breakfast in bed | reminder | plunging neckline | ikea hacks | poolside sandals | bedside table

I went home this weekend for Mother's Day and to bring home some college things to try and maximize space in the apartment. I had a great time catching up with family, relaxing, and spending time in the kitchen with my dad. The mini vacation was just what I needed to reset and refresh before starting my first official week of summer in Asheville. I feel so much more prepared for the work week ahead, and excited to finally settle into both a new home and a new routine.

from the weekend.

I actually went home this weekend for Easter, and it was just what I needed. I managed to squeeze in as much relaxation and family time as I could before exams. I now feel ready and refreshed to finish out strong during this final week of class. Plus, all the fun time I spent catching up with old friends made me so excited for the adventures to come this summer. I'll be counting down the days starting now. ;)

nineteen.

I felt you in my life before I ever thought to.

I need to lay down beside you and tell you:

I feel you in my heart and I don't even know you.

and now we're saying bye, bye, bye.

I was nineteen, calling me.

Nineteen is a funny age. Not like "haha" funny, but just different. You're not in your twenties yet. You're still a teenager, yet you don't have the burden of responsibilities that you suddenly had to take on when you turned eighteen. I don't think I've had an age fit me as well as nineteen does right now. I feel nineteen. I don't feel eighteen anymore, and I definitely don't feel twenty yet. I'm happy to be in the middle. I've been a young "adult" for a year, but that's as far as I've gotten. I'm still figuring so much out, but I am at least starting to get a grasp on who I am and what I want.

I'm also just really excited for another year. Eighteen was crazy. Almost everything in my life has changed in the past year. I had just as many ups as I had downs. I'm hoping that this year will be steadier but just as exciting. 

I spent my birthday relaxing. I went shopping with my sister. My brother bought me winter candles. I painted my nails sparkly in my own personal celebration. I spent some much needed time with my best friend. I admitted that I'll probably never be too old for cookie cake. I was very thankful for the warm welcome I received from my hall-mates when I got back to school. My roommate's present to me consisted of film(!!!), dark chocolate, a disposable camera, gingerbread spice tea, and Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes.

thankful.

I am thankful for:

• cats
• my family
• my boyfriend and his wonderful grandparents who always make me feel at home
• having Samm as my roommate this past semester
• being able to go to college
• the opportunity to live in Asheville
• my camera
• cheez-its
• being born and raised in North Carolina
• bojangles (see previous.)
• my high school experience
• pinterest

I am also thankful for this break.

I am thankful to be home and for home to really feel like home.

I am thankful for taking a break from the online world for a while.

I am thankful for the chance to unwind and take bubble baths and watch all of Gone with the Wind and eat too much of my dad's yummy pecan pie(whoops).

I am thankful for a wonderful 19th birthday, but I'll make another post on that later. For now, I'm going to enjoy what's left of my Thanksgiving break.

there's a darkness upon you that's flooded in light.

I was happy to have been able to come home to catch the last glimpse of Halloween. My parents kept the decorations up for me to see and it really made the holiday feel more "real." I burned so many candles because we can't have candles in our dorms. I caught up on American Horror Story: Asylum (soooo good!) and ate way too much Halloween candy. I'm so excited to come home again for Thanksgiving and especially again for winter break. I think I've said this before, but I really feel like the holidays are going to be extra special this year. 

My dad took me to the Renaissance Festival, and it couldn't have been better. The pictures I took weren't great by any means, but I love the Renaissance Festival. I love the fact that it takes place only in autumn. I love the bread bowls. I love how it smells like incense and turkey legs. I love the handmade and unique stuff you can buy. I love the sense of humor everyone who works the festival has. I love the magic. I love the spookiness. I love everything about it. Everything. I'm so glad I was able to make it this year, and I'm so glad I got to spend time with my dad.

art walks and the county fair.

Last week, I went home for the weekend. Coming home and seeing my house and my room was surreal in a way. Having so many people happy to see me was a great feeling. I feel as though I have two homes now: one in Concord and one in Asheville. It's nice to have my heart spread out a little bit across the state.

The first night I was home I went to the Art Walk in downtown Concord. I had Cherry Lemon Sundrop and  my favorite chocolate chip cookie dough soft serve from the ice cream place on Church Street.

The second night we went to the fair and I rode the swings and got fried cookie dough. (cookie dough is my favorite, in case you couldn't tell.)

Samm made a comment that within two days we saw all of Concord and we've been in Asheville for almost a month and still haven't seen have of it. That's true, and I think it's a good thing. I can't wait to someday know Asheville like I know Concord, but I want to have fun and take my time getting there.