Small town wedding weekend

This past weekend, my family, husband, and I attended a beautiful wedding for sweet friend whose family goes to our church. I also went to high school with her little sister. It was so fun dressing up, reconnecting with a bunch of old friends, eating fantastic food, and doing some good-ol' two-steppin'! There is just nothing like a small town country wedding!

Where do you even begin an "update" post when you haven't blogged in 6 weeks??

Are you wondering if I'm still alive? Maybe not, since I'm sure there are all of about two people that even keep up with my blog anymore. I've been a terrible blogger the last few weeks (six and a half, to be exact!) and I feel terrible about this. Mostly, I feel like I've neglected myself. SO much life has happened since I last posted on my blog and I love the way writing allows me to sort through my thoughts and write about life experiences that I always want to remember. I've missed my blog!

Ok, it's time to catch you all up! Where to begin...

Well, the last time you heard from me, Luke and I were still in New Jersey. This is no longer the case! Over Labor Day weekend, Luke, I, and the pups packed up our apartment and car and drove 1700 miles from New Jersey back to Texas. It was crazy y'all, but waaay better of a trip than either of us expected. The pups did great and we were even able to stay the first night with friends in North Carolina, which was a HUGE blessing. We made it to Texas just in time for a Labor Day BBQ with my parents on Monday evening and it was the best welcome home possible!

After our first night in Texas, we got back in the car and headed down to Corpus Christi for a few days to catch up with family and friends. We had many lunch, dinner, and coffee dates with friends and family over those four days and it felt so good to be back in South Texas! I don't think I had realized how much I'd really missed my old stomping grounds until we were back. Luke, on the other hand, kept saying, "I love it here. I'm never leaving again. Why did we leave Texas in the first place?" Ha! Saying this Texas boy is happy to be home would be an understatement. :)

As if life hadn't been enough of a whirlwind up to this point, that next Saturday I hopped on a plane to Vegas for my company's annual convention. I spent almost an entire week in Vegas attending general sessions, meetings, break out sessions, and a trade show, although the pictures below don't quite depict this, ha! Lucky for me, I work with an amazing group of people that know how to both work and play hard. We had a great convention and I just know this next year of work is going to be the best yet!

 

(P.S. Luke stayed in Texas while I was in Vegas and helped my dad get a few things done around the house and ranch. He's the best son-in-law!)

Since I've gotten home from Vegas (about two weeks ago), work and school have both picked up like crazy! Between my job and taking two courses this semester, I feel like I'm talking marketing and information systems 24/7. Over the next six weeks, I'll travel to Houston, the Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio, Austin, West Texas, and New Jersey (twice!). Throw a couple of quizzes and mid-terms in there and this girl has a full plate! But I must confess that I'm loving it and I'm so glad that I decided to go back to school for my MBA when I did.  As stressful as some days can be, I know that I'm right where I'm supposed to be. 

 

{Left to right: homework, working from my parents' house while the baby sister studies, my 1 year appreciation gift from my company}

 

So, I think that's about the best recap/update I can give you guys at this time. There are quite a few questions I haven't answered, such as, "Where are you and Luke living?" and "What's Luke up to these days?" But answers to these questions will have to wait for a later date. Let's just say both are a work in progress and that God is good. Once I have more updates, I'll share, I promise. :)

 

Hope you had a great weekend!

The perks of moving to Houston...

1) These people live in Houston...

{From top to bottom and left to right: Emily (sister), Claire (sister), Cat (friend), Amy (aunt/big sister}

2) These two visit Houston ALL the time...

{Becca (sister) and Mom}

3) Houston means I live close enough to Waco to justify buying season tickets for...

4) Luke and I don't have to give up the "city" life...

5) I get to do research on this website and dream of buying/building a home in the somewhat near future...

And of course, there are many other reasons (being just a couple of hours from family and friends, amazing shopping, some of the best shows/concerts/sporting events, etc.), but these are just a few off the top of my head and especially on my heart right now. 

Houston, I'm getting excited to call you home soon. :)

Running, shopping, and packing (Oh my!)

Linking up with Britt over at The Magnolia Pair for this Friday's Love List!

Running...For the last couple of months, I have been wanting to sign up and train for another half marathon (you can read about my first half here), but something inside me was holding back. Now, I know why! Had I signed up for the run in Philly or the other run in Brooklyn that I was looking at, I wouldn't have been have been able to follow through with these runs because of our move back to Texas. 

{Half marathon training in the rain = gross, but so much fun!}

So, what did I do immediately after I found out about our move back to Texas? I committed to not one, but two half marathons: the Houston Half in October and the Rock and Roll Half in San Antonio in November. These two races are only three weeks apart, so there isn't too much of a training lull between the two. I'm running the Houston Half with my sisters and if anyone in Texas wants to join me in San Antonio, come on! 

Shopping...Do any of you gals shop at Piperlime online? To be honest, I never really have. The first time I ever heard of Piperlime was when they sponsored the "accessories wall" on Project Runway a few seasons back. But I was on the Old Navy website the other day looking for some layering tanks/tees when I noticed that not only does the Old Navy website link to Gap and Banana Republic, but it also links to Piperlime. So, I checked it out. And (whoops!) ended up with a few items...

{top left, top right, bottom left, bottom right}

{Major sale, flattering style and can be dressed up or down = SOLD!}

I mean, who can blame me? Piperlime is having a huge sale right now plus, I found a 15% off coupon at RetailMeNot, AND Piperlime offers free shipping + free returns. I. Could. Not. Say. No! Oh, and fall shoes are 25% off right now. You're welcome. :)

Packing...Luke and I are headed to Home Depot this weekend to buy some packing boxes, bubble wrap, etc. so that we can start the packing process. As much as I loathe packing and moving (this will be my 9th time to pack up a house/apartment in 7 years, yuck!), I'm excited that this time around, we're not going to be driving all of our stuff back to Texas. **happy dance** I got an amazing deal with a moving company that was recommended to me by a couple of friends that have moved cross-country. We will pack up our apartment and fill up a cube/pod-type box with our belongings, this company loads it on a truck, and drives it to Houston. Plus, they store it for you until you need it and then deliver it to you for free. Score! 

{This could be me in the next couple of weeks, ha! via}

Luke and I are so pumped to be able to relax, drive our own vehicle, and have an entire back seat for the pups to stretch out and sleep. I think we may actually have a chance of getting back to Texas without either of us strangling the other. :)

Have a great weekend!

Here we go again! :)

I still can't believe I'm typing this, but if you've heard the rumors, then I'm here to confirm them as fact. The Hintons are officially moving...   BACK TO TEXAS!!!  

You're probably wondering why/how. :) 
Long story short, a spot on my team at work recently opened up in Texas and I was offered the opportunity to relocate. After weighing the pros and cons and praying about it, Luke and I decided that long-term, moving back to Texas is the best thing for our family and an opportunity we just couldn't pass up!   Ok, so now for some answers to a few of everyone's favorite questions:   1) When will you be back? In about 6 weeks. Sooo soon!!   2) Where will you live? This position is based in Houston, TX.   3) Will you still be doing the same job? Yup. I'll just manage a different territory.
And, of course, a few of the things we're most excited about with this move: *being so close to our friends and family again *authentic Mexican food, but most importantly: chips, salsa, and margaritas *a new city to explore (neither of us have ever lived in Houston)  *Baylor football season and homecoming *being able to conceal and carry (that's Luke's two cents, ha!) *and just being back in the greatest state that ever existed: TEXAS!!    Please be praying for Luke and I both as we make big transitions at work, pack up our apartment, and make that looong, 1700-mile drive back to Texas. We've got a lot going on, but we know that God will be protecting and carrying us the entire way.
See ya soon Texas!

Texas Independence Day.

Happy Texas Independence Day y'all!

{Luke and I in front of The Alamo, circa 2009}

There are many things in life that I love; some more than others. And Texas? Well, she ranks pretty high. I'm a Texan, born and raised. I've spent my summers on the coast, I eat Mexican food and drink margaritas like my life depends on it, and when I wear boots, it isn't a fashion statement. It's a way of life. I attended a Big 12 university (Sic 'Em Bears!) and my family has two ranches with cattle. There isn't anything much better than an evening in Texas spent BBQing and drinking beer with family. I grew up driving around on back country roads (getting into way too much trouble!) and listening to Texas country music. So, if you haven't already noticed, I'm a Texas girl through and through!

Yes, I live in New Jersey now, but Luke and I are chasing a dream and we're on an adventure. I left my heart in Texas and don't you worry--I'll be back!

Happy 177th birthday Texas!!

{Fajitas at our wedding. A Texas delicacy. YUM!}

{Texas Deltas and Baylor Football...you can't get much more Texan!!}

{We put the state of Texas on just about everything}

{If you're from Texas, there is a good chance you have spent many summer days on a lake!}

{You were taught to shoot a gun as a kid and still get together with family on the weekends just to shoot guns}

{And you appreciate wide open spaces and gorgeous sunsets}

Last, but not least, here are a few of my favorite Texas quotes:

“I have said that Texas is a state of mind, but I think it is more than that. It is a mystique closely approximating a religion. And this is true to the extent that people either passionately love Texas or passionately hate it and, as in other religions, few people dare to inspect it for fear of losing their bearings in mystery or paradox. But I think there will be little quarrel with my feeling that Texas is one thing. For all its enormous range of space, climate, and physical appearance, and for all the internal squabbles, contentions, and strivings, Texas has a tight cohesiveness perhaps stronger than any other section of America. Rich, poor, Panhandle, Gulf, city, country, Texas is the obsession, the proper study, and the passionate possession of all Texans.”  

-John Steinbeck

“This is America. We’re entitled to our opinions."
“Wrong. This is Texas. And my opinion is the only one that counts.”

-Susan Elizabeth Phillips

“You can all go to hell; I will go to Texas.” 

-Davy Crockett