Offseason.. Where did you go?!

Holy cow, it is already January and we have left our offseason home in Alaska and are getting ready for spring training! I say this every year, but it seems like the offseason goes by faster and faster.

Okay so lets rewind. Towards the end of last season Cy was promoted to the Astros AAA team, the Fresno Grizzles. They spent most of the last month of the season on the road, so I just lived out of my suitcase and met up with Cy on road trips, and then spent the time in between split between my grandparents and in laws. It was a super fun whirlwind, but I was definitely excited to be DONE for awhile after so much travel haha!

Our offseason in Alaska was wonderful and all too short, as usual. We love our time and community there. A few highlights:
- My best friend gave birth to her perfect baby girl!
- We completed our first round of Whole30 and oh my gosh it was a game changer!
- Cy spent lots and LOTS of time in the mountains hunting. The boy loves him some nature.
- I spent lots of quality time with my quilting ladies and finished several quilts! We had a wonderful time at our quilters retreat at the Second Star in Homer.

- My mom and I had so many fun lunch dates

- I accomplished some projects for my business!
- Our family came to visit!!! Cy's mom, stepdad, brother, and my sister in law all came up and spent Thanksgiving with us. It was so fun and special to have them!

- We celebrated our 3 year anniversary!
- I teamed up with my sweet friends Becky and Carol to have a booth at our local craft fairs leading up to Christmas! We had so much fun together. We have some great ideas for next year, get excited ;)
- Cy took a trip to Idaho to hunt with his dad, brother, and grandpa
- We made a trip to Texas for some of our best friends weddings! We don't get to spend nearly as much time with all of them as we would like, so we treasure the time together.

- My mom, sister Hope, and I binged watched the first season of Stranger Things together (I love to binge watch. Mom does not. LOL)

All in all, it was so full of great things and we wish it wasn't over just yet! But baseball never stops ;)

Currently we are in Idaho for a few weeks visiting my in laws and for Cy to work out and throw in preparation for spring training. After this, we will head to Dallas for a bit and then it is off to Florida for spring training!

One of my intentions for this year is to get back to more regular posts here. I love looking back on my old posts, it is like a scrapbook of sorts for me. I need to get better about documenting these memories.

Thanks for reading!
xo, Han

Baseball Wives: Meet Catherine + GIVEAWAY

*giveaway closed* 

Happy Sunday!! This week I want to introduce you to one of my absolute favorite baseball wives, Catherine Archer. Catherine and I were the lone wives who lived in Florida full-time last season when we were still with the Brewers. When Cy got traded, I cried because it meant I wouldn't be with Catherine anymore lol!! She is SO great! Keep reading to get to know her, and at the end she just might be giving a piece of her fabulous jewelry line away to one lucky reader!!

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 1. How many seasons have you been in baseball, college and pro ball?

This is our 6^th year of baseball together- holy cow. That’s a lot of baseball.

2. How did you and your hubs meet, and when did you realize that he was “the one”? 

Tristan and I met through a mutual friend my senior year of high school (I know- just a baby!) and he was a sophomore at my hometown college, where I later went as well, Tennessee Tech University. From the beginning of our relationship, I knew he was “different” or “special”, you could say, than the other guys I had dated. I wouldn’t go as far to say that I knew at 18 years old that he was “the one”, though. It wasn’t a specific moment that I knew he was the one, it was a time in our lives and in our relationship- when his professional baseball career got started. That first summer we had spent apart was the absolute worst and we both knew from then on that we didn’t want to be without each other. He’s the most selfless, humble, and loving person I know- I don’t know how I got so lucky!

3. How do you make the time pass when yall are apart during road trips?
Oh, gosh… road trips **currently rolling eyes**. Im just kidding.. sort of. This year they actually aren’t that bad, at least compared to last year. This year they’re only about 5 days long (last year was 7). Shamefully, I have to say that the majority of my time is spent binge-watching Netflix and cooking. Its actually really nice to be able to sit at home all day- no makeup, hair up, sweats on. Usually while I’m watching tv I’m also working on jewelry. So road trips are definitely a good time to get lots of work done before Tristan gets home.

4. What is one thing you have learned about yourself through life in baseball?

Baseball life has taught me so much about myself, as well as life in general. Ive learned that I really, really like to be in control, which as you and all the other WAGS know, is not even a remote possibility in this lifestyle. So from that, its taught me to learn to go with the flow and trust that God will lead us in the right direction.   

5. Tell us about your sweet pup Squirrel!!!

Aw my little Squirrely. He’s just the sweetest- he’s currently curled up next to me. He’s a Heinz 57 dog- part German Shepherd, part pug, part beagle, part terrier, and probably lots of other things. We adopted him last November from (strangely enough) a pit bull rescue based out of Illinois. It’s called Player for Pits and they feature athletes who are against animal abuse. Tristan is a part of their organization and has ALWAYS wanted to adopt from them. Stephanie (the founder) and her team are amazing and go completely out of their way to rescue animals- seriously the things they do are so wonderful. When we saw Squirrel’s picture we knew we had to get him, and it was the best decision! He’s so well-mannered (besides whining at animals he sees while watching tv), the BEST cuddle buddy, and such a good traveller.

6.  Baseball certainly has its’ highs and lows, but what is one of your favorite game-related memories?

My favorite baseball-related memory is definitely the time I drove up with my mom and surprised Tristan on July 4^th 2 years ago! It was a spur of the moment trip and will always be my favorite trip my mom and I took together. When we got to the field, our seats were directly behind their dugout. I had been talking to one of the guys on the team before going up there (where they’re staying, if he can get tickets, etc.) So when we got there, he told Tristan to turn around and look in the stands and he had to do a double take before realizing it was me. His face was priceless and it was so much fun being able to surprise him.

7. What has been the most fun place you have traveled to see Tristan play?

Tristan has played in some interesting places- Helena, Montana and Appleton, Wisconsin his first two years when I wasn’t traveling, then Melbourne, Florida and now we are currently in Biloxi, Mississippi. My favorite of those definitely has to be Melbourne, FL. We were about 15 minutes from a beach near us and about 30 minutes from Cocoa Beach- so much fun! We made so many good memories during our first year traveling together, so that place will always hold a special place in my heart.

8. You are a fabulous jewelry designer, talk about how you got started and where you are at now in your biz!

Well, honestly, the whole reason Bow & Arrow is even a thing is because of Tristan. I’ve always wanted to make jewelry just as a hobby and a creative outlet. However, with college, planning a wedding, and working 2 jobs, it was impossible. So a couple months after we got married, one random night he decided we were going to Hobby Lobby and getting started on my new hobby (I made the jewelry, he just watched). In the beginning, I just made pieces for myself, my friends, and my family. After that, people from my hometown started wanting to buy some pieces and from there it just kind of took off (not without hard work, dedication, and late nights, of course). At this point, I’ve sold to customers across the country and have sold my line in over 20 boutiques. It’s actually really cool to think about. I honestly never would’ve imagined it would be where it is right now. It’s definitely not a “career job” right now, but I’m hoping one day it can be. It’s so nice to have some sort of income during baseball season, and not to mention something I enjoy doing.

9. When you go to starbucks, what is your order?

Oh, that’s tough. I almost always get an iced white chocolate mocha with skim milk and no whip just so I don’t feel completely terrible about all the calories. And if I’m feeling crazy, I might get a vanilla bean scone because why not??

10. If you had to describe yourself in 5 words, what would they be?
I’m actually really terrible at these things.. BUT, if I had to choose 5 words to describe myself, they would be: funny (sometimes goofy), creative, driven, passionate, and loyal. 

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Thank you Catherine!! Catherine has generously offered to give away a pair of these GORGEOUS earrings she just made! Use the raffle tool below to enter. Winner will be announced Friday 7/15/16! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway