It’s funny, as I started to think about this post and write it in my head, I had one of those light bulb moments where I was like “damn” this means I’m going to have to give a little more of me in order for you guys to really appreciate my husband. So, I suppose this post will help you to get to know me a little bit better which will ultimately allow you to see my husband for all that he really is; obviously some sort of god for putting up with me

It’s very important to give credit where credit is due, and boy does Austin deserve a heck of a lot of credit. I guess we can rewind to the drive home from the hospital in May of 2006 when I started rambling about this hospital maternity gown I wanted to design. Mind you I’d never “designed” anything, never sewn anything (except Roman Shades which turned out quite nice) so I’m SURE he was just nodding and smiling at that point wondering when my hormones would normalize and he’d have his sane wife back.

Throughout this entire journey he has been my number one supporter, my number one fan, and my not-so-silent business partner who always gives me great advice and shares a totally different perspective. Many of the design elements of the gowns are due to his ideas and insights, he is an excellent problem solver.

We met when I was 13…yes, you read that right, I was 13 and he was 15 and we were working at a family restaurant together. We started dating when I was 16, he 18, and have been together ever since (without “breaks”, ugh, I hate when people say that they’ve been together for 10 years with 2 or 3 breaks..so really you haven’t been together 10 years) anyway I digress. We just celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary in April of this year and boy it has FLOWN by!!

Austin is my perfect opposite, no really, ask ANYONE. I’m, shall we say high-strung, anal, demanding, controlling, loud, stubborn…okay, okay, you get the drift. And Austin is my God-created perfect compliment, perfect match, exactly what I need! He is quiet, patient, super slow to temper, never yells, is easily pleased and makes me want to be a better person EVERY day.

We’ve been together for 13 years, married for 6, and no lie, this is a topic of conversations often because we just can’t believe it sometimes, we still feel like kids in new love!

I do not deserve such a kind, caring, selfless, patient, passionate husband. He supports me and my business in so many ways. He celebrates my successes and gives me pep talks when I’m frustrated, and he helps with shipping too!
When I look at these pictures, they tell me such an incredible story of friendship, love, loyalty, respect…I know they won’t have the same impact for you guys, but I hope you enjoy them none-the-less, the earliest here was taken in 1998..we were babies!!!

So to conclude, I would not be who I am today and Hot Mama Gowns would not be where it is today without such a FANTASTIC husband; behind this Hot Mama is a Hot Daddy!

 …And I HAD to add this one…I mean come on..doesn’t he look like he’s going to grow up and marry the flyest Hot Mama..