here, there, and everywhere

It has been an absolute whirlwind since we have moved from London to the States. In a few short days we managed to visit six cities and so many friends. Ben and I dreamed up this little road trip a while ago and boy, am I glad we did. After landing in DC, we hit the road (for the first time in a while) to Roanoke. Family dinners, my dad’s barbecue, and duck ponds with this nugget were on the agenda. After a year of FaceTiming my heart exploded when he knew I was “Carrie from London.” I love ya, Braven, and will play at the duck pond with you and Nina any day!

After a few days at home we packed up the car and set out for Charleston on Friday morning! It was the sweetest of reunions with Kat and made even better with a delicious dinner at Leon’s! One year is entirely too long to be apart from anyone from the White House (we missed you that weekend Kate, Steph, Liz, and James!)

We spent the evening swooning over the city, catching up with high school friends, and exchanging stories. I have been through Charleston a handful of times and made a day trip, but never spent a substantial amount of time there. There has been a shift in the way Ben and I view a city when we travel to it. We now have this scale we subconsciously rate cities on. It goes from “eh I would never live here” to “let’s move in.” Charleston was definitely towards the “let’s move in” range of the scale. 

Saturday morning we reunited with Lizard! One of the best reunions and biggest hugs. We sent the boys off to do guy things while we planned to brunch it up. The Park Cafe was such a treat! We sipped loads of coffee (and hot chocolate for Kat), split the to-die-for Danish Popovers, and laughed all the way through brunch. It was just like a morning at the White House (minus four human beings) and it just felt so right. I have missed these sweet friends so much. 

You’re the cutest Lizard! If you should find yourself at The Park Cafe, you can’t go wrong with their omelettes. Nom nom. 

While the boys continued to do boy things (brewery tour, Chick-fil-a, and football) we strolled the streets, got a lovely tour of MUSC, and popped in and out of Kat’s favorite shops. 

We met back up with the guys that evening for some football and Mexican food at Americano with the whole crew! A mini Clemson reunion makes for a full heart. A few too many chips and salsa and Jenni’s Ice Cream makes for a full stomach. After ice cream we headed to Hope and Ty’s place for the night, which was such a treat!

Sunday was such a perfect day. Sweet Kat got engaged! Goodness it was a joy to be a part of this sweet friend’s engagement. All weekend she made it pretttyy difficult to pull of a surprise! We joined Kat at church this morning and against her original wishes headed to Sullivan’s Island for “lunch”.

Little did she know we weren’t eating lunch. Katherine was the most fun to surprise and it was even better to watch the joy on both her and JD’s faces all day.

God love them. I am team JD and Kat. Goodness, you two are a dream team.

I’m so glad Ben captured a few pics of Liz and I freaking out with Kat and of course getting a glimpse at the ring!

Speaking of dream teams, here is another one!

I am up for any sort of celebration especially with this crew. Considering Ben and I did long distance in college, and then once the White House girls graduated we spread out all over the country, it is such a rare occasion to have this many of us in one place. 

Charleston was such a treat! Our next stop? Atlanta. 

Somehow we managed to not take a single picture in Atlanta, but man was it a great trip! We were able to catch up with more friends and stayed with Liz and Ashton. I am so thankful that the Watts were able to make the trip across the pond to London to visit Ben and I and that we were able to make a trip to stay with them in their lovely Atlanta home. We had the best food, the greatest conversations, and Liz and I relived our glory days at Clemson and worked out together. All was well.

On our final day we loaded up the Uhaul, as adults do, with our new furniture and packed bags and headed north. Man oh man am I thankful that Clemson is a simple exit off 85. Pot Belly Deli and Abby Pascutti were calling my name (as well as driving through downtown, glancing at Bowman, and shedding a few nostalgic tears). Easily one of the best road trip lunch stops!

After several hours, we finally made it back to Roanoke for a few more days of family before we repacked our bags to move in to DC. You are truly never notice how many things you own until you have to move them from point A to B to C. It is remarkable how many items we own. After a long day of moving on Friday we were (mostly) moved in and I even got a quick Hope Ammen sighting. Funny how our paths seem to always align and I just love it!

Saturday morning we hit the road again to Annapolis to have a mini England reunion with the sweetest of friends all willing to brave the rain. In one weekend we managed to have lunch at The Boatyard, ice cream at Annapolis Ice Cream Company, Naval Bagel, and City Dock Coffee. I’d say it was a success.