Paige how did you meet the new boyfriend? Give us the deets…
OKOKOKOKOKOKOK I hear you. 75% of the questions were about the boyfriend, here is a little on the backstory.
I had been on dating apps for a few months, made some good connections and met a ton of really cool guys. I went on lots of dates, had lots of phone conversations and LOTS of text conversations. A few of the guys I dated for a month or two and saw some decent long term potential, but they would either fizzle out or things would end for one reason or another. I decided that the world is a big place and there is more than just DFW to try and meet someone that could be my person. My two favorite guys I dated were in Oklahoma City and Austin so long distance was cool with me. I changed my Hinge (dating app) location to Santa Barbara where my brother lives and figured if I met someone there, I could travel to see my brother and his fiancé AND spend time with the guy while I was there. Kind of a 2 for 1 deal. I matched with a few guys in that area but one majorly stood out to me and not just because of his extreme good looks. He seemed quirky and funny, his profile was different and I could tell he would be worth getting to know. We had the same sense of humor and a lot in common and I found myself thinking about him a lot more than I thought about the previous guys I was talking to. He had a really great style, a really sweet heart and an infectious energy about him but did not want a serious girlfriend. Ok sure whatever, we will see about that, winky wink wink. Talking on Hinge quickly turned to texting which quickly turned into daily FaceTime calls and before I knew it, we were falling in love on the phone. Quickly and effortlessly. It was all too easy, almost mind blowing and seemed like God had put us in each other’s path at just the right moment. We had learned lots of hard lessons and done mass amounts of personal growth and our hearts were prepared. A connection was formed that could really only be described as a soul connection. “Souly” is what he calls me and he has been known to answer the phone with a “what’s up Souls?!”. That guy who had been burned a few too many times and didn’t want anything serious was flying me to LA and asking me to be his girlfriend. I don’t know what the future holds for us, but I can say for sure that I have found a like minded incredible match that has made me believe in love, made me feel understood, speaks my love language and I feel like I’m truly living again. Everyone should feel fully loved, adored and cherished and like someone has their back and lifts them up. I’m working on an online dating guide and will share my tips so the single girls can hopefully find what I have found. I never expected it this soon, and I honestly never expected to find this compatible of a partner ever, what a blessing.
Jeni, what else are you working on in your house right now?
We still have a ton to do. Right now I am focusing on the office. Here is the current situation:
It is pretty much a boring, white, blank canvas.
Here is my inspo:
I’ve always loved Grey Malin and since Nick and I are sharing this space the Marfa Cowboys just seemed right. I’m thinking the vibe will be Western Chic.
I bought this white lacquered desk at market so our white walls will be painted a deeper grey.
Rug, lamps and drapes are all still on the to do list. Half of those shelves need to come out, library ladder needs to be installed and Dayme needs to work her magic on those bookshelves.
I’m trying to have fun with the process and take my time…finding things we really love. This goes against everything in me because I wanted it all done yesterday.
Any positives that were a result of quarantine for you?
PW The hustle and bustle coming to a complete stop had lots of benefits! I was able to spend tons of time with my kids and really ease into coparenting at a slower pace which made it almost too easy of a transition. Taking some time to not be in workaholic mode was amazing for my mind and soul. It helped me to reset and change up some things so that I didn’t feel like my business was running me. I met my boyfriend and got to spend more time than usual getting to know him because both of our industries had slowed way down. I did some traveling that I normally would not have had time for and all in all it was a really enjoyable time for me and the kids!
JM: I am an introvert through and through so I feel like I thrived in quarantine. We do have 50/50 custody of our big kids so they were away half of the time. This gave me a much needed break from stress of distance learning. That was INTENSE. With a week on week off schedule I was able to prepare and recharge for the week ahead. We also moved during quarantine which gave us plenty to do. My husbands job was considered essential so nothing really slowed down for him. We missed our families but I totally welcomed/enjoyed the slower pace.
Knowing what you know now what do you look for in a partner?
JM For me it was THAT word “partner.” I wanted someone who would be by my side through it all…whatever that may be. If the kids have soccer and baseball at the same time we divide and conquer. If I am having a problem with something, he listens to me and we find a solution together. If the kitchen is a mess and everyone is hungry….I’ll cook, you clean. If I’m out of line, put me back in my place. A short list for my younger self would include: someone who loves Jesus, shows up, loyal, has a strong moral compass, kind, and will be a good father….so Nick!
PW I made a pretty specific list of what I wanted and needed in a partner. I knew that a real soul connection would trump a checklist of wants, but it really helped me to date with intention. Some specifics I was looking for: I wanted a guy that had a young energy like me, someone that was hilarious and adventurous and just fun. I wanted someone that made me feel those “that’s my girl” vibes, like he was proud of me and proud to introduce me to people. I wanted someone who understood divorce, single parenting, career and was ok with a confident, ass kicking chick. I had to feel free to be my complete self around him and it needed to feel so natural when we were together. I needed someone that didn’t care to get married again or have anymore children and just wanted to be in a relationship where the connection is the most important and there is no pressure or agenda. There is so much more on my list and lots of it was what I wanted to do differently this time around also. You live and learn.
Tell us about your teaching days. How did you transition to full time mom life?
PW I taught 1st grade for 2 years and knew that it wasn’t my true calling. I enjoyed the actual teaching part and the relationships I formed with my students, but I also got the Sunday scaries really bad and realized how intense my anxiety disorder was during this time. During my second year, I got pregnant with Blake and decided to quit teaching and move into stay at home mom life. I had a few months after the school year was over to just be pregnant and lazy and I enjoyed the heck out of that. Full time mom life punched me in the face with brass knuckles. It wasn’t blissful or easy and was rarely truly enjoyable. That’s not to say I wasn’t completely head over heels for baby Blake, but stay at home mom life ain’t for PW. It would take me a few years to figure that out and get to a place where I knew what I did want to do.
JM: My first 2 years I taught 5th grade at a title 1 school in Grand Prairie. I LOVED it. There was very little parental involvement and some of my kids ate their only meal of the day at school. Those kids were my babies and I can still remember all of their names. I learned so much those first few years about teaching and myself. I then moved to Mckinney where I taught 3rd and 4th grade. There was a TON of parental involvement and things looked a lot different but I loved those kids just the same. I really enjoyed my time as a teacher but after I got pregnant with Jackson I made the decision to stay at home, which I was thankful I was able to do. Teaching is hard work. The hours are long. Parents can be tough. Kids can be rough. But I really did love it and still miss it at times.
Favorite hotels in the US
PW My recent trip to Fairmont Del Mar in San Diego was really beautiful and luxurious. Also in California, I loved the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa. Great wine country and spa location. I’ve stayed at ARIA in Vegas a couple of times and I’m all about the over the top Vegas opulence! In Dallas, the Omni, Joule and Anatole are all fabulous. The Grand Floridian and Grand Californian were both really nice Disney properties. The London in NYC was pretty snazzy. That’s all I can remember over my entire lifetime haha.
JM: I’m down for any Four Seasons or Rosewood. I haven’t done a ton of traveling in the US. The Joule in Dallas was a fun weekend getaway.
Which subscription boxes do y’all have?
PW I just have fabfitfun, I think about cancelling it but dang it’s a good deal and with so much great stuff every time. Kylie gets the Pusheen box and Blake gets the Tokyo Treat box.
JM. Home-chef is it for me. We love it and get 2 meals a week delivered to our doorstep. We tried Sunbasket but it was a little too gourmet for us and the meals were a little out there.
This is what is on the menu for next week:
Clothes steamer recommendation please: I just bought this one and its great!
Daily eats – what’s your typical diet in a day?
PW 1-2 cups of coffee and try to hold off as long as I can for lunch. Lunch is small for me, and I usually have crackers and hummus, some fruit, some leftovers, maybe a bowl of cereal, just whatever is available. I always have a snack or two and if there is any type of dessert in the house, I CANNOT resist. Like, I think about it in a way I would assume a drug addict thinks about drugs. For dinner, I have been really enjoying the recipes from the Defined Dish cookbook. The biggest thing for me is not eating late, I can eat pretty junky and stop early and it doesn’t seem to destroy my waistline.
JM: Breakfast is hit or miss for me….definitely 2 cups of coffee. Lunch is a salad or a sandwich and dinner is something pretty typical like chicken, spaghetti or tacos. We have been using this Defined Dish Cookbook and loving it! Then there are the bedtime snacks…I should be a much larger woman. I really like sweets and candy.
What is your favorite purchase and a purchase you regret spending $$$ on?
PW My most used larger purchases are my Golden Goose sneakers, Valentino heels, Gucci and YSL bags. I regret spending an extra $100K plus on upgraded items while building the house that I don’t get to enjoy and that weren’t necessarily good investments. Buuuut it was a different situation back then so what do you do?
JM: Favorite one lately: My Chanel birthday bag. She’s so pretty. One I regret….thats a harder one. I’m not really an impulse shopper. There have been a few things on the house that didn’t work like the giant light fixtures for my island that are currently sitting in my garage. I’ll make you local peeps a dang good deal.
Need some white booties with a little bit of a heel but can wear daytime:
JM These are some great options:
PW I get that these are more ivory or off white, but I own both and can vouch for their comfort and walking ease.
Adjustment suggestions/tips for you/toddler when bringing home baby #2
JM: When Presley was born we bought Jackson a toy that was “from her.” He liked that. Looking back now I would say don’t feel guilty about all the baby snuggles. Send your toddler to the grandparents for a few days. It all works out.
PW Blake and I were so deeply connected that when I brought Kylie home from the hospital it was almost awkward between us. Kylie slept so much that I was able to spend lots of time with Blake, but it was months and months and months before Blake was even somewhat adjusted. She is an extreme case and had debilitating anxiety, so every sound, movement and even the presence of Kylie freaked her out. It was really difficult to see all the other moms of 2 coasting through and then wanting to not even leave my house because of how intense it was in public or anywhere outside of our bubble. Just know even if they aren’t thrilled about the new baby, you are giving them the best gift and one day it will be a beautiful sibling friendship. I didn’t have that cute and sweet sisters meeting moment and no matter what I did to try and prepare and make it cute basically failed.
Best gifts for SIL. mother, sister, girlfriends or MIL
JM: My rule of thumb is to buy something that I would love to have. Pajamas, candles, jewelry are all excellent options.
PW You can’t go wrong with these:
If you could redo your wedding what would you have changed / kept the same?
JM: We got married on the beach at the St. Regis in Punta Mita. It was perfect and I wouldn’t change a thing. Destination weddings are where it’s at.
PW My wedding was a dream, however it was almost 16 years ago and my taste has changed quite a bit. I wouldn’t change much of anything from that amazing day all those years ago. However, now if I ever get married again it will be a tiny ceremony, somewhere incredibly beautiful and will have zero to do with the hoopla and party and everything to do with the commitment and meaning.
Paige how are the kids adjusting to the new beau?
They haven’t officially met him and won’t for a long time. They know that I have a boyfriend and they have seen him and chatted with him a tiny bit on FaceTime. I’m just not making it a big deal and so they don’t think it’s a big deal. Just today Blake said, “ugh yall are so cute, just get married already!!” lol! They are just thrilled to have a happy mama which translates into a very happy home and that makes very happy kids. When Zach and I decide it’s a good time to introduce him in person, it will also be a very relaxed and chill vibe. No serious sit down talks, I always answer any questions that have with honesty and love in a developmentally appropriate way and it makes for a very low stress environment.
Parenting conflicts with your husband or your ex, how do you handle?
JM With the husband there aren’t many conflicts. He’s pretty easy going so if he brings up an area that needs improvement with our kids, he is usually right. I can get defensive like I’m sure most moms do but at the end of the day he usually has a good point….annoyingly.
With my ex there were A LOT of fights in the beginning. They were usually centered around scheduling or time. Now, we’ve kind of settled into a groove and have a pretty good thing going. Just today at baseball we decided that we needed to change some things in terms of electronic usage and we made a plan together. It really helps to have both of the houses be in agreement on the big stuff and thankfully we are.
PW We get in snippy fights and get frustrated with each other if there is a misunderstanding with the coparenting calendar. We have found to communicate very clearly about plans and any days that need to be switched. We are on the same page with most parenting things, Zach always deferred to me because I did so much reading and research on parenting from the very beginning. We work well together for the most part!
Do you have different parenting styles than your ex’s?
JM We agree on the big stuff but I would say I am a little more lax and the kids can get away with more with me. That may just be typical mom vs dad stuff.
PW I have a more modern, research based approach. I’ve always had a huge interest in child development and parenting strategies and read a lot of books and articles on the subject.
As always, thank you for taking the time to visit our little site and for taking an interest in our lives. It can be hard to be vulnerable and share so much and y’all make it so worth it!
I love how open and honest you both are ❤️
they say it’s the best policy 😉