things are sweeter in Tennessee

I miss home.

Just one of those days.

I love Birmingham, my friends and living on my own,

but every now and then it's nice to go home.

As I've said too many times to count,

I have no special affinity toward Memphis;

except that it's home.

I do, however, believe that Tennessee is flipping awesome.

My childhood memories are scattered all the way from Memphis all the way to Johnson City,

and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Here's what I'm missing most today,

in no particular order:

(besides family and my comfy bed)

1) The Germantown Commissary

Only some of the best BBQ anywhere.
"So good y'ull slap yo mama"

I rest my case.

2) Dollywood

Pairing roller coasters and bluegrass with funnel cakes and kettle corn.

Yes, please.

3) Ober Gatllinburg

Indoor skiing, ice skating and the Great Smoky Mtns.

"The Best Way to See the Smokies"

4) Opryland Hotel (specifically at Christmas)

I LOVE the decorations at Christmas.

I could walk around in the lobby for hours.

AND I can still remember getting Dippn' Dots at Opryland Theme Park before it closed.

Save up.

Make the trek to Nashvegas.

and while your're there..see the Rockettes

($55 courtesy of etsy.com)

(I know I'm copying the state necklace trend, AND I know TN is awkwardly shaped..

BUT I love it all the same)

...there's no better time to start...

"To live would be an awfully big adventure."

-Peter Pan

"My unfulfilled ambition is to write a novel in three parts about my adventures."
Aunt Millicent: "What adventures??"
"I've yet to have them, but they will be perfectly thrilling..."-Wendy, Peter Pan

Obsessed, adj: to consume or preoccupy thoughts

OK-I consider this blog some sort of therapy for my strange, yet addictive behavior of stream of conscious thoughts.. but this may take the cake. Here is a very small glimpse into what preoccupies my mind at any given time:

1) Cooking/Baking in my new apartment

This has never been my stong suit but I'm attempting to change my ways. My first step is following cooking blogs in hopes of inspiration.

Look no farther than this recipe:

Frozen Hot Chocolate: (courtesy of http://dineanddish.net/)

-6 half-ounce pieces of white chocolate

-2 Tbs half and half

-1 package store bought hot chocolate mix

-1 tablespoon sugar

-1 and 1/2 cups milk

-3 cups ice

-whipped cream and chocolate shavings optional

Place white chocolate and half and half into microwave safe bowl, heat for 1 minute stopping to stir halfway through. Continue to heat until melted and smooth. Add cocoa and sugar and continue to stir until thoroughly blended. Remove from heat and begin to add 1/2 cup of milk and stir until smooth. Cool to room temperature.

In a blender place remaining cup of milk, the room temperature chocolate mixture and ice. Blend on high until it's the consistency of a frozen daquiri. Pour in a cup and top with whipped cream. ENJOY!

2) I currently LOVE super skinny rings. No matter if they are gold, silver or bronze. I'm currently on the hunt for affordable yet chic ones so keep your eyes peeled.

3) TEXAS nail polish line by OPI

specifically "Big Hair, Big Nails"

4) Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert are my celebrity couple crush

They're fierce, attractive & just about as country-fried as a couple can get.

Now playing: "Love Song" Miranda Lambert

{my dream life. yes, please.}

{check out Blake on The Voice and Miranda's VH1: Behind The Music July 13th}

told you... no other word but OBSESSED

Southern Summers

photo courtesy of flckr

The realization that this is my first summer outside of the Tennessee state lines is kind of a shock. But so far, so good. I'm in my home-away-from-home, and it looks like things are looking up. My besties arrive today for the first summer school sesh and just in time. I must admit flying solo in bham isn't quite as glamorous as one might assume. However, I am now the pround renter of an apartment in the sky (no joke, our view can't be beat), and a working gal at that. I started my internship at the WMU and I'm truckin' right along.

Work and friends are not the only things on the agenda this summer; weddings, concerts, lake trips and did I mention weddings? This coming weekend starts the FG trek around the South for wedding after wedding after wedding. It's a fun change of pace (and a great reason to go shopping), but it's hard to not become obsessed with the wedding bug. ( NOT in a creepy I need to get married way but in a "I could totally be a wedding planner and plan people's amazing days" kinda way). Nevertheless, wedding season is in full force here in Alabama and I feel certain its ripples are felt throughout the South.

courtesy of pinterest

Another highlight of being with my friends this summer is concerts. We have made it a priority to attend as many country concerts as fiscally possible starting with the AH-MAZE-ing Alabama Rising concert (it's basically killing like 15 birds with one stone and for cheap seat prices.. it seriously can't be beat). I love me some country tunes but if anyone's interested in roadtripping to see the ever-colorful Katy Perry holla at me.

With a lineup like this.. stay tuned for a rockn' southern summer...

courtesy of pinterest

let the good times roll

..and it led me here to this

{senior mommies at senior chapter}

It's that time of year again but this year is different than most. Not that I haven't loved the seniors in years past, but I seriously don't know what I'm gonna do without these girls. They've been my mommies and mentors, and I couldn't have asked for better memories with them.

{love you mommy}

Another change is that sweet babies Jamie and Steffen are leaving the gates of Samford behind next year. I seriously cry every time I think about a senior year without them, but as long as they're happy; I'm happy. Bama and UT better look out because these ladies are a force to reckoned with...

{steffen, me, jamie, mere, and hayley}

The BRIGHT side is that this summer is full of potential for amazing memories. Can't wait for my first summer in b'ham and being #foreverneighbs with my besties at the Oaks

{my amazing friends at black diamond}

{happy 21st Claire bear}

Spring has Sprung

{ashleigh, emily and me at the beach SBxi}

{i love my friends}

{beauties}

....now that Spring Break (SBxi/ SBleven) is officially over, the semester is gettin real. Apart from projects, tests, papers, and assignments, social life is about to be at an all time high. Needless to say that most peoples' calendars are beyond jam-packed. BUT there is a silver lining: THESE are the days we'll remember when everything's said and done. Spring break was a fabulous time to recharge my batteries before I settle in for the long haul. So buckle up, hold on tight, and enjoy the ride to SUMMERxi.

Maaauuuuuiiiiiiiiii (said in the "what happens in vegas" smoothiieee voice)

Long story, short: my fabulous mother won a trip to Maui, Hawaii through her office (shout out Cordova Vision Center). Being that everyone else had prior engagements, I was chosen to accompany her on the quest for relaxation because, hey, someone had to do it, right?

{my wonderful mama and me at our luau}

We went a few days early beacuse my oh so wise madre said that she wasn't flying all that way for just 3 days, and she has never been more right in her life. The plane rides were miz to say the least, but after being awake for 21 hours we were finally in MAUI.

{the night we arrived: our balcony view}

We had an absolutely fabulous time! we stayed at the beautiful Fairmont Kea Lani in Wailea and we ventured to Kehei and Lahaina as well. The tropical atmosphere was a much need break from the massive snowfall blanketing the southeast that week. Although we weren't completely off the hook; Hawaii had record-breaking rain fall the week we were there (so much so that a land fill of medical waste flooded into the ocean. yuck.)

{a beautiful Pacific sunset -pre flooding}

anywho.. our week of relaxation included but wasn;t limited to: laying out by the pool and swim up bar and grill, a fabulous massage, my very first facial, a trip to the fishing village of Lahaina, and of course, complementary pinapple every few hours.

As much as we loved Maui, we decided that a week off isn't really a vacation without ourfamily/friends. However, we returned relaxed and rejuvinated to the bitterly cold southeast just in time for more possible snow days (cue Miley Cyrus' "Best of Both Worlds")

{part of our rainy day jewlery/pearl adventure}

{in Kehei for the day}