About Me

Well, hello there! My name is Nicole and I am a 30-something country girl from Kentucky living near Fort Worth, Texas. I love Jesus and believe I’m the most blessed person on the planet. My heart is happy because I choose joy, think positively, and keep a smile on my face.

This is my little family of three.

Husband is not only handsome, but he spoils me rotten, makes me laugh every day, and is the best father to our son, Kamden. I hit the jackpot with these two men in my life. Kamden was born December 19, 2013, two days after my 30th birthday. I know I’m partial because I’m his mama, but he really is the cutest, most adorable and precious little boy in the whole world! To commemorate my first Mother’s Day, I did a “Mommy + Me” photo session with Becky Branch Photography.

The blog name, Three 31, came from our anniversary date: Husband and I were married on March 31. Yes, I really call my husband ‘Husband.’ I think I called him that before we were even married! We met online in 2002, saw each other face-to-face in 2003, and, in 2007, we were married in front of God and 350 of our closest friends and family in Kentucky. Our wedding was not an elaborate affair, but it sure was fun. Husband proposed – even got down on one knee! – the night before our wedding during the rehearsal and gave me a pair of diamond solitaire earrings. Of course, I said yes! We said our vows in the sanctuary of the small church where I grew up and had a reception in the fellowship hall, complete with a fabulous buffet catered by my high school geometry teacher. My parent’s hosted an after-party at their house and then we had a party after the after party inside the hotel lobby where our out-of-town guests stayed. We were married on Saturday, drove back to Texas on Sunday, and Husband and I were back to work on Monday. After all these years of wedded bliss, we’ve never gone on a honeymoon. (Husband hates to travel – boo!!)

I bleed blue for the University of Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball team and, when the weather turns cooler, I cheer loud and proud for Alabama Crimson Tide football. I try to stay calm and cheer softly during games, but most of the time I fail miserably and Husband goes outside for some peace and quiet. I have the most amazing family. I’m an only child and the only granddaughter on both sides. To say I’m spoiled is an understatement, but I think I’m a ‘good’ kind of spoiled. I’m grateful for every blessing bestowed upon me and appreciate the gifts and graces God has given me. I love country music and home-cooked meals, but housework is for the birds! You’re always welcome in my home, as long as you don’t mind the family of dust bunnies making their home in the corner of our living room. Life is short and I spend as little time possible trying to keep a spotless house. I wear short socks that don’t match and a size 11 shoe. My mom, who’s tiny and petite, says my feet look like skies. I wear my heart on my sleeve and my feelings get hurt easily. I have a passion for serving others through domestic and international mission work. I love to travel and taste new foods. I don’t meet strangers and I’ll strike up a conversation with almost anybody, except in elevators … that’s the weirdest, most socially awkward place ever!

My favorite and/or most popular blog posts include:

• Kamden’s birth story
• My Main Squeeze … an anniversary tribute to Husband
• a list of goals, resolutions, and ambitions for 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015
• an annual review of years gone by — 2012 and 2013 and 2014
• the weekend I spent with Christian Grey
• my Holy Land pilgrimage
• I donated my wedding dress to Angel Gowns, a NICU project
• my thoughts on the current education system
• 10 reasons I love my mom and 10 reasons I love my dad
• I make fun of my boobs, then get kicked out of a wedding party. Oops.
• the absolute BEST cookie recipe

More random facts about me:

• I have very neat handwriting, just like my dad.
• I always wanted to be a mother but the thought of being sick in the morning and a painful labor scared me. Fortunately, I had a great pregnancy, Kamden’s BIRTH was easy-peasy, and I lost 36 pounds in the process of growing a babe in my belly!
• I learned the alphabet backwards.
• I have my great-grandmother’s iron skillet and it makes the BEST corn bread.
• I started playing golf when I was six years old and competed on junior tours until I graduated high school. I received athletic scholarships and played in college too.
• I have a Bachelor of Science in Journalism and Public Relations from Texas A&M University at Commerce but that does not make me an Aggie. (Thank God.)
• I’ve worked as a nanny, golf course attendant, HR generalist at a university, marketing and business development coordinator for a transportation consulting firm, and a middle school English and history teacher. Now, I enjoy being a stay at home mom.
• I’m a Southern Belle to the core, but I stopped drinking sweet tea on May 20, 2013, the day we found out I was pregnant. (SURPRISE!)
• I’m a condiments queen and love to dip potato chips in ketchup, chicken strips in honey mustard or sweet and sour sauce, fried fish in tartar sauce, and alligator and crawfish in Remoulade.
• I hate asking for help … for anything. But I go out of my way to make others happy and put their needs ahead of my own. I’m getting better at this though, and learning to say no too.
• I think it’d be cool to own a gun range and restaurant. I enjoy shooting and preparing home-cooked meals for friends and family.
• I’m allergic to cow’s milk. No, it’s not the same as an intolerance.My favorite Bible verse is Isaiah 40:8 — The grass withers and flowers fade, but the Word of our God stands forever.
• It’s difficult for me to admit when I’m overwhelmed. I’m getting better at this too.
• I’m a people-pleaser and it pains me to disappoint someone. Especially Husband.
• My favorite movies are Gone With The Wind, Top Gun, Pretty Woman, and Dirty Dancing. My favorite books are Room, The Help, and The Crossfire Series.
• I’m OCD about drawers or cabinet doors being left open, so Husband makes it his life mission to leave as many of them open as possible. Drives. Me. Nuts.
• Food is love and I love food. I’ve been overweight most of my life, but I’m working hard as an adult to improve my health.

Even though I’ve planted new roots in Texas, Kentucky will always be home. As many times as I can throughout the year, I return to the Bluegrass and visit family and friends. Along with amazing fur babies (the count to date is three cats and five dogs) and three huge gardens full of fresh veggies, my parents also have their own long-distance gun range set between two corn fields. In 2012, I wore my big girl panties and shot one hell of a bad-ass mother trucker gun: a Savage .338 Lapua sniper rifle. Four things I know for sure: it’s big; it’s powerful; it’s accurate; and it’s very loud. The first time shooting it yielded a three shot group with less-than-one-inch spread on the orange target.

If I had to describe myself in just one word, I would use Christian because my faith is that important to me. Jesus is my Savior and I rely on God’s grace to get me through each day. I was born and raised in The United Methodist Church and an active member today. It’s difficult for me to share my faith, evangelism is NOT my spiritual gift, but it is my hope, prayer, and intent to wrap His grace into my words and actions. My faith has led me to some amazing mission-field experiences: I’ve been to the remote regions of Haiti (twice), the mountains of Appalachia Kentucky, and Oklahoma’s tornado alley. In February 2013, I made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. You can read more here. While there, I walked where Jesus walked, swam in the Dead Sea, ate the most delicious shawarma, and rode a camel.

Blogging is a creative outlet and a place for me to share pieces of our life with friends and family. It’s an incredible gift and blessing in how it has introduced me to an amazing community of women who inspire and encourage me on a daily basis. I’m grateful to Lisa for introducing me to the art of blogging. I love how keeping an online journal of life’s events and random musings has introduced me to other bloggers, local and beyond, and I’m proud to be a part of the Dallas/Fort Worth Bloggers, Fort Worth Mom Bloggers, Texas Women Bloggers, and MOMquery. I’ve been able to host several social events for local bloggers in the past couple of years too.

As demonstrated in the photos below, I don’t take myself too seriously and always have fun. Moves like Jaggar and fashion sense I do NOT have!!!!!!!

Dearest Reader, thank you for being here. Of all the blogs on the Internet, I’m glad you found mine. I hope you’ll connect with me by commenting on posts and sharing your thoughts. You can reach me by email at nicole.m.hutchison (at) gmail.com and follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, and Instagram.