Our 2nd anniversary trip, Pt. 1

Our 2nd anniversary/weekend getaway was pretty last minute, but I'm so glad we decided to get out of town! Luke and I drove just a couple hours southwest of our little Jersey town to the Brandywine Valley and the little town of Glen Mills, PA. In Glen Mills (and off the beaten path), you can find the most quaint little bed & breakfast called Sweetwater Farm that shares property with Grace Winery. 

We arrived, checked in, took a tour of the property, and then moved into our room for the weekend. Luke and I stayed in the "Garden Room" and it looked just like something out of Better Home & Gardens! Everything was blue, yellow, and white. So relaxing and cute!

We immediately hopped over to the winery barn because tastings were only being held for another hour or so. Luke and I each did a 5-wine tasting and it was so fun! Confession: neither of us had ever visited a winery before. This was definitely something fun to do together. :)

After our wine tasting, we headed back to the room to unwind and rest for a bit. It was so nice to just kick back, knowing that we had the entire weekend ahead of us! The drive into town from the B&B was just about 10 miles, so we ended up driving over to...just wait...Texas Roadhouse!!! We were so excited when we saw the TR and just knew we had to eat there. The chicken critter salad is my fav! After dinner, we headed back to our cute little room and began planning our Saturday adventures...

Day 2 is up next!

InstaLately + A Shameless Plug(lovin')

1) Sunset on my way to the gym last week.

2) Husband has been on a Subway kick. Since I get bored with sandwiches, salads it is!

3) $6 at Target for 4 pair of colorful socks. Whatever it takes to get me motivated for a good run. :)

4) We discovered a pet-friendly restaurant right down the road from us and the furbabies LOVE it!

5) So, we visited twice. 

6) This sweet guy gave me a massage after I slept on my neck wrong.

7) Isn't he cute? Video watchin' on the Mac.

8) These beauties didn't have a choice. They were coming home with me.

9) Did you watch Nik Wallenda walk the skyline? I seriously couldn't breathe the entire time!

P.S. As we all know, Google Friend Connect is disappearing oh-so-soon (boo!). If you'd like to keep following The Hinton Hook-Up (and I hope you do!), you can follow me on Bloglovin'.

If I should have a daughter...

"Baby," I'll tell her, "Remember, your momma is a worrier and your papa is a warrior. And you are the girl with small hands and big eyes who never stops asking for more." -SK

Watch this. It's beautiful.

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Local art show + Morristown adventures

This afternoon, right after church, Luke and I were driving home and noticed an art show going on just a few blocks down the street from our apartment. An art show featuring local art, plus some homemade goodies, jewelry, etc? We were sold! So, we went home, put the pups on their leashes, and walked back down the street to see what kind of trouble we could get into...:)

{Lunch right after church. We love summer and sitting outside for lunch!}

{This is what my husband does EVERY TIME I ask him to take a pic with my iPhone...}

{Exploring new places around out little town}

{Loved the art show! I will buy local art over mass produced art every day of the week. Luke and I walked away with 4 pieces that we're going to hang in our apartment like a collage. I also bought some homemade body butter that smelled like honeysuckle. I can't wait to use it!!}

So far, Luke and I are loving summer in Morristown! Every weekend there is something going on, and even if nothing is going on, there is always NYC just a few miles away. Finally, we're smack dab in the middle of our favorite season. :)

Visitors

The past two weekends, Luke and I have been blessed with a few visitors in the northeast. :)

Two weekends ago, my cousin, Bryan, and his girlfriend, Haley, flew up to New Jersey to stay with us and spend some time in NYC. These were our first official family visitors and it was so good to catch up with them! We had a lot of fun with these lovebirds in the city that Saturday, which included a little Brooklyn Promenade walking and of course, Grimaldi's Pizza. Thanks so much for coming to see us Bryan and Haley!!

This past weekend, a college friend/sorority sister of mine, Sarah, was in the city with some of her friends from Nashville for a girls weekend. I'm so glad she asked me to meet up with them! We did a little shopping at the Brooklyn Flea in Williamsburg (something I'd been wanting to do for months now!) and ate lunch at P.J. Clarke's. It was fun to see Sarah in the city, even it if it was just for half a day!

Alright potential visitors, who's next? :)

The start to our first summer in the northeast.

It showed up out of nowhere. It was as if no time had passed at all, except that then it was 50, then 70, then 90 degrees outside. In almost (but not quite) Texas fashion, spring in New Jersey came and went in the blink of an eye. We had about 3 weeks of what I think was spring-like weather and now, summer is in full bloom. We're definitely not complaining! Being Texas kids, Luke and I believe that the lemonade is a little sweeter, the corona is a little cooler, and people breath a little easier once summer arrives. I know I live for fewer layers of clothing and longer days once Memorial Day has come and gone. 

We're off to a great start for our first summer in New Jersey. I've been laying out with friends, we're taking the dogs to the park more often, and my coffee comes iced these days. :) We had some family visit last weekend and I'm headed into the city tomorrow to meet up with a college friend that is in town for a girls' weekend. 4th of July plans are already in the works and even sooner than that, Luke and I will be celebrating our 2nd anniversary.

Summer 2013, you're more than welcome to stick around as long as possible.