ULTIMATE OUTSIDERS // 2020.

 Fun fact: I am a big fan of goals. I always have been, and I probably always will be. I love how it feels to write down something I want to accomplish and then trying my darndest to make it a reality. It has especially been fun to set goals since becoming a mama, because I love doing fun things with my kiddos in tow.

In November of 2019, I took my littles to Paris Mountain for a quick hike around the pond. They begged to go into the ranger's office / park store, so we dipped inside mid-hike to check it out (again). The ranger was actually in there at the time, and we started talking about how often we hike, etc., and he asked me if we had collected any of the park stamps yet. I replied that I didn't even know stamps were a thing at the parks, even though we regularly frequent them. In all my visits to the parks over the years, I had never heard of an Ultimate Outsider. When he handed me the book and I started to flip through, I had a thought: "This would be a fun thing to tackle as a family in 2020!"

So, I set a lofty goal: to visit / collect a stamp at all 47 SC State Parks in 2020 and become Ultimate Outsiders!

It sounded simple enough, because I thought that 2020 would be a year like any other. Big LOL! I'm not much of a hiker when it comes to cold weather (honestly, more of a hibernator in winter), so we only visited one park in January, one in February, and one in March. My intention was for April's Hike it Baby 30 Challenge to officially launch us into this challenge of our own, but thennnnn the world shut down.

By the end of June, we had only visited 14 out of 47 parks, putting us just over 25% of the way to the goal with only half a year left. We were visiting an average of 4 parks per month by that point, but it wasn't until the end of October when I finally became confident that we were going to meet our goal. After lots of intentional calendar-maneuvering and lots of gas money and countless hours spent in the car and packed lunches / dinners galore and maaaaaybe a day of playing hooky from school, we started December with only TWO parks left! We purposefully saved a trip to the coast for last because 1) y'all already know how much we love the beach and 2) it's not every year that we get to put our toes in the ocean in December! We planned a quick overnight trip and soaked in the time that we had together as we prepared to get that final coveted stamp (at the most mystical park of all, in my opinion).

We are SO proud and excited to share that as of yesterday, December 22, 2020, we are an ultimate outsider family! And although I don't know this for certain, I would think that Braxton and Bethany are among the youngest to earn that title. Proud mama!

We bought this State Park sign from Local Stature, a local GVL small business, back in April, and I've been plotting using it as a prop for the day we would celebrate being Ultimate Outsiders. The park ranger loved it, and lots of people from Instagram have asked about it since I posted it last night on Instagram, too. A sign that represents something of great value to our family AND the opportunity to support a small business during a hard season? Yes please!

The vision occurred November 2019, and the completion was December 2020.
Let's go on a quick trip down Memory Lane to increase our gratitude, shall we?

1) Paris Mountain State Park
November 21, 2019


2) Musgrove Mill State Historic Site
January 20, 2020


3) Croft State Park
February 17, 2020


4) Rose Hill Plantation
March 22, 2020


5) Oconee Station State Historic Site
May 1, 2020


6) Oconee State Park
May 1, 2020


7) Sesquicentennial State Park
May 4, 2020


8) Chester State Park
May 4, 2020


9) Huntington Beach State Park
May 16, 2020


10) Sadlers Creek State Park
June 5, 2020


11) Lake Hartwell State Park
June 16, 2020


12) Table Rock State Park
June 18, 2020


13) Myrtle Beach State Park
June 26, 2020


14) Lee State Park
June 27, 2020


15) Keowee-Toxaway State Park
July 2, 2020


16) Devil's Fork State Park
July 9, 2020


17) Hamilton Branch State Park
July 16, 2020


18) Baker Creek State Park
July 16, 2020


19) Hickory Knob State Park
July 16, 2020


20) Calhoun Falls State Park
July 16, 2020


21) Dreher Island State Park
August 11, 2020


22) Charlestown Landing Historic Site
August 18, 2020


23) Kings Mountain State Park
September 7, 2020


24) Andrew Jackson State Park
September 7, 2020


25) Lansford Canal State Park
September 7, 2020


26) Lake Wateree State Park
September 7, 2020


27) Lake Greenwood State Park
September 18, 2020

28) Caesar's Head State Park

October 4, 2020

29) Lake Warren State Park

October 6, 2020

30) Battle of Rivers Bridge State Historic Site

October 6, 2020

31) Barnwell State Park

October 6, 2020

32) Redcliffe Plantation State Historic Site

October 6, 2020

33) Aiken State Park

October 6, 2020

34) Edisto Beach State Park

October 13, 2020

35) Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site

October 13, 2020

36) Givhans Ferry State Park

October 13, 2020

37) Colleton State Park

October 13, 2020

38) Santee State Park

October 13, 2020

39) Cheraw State Park

October 23, 2020

40) H. Cooper Black Memorial Park

October 23, 2020

41) Goodale State Park

October 23, 2020

42) Little Pee Dee State Park

November 3, 2020

43) Woods Bay State Park

November 3, 2020

44) Poinsett State Park

November 3, 2020

45) Jones Gap State Park

November 27, 2020

46) Hampton Plantation State Historic Site

December 21, 2020

47) Hunting Island State Park

December 22, 2020

We're the newest South Carolina ULTIMATE OUTSIDERS, people. And we are PUUUUUUUUUMPED!

So many people have asked what my favorite parks are since we started sharing about our adventures, and that is honestly such a hard question to answer. Every park we visited was charming in its own unique way, and that's probably one of my favorite things about our statewide explorations -- I realize that I'm partial, but South Carolina really is so, so beautiful! We frequent the upstate parks a loooooot, and it was so great to see that the other parts of the state have great opportunities to spend time outside, too. The historical sites we visited were truly remarkable, as well, and we learned something new with every visit. If I absolutely, positively *HAD* to choose favorites, however, my top ten list would be this (based primarily on our experiences there from this year):

10) Devil's Fork State Park

9) Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site

8) Chester State Park

7) Caesar's Head State Park

6) Sadlers Creek State Park

5) Santee State Park

4) Edisto Beach State Park

3) Jones Gap State Park

2) Hunting Island State Park

1) Table Rock State Park

*Side note: Table Rock will always hold the #1 spot for me, because it holds such sacred memories since I was little. That high dive used to be my biggest challenge in life!

Whew, that was hard. LOL! I, also, want to give an honorable mention to Paris Mountain State Park, because that is definitely our most visited park. It is the closest park to us, and it is always a fun time. A little slice of heaven on earth, truly. When I asked Braxton what his favorite park was his answer was this: "The one with the REALLY COOL playground. Remember that one, Mommy?!" I immediately knew which one he was talking about, because it took me foreeeeever to get them off of that thing. HA! Sooooo, if you're looking for a neat playground, be sure to check out Cheraw State Park per Braxton's recommendation. Find your next adventure by doing your own research of the parks here!

I have been going to SC State Parks since I was a little girl, and I'm grateful that my own little ones are  growing up with dirt under their shoes and their fingernails, too. Of all the things I want to teach my kiddos, the top three are: 1) God, their Maker, loves them without end, 2) their daddy and I love them almost just as much as He does, and 3) life should be enjoyed to the fullest. I believe that a big part of that last one is learning to be kind to people and to creation, in general. Hiking helps us get better at both of those things, and it really is the best watching them grow up on the trails. We've never met a mean ranger, either, folks. SC Rangers are so hard-working and genuinely good-hearted!

Another lesson I want them to learn is that how you finish matters more than how you start. This challenge is proof of that. TJ and I are both big fans of finishing what you start (aka not just starting for the sake of starting, but starting with the end in mind), and this big stretch goal of ours was worth all the hustling at the end. Crossing that finish line is one of my favorite moments!

So, what's next? Well, I hear there are some really great National Parks that we should check out, but that will take us waaaaaay more than a year. ;) Here's to resting in the now so we can prepare for our next fun adventure!

bargeron barn | stain.

When my man puts something to his mind, he finishes it. And he finishes it well. I give the final approval on most things (professional supervisor, you know), and then he takes it and runs with it. We had a few warm days back in November, so he took that opportunity to stain the outside of the barn. Some of the wood had already begun to darken/be affected by the weather, and the last thing we wanted was for our hard work to be tarnished within a few months.

We decided on a medium-tone stain color, and neither of us could be more happy with how it turned out. I love the deep shade of it, and I think it adds sooooo much character to it!

Ladies and gentlemen, our barn...

During:

Our tiny Teesh is such a great helper, too!

After:

And a few before / after shots:

(1) Original / Pre-Stain / Post-Stain

(2) Original / Finished Product - Angle 1

(3) Original / Finished Product - Angle 2

(4) Original Door / Finished Door

(5) Pre-Stain / Post-Stain

Isn't she beautiful?! We are so, so proud of this quarantine project. Spending our time working on this has been such a bright spot in an otherwise crazy year, and we are hopeful that we'll get to enjoy it with beloved friends and family in 2021.

We still have a few projects we want to accomplish, but we're not in a hurry -- although Teesh is currently out there working now even as I type this. His birthday was last month, and he used his birthday money to buy wood and tracks to build sliding barn doors for the two doorways inside. I can't wait to see them hung! They'll add so much to an already gorgeous and clean space.

Hip hip hooray!

bethany victoria | three years old.

Happy birthday to my very best girl in the whole wide world! You are THREE today, and I’m really having a hard time believing that it’s true. You have grown up sooooo much this year, and we have loved watching you take in the world around you. You have such a zest for life, and I believe with all my heart that your voice will carry on for generations. So much strength is inside of you, my girl. So much!

- - - - -
You currently love alllllllll the girlie girl things — baby dolls, princesses, lipstick, nail polish, dresses, and high heels. I feel like I’m looking back in time watching you play, because I remember loving all of those things when I was a little girl, too. Your favorite princesses are currently Ariel and (drum roll please) Belle, which makes me suuuuper proud. I gotta be honest — Ariel has always been my least favorite princess, buuuuut seeing your excitement over mermaids has ignited some affections for her in my heart. LOL. You love the water (you little beach bum!), so it makes sense that you love a princess who lives in the water. Side note - that was part of the reason I’ve always struggled with Ariel. I hope you grow up more content than she was. *insert praying hands here*
- - - - -
It has been a FUN year for us, little lady. Lots of hiking and traveling and learning new tricks. You mastered the balance bike over the summer, and you ride that thing like a pro now. It’s so surreal to see you on Braxton’s hand-me-down bike, because you were ITTY BITTY when he first started riding it. You weren’t even out of newborn clothes yet! You, also, love to go on walks around the neighborhood and jump on the trampoline. Although your favorite thing to jump in currently is the piles of leaves that Daddy and Braxton make every few weeks. Leaf jumpin’ is the best, and you’ve already learned that! You are officially potty trained (since late spring), and you dressed up as the Pink Power Ranger for Halloween this year.
- - - - -
Although we have spent most of the year at home, we’ve still been able to do quite a bit of adventuring! We have visited five different beaches this year, with one more trip on the horizon before 2020 ends. One big reason for that is our (near complete) quest for State Park stamps this year! You’ve seen nearly all of South Carolina since January, and you have loved all the exploring and hiking we’ve gotten to do. You’ve also loved all the movies you have gotten to watch in the car on said road trips; movies are a treat around here! Annnnd speaking of road trips, we took a BIG one this summer. We roadtripped to FL for two weeks in July/August for 1) a week with our beloved Haltis (yep, you’ll see all the pictures of you and Maddox on your wedding slideshow one day) and 2) two days at DISNEY WORLD! We were so thankful we still got to go in the midst of a pandemic, and we made the most of it. You were in HEAVEN — we ALL were! We’re planning to go back again in a few years, and I’m already itching for it. Watching you and Braxton be so excited made me so happy. Being a mommy is the best!
- - - - -
We didn’t get to have a big birthday party for you this year because of the state of the world, but we did have a few close family members over for dinner, cupcakes, and presents a couple of days ago. You got all your favorite characters as toys, and you’ve been playing with them non-stop since. It’s nice to finally have some girl toys in the house (LOL), and even Braxton is having fun playing with them with you. Your favorite phrase is “Awwww!” and you’ve used it A LOT since you got these new toys to play with. Everyday is the best day when you’ve got mermaids and princesses to play with, right? ;)
- - - - -
You are so very, very special, my girl. A big ol’ personality with big ol’ emotions and an even bigger heart. Since Braxton has gone to school (which is still bittersweet for you, by the way), you and I have had more time together just the two of us. It has been soooooo good for us! Lots of snuggles and playing uninterrupted. Daddy is still your favorite, buuuuut this time together is giving us sweet memories that I am so grateful for. I hope you remember some of these sacred days we spend together as you grow up. I know I will never forget them.
- - - - -
The day before your birthday will always be full of grief. Your birthday will be one of celebration. And every other day of the year will be a little bit of both. That’s okay, though, because your story (and ours as a family) will be this — because of the depth of love we have come to know, we will always press into this sacred space where joy and sorrow meet.  I will always fight for you and for us. And even on the days where my best isn’t all that great, I hope you never doubt my love for you. Because so much of the good in me has been thanks to you. We have all done a whole lot of growing these past three years!
- - - - -
So, happy birthday to you! My darling and daring Bethany Victoria. Every day is the best day because I get to spend them loving you. And in the words of AC/DC, “she’s got eyes of the bluest skies as if they thought of rain. I hate to look into those eyes and see an ounce of pain...” Keep growing and shining, baby girl. No matter what, we will always be in your corner!

bargeron barn | voila!

 Eight posts and eight months later, we are officially DONE renovating our barn! EEEEK! When we moved into our home nearly four years ago, those were words that we hoped we'd get to say out loud one day but seriously doubted we would. And now, after a year of intentionally saving and eight months of intentionally spending, we can say it with big smiles on our faces.

Here are the past updates I've made since we got started (because y'all know how I love to document things, LOL):

Bargeron Barn | The Original
Bargeron Barn | Dirt + Concrete
Bargeron Barn | Walls + Roof
Bargeron Barn | Plywood + Wrap
Bargeron Barn | Siding
Bargeron Barn | Electrical +Drywall + Ceiling
Bargeron Barn | Barn Doors

All of those steps were taken with a whoooole lot of planning and love, and Teesh did most of it himself. That's my man for ya -- give him a challenge and a chance to save some money, and he'll find a way to make it happen. I love him for it, too, although let's be real -- sometimes, I'm all for paying someone to do it to save us the headache. We outsourced a few things out to people we trust, and we're glad for those decisions. We did 90% of it ourselves, sometimes with the help of friends, and we're super proud of that.

Time wise, this project took a little longer than we wanted it to because of unforeseen issues popping up here and there (that's always the case, huh?). And financially speaking, we ended up going about 25% over our original budget. We were content with scaling back on other things to direct some extra money towards this project, though, because everything we spent more on came back to this: better quality. After spending so much time out there and feeling the aches of our bodies from it, we 1) wanted it to be as nice as we could possibly make it without investing too much into it and we 2) wanted to be proud of our accomplishments and not feel like we cut corners or settled for less than our best. Hence, a blown budget! But hey, that's the power of a budget -- knowing how much money you have to spend, and adjusting when necessary if things happen.

Soooo, without further delay, here is the beautiful inside of our beloved barn...

This is the large middle room (formerly two open bays) that will be used as a hang out / recreation area for us and friends / family / neighbors (you know, once Covid is over):

Looking in from the sliding doors

Looking towards the man cave / tool room

Looking toward the out (Chevelle) room

The beautiful beam that our friend, Aaron Hood with Carolina Columns built and installed. Swoon!

Standing at the front wall looking toward the sliding doors

Next is the Man Cave / Tool Room (you know, where Teesh will do his best tinkering):





And finally, here is what we are calling the "Chevelle Room." This is where Teesh's beloved girl (ahem, Blaze, his first love) now lives:

TAAAAADAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

And there she is, folks. It may not look like much to you, but we are DANG PROUD that we made this dream a reality. It's fun to do hard things with my man, especially when the end result is THIS great!

Eventually, we will build / install doors for the room, sand / prime / paint the two outer rooms, and maybe do something to the floors in the large room. Those things are more luxuries than necessities, so we're not in a hurry to check those things off. The only thing left that we need to do is stain the wood siding so that it will be protected from the weather, and we will do that sooner than later. At this point, I'm trying to convince Teesh to hire someone to do it for us. After eight months of laser focus, I'm ready and excited for what comes next!

That's a wrap (for now) from the Bargeron Builders. 'Til next time!

p.s. Did I mention how proud of us I am?! Full heart over here!

hike it baby 30 | september 2020.

 We participated in our EIGHTH Hike It Baby 30 Challenge this month, an initiative to get families to spend more time outside. These challenges are always so fun for us, because we keep a detailed record of all the memories we're making. I don't always keep track of how long we're outside on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis -- but I always do during challenge months. This time, we spruced our mileage tally up a bit. Every time we walked / hiked a mile, Braxton (sometimes with Bethany's assistance) colored in a rectangle until our chart was full. They loooooved this part!

The challenge, itself, is this: hike/walk/bike 30 miles with your kids and/or spend 30 minutes outside 3 days a week with your kids. This challenge was a little more normal than the last one, because we reincorporated a few trail miles. Hallelujah! One of our goals for 2020 is to become Ultimate Outsiders (visiting all 47 SC State Parks), and we visited five new-to-us parks as we work haaaard to meet our goal. We are officially over halfway there, but we still have a lot of park hoppin' to do if we want to make it happen! Can we do it?! We shall see!

Most of our miles were logged from walking around our beloved neighborhood, taking in the sights and sounds of home. We always get honked at at least once every time we walk our streets, and it's one of my favorite things.  I love our small town and the friends-turned-family it has given us over the course of our lives! I especially love that friendliness is something my kiddos are familiar with because of this, too. I had the best neighbors growing up, and I am grateful that my little ones know the power of good, dependable company at an early age, too.

During this challenge, we logged a total of 38 miles between the pavement and the trails, and spent 111 hours outside during the month of September! That's an average of 3.7 hours outside each day. Considering that we've also been trying to get into the swing of school for the first time, I am especially proud of these numbers! I think we are all definitely happiest when we are breathing in fresh air, so it's a fun to be intentional in making sure we get as much of it as possible into our systems. Extra perks if my kiddos can get dirty while breathing deep, too. LOL!

I remember being quite (ahem) emotional last September, because I was expecting that to be the last fall challenge with Braxton with us for all the miles. One blessing of Covid-19 has been all the time we've been able to spend together as a family, and this challenge was one of them. My first baby hiker got to be with us for every mile, and we even got to spend two "school days" exploring in both SC and NC. What a precious gift! These are the days that become memories so quickly, and I'm thankful for the gift of more time and adventures with both my babies in tow. E-learning may not be everyone's favorite thing, but (unpopular opinion comin' atcha...) I have genuinely loved it. 

Here is a glimpse of our fun month, doin' what we do...

Trail Hikes: 3

Trail Miles: 6.5

Total Miles: 38

Total Minutes Outside: 6,630

p.s. 2020 may not have looked like we all thought it would, but there is still so much good all around us. Look for the good, friends. A small act that does wonders for the soul!

April 2016 || September 2016

April 2018 || September 2018

April 2019 || September 2019

April 2020