Let god and let go
/
A poem written by V.L
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Decorating 101: Halloween Table
/How to: Create a Spooky Halloween Table
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!
Decorating for a tabletop:
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
The Swan Wedding: Photo Book
/Below are a collection of photos from the wedding! Hope you enjoy. Trinity Photography were our photographers.
My Best Friends Wedding
/My Best Friends Wedding
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
Mariel's Bridal Shower
/Celebrating the Future Mrs. Swan
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.
Venue:
Mariel's shower was at Childress Vineyards.
Food:
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.
Dessert Table:
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.
Drinks:
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:
Party favors were wine and bath bombs so that her guest could have a relaxing night.
Love is in the details
Welcome Sign:
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.
Fresh Flowers:
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.
Dramatic Backdrop:
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
Gold Balloons:
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.
Chairs:
I rented gold chairs to make the room pop. The chairs were everything! It brought everything together.
Draping/Up Lighting:
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
Austin and Whitney Dillon's Wedding: Part 2
/Wedding Fashion
One of the best parts of a wedding is choosing all the dresses and suits. My passion is fashion so our favorite part was picking out everyones wardrobe. From the bridesmaids and flower girls to the ring bearer and pastor, I wanted everyone to shine.
Bridesmaids Dresses
My bridesmaids were glowing at my wedding. It made me so happy to see each of them standing by my side on our special day. The girls wore champagne gowns by Mac Duggal with rose gold heels by Steve Madden.
Dresses by Mac Duggal
Flower Girls
Can we take a moment for the flower girls? Kinsley, Tay Tay, Chapel, and Ellison were the hit of the wedding. I really wanted the older girls to look like mini brides. Chapel was too little for a mermaid style dress so we ordered her a poofy princess dress from ETSY.
We had their dresses custom made to look like my wedding gown and I can't get over how adorable they were. They completely stole the show.
I love Kinsley, Tay Tay, Chapel, and Ellison so much. Each of these girls are so incredibly special to me and I can't wait to watch them grow up and turn into amazing women.
The Dress
I've been so excited to show you guys my wedding gown. It's a Pnina Tornai Couture gown from Kleinfeld Bridal. I actually went to Kleinfeld's for this exact dress.
The moment I put it on my body I knew this was the one. I felt like this dress was made for me. I chose a cathedral veil with bling draping the entire bottom. I loved the skinny straps with bling, the corset detailing, and the girly bow. It was sexy but I still felt like a princess.
I love seeing this moment in photos. I was so excited to see Austin I couldn't take it. He had no clue what kind of dress I was wearing and there were so many emotions going on... the first look was so much fun.
The 'first looks' are so much fun. My girls went crazy and Austin fell to the floor. LOL. We're all very dramatic.
Austin and the groomsmen wore suits from Stitched. When you opened Austin's suit, it had all of our engagement photos on the inside.
Best time of my LIFE!
Part two coming next.
Love,
Mrs. Dillon
Rehearsal Dinner
/December 8, 2017
Our wedding weekend was so amazing and magical I can't even put into words how perfect everything turned out. I love all of the photos and can't wait to finally show you guys!
Since the rehearsal dinner's all about the groom, we did the theme cowboy rustic. It was so romantic and beautiful. The winery does an amazing job on every little detail.
I want to thank Mike and Tina for making this night so perfect!
Bridesmaids: Lindsey, Lacey, Mariel, Nakisha, Kristen, Kirbee
My favorite part of the night was listening to the speeches. I must say, my girls knocked it out of the park. Mariel, Lindsey, Kristen, and Nakeisha made me cry like a little baby. The quality of your life is the quality of your relationships... and I'm blessed beyond measure to have these girls in my life.
I have to give the biggest thank you to Mrs. Tina. This is the only picture we have together just us from the rehearsal. She's the most amazing mother-in-law I could have ever asked for. When I was single, I prayed so hard that when I met the man of my dreams, I would love his mom just as much as I do him. When AD came along and I met Tina I knew he was the one. He was God sent and so was she. Mrs. Tina put her heart and soul into this wedding and I can't thank you enough for all of your hard work. I love you to the moon and back!
Clearly, we had the time of our lives. Thank you to all of my family who drove through a snow storm to get to us. I love you all from the bottom of my heart!
Cheers,
Mrs. Dillon!
Chemical FREE Products: Spero-Hope
/Chemical FREE All-Natural Products
Products by Spero-Hope
BE SMART CONSUMERS. Know what you are purchasing and putting on your body. Your skin is your largest organ. Once you put on any product, your skin absorbs it within 20 seconds so everything is in your bloodstream. There are so many cancerous causing chemicals in our lotions, deodorants, shampoos, conditioners, etc.
They say women use up to 17 products on their bodies every single morning. They may be packaged pretty but don't let them fool you. Please Please Please don't pollute your body.
I found this amazing company called Spero-Hope. The owner, Jamie, was diagnosed with breast cancer at 33 years old with two young boys. She is now cancer-free and has devoted her time and energy to a chemical free life. She's doing all she can to help others become aware of harmful chemicals so please check out her amazing business.
My favorite products are listed below:
1. Body Butter: Lavender Vanilla
2. Deodorant: Chamomile & Sage
3. Bath Bombs: ALL are amazing
CLICK HERE for Spero-Hope LLC
These products are soooooo worth the purchase. We have to spread the word to as many people as possible. Christmas is right around the corner so give a gift everyone will love and appreciate. You could save a life!
XO
Whit + Mariel
Fun Fall Fashions
/All in the Accessories
Fall fashion hasn't changed much from last year to this year. We took pieces we had in our closet and paired them with fun accessories. This year is all about the furs, barrettes, and thigh highs.
Here's some ideas to pair different outfits. Hope you love them!
Whit's Outfit Details:
Express: black sweater dress
Stuart Weitzman: Thigh Highs
TJ MAXX: Furry black purse
Mariel's Outfit Details:
Forever 21: barrettes
H&M: black thigh highs
TJ MAXX: black fur cross body
Forever21: Skirt and turtle neck
XO
Whit + Mariel
Fall Recipes: Lasagna Soup
/Lasagna Soup
Yes, this is a thing! This Lasagna Soup is AH-mazing. The flavors are perfection and I can't wait for you to try this one. DELICIOUS and easy!
Ingredients:
∙ Serves 8
Meat
1 1/2 lb Italian sausage
Produce
1/2 cup Basil, fresh leaves
2 Bay leaves
4 Garlic cloves
3 cup Onions
2 tsp Oregano, dried
1 28-oz. can Tomatoes, fire roasted
Canned Goods
6 cup Chicken stock
2 tbsp Tomato paste
Pasta & Grains
8 oz Mafalda or fusilli pasta
Baking & Spices
1 pinch Pepper, freshly ground
1/2 tsp Red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp Salt
1 Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Oils & Vinegars
2 tsp Olive oil
Dairy
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
8 oz Ricotta
DIRECTIONS:
Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add meat, breaking up into bite sized pieces, and brown for about 5 minutes. Add onions and cook until softened, about 6 minutes. Add garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Cook for 1 minute. Add tomato paste and stir well to incorporate. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the tomato paste turns a rusty brown color.
Add diced tomatoes, bay leaves, and chicken stock. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Add uncooked pasta and cook until al dente. Do not over cook or let soup simmer for a long period of time at this point, as the pasta will get mushy and absorb all the soup broth. You may even want to consider cooking the noodles separately, and then adding some to individual bowls before ladling the soup over them. This would be an especially smart move if you are anticipating any leftovers. Right before serving, stir in the basil and season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
While the pasta is cooking, prepare the cheesy yum. In a small bowl, combine the ricotta, Parmesan, salt, and pepper.
To serve, place a dollop of the cheesy yum in each soup bowl, sprinkle some of the mozzarella on top and ladle the hot soup over the cheese.
Enjoy!
XO
Whit + Mariel
Girls Trip
/Girls Trip: Outfit Ideas
With Whit's Bachelorette nearing, and the all the buzz around Girl Trips, we thought it would be a great time to give a couple ideas on what to wear on vacation. We chose these dresses because they were perfect daytime dresses, but were easily transitioned for night time, without looking like you were still in your clothes from earlier. Try a loose fitted dress with fun prints on your next vacay. When comfort meets style, you've got a winning combination.
Photography by Ricky: instagram @ncognitto
Whit's Outfit Details:
Dress: The Edge Boutique
Shoes: Nordstrom
Jewelry: Sophia and Kate
Photography by Ricky: instagram @ncognitto
Photography by Ricky: instagram @ncognitto
Mariel's Outfit Details:
Dress: Forever 21
Shoes: Lola Shoetique
Jewelry: Windsor
Cheers,
Whit + Mariel
VACAY STYLE
/Vacay on my Mind
Get those passports ready because summer vacay season is finally here. This two-piece suit is giving us major Rihanna vibes. Wanna make a statement? Get this entire look at Robin's Runway which is straight from New York Fashion Week. Have fun with this one and pair it with funky shoes and big hoops. Throw your hair in a high pony tail to complete the look.
Shop Whit's two piece set HERE - $70
Summer time means vacay season is in full force. We're obsessing over Mariel's bahama mama jumpsuit. We paired this number with a black belt, big earrings, and a choker. Let the suit do the talking and keep it simple. Throw your hair in a top knot to complete the look.
Shop Mariel's Jumpsuit HERE - $85
You can never go wrong with a pretty pink bandage dress. It's perfect for a fun date night on vacation. We're obsessing over this baby pink color. It's been all over the runway for spring and summer. Keep this simple and pair it with pretty earrings and simple heels.
WEST COAST PART II
/ARIZONA & CALI
Racing Tank by Live Love Gameday / @LiveLoveGameday
If you ever visit Arizona, you have to climb Camelback Mountain. It's a pretty good hike up a steep mountain and a killer workout. It's more of a rock climb than a trail and I wouldn't recommend if you're scared of heights. However, the views are amazing so it's worth it. We took our time and it took us about two and a half hours to go up and down.
My racing tank is from Live Love Gameday. They have the cutest racing tanks, crop tops, koozies, and hats.
We we're so pumped to see the Lakers play the Clippers in L.A. We put that on our vision board this year so thats another thing checked off the list. We still can't believe it. It's such a cool experience.
We were only there for two days so we spent the other day shopping and sight seeing. There are so many boutiques and different malls so we chose Melrose Avenue, Rodeo Drive, and the mall next to our hotel.
We stayed at SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills. It's in the heart of downtown and close to everything.
And of course, the views of the Hollywood sign are gorgeous!
Race Day
We had so much fun meeting the WAGS and their hubbys. We had the whole crew hanging out with us on Sunday for the race. Stay tuned for the NASCAR segment for WAGS on E! News.
Hanging out with Barbie Blank, Natalie Halcro and Olivia Pierson
WAGS
Austin Dillon and Whitney, Auto Club Speedway 2017
XO
Whit + Mariel
Daytona Week
/Recap of Daytona 500
Whit + Mariel standing by their favorite car! 3 Team!
I have one of the BEST stylists! My BFF, Miss Mariel Lane, helps me kill it on the track every week. We wanted to really bring it to Daytona. It's the biggest race of the year. Plus, it's a new year so we wanted to do 'not to typical looks' I usually do.
Saturday, I did my hair crazy for AD. He loves my hair braided and big/messy. Mariel braided my three braids. I scrunched the rest with mousse and added Chi extra hold hair spray to keep the hold. We call this my Viking look (because we're so into the show and they have the best braid inspo).
I wore a black jumpsuit with gold accents. I added black strappy suede heels to keep the cool casual look.
Jumpsuits and rompers are my jam. Clearly, because I wear them almost every race. So, if you're like me and love certain looks - Here's how you can switch up your go-to style.
Switch up your hair! I always keep mine down with wand curls and Austin loves it when I do something different. It can change your entire look! Try a messy pony tail, high pony tail, bun, or braids.
Pre-race is the best in our bus
Xfinity Race: Daytona
Daytona 500 Race
Jumpsuit: Revolve
Heels: Revolve
Earrings: big hoops - Beauty Supply Store
Hair: High Pony
Mariel Lane with boyfriend, Paul Swan, Rear Tire Carrier for the #13 team
Mariel Lane and Brittany Logano in Victory Lane
You can always find Mariel by the #3 car on Sunday as well as Victory Lane every race! Here's a recap of her filming for FOX with the girls. We're so pumped for NASCAR 2017! Monster couldn't represent the brand any better. See you at the track!
XO
Whit + Mariel
Valentine's Day Essentials
/Happy Valentine's Day
Happy Valentine’s Day to all the besties! Here are some last minute outfit options and essentials for your date night.
It’s always fun to pair a pant suit with funky shoes. We paired a midnight blue suit with cheetah Loubotins.
Pants Suit: bebe
Earrings: bebe
Clutch: bebe
Heels: Christian Loubotin
You can never go wrong with a LBD and classic heels. Here’s how we paired ours.
Dress: Neiman Marcus
Clutch: Chanel
Heels: Christian Loubotin
Perfume: Chanel
Step out with some flair with this Pretty number!
Dress: H&M
Heels: Christian Loubotin
Clutch: Yves St Laurent
Fragrance: Chanel CoCo Mademoiselle
Valentine's Day isn't just for love birds. Call your mom and dad, or anyone special in your life. Send them a sweet text to let them know how special they are. Send them flowers, write a sweet note, or something sweet to show the depth of your love.
As I always say, Love is in the details!
We love you guys.
XO
Whit + Mariel
NASCAR Hall of Fame
/NASCAR Hall of Fame
We had so much fun celebrating Richard and Judy Childress, aka RC and Nonnie, at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. We were truly honored to be apart of their special night.
Richard Childress
RC’s life story is phenomenal. He began by selling peanuts and popcorn at Bowman Gray Stadium, a race car track in Winston Salem, North Carolina. While working the races he became inspired by the drivers. Back then racing was just a dream to RC, and the drivers were his heroes, but with determination, a heart that wouldn’t quit, and his ride or die Judy by his side, he turned that dream into a reality, and is going down in history as one of the best that ever lived.
Austin Dillon, Richard Childress, Ty Dillon
From Nascar driver to Owner, Richard has represented some of the best drivers that has ever lived such as Dale Earnhert.
Car owner Richard Childress and driver Dale Earnhardt
Being in attendance at the Hall of Fame banquet was something that we will never forget. Richard is the American Dream. From selling peanuts to Hall of Fame, Richard Childress’s legacy will remain forever.
Haley Dillon, Ty Dillon, Richard Childress, Judy Childress, Austin Dillon, Whitney Ward, Tina Dillon, Mike Dillon
Richard Childress, Whitney Ward, Richard Petty 'The King', and Rick Hendrick
Ty and Haley Dillon
Paul Swan and Mariel Lane representing Pit Stops For Hope
Whit's beautiful family - Rick Ward, Shawnee Ward, Austin Dillon, Whitney Ward and Jackson Ward
OUTFIT DETAILS:
Mariel's Outfit Details:
Dress: Windsor Store
Heels: Christian Loubotin
Clutch: Charmin Charlies
Thank you Richard and Nonnie Bop for sharing this beautiful night with us.
Cheers to you two!
XO
Whit + Mariel
Let's Race Magazine
/In The Media: Let's Race Magazine
We are so blessed and thankful to be featured in Let’s Race Magazine. Let’s Race is a Christian magazine that’s all about racing. I hope you love our story as much as we do. We truly appreciate this magazine for giving us the opportunity to tell others how God worked through our lives.
Whenever we tell people our story we become emotional because it is so apparent that each step was orchestrated by the Lord. We love you guys!
Check out the entire article here: http://letsracemag.com/4thQuarter/mobile/index.html#p=1
Thank You Jesus.
XO
Whit + Mariel
Creamy Hot Cocoa
/
Ingredients:
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 cup white sugar
1 pinch salt
1/3 cup boiling water
3 1/2 cups milk
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup half-and-half cream
3 teaspoons of ‘coffee mate’ French Vanilla Creamer (liquid kind)
Whip Cream
Marshmallows
Chocolate Syrup
Recipe:
Add the cocoa, sugar and pinch of salt in a pan.
Mix all of it in the boiling water.
Stir and let it simmer for 2 minutes.
Add 3 1/2 cups of milk and heat very hot; DON’T boil.
Next, remove from heat and add vanilla.
Pour into individual cups.
Add the cream and French Vanilla Creamer
Drink up!
XO
Whit + Mariel
Merry Christmas From Whit + Mariel
/From one bestie to another, Merry Christmas!
Photography by: Bo Timmons / @bosphotonc / bosphotography.com
Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas. We wanted to take a moment to thank all of the companies and designers that collaborated with us this year! We cannot wait for what's to come!! God is so good. Thank you Jesus! And thank you for supporting two besties with a dream.
XO
Whit + Mariel
More than just Best Friends....
/"She's the David to my Jonathan"
For the ones who need to hear this, I hope it hits home. Mariel and I are spiritual partners; prayer warriors! We believe whole heartily God brought us together for a bigger purpose. We like to refer to us as Jonathan and David in biblical terms. Mariel is Jonathan and Whitney is David.
The bible talks about how David was wild and made tons of mistakes. It also talks about David as being the one after 'God’s own heart.' You see, David was quick to repent, regardless of the mistakes he made.
Jonathan, on the other hand, was extremely wise. He had the the knowledge and David had the guts. So put these two together, and God took them further faster. All through His will.
These two were good men. They were men of God! But, they were much better together. They were a force! They did good on their own, but when God brought them together, He used them for a much greater purpose. They truly complimented each other!
Remember the famous book in the bible where David defeated Goliath? David was the LEAST qualified to take on the giant. However, God doesn’t call the qualified. God calls the unqualified and QUALIFIES them!
So to the ones reading this right now…. You need to know that God has a GREATER purpose for you. He has a David or a Jonathan waiting for you. He has something so spectacular up his sleeve, you wouldn’t believe it if he showed you. All you have to do is put FAITH towards God. Believe that He is the God Almighty! Trust in Him! His way is ALWAYS better than our own. Let go of whatever it is that’s bringing you down.
Open your eyes. You have ONE life to live. Life is SO short and YOU have the power to change lives. You have the power to leave people better than you found them. All through Jesus Christ!
God changed our lives in INCREDIBLE ways.. and He will do the same for you.
Have a little Faith!
Thank you Jesus. We love you guys.
XO
Whit + Mariel
