2022 PLAYOFF BOUND

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!

hospital birth bag by baby Boldly

A hospital birth bag that packs itself

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

Gender Reveal: Baby Dillon

ITS A BOY…..

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

Baby Dillon

Dillon Party of 3

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.

The morning I found out:

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. 

How we told:

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. 

What a blessing

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!

Cheers to you Baby Dillon!

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:

1. 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.

2. For the plate setting, do all 4 - The placemat, service plate, dinner plate and salad plate or bowl.

3. Have a focal point. Mine is usually the tallest item on my table.

4. 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

5. Must have a table runner. Sometimes I use two

6. Pick a color scheme. Usually, stay between 3-4 colors that go together

7. 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

30 things before 30

30 things that shaped my 20s

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!

1. 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!

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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!

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.....

18. 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.

19. 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...

20. Be selfish - and I MEAN this. Your 20s are for YOU! You have your whole life to live it for other people.

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. Not everyone deserves your energy - Know what and who is worth it. What you focus on is up to you, remember that.

24. Be a blessing to others - Mama always says leave people better then how you found them. However that may be...

25. 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.

26. 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.

27. 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.

28. 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”

29. Perspective is key - Happiness lives inside of the smallest moments. Don’t take it for granted. Focus on the good.

30. 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

Glamping 101

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

Happy Birthday AD

AD’s Fiesta

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

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

COSTA RICA

VACATION

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.

ZIP LINING

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

FISHING

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. 

SNORKELING

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.

HIKING

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

Cheers to us: YEAR ONE

One year down… Forever to go

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

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

AD's 28th Birthday Party

Tips and Tricks on Party Planning

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.

Party Planning Check List:

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 

TIPS:

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 

Sleeping Tips and Tricks

Tips and Tricks

1. Essential Oils - Major key! Lavender will put you to sleep within 30 minutes. The oils relax the body and soothes the soul.

2. If you have trouble sleeping, avoid naps and caffeine, especially in the afternoon - Power napping may help you get through the day, but if you find that you can't fall asleep at bedtime, eliminating even short catnaps may help.

3. Stick to a sleep schedule of the same bedtime and wake up time, even on the weekends - This helps to regulate your body's clock and could help you fall asleep and stay asleep for the night. 

4. Evaluate your room - Design your sleep environment to establish the conditions you need for sleep. Your bedroom should be cool –  between 60 and 67 degrees. Your bedroom should also be free from any noise that can disturb your sleep. Finally, your bedroom should be free from any light. Check your room for noises or other distractions. This includes a bed partner's sleep disruptions such as snoring. Consider using blackout curtains, eye shades, ear plugs, "white noise" machines, humidifiers, fans and other devices.

5. Exercise daily - Vigorous exercise is best, but even light exercise is better than no activity. Exercise at any time of day, but not at the expense of your sleep.

6. Sleep on a comfortable mattress and  pillows - Make sure your mattress is comfortable and supportive. The one you have been using for years may have exceeded its life expectancy – about 9 or 10 years for most good quality mattresses. Have comfortable pillows and make the room attractive and inviting for sleep but also free of  allergens that might affect you and objects that might cause you to slip or fall if you have to get up.

Cheers,

Whit + Mariel 

Wedding Dress Shopping in NYC

Mariel said YES to the dress

In the blink of an eye I felt like I was engaged and here Whit and I were again, in New York, searching for the perfect dress. I must say God continues to amaze me more and more with this entire wedding planning process.

Everything about our trip to New York was amazing. I had my mom (Victoria Lane), my future mom (Maribeth De' Braal), and of course my bff (Whitney Dillon) right by my side to find the dress I will wear on one of the biggest days of my life.

After going through the process once before with my bff, Whit and I felt like we were NY pros, on finding the perfect dress. I used all the tips Whit suggested and we learned even more going the second time around.

Wedding Tips      

1. Have a game plan! Make sure you schedule appointments with your favorite stores, boutiques and designers. Know their policies and what time they a lot appointments.

2. Research before hand your favorite types of dresses so you have an idea before you start trying on. There’s so many different types of dresses so it can be overwhelming if you haven’t done any research on the type of dress you like. 

3. Take in every moment of the experience. Bond with the people around you and focus on all the love surrounding you. Don’t stress yourself out over the things you can’t control. 

6. Whitney couldn't have stressed this more.. Don't Tell! Once you've found your dream gown, delete the evidence off your phone. Don't give any details so everyone can be surprised. The dress is a statement and you can't make one if everyone knows. The style, material, brand, and price is 100% confidential. 

The best part of searching for my wedding gown was the process of sharing it with the people closest to me, and seeing the looks on their faces. It gave me, my mom, my future mom, and maid of honor a chance to bond on a deeper level.

I know for a fact after this weekend we are all closer. Its important that you, your maid of honor,  mom and mother in law create a bond because you will all work very closely together in helping you prepare for your big day. After this weekend I felt an overwhelming feeling of blessed to have so much love around me.

Good luck to all my brides searching for the perfect gown!

Cheers,

The Future Mrs. Swan

Daytona 500 Champions

Daytona 500 was Faith in the Flesh

It was Jesus! I know this sounds crazy but the Lord spoke to us before the race and told us AD was going to win. The Lord works in perfect timing. It may be hard to understand His plan before but you must trust that He is in complete control going before us turning our no's into yes's, opening our shut doors, and paving ways out of no ways.

Austin winning the Daytona 500 was so much bigger than him, than us, than Nascar, it was about God.

The 3 team are the Daytona 500 CHAMPIONS. We made history. We saw history being made right before our very own eyes. 

Austin Dillon with Dale Earnhardt / Daytona 500 / 1998 

So let this sink in. 20 years ago, my husband, Austin Dillon, was in victory lane with Dale Earnhardt. This year was the 60th anniversary of the Daytona 500. It was an extremely special year to win and especially with the 3 car. The history behind Austin, Richard Childress, Dale and the 3 car is so special. This win was like a story book ending.

Austin Dillon in Victory Lane / Daytona 500 / 2018

Bubba Wallace finished P2, right behind AD. He’s the first African-American to finish that high in the Daytona 500. On top of that, Derrell Edwards, was the first African-American over-the-wall pit crew member to win the Daytona 500 last weekend. History was made in so many different ways. Thank you Jesus!!!!!

3 team crew / 3team1dream

We all knew this year was going to be special. 2018 is the year of greatness. 2018 is the year of increase. 2018 is the year of the woman!

Our family / Whitney, Austin, and Gucci Girl Dillon 

Austin and I recently were married on December 9th, 2017. I’ve been praying for the number 3 team since I started dating Austin a little over 2 years ago. I knew amazing, unreal, incredible things were coming our way the moment we said I do. There is so much power and value in knowing that God brought us together for a bigger purpose and for a bigger reason. We’re here for more than just winning races. We were joint together by God to change the world with love. I also believe that the entire 3 team was brought together for a bigger purpose.  

Austin Dillon / Crew Chief, Justin Alexander

Listen, this is the year of saints! Mariel’s mama told us this was the year of Greatness and if we walked by Faith and not by sight, the unbelievable would happen. Many people don’t know that before Austin and I got married my biggest request was for him to be baptized. 

Pastor Ray (our Pastor who married us) baptized Austin, his dad Mike, and mom Mrs. Tina all before the wedding. It was such an emotional and powerful night at the barn. You can't tell me God does not reward His servants.

What’s even crazier about this win is that we were able to experience this as a family! Both Mariel and I’s biggest dream was for Paul to be on the number 3 team, and Paul made the number three team this year! We were able to all experience this victory together. Unbelievable.

Rick Ward, Shawnee Ward, Austin Dillon, Whitney Dillon / 2018 / Pre Race Daytona 500

The day of the race

Before driver intros, we had a group of people praying over Austin in our bus. After the prayer, it was just AD and I in the bus and I told him that he was going to win on the last lap. I told him that it wasn't going to be pretty but remember Faith over Fear. My last words were walk by Faith, not by sight.

Our first thought when he won?

JESUS! JESUS! JESUS! God demonstrated Faith to so many people that night. It was all about what FAITH can do. “Walk by Faith not by sight” is written on my vision board along with winning the Daytona 500. Both of these happened that night and so many witnessed it.

Austin and Jackie (AD's PR)

Champions Media Week

The next day, we had a Champions breakfast where they presented the Daytona 500 Champions jackets. It was so cool to have the entire 3 team there for media. I love watching this team interact with each other. It's a brotherhood and these guys are all like family.

Every team member signed the winning car (including me) which will stay in the museum for one full year.

Austin and I flew to NYC all week for more media. We are officially exhausted but the really good kind of exhausted. Here is a picture of AD on Live with Kelly and Ryan! So cool.

What a week! I will never forget this moment or this feeling. I want to end with this... Walk by Faith, not by Sight! Be good to people and always do the right thing.

XO

Whit + Mariel

Just sit back and ride

Just sit back and ride

Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Just sit back and ride... This is what my daddy would tell me growing up whenever I would ask, “Are we there yet?” “Where are we going?” “Will so and so be there?" It would never fail, my dad would say, “baby girl, just sit back and ride.” That’s one of the best lessons my daddy taught me, and didn’t even realize it. 

God is constantly trying to tell us the same thing. When we give our lives to God, that means trusting him to be the drivers in our lives. We must know and trust that he won’t take us anywhere that wasn’t in our overall best interest. God promises us in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Whit and I moved to North Carolina December 3rd, 2015. That is going on 3 years ago, we knew God was leading us there. Of course once we finally arrived we had our doubts and wanted to know all the details right then and there on why God lead us to North Carolina. We had the support of our families but we also had a lot of 'nah sayers' that thought it was the worst idea ever. But it was Gods Plan, not ours or anyone else’s.

Who would have thought three years ago our lives would unfold the way it did. Whit is married to the man of her dreams and I’m engaged to man of mine. We are next door neighbors and are all apart of Nascar. My fiancé is on Austin's team this year and I couldn’t have created a better scenario for our lives. We serve and intentional God y’all! 

Everything he does aligns with his promise. 

When God is driving, allow him. And always remember.. just sit back and ride.

XO

Whit + Mariel 

Austin and Whitney Dillon Wedding: Part 3

The Dillon's Wedding Photo Book

This was the best day of our lives and these pictures ooze so much happiness and love. Thank you everyone who was apart of our special day. I still can't believe how amazing everything went. I love you guys so much!

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