you don’t have enough.
Find your person - When I met Mariel, my life changed forever. She’s my soulmate in girl form. We are connected in a way I can’t explain. When we became friends, our lives elevated at a rapid pace. Having a good community around you will make you better. If you’re lucky enough to find that person, never let them go.
Give back - Even if its not money, give your time. There’s so much in every community that we can be doing. For us, helping other women was something near and dear to our heart. This is how ‘Girls Tour’ formed. This is an event for women to come and listen to other women of all walks of life speak. It’s powerful and life changing. We donate canned food and the money we raise to a local women’s shelter.
Enjoy the journey - LIVE every moment and take it all in - Life is short! We’re not guaranteed tomorrow so I wanted to be able to look back on my life and really be able to say, I LIVED IT to the max. I took every opportunity that came my way and made the most of it. More than anything, the goal is to make God proud and fulfill every assignment on earth.
Don’t take yourself too seriously - My motto has always been to have fun, be goofy, and don’t be afraid to laugh at yourself. Yall, we don’t make it out alive anyways.....
Own who you are - Be so completely yourself that everyone else feels safe to be themselves too. There’s a confidence that comes with not being afraid to be yourself. Sure, people will hate it but there’s always going to be people who love you and hate you - and their decision has nothing to do with you.
What God puts in your heart is for YOU - A lot of times, others will not understand because God didn’t put it in their hearts. When you have a dream or vision, only you know what to do with it...
Be selfish - and I MEAN this. Your 20s are for YOU! You have your whole life to live it for other people.
It’s okay to make mistakes - I made A LOT! I’m not afraid to admit it or say that I wish I would have done a few things differently. But one things for sure, I learned from every big and small mistake I made. I made a decision a long time ago that I would grow from every experience. Focus on your growth not your mistakes.
Be fearless - DONT BE AFRAID TO FAIL - legit, just go for it because it’s better to do that then to live the rest of your life dreaming and wishing.
Not everyone deserves your energy - Know what and who is worth it. What you focus on is up to you, remember that.
Be a blessing to others - Mama always says leave people better then how you found them. However that may be...
Do it for you - Whatever you decide to do in life, make sure it makes YOU happy. You gotta be proud of your own self. You’re the one who has to live with the decisions you make so make sure you’re making yourself proud.
Don’t have a ‘type’ when dating - sometimes what we want isn’t what we need. You’ll know when you meet someone if it’s right. There wont be any doubts.
Know your worth - This took me a longgggg time to figure out. But always remember that it’s not who you are that holds you back its who you think you’re not.
Learn to forgive - We’re all just people. We make mistakes and hurt people without knowing. Sometimes you have to accept an apology that you never got and you’ve gotta be okay with it. I’ve had a ton of these in my life. Just forgive! ‘Blessed be the peacemaker”
Perspective is key - Happiness lives inside of the smallest moments. Don’t take it for granted. Focus on the good.
Life is full of ups and downs - The bad things that happen in life aren’t meant to break us, but to shape us. I love the saying that says ‘not all storms come to disrupt your life, some come to clear your path.’ You just never know what God is up to. What the devil meant for bad, God uses for good!
Stop shrinking to fit in places you’ve outgrown. Live, Love, Grow!
Even if the odds are stacked against you, keep going and striving. I’m just a country girl from Soddy Daisy, TN that had big dreams. I truly believe that my life has just begun and I haven’t tapped into my true potential. All you have to do is believe!
All my love,
Whit
I live for being tan. If there was “tan” Queen, it would be me. It makes me feel like I can conquer the world. So here are my top self tanners that you have to try. I only use these products on my skin.
St. Tropez - Always get express. Personally, I always buy the darkest color they make. I suggest buying the mitt for a sleek finish on your skin. It works best if you sleep in it. Let it dry so you don’t feel sticky. Wash it off in the morning for a seriously gorgeous tan. Click here for the St. Tropez tanning mitt
Loving tan - Again, I always buy the darkest and fast acting. Loving Tan is NEXT LEVEL tanning. It’s buildable and goes on easy. Sleep in this as well and you’ll look like you just vacationed in the Caribbean.
Norvell Venetian face Mist - With all spray tans, your face is the first to revert. When I found this, I struck gold. Spray this on your face if you need to freshen up your tan. I buy the Venetian color which has a purple undertone so it actually looks like a real tan. This is buildable, sprays easy and looks phenomenal. I wouldn’t recommend this if you have super fare skin. I have dark skin and it literally drinks it.
I also want to recommend a product to remove your spray tan so your skin is prepped for the next time. Exfoliating is KEY to a beautiful spray tan or self tan. I found this product from my friend Shannon Ford. She’s also the queen of spray tanning so here it is for purchase.
Happy tanning!
Camping can be extremely difficult and intimidating if it is your first time. With that in mind, we decided to go to Bass Pro Shop, and pick up some essentials to help you with your next camping trip!
First, you are going to need shelter. Now a days, there is something called “Glamping,” where shelter is already provided. Glamping is where luxury meets nature, but if you are going old fashion camping you will need to purchase a tent. What is inside of the tent is just as important, so don’t forget your sleeping bag/air mattress, blanket, and pillow. Depending on what time of the year, pack extra blankets just in case.
Second, you will need equipment to capture your dinner for the night, such as fishing poles. Fishing always makes for a fun activity when camping.
We would also suggest packing snacks and food to bring along with you if you do not capture any dinner that day. If you have a trailer/motorhome with you, it would also be nice to bring a grill. If not ,no worries, a good ole campfire will do the trick.
We would also suggest packing sunscreen and bug spray. For your convenience, below we added a checklist of everything you may need for your fun night out with nature.
Checklist:
1. Tent/ poles/stake
2. Air Mattress/ Sleeping Bag
3. Bedding/ Blankets
4. Grill/ Cook Stove/Untensils
5. Fishing Pole and accessories
6. Flashlights
7. Clothing for the time you will be there ( check weather)
8. Tools ( an Ax and Knife)
9. Matches/ Flint
10. Rope
11. Bug Spray/ Sunscren/Hats
12. First Aid Kit
13. Map of Area
XO
Whit + Mariel
I love celebrating birthdays but especially Austin’s. We make sure to go ALL OUT when his birthday comes around. I’m so proud of my hubby and all that he’s accomplished but I’m even more proud of what he does off the track. He’s the first to help and share all that he’s been blessed with. He works so hard in so many different avenues and does it with ease. I don’t know how he does it all but he is just like his dad and grandfather - working machines.
Every year, AD grows tremendously as a racer, a business owner, a friend, and a husband, and I can’t wait to see what all God has in store for him and for us. I’m thankful for you boo and all that you do for me. I love you beyond words and can’t wait for the future! Blessings to come!
DJ: DJ Hek Yea
Theme: Fiesta
Food: Salsarita’s
Floats: Amazon
Decorations: Party City
Cake: Dewey’s
Photographer: Daryl Shawm Photography / Insta: @DarylShawPhoto
Thank you Daryl Shaw for the photography
XO
Whit
Below are a collection of photos from the wedding! Hope you enjoy. Trinity Photography were our photographers.
Fashion played a huge role in my big day, so here is a breakdown of the details.
Something I really wanted was a beautiful bridal robe to get ready in. Le Laurier founded by Designer Lauren Holovka offers timeless and fashion forward pieces, inspired by everyday brides. Lauren created me a one of kind robe and named it The Mariel Robe. She made the robe with me in mind and made it from the finest materials imported from Paris, with delicate Chantilly lace. Each of Le Laurier’s couture designs are handmade, with a high level of complexity, from finding the right materials to creating a unique but glamorous concept. The robe continued with a beautiful bell sleeve with beaded lace trim to a ostrich feather beaded belt with Swarovski crystals.She also added a dramatic cathedral train with 4 different types of beaded laces appliquéd throughout the train, as well as adding ostrich feathers to create the perfect details for my ideal robe.
I was also obsessed with look of tiaras, so I had to find the perfect one. I wanted to feel like a princess! I ordered my crown from Giva My Jewerly and Kendra Currie did my hair and installed the crown.
My Wedding Gown
My gown is from RK Bridal in New York. Whit Whit, My mom, and Maribeth all went with me to find this gown. I knew immediately when I saw it that it was the one. My gown was designed by Morilee by Madeline Gardner. I loved everything about this gown. From the sleeves to the cathedral train with ostrich feathers.
i wanted my bouquet to be massive!
Flower Girls
I wanted my little girls to look like little swan princess. I found their dresses from Kingdom Boutique. I loved my little flower girls! They were just as sweet as they were adorable,
Bridesmaids
I wanted my bridesmaids to look like forest fairies! I found their dresses from Abyss By Abby. I absolutely loved everything about these dresses. The color reminded me of royalty and forest fairies all at the same time, wanted them all to have emerald smokey eyes and neutral lips. Bre Early and McCall Gaulding did an amazing job on their makeup. I also wanted long romantic, loose curls on everyone and Kendra did and amazing job on their hair.
All of my bridesmaids word black silk robes with their names stitched on the front. Whit Whits robe had Maid of Honor written on the back.
The Groom
Paul wore a black velvet tux custom made by Stitched.. I love the look of velvet in the winter time. It is the darkest black you can find in clothing, and the color always looks so rich. Pauls jacket was lined with tickets on the inside, because he’s a big ticket guy. It’s kind of his thing. He loves tickets.
Groomsmen
All the groomsmen look extremely handsome in their classic black tuxedos with black bowties.
Paul and Mariel Swan's Full wedding video Videography By: Jonathon Ford
‘But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day." (2 Peter 3:8) The love that was in the room on our wedding day, January 5, 2019 felt as it was going to last a thousand years. Love is timeless and pure love will last forever. Love is the glue that binds our reality and gives us strength to face the world as long as we have one another. I truly believe that the unconditional love that Paul and I have for each other is sealed and anointed from God. The Bible teaches, “1 John 4:7-8 (ESV) God Is Love.January 5th 2019 Paul and I got married at Childress Vineyards. It was the best day of my life. I truly felt God’s presence and an overwhelming amount of unconditional love that day. On that day I married my soulmate, in front of my closest friends and family, and I must say there was no better feeling.
THAT MORNING
The morning of my wedding was insane and a time I will never forget. I was so nervous and excited all the same time. I was so happy to have my family and best friends by my side that morning.
My bridesmaids: Whitney Dillon Matron of honor, Jordan Dodson, Evony Thompson, Ashley Parker,Jocelyn Watts, Kristen Stiles, Laura Little, Courtney Little, Jessi Boseman, Morgan Abel, Tiffany Harwell, Amanda Mertz
DETAILS
My new last name is Swan and I wanted to tie that into the theme of my wedding. The song I walked down the aisle to was 1000 years, played by Deans Duets, (cello, harp,violin trio). I wanted everything to have an enchanted feel, because after all I was morphing into a swan (haha) . I used tons of greenery and faux trees to replicate the look of a forest and stuck with rich colored jewel tones to create a warm and enchanting feel. When people walked in, I wanted them to feel as though they were in an enchanted forest.
Dean’s and Duets
My event planner was Coordinating Dreams and my floral designer was Dahlia’s (Trinity
photography)
I also used cream draping in the front, but that is the only draping I used. I wanted to keep the earthy feel of the stones and wood at the vineyard. I used wooden chairs, and tons of trees and greenery. We had cascading greenery from the sky. And used tree/branch cut outs to create more of a forest scenery.
We used greenery, tree stumps, candles, and floral bouquets down the aisle.
Jack, Maribeth, and Paul (My Mother and Father in Law)
Mother and father (Michael and Victoria lane)
Pete, Oma and Papa
Malachi, Granny Poo Poo, Granny Joyce)
Ashley and Pete (Brother and Sister in Law)
My Daddy and I (Michael Lane)
The Jumping of the broom (Whit Whit got me a custom blinged out broom as a gift)
At the end of the ceremony Paul and I jumped the broom, which is an African American tradition which symbolizes sweeping your old life away and jumping into a new life together!
My mother and Mother in Law Victoria Lane and Maribeth Debraal
My mother wrote a poem, "Mothers' Blessings, A Thousand Years"” and she read it with Maribeth (my mother in law) by her side. Their blessings were to remind the world that both mothers and families were excited that we found each other, and both families believed in the power of love. My mom ended the poem with, “They know that true love will forever stand more than a single day and more than a thousand years."
VENUE
We had our wedding at Childress Vineyards. Our ceremony and reception was held in the Pavilion and our cocktail hour was held in the Bistro.
Flower Girls (Tru Harwell; Blair Boehlke ; Zaria Saleem)
Tony Haye’s the saxophone player during cocktail hour
Pastor Ray Wright married us
Reception
During my Daddy/Daughter Dance
During the reception I loved the look of massive candelabras with creeping greenery to give a fairy tell feel. For the reception and ceremony I had to have two massive golden swans so I took some swan sculptures I found online and Jack, my father in law spray painted them in an antique gold. Florals played a huge role in the design element of my wedding. I used a huge greenery backdrop for the fireplace during my reception, and our florist, Dhalias made the most beautiful hanging greenery piece to go above the couch near our bar. For the tables I wanted the flowers to have massive floral centerpieces mixed in with the candelabras. Faye Conlin from Coordinating Dreams took my vision and made it into a reality!
Mom and Son dance
During Pete (The Best Man) and Whitney’s MOH and Best Man (speeches) haha they needed each other for emotional support they were so nervous. They did an awesome job!
My Daddy’s Speech
My Mother in Laws Speech
Stephanie Finely Cake design
Signature drink- The Ticket Bomb
Bartender- Jimmy The Bartender
Family
Squad Photo( Whit, AD,Paul, Me)
Heather Smith Live Painter
AD and Paul hitting the Swan
Christian and Paul
Jordan,Uncle Ronnie,Dallas, and Aunt Anne
The cutting of the cake
Bri and D (Briana Lise and Dallas Dodson my little cousin) played a selection during the reception, Dj a minor behind them
The TN Titan Cheerleader Alumni ( Jocy, Kristen,Evony,Jen Hill, AP, Stormi, Evony, Tandra, Julia, Heather, Chasity, Stephanie, Tiffany)
Wedding Party
Groomsmen: Pete Swan- Best Man; Austin Dillon; Malachi Lane- Brother of the bride; Christian Piazza; Alex Kellerman; Tyler beck; Alex Bayer; Derek Doudna; Logan “dopey” Zagrodnik ; Derrell Edwards
Ring bearer: Brady Scheier
Ushers: Matt Schilz; Trevor Marks
Bridesmaids: Whitney Dillon- Matron of honor; Jordan Dodson; Evony Thompson; Ashley Parker; Jocelyn Watts; Kristen Stiles; Laura Little; Courtney Little; Jessi Boseman; Morgan Abel; Tiffany Harwell: Amanda Mertz
Flower Girls: Tru Harwell: Blair Lynn Boehlke; Zaria Ryann Saleem; Nyla Iman Saleem
Huge Thank you to everyone who came and all of my vendors listed below. This was the best day of my life and you all were a huge part of that!
Photography- Trinity Photography
Transportation- Camel City Carriage
Wedding Venue- Childress Vineyard
Wedding Gown- RK Bridal
Event Planning- Coordinating Dreams
Videography: Jonathan Ford
Hair- Kendra Currie
Make up- Bree Early & Mc Call Gaulding
Floral Design- Dahlias
Dj- Dj A minor
Cello/Harp/Violin Trio- Dean’s Duets
Duet- Bri and D
Saxophone- Tony Hayes
Bridal Robe- LeLaurier
Barbers- Josh Leonard,Tim Parker, Chris Breezy ( Washington Park)
Equipment Rental- Party Reflections
Tuxedo- Stitched
Linens- Hauser Rental
Cake- Stephanie Finley
Live Artist- Heather Smith
Bartender- Jimmy The Bartender
Meats- Jack Arnold
Photographers: Trinity Photographers / Instagram: @Trinity_photo
What a day! My BFF is MARRIED to my hubbys BFF. THANK YOU JESUS!!!
January 5, 2019, was one of the greatest days of my life. I witnessed my best friend marry her God given husband. Paul and Mariel are two of the most genuine and loving people I’ve ever met and their wedding exuded just that.
Trinity Photographers / Instagram: @Trinity_photo
I was honored to be standing by her side on the biggest day of her life. I was Mariel’s Matron of Honor and she was my Maid of Honor. Her hubby, Pauley, is like a brother to me and I’m so thankful he let me be apart of every little event leading up to the wedding, including the engagement. He even let me help pick out the ring!
From the engagement in Vegas and bridal shower, to the bachelorette party and rehearsal dinner, every event was so epic and full of love and happiness.
December 1, 2017 / Las Vegas
Mariel’s Bridal Shower / Childress Vineyards
Bachelorette Party / Bahamas 2018
Mariel is so much more than my best friend. We’re bonded together by God and I’m blessed to have her in my life. It’s not what you have, it’s who you have!
Trinity Photographers / Instagram: @Trinity_Photo
We started off 2019 with a bang! Congratulations to one of the best couples I know, THE SWAN’S!
All my love,
Whit
Four Seasons Resort in Costa Rica
Our first annual family vacation was one for the books. Costa Rica is one of our new favorite spots to travel. It’s a quick and easy flight from North Carolina and its beyond beautiful. Flight Time: 3.5 hours.
We booked our vacation through Todd with Avenue Apart. You can check out his Instagram @speedofflight. We stayed at the Four Seasons Resort and it was unreal. The staff were some of the sweetest and accommodating people.
The mix of ocean with forest is a sight to see.
Diamante Eco Adventure Park
Costa Rica is known for zip lining. They have some of the best in the world and I would say this is a must if you visit here. We rented a boat for a day and they took us to zip line. You can also go by car. We ate lunch there and snorkeled the rest of the time. Renting the boat was so nice to relax and see everything around the island. Zip lining is no joke so beware if you’re scared of heights. However, they have a cool hangout spot to watch and take pictures.
The Superman
Mahi Mahi
90 pound Rooster Fish
You can’t come to Costa Rica and not do a little fishing. This was one of my favorite experiences of the week. We caught a 90 pound Rooster Fish and Mahi Mahi. They filleted the Mahi Mahi for us and we ate it for dinner. I recommend doing this activity early in the morning and with a big group of people.
Whitney Dillon, Shawnee Ward, Rick Ward, Austin Dillon, Tina Dillon, and Mike Dillon
The resort offers complimentary paddle boarding, surfing, volleyball, and other activities. We had a lot of fun with these as well. This was also a kid friendly resort. They had a game room and a kid pool only. They also had fun activities on the beach at night like s’mores.
The day we went zip lining, we also went snorkeling. We rented a small boat for a private tour. This was really cool to experience and Austin’s favorite of the week. There are all kinds of spots around the island and will take you to as many as you want.
Our resort had a hiking trail that wrapped around the island. They have tons of trails and this is where you see the best views. You also see monkeys along the trails which was wild to see.
Overall, this was the BEST trip we’ve ever been on. Costa Rica is amazing and we were blessed to share these experiences with our family. Now, on to Daytona!
XO,
Whit
Today is DECEMBER 9th. Exactly one year ago I said ‘I do’ to my baby boo AD. I didn’t know what to get him so here is a gift from the heart.
Life is crazy and time flies. Y’all, it’s been a whole year since we got married! Where does the time go?
In the past year, our beautiful niece was born. We won the Daytona 500 and began filming Racing Wives with CMT.
In honor of our one year, I made AD do a photoshoot in the desert so shoutout to the best husband but also shoutout to the best wife because now I have to go hunting. LOL.
Photography by: @kygirlphoto
We found out real quick that a happy marriage involves doing things that makes the other one happiest. I don’t like the quote happy wife, happy life. We’re a team. I like to think its happy couple, happy life.
Marriage is the most beautiful thing in the world but it isn’t easy. It’s something you have to work at constantly. At the end of the day, were a team. If I fall short, so does he and vice versa. I’m not telling you it’s going to be easy, I’m telling you it’s going to be worth it.
HAPPY ONE YEAR to my world! You challenge me. You drive me crazy and you always make me better. Your drive and ambition is like nothing I’ve ever seen before. Your heart is pure and you genuinely love me so hard. I love you with every ounce of my being! I can’t wait to see where God takes us next.
We know that marriage isn’t always skittles and rainbows but perfection is boring. It’s about what we overcome that makes life worthwhile. We struggle, we win, we lose, we conquer, we fail, but throughout it all, we overcome. You are my angel and I love you more than life.
Like I always say, it’s about the person who will be sitting on the front porch with you at 90 years old thinking you’re the best decision they ever made.
Cheers to the next 50! LETS DO THIS THANG!
All my love,
Whit Whit
We showered the Future Mrs. Swan with lots of love last weekend. I would have never moved here without Mariel so this was a true celebration of so many things!
Sometimes God sends people into your life to elevate you and Mariel is that person for me. She is my God-given sister.
Our lives changed FOREVER when we became best friends and roommates. We knew we would conquer the world together. And amongst that, God sent us our husbands. We met the boys July 11, 2015. It will be 3 years in a month and I just sit at awe at what all God has done.
Mariel's shower was at Childress Vineyards.
I immediately knew we had to have pancakes. Pancakes are Mariel's absolute favorite food in the world. So we went with a brunch menu. We served mini pancakes, fruit, and bacon on a pretty little stick. We also had a biscuit bar and a bagel bar to complete the brunch menu.
This one had to be a show stopper. There was a 3 tier cake in the center with cake pops, swan cookies, and other desserts around it.
The Cake was everything. We added fresh flowers to give it a little something extra and a glittery "Future Mrs. Swan" cake topper on top. We elevated the cake with a tall cake stand.
There were also mini donuts, heart shaped rice krispy treats, and mini cupcakes. All of these are Mariel's favorite sweets.
When the guest arrived they were handed a glass of champagne with cotton candy sprinkled in the champagne. I don't think anyone loves cotton candy as much as she does so this was a must.
We also had a mimosas bar, lemonade, and a water station with fruit infused water.
Party favors were wine and bath bombs so that her guest could have a relaxing night.
When you first walked up to the vineyard, there was a gold plated mirror that said Welcome to Mariel's Bridal Shower. I had a girly one inside when the guest were greeted.
Flowers can really make a venue come to life. The vineyard supplies farm wood tables so I ordered a lot of greenery and placed it down the center. I added white hydrangeas along the greenery to set it off. It was gorgeous!
Flowers can be EXPENSIVE! But bargain shopping is my speciality. I got a quote from a florist and they quoted me $10,000. (LOL). My mom told me that you could order flowers in bulk from Costco and Sam's Club! BEST IDEA EVER! I highly suggest this for Engagement parties, Bridal showers, and weddings. You get so much bang for your buck. Tiffany and I set out all the flowers ourselves and it only took a few hours.
One of the most important parts of a Bridal Shower is the backdrop for the bride to open her gifts. This will be photographed the most during the shower and once she's done opening gifts you can use it as a photo backdrop. I used this to make it extra special:
1. A grand chair for the Bride to sit in
2. Balloons around the frame of the backdrop
3. A board with "Future Mrs. Swan" on the front
Balloons are something that I'm really obsessed with. We used the gold letter balloons for The Bff Blog campaign and those are some of our favorite photos. This is a really cool and cheaper way to decorate a big space. I bought all the balloons off of Amazon.com. The biggest I could find were 42" balloons and they turned out perfect.
I rented gold chairs to make the room pop. The chairs were everything! It brought everything together.
I had the sides of the room draped and up lighting added in the room to brighten it up. This is necessary for darker rooms.
The countdown for The Swan's begins!!!!
XO
Whit
Before I was married to Austin, I was an Executive Assistant and a big part of my job was entertaining and party planning. I've always loved throwing parties and especially Austin's birthday. He does so much for everyone else so it's nice to do something for him.
A few years ago, the CEO of DOW Chemical gave us some advice that I'll never forget. He told us to never let a birthday go unnoticed. He said always do it big for both of our birthdays. He gave us several other life tips but this really stuck with me. I think of adults and how they do so much for everyone else especially with kids so we made a promise to each other that we'll always celebrate no matter what.
1. Venue: Book where you're going to have the party
2. Theme: Pick a theme. Pinterest is a great place for ideas
3. Food: Figure out food that goes with the theme
4. Cake: Find a good bakery and put your order in early
5. Party Decorations: I like a 'one stop shop' so Party City is always my go to
6. Invites: Make sure you get the word out two week prior - I always have AD's friends pass it around the race shop
1. Balloons make any event look over the top. Party City has so many choices just make sure you get double of everything. Two is better than one
2. It's better to get too many decorations than too little. More is better in party planning
3. A two-tier cake makes for a great center piece
4. Go easy on the food - stick with something you can order in
5. Don't forget the candles!
6. Don't forget the cake in the fridge
7. Have someone take photos for you. It makes things easier on you
8. The same thing goes for videos. Always get it on video!
Austin's party was Luau themed. We did it at our pool and I rented a blow up slide. I did this two years ago and the slide was a huge hit. The slide is as tall as the barn. LOL. I kept it simple with food and just had pizza, chips, and cookies. I usually forget something every year and this year I forgot the cake. UGH! It was such a cute cake too. We were having such a good time I just completely forgot it in the fridge.
We always like to dress the part so I bought Hawaiian leis for everyone to wear. Austin had a special leis since he was the birthday boy. And of course me and Mariel took it to a whole another level.
The best thing about birthdays is that it brings everyone together. We all have busy schedules and our own lives but when you celebrate someone who has lived another year on this earth, it's just special. Thank you to all our friends and family who came to celebrate AD! We love Y'all.
Cheers,
Whit + Mariel
Microblading is one of the best beauty tips I can give anyone who needs help with their brows. Coming from someone who used to have horrible brows, I've done my research. Here's everything I can tell you about Microblading.
1. Do your research and make sure you see pictures BEFORE you trust them with your face
2. Double check their price before you make an appointment. Some people will charge more if you don't ask before you book the appointment
3. MAKE SURE THEY USE NUMBING CREAM - if they don't offer it, get up and leave because it is necessary for you to be numb during this process
4. Don't overpay for poor service - Research, research, research!!!
5. Follow all of the directions for your after care. This is the most important part
6. Every professional has a different style of microblading. Make sure you love ALL of their brows that they display on their social media.
5. Find a professional who draws consistent, symmetrical, and clean brows
Day 1: You will love them. Coloring will be dark but understand that will fade
Day 2: They will look extra dark
Day 5-10: Your brows may/may not peel a little bit
Day 10: Brows may look lighter. Depending if you peeled or not
Day 10-14: Brows will be perfection
Holly at Kess' Sleeping Beauty
I researched for months and months for the perfect microblading professional in the Charlotte area. HANDS DOWN, the best person I found was Holly from Kess' Sleeping Beauty. She is absolutely phenomenal. She has the BEST service I've ever received and draws the prettiest brow stroke.
The prices are even better. She charges $450 for microblading and most charge around $600. This last up to one year. She also does permanent makeup. I didn't try any of that but I can tell you that you will be thrilled with her brow service.
If you are around the Charlotte area, check out her work on instagram. She has people who travel all over to see her. Tell her Whitney sent you if you go!
Cheers,
Whit + Mariel
