• Life

    4 Things I Love About Living on My Own

    June 4, 2016

    Hi friends, I thought that it was time for me to put together a coherent post about something you guys might actually want to read – other than just me babbling on about what’s going on in my life. (Though I’m sure you guys enjoy reading those posts just as much ;)). But anyways, a post with a main point was long overdue. Living on my own has to be one of my absolute favorite things about being married. It has given me so much peace and I’m excited to share with you guys 4 reasons why I love it so much!

    1. I feel accomplished. Living on your own gives you an appreciation for so many things in such a different way than before. For example, it gives me a better appreciation for my job because it gives me the means to be able to afford to live on my own. It also gives me appreciation for my mom because now I know the hard work that it takes to keep a house going and clean. I never realized that living on my own would cause me to see things this way but it makes life just a little bit more fun.
    2. I feel more at peace. I’m not sure if whoever may be reading this knows this but I didn’t come from a very stable home. My childhood was plagued with a decent amount of misfortune and it really took its toll on me and my mental state. Being on my own makes me so happy because I finally have control of the state of my home and I intend to very strongly make sure that our home is always centered on Jesus and do my very best to display that. I want others who come into our home, especially those who might also come from a not so peaceful home to feel a sense of peace and wonder what is different about our home.
    3. I share it with my best friend. I know this is cliche to say but it really is true and makes all the difference. I always knew how much I liked doing things with Tommy but it really hit me the other day that Tommy really is my best friend. He’s the one I want to do things with the most and the first one I want to share how my day went with. I absolutely love waking up to him each morning and knowing that he will be there when I get home each night. Living with someone that you can have fun with all the time makes for so much more of a fun living situation. Don’t settle, make sure who you marry is your best friend.
    4. Freedom. This one may be the silliest one but it doesn’t make it anymore true. It is now up to Tommy and I when we want to clean or do dishes. I can cook a meal or bake a dessert and not have to clean up on my moms terms or hear her complain about the kitchen being a mess. (Sorry mom.) This may sound gross also but I can assure you that I definitely still do clean but just at a different pace than my mom would have. It’s awesome to have the freedom to be able to do things on your own and not have to worry about upsetting anyone else.

    So there you have it. Four reasons why living on your own is awesome. It obviously comes with some not so fun things as well – like having to clean and cook every time you want to eat but hey at least you get to do this with your best friend now. Tell me, what are your favorite things about living on your own? If you don’t live on your own yet, what are you looking forward to the most when you finally get to?

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  • Life,  Wedding

    Ashley Zinhobl Here…

    May 31, 2016

    Hey everyone… Ashley Zinhobl here! 🙂 I don’t know when that will ever get old 😉 Just thought I’d drop by and say hi since it’s been quite a while since my last post. Tommy and I got married on May 22nd and I still don’t think it’s completely hit me. This all feels way too good to be true. We left for our honeymoon the next morning and got back this past Sunday. Today is our last day off from work and it is oh so sad. I wish I could just spend every day with my new husband.

    We went to the Dominican Republic for our honeymoon and it was so awesome. We decided to take a few days off when we got home to be able to fall into a little more normal routine before returning to work after all of the craziness. We’re still learning what it means to be husband and wife to each other, but it is such a fun and exciting time. I can’t wait to write more about this stage of life, but for now I still don’t think I can form a coherent thought about it all just yet lol. I really would like to fall into a more normal routine with blogging now that all of the madness prior to the wedding is now finally over. Hopefully some people are still around to want to read haha I look forward to catching up with all of your blogs as well!

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  • Faith,  Life

    Real Life

    May 6, 2016

    Have you ever woken up and wondered how your life ever got to be where it is? Good or bad. I woke up thinking that what God has done in my life is honestly just too good to be true. I felt like someone was going to walk into my new apartment and tell me that the joke is over now and that I have to go back home. I’ve been so excited to move out and get married and now that God is actually allowing it to happen it honestly feels too good to be true.

    Tommy and I had a long conversation after that about faithful God has been through this whole situation. I remember a time when we would sit and talk about how we needed God to show up when we told our friends and families about getting engaged. We really needed their support through it all and every single one of our friends and family members were so excited for us and that was only the beginning.

    Next came Tommy’s job. We prayed and wished for almost a year for Tommy’s dad to get him a job at the quarry where him and his brother work as welders. We knew that this was an essential part of Tommy and I being able to provide for ourselves. We knew that God would provide for us but we were worried it might be in a different way than we were envisioning for ourselves. So we prayed and hoped that this was the way that God was leading us and it turned out that we were right and that it was where God was leading us and it’s been amazing to see God open those doors for Tommy.

    Just when you think it’s over and that God did enough amazing things, He even blessed my work search. I was laid off in March and also knew that I needed to find a job so that we could continue to save for the wedding and to eventually be able to provide for ourselves when we moved out. It only took about a month of looking and I found a job – that paid more than my last one. It is only a temporary job but it’s just what I needed at the time and for that I am forever grateful. I know that when it comes time to look for another job again, when this assignment is over that He will provide in just the right way that our new little family needs.

    And so with all that being said maybe others can see why I feel that my life is just too good to be true. I want to tell everyone I meet how faithful God is and to know that He can and will do this for others too because He loves and cares for us. What about you guys? Has God ever shown up in such a way that you couldn’t believe that this was your life? Or do you have trouble believing that God could care about you in this way like I once did?

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  • Faith,  Life

    Learning what it means to be a Christian

    May 5, 2016

    Good morning! I’ve been up since 5 am and I already feel so accomplished (and a bit sleepy as well). I’ve been working on getting up early to have some more “me” time. It was actually one of my goals for April, although I did not have the time to post them here. It’s still a work in progress but I’m getting there and that’s what’s important. Once the wedding is over I feel like I’ll have so much more time to do things. Speaking of the wedding – it’s in just 17 days whaaaat?! God is just too good you guys.

    But anyways I don’t want this post to just be another ramble train about how excited I am to get married. I’d like to actually attempt to form a coherent message to share with whoever may be reading this. It’s something I’ve been struggling with/learning, like many of my posts tend to be.

    The thing that has been most on my mind lately is what exactly is God asking of me. Of all of us really. I used to think I knew what that was, I used to just try my best to follow all His rules and not try to sin too much and I thought for a while that that was the point of being a Christian but I’m not too sure now. I do think that is a huge part of it – by making an effort to follow God with our lives it shows Him and others where our hearts are. It’s my favorite way to love God. But lately that just doesn’t feel like enough. I feel like I’m missing something when it comes to following God.

    I’m not completely sure what that might be (if you feel like you might have a handle on this clue me in on what I’m missing?). But I think God wants more for us than just to set goals after goals (even though those are definitely good things). Maybe what I’ve been missing is I just need to love more. That’s sure what it feels like. Love my friends more. Love my family more. Love strangers more. I’m just not quite to sure what that looks like. I want to glorify God with everything I do and I think part of that is loving others well. I think that’s what I want to work on for the rest of the year – showing others the love of the father. I think that’s what it truly means to be a Christian.

    What does being a Christian mean to you? Have you ever sat down to really dwell on it like I have? What did you come up with? I’d love to know!

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  • Life,  Wedding

    What’s Up Wednesday (or Thursday) April Edition!

    April 28, 2016

    I’m going to go ahead and apologize now for not nearly enough pictures in this post. I’ve been really busy and haven’t really thought much about taking pictures lately but I’ll make due with what I’ve got. What’s Up Wednesday is my favorite linkup and even though I technically missed it because today’s Thursday, I still want this all documented so here goes…

    WHAT WE’RE EATING THIS WEEK

    Every week since moving into our apartment Tommy has been cooking this amazing steak with sautéed mushroom and onions dinner that I seriously love. We also went out to Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza on our date night last night and that was delish too. We also eat a lot of pasta because we just wouldn’t be us if we didn’t do that. 🙂

    Tommy’s been doing a lot of cooking actually since I used to get home at 6 and he gets home at like 12-1. He’s quite the cook too.

     

    breakfast

    WHAT I’M REMINISCING ABOUT

    My last few months “working” at Hudson City when there really wasn’t any work to be done and in reality I was just reading and writing all day. Seriously miss that time so much. Can I just be a stay at home mom now with no kids??

    WHAT I’M LOVING

    Having our own place! And getting to decorate it and do DIY things! I’m having so much fun. See below.

    Z wreath

    eat sign

    WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO

    This past month we moved into our apartment and this past weekend I finally got everything all set up to be where I want it to be. That took about two full weeks until everything was basically all set up and out of boxes. We’ve also been working on wedding stuff. I ordered these cool bamboo plates for the wedding because who knew China costs so much ($10 a person?? I think not).

    bamboo plates

    WHAT I’M DREADING

    Having the center of attention on me during my Bridal shower this weekend haha I know I should just be excited for it but I’m slightly dreading the part about the whole day being about me. But Tommy gets to come with me and drop me off so at least I won’t be alone at the most awkward part!

    WHAT I’M WORKING ON

    Learning how to be more social. I’m really struggling with the community part of being a Christian. My church does something called Community Groups and I have a really hard time getting myself to go to them. I’m hoping that I am able to find a more authentic way to have community with other Christians but in the mean time I want to open my new home to friends and family often.

    WHAT I’M EXCITED ABOUT

    Even though I am nervous about the Bridal shower I am of course excited too. I’m excited to see how everything comes out and right afterwards I get to go on my Bachelorette weekend! I’m even more excited for that and seeing what my maid of honor has up her sleeve.

    I’m also excited that the weathers warming up. Nothing makes me happier than warm weather and summer. There’s this quite little park right by my work that I go to and sit in the sun when it’s nice out and I’ve been loving it.

    ring

    WHAT I’M WATCHING/READING

    Tommy and I have been binge watching Grey’s Anatomy and we’re totally hooked! I’m so glad that there’s so many seasons and episodes left to watch!! (We just finished Season 2.)

    greys anatomy

    I finished When Sinners Say I Do FINALLY this month and that was really great and eye opening. That’s honestly the only book that I’ve read the past two months because I’ve been pretty busy. I really want to get back into reading as soon as we’re married though when I have more free time.

    WHAT I’M LISTENING TO

    Nothing haha still. I’m still not sure how to answer this one.

    WHAT I’M WEARING

    Comfy clothes. Always. As soon as I get home I change into my sweats and a big t-shirt cause it is necessary.

    WHAT I’M DOING THIS WEEKEND

    ATTENDING MY BRIDAL SHOWER AND BACHELORETTE WEEKEND WUUUUUT! Still can’t believe this is all happening. It’s seriously flyyyyying by.

    WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH

    UM THE WEDDING IS NEXT MONTH I REPEAT THE WEDDING IS NEXT MONTH! Sorry for all the shouting but can you believe that?! I’m getting married in just 25 days. It still just doesn’t feel real.

    WHAT ELSE IS NEW

    Not too much, I just changed my work hours this week though. I used to work 8:30-5:30 and let me tell you I dreaded getting home at 6 every night. I felt like I had no time at all to hang out or literally do anything. It basically felt like I got home, ate dinner, and then it was time for bed. I asked my boss if I could do 7:30-4:30 instead because it’s really flexible there and she approved it! And let me tell you I just love it. I’m really not a morning person but getting up that early and getting so much done all so early makes me feel so accomplished. Plus it feels like I have way more time at home to spend with Tommy so it’s a win all around.

    I’m linking up with Shay, Shaeffer, and Mel for What’s Up Wednesday!

    What’s up with you guys this week?

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  • Life,  Wedding

    Engagement Pictures

    April 25, 2016

    I finally have found the time to post our engagement pictures. I love them so much and I think they really capture our style and portray us pretty well. These pictures make me so excited for the wedding and just to be married to Tommy. I can’t believe in just a few short weeks it’s all really happening. (Yes I know I keep saying the same thing haha.)

    So here are a few of my favorites from the photoshoot we did over a month ago. (oops.)

    IMG_9110IMG_9118IMG_9123IMG_9125IMG_9157IMG_9181IMG_9207IMG_9212IMG_9221IMG_9227IMG_9235IMG_9258IMG_9276IMG_9290IMG_9303IMG_9312IMG_9325IMG_9354IMG_9363IMG_9321.jpg

    So there yah have it. We of course had to incorporate how we both like riding dirt bikes so we wore our jerseys and riding boots. I actually wore Tommy’s jersey since it has my soon to be new last name 🙂

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