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Thanksgiving and November Travels

November 29, 2016

That’s a wrap on our November marathon travel month. We’ve been to Nashville, Clemson, Asheville, Charleston, and home for Thanksgiving. This month has been full of car rides and visits with sweet friends and family and I would not have it any other way.

Last weekend we packed our bags and hit the road for yet another five hour road trip to Charleston. I was shooting a wedding there, providing the perfect opportunity to hang out with some of our favorites, Kat and JD.

Saturday morning we shared breakfast and coffee before Ben and I ventured to the venue. The day was perfect for a fall wedding. The flowers were absolutely gorgeous and the bride was a vision. It was such a fun day to have Ben by my side while I photographed such a beautiful wedding.

After a long day of gathering eight flower girls, watching the miniature horse eat the bride’s bouquet, the sharing of “I dos”, and smores by the fire, we called it a wrap. It was such a joy to be part of such a beautiful day.

Sunday morning Charleston Nasty biscuits from Hominy Grill blessed our tastebuds. I mean they know what brunch is all about.

I love every minute with these dear friends. There is always a whole lot of laughter and Ben and I cherish their friendship.

^^ What a dream team.

He’s my favorite road trip pal, assistant photographer, and best friend.

Thank goodness we’ve been able to hang out as much as we have this fall. You’re a treasure, Kat.

Charleston treated us so well. Also, new lens means return of the selfies.

After a few short days of work it was time for Thanksgiving in Roanoke. After yet another five hour drive and a few Christmas sing alongs we were home sweet home. We always love coming home to those mountains. Thanksgiving means yet another year of the Drumstick Dash. Ben informed me he would not be running with me, so thankfully I was able to find a new partner (thanks Tim!).

After finishing up the Drumstick Dash, which essentially serves a Roanoke reunion, we stopped for coffee and a quick hello at my brother’s place before freshening up for the big meal.

Behold, the well earned Thanksgiving meal! Bring on the turkey, salad, corn pudding, stuffing, and pie.

It was a full day of family, turkey, football, and pie. Just the way I like it.

Friday we spent running a few shopping errands, helping my dad at the food truck, hanging out at Soaring Ridge, and brinner with my favorite little man. I’d say we nailed the post Thanksgiving day meal with french toast, hash browns, and eggs. We finished it off with teaching Braven and Julius how to play monkey in the middle and a little fishing game.

I can not handle the one above or below. Be still my soul.

Saturday was full of naps, errands, Christmas tree decorating, and most importantly Clemson football by the fire.

Sunday morning was a beauty. After church we packed the car up before lunch with my family. We always seem to come back from Roanoke with a car packed full. I am particularly excited that the kayak is coming back with us!

My favorite boys, even if Brave didn’t want anything to do with this picture.

Home always treats us so well. Ben and I are so thankful for our families and friends, and for sweet time back home in the mountains.

What a way to end our month of weekend getaways.

Asheville

November 15, 2016

Long weekends are a favorite of mine. This past one went so, so well. We rested, we painted, we danced, we explored.

Thursday night was my first go at a Marine Corps Birthday Ball and we had such a good time. Here you’ll find just about the only picture we took from my phone, but I promise you we put on our finest and danced to a song or two.

Friday morning was crisp and beautiful. We slept in a bit and enjoyed breakfast together. Even though we now live together (hooray!!), breakfast together and slow mornings are usually just a weekend thing. Ben is up and off to work most days before I wake up. I can assure you this is not due to my inability to wake up early, I’m actually quite the morning person, but rather because he goes to work before most humans. I’ll take any extra mornings in the week together. Later on we walked around town, grabbed a cup of coffee, and hit up a lunch spot down town.

We even did a few home projects in the afternoon! More to come once everything is hung up. I’m the kind of person to want everything done immediately when we move. I’m talking boxes unpacked, pictures up, closets filled, everything cleaned on the same day. Some may call it impatient, I call it determined. I’m learning to be patient with our progress to make this place a home. Also, it is now noted that it is far easier to decorate a studio as opposed to a home with more than one multipurpose, all encompassing room.

We hit the road (very) early on Saturday for one of my favorite mountain towns! Asheville is not too far from Clemson so I have had my fair share of weekend trips here. Ben, on the other hand, had never been. Thanks to Katie Boysen, we had the best brunch complete with a breakfast bowl and a Huevos Rancheros Chimichanga. Divine I tell ya.

We spent the afternoon walking in and out of coffee shops, bookstores, and little boutiques. It always feels good to travel together. There is something to be said about wandering throughout new places, people watching, and only truly worrying about whether to turn left or right at the next street corner or where to eat next.

We lucked out with the coziest place to stay that shared my love of plants.

We hit up a few of the breweries including Wicked Weed and had the luxury of outdoor space heaters.

Not pictured are burgers for dinner and Ben and I watching the Clemson game on our phones whilst shedding a tear.

The next morning Ben convinced me to go on a run, that I easily turned into a jog. During said jog my eyes watered the entire time due to the 30 degree weather, and my legs forgot what running on hills looked like. But alas, we completed the run and I was glad I joined him. Per another one of Katie’s recommendations we cozied up in High Five coffee for the best cup of joe and a bagel. There was sea salt involved in the coffee, so there’s that.

Our initial plan was to go hiking, but due to timing, and a blocked road we decided to enjoy the views while driving on the Blue Ridge Parkway to enjoy the views. Shout out to some of the leaves still hanging on! They sure did make the most beautiful backdrop. Ben laughed at me when I told him I felt like the mountains were giving me a hug, but I meant it. After growing up in Roanoke, you learn to love and appreciate the site of those beauties all around you. Especially now, more than ever, that we are living in the land of the flat ground. My approach to staying warm, after neglecting to believe it would actually drop to 30 degrees, was put on every layer I packed.

I wish these colors stayed year round.

We even caught a glimpse of mega moon on our drive home!

We are becoming masters of the 5 hour road trip weekends (seriously, we are on like week three of this and there is no end in sight). I’m noticing a pattern in our drives: hour one we talk about anything from goals, ideas, and new destinations on our travel bucket list, hour two we jam, hour three we switch drivers and start listening to podcasts, hour four we talk about how the drive is dragging and I continue to become obsessed with whatever unsolved mystery the podcast is on, and hour five we pick back up with the tunes. Our little system seems to be working so far.

It was the perfect dose of exploring, relaxing, and cuddling up with this guy. So thankful these Blue Ridge Mountains are only a drive away and I get to spend weekends with my favorite guy.

White House Reunion: East Coast Edition

November 7, 2016

Any form of a White House reunion is good for the soul.

This past weekend Ben and I drove down to Clemson to meet up with Liz, Ashton, Kat, JD, Liz and Ed and it was such a full weekend. The only way it could have been better is if the rest of the gang was there. After a long drive featuring Spotify’s 2008 and 2007 Top Hit playlist (can’t recommend it enough) we made it to the lake house and spent the evening catching up with Liz and Ashton. Rather, Liz and I chatted and the guys talked politics, or something of the sort. Saturday morning was slow and picturesque with coffee in hand and a crisp fall lake scene out the windows. For breakfast the four of us ventured to Barnwood Grill for a good ole southern breakfast. Our order went something to the tune of, “two coffees, one wrap… and one… ‘Trashbowl'”, a local delicacy. Ben was a happy camper.

Back at the lake house, Liz and I worked out and then laid out every purple and orange thing we owned to piece together our game day attire. We practically recreated what every game day looked like living in the 114 or the White House.

Driving on to campus brought back all the feels, and even more feels when sweet Liz and Ed arrived.

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Throughout college Ben was only able to come to a few Clemson games, so having him here now is the absolute best. We’ve spent many Saturdays over the past few years yelling at the TV screen and cheering on the Tigers but nothing beats being back in Death Valley. clemson-40 clemson-6-3

Top notch duos coming at ya!
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After the game, we checked out a few of the new spots downtown before heading back to the lake house for an evening of s’mores with Halloween candy, football, a lot of laughter, and great chats around the fire. Goodness how I’ve missed these dear friends.

clemson-43 clemson-44 clemson-47 clemson-46 clemson-48 Sunday morning we all woke up pretty early (thanks Daylight Savings), read a bit, and sipped on coffee.
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We shared breakfast around the table while we reminisced and shared a lot of laughter.

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After a long breakfast, we soaked up the crisp fall weather. I can’t begin to express how much I’ve missed little moments like these. Walks down the street, mornings spent just chatting, refills on coffee, and individual aspects of everyone’s personalities. clemson-5-2 clemson-26-2
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These humans are a true gift. I am thankful for friends who care so deeply and love so well. clemson-9-2 clemson-24-2 clemson-21-2 clemson-15-2 clemson-17-2 clemson-38

What a group, I tell ya. I’d say the White House really struck gold in the husband department. Being back in Clemson brings a rush of memories filled with game days, Sundays spent at the lake, and walks through campus. As wonderful as those memories are, I am cherishing these new ones with this top notch group. I can’t wait for the future trips, reunions, and plans made with these friends (including the non-East Coasters ;) ) who truly make my heart the happiest.

Go White House. Go Tigers.

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