Videos I'm into lately

beautiful.

hilarious.

moving.

Road Trip 2012 - Islamorada, FL

We left from Raleigh in the wee hours of the morning. It was earlier than both Adam and I had been up in months. We patted Lola on the head, a lovingly goodbye, and tiptoed out of his mother’s house bound for Starbucks and Florida. Final destination, Islamorada; me, as driver and Adam, as co-pilot.

Hours later hopped up on caffeine, Adam had fallen asleep as the sun began peaking its head over the horizon to start its day and I sipped down both his coffee and mine. We passed over into South Carolina, waving at South of the Border as we went, then over into the land of Georgia peaches and finally into our final destination state, Florida, where Adam took over the reins. The total of twelve hours passed and we finally arrived, dark as it was when we left, in Coconut Grove a burb of West Palm Beach.  

We were greeted by the burly Duke and the graciously shy Molly, and of-course their owners, Ryan and Melissa, the soon to be newlyweds. Barking, growling, and wagging of Duke's two inch bobbed tail ensued, for hours, as Duke and Adam, best buddies for life, happily played tug-o-war until bedtime.  Some friendship last for lifetimes.

The next day the four of us made our way through no-man’s land and onto the Floridian Upper Keys, Adam and my first time stepping foot on the coral island keys, and Ryan and Melissa's last time as an unmarried couple. Making history with each step, we arrived at Coconut Cove Resort, where we would spend the next few days at the wedding of friends. Drinks, food, and fun ensued.

Days changed, time was forgotten and soon our vacation in the keys was over. 12 hours back to NC, to our Lola, and another 3 hours back to our little home in Kill Devil Hills. Road Trip 2012 was over, I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts played on, in my head. 

The next day was Thanksgiving, family was arriving, food was cooking and though I was exhausted from our vacation I pulled out my smiley face and went over to Mom’s for Thanksgiving. Dad carved the turkey, Mom sliced the Brown Bag Apple Pie, Ansley played beautician, Paige and I napped on the couch. It was Happy Thanksgiving.

ISLAMORADA, FL // TRAVELS

My favorite photo from our trip is above. 

And my second favorite.

First trip to the Keys - Check. 

39 degrees when we left, 75 when we arrived - Check.

Marriage of Ryan and Melissa - Check.

Officially jealous of Adam and Duke (aka. that burly boxer above)'s relationship - errr, Check.  But seriously, I have never seen a dog react to Adam like that before. Could it be because Adam's beard matches Duke's hair color? 

Favorite part of the entire weekend. Adam, five minutes after leaving, and I quote: "I miss Duke." 

Vacation Plans

In 3 days, I will be in the sunny Floridian upper keys celebrating a union of love.

Until then, I am in the grey confines of my office cubicle. My internal temperature is having a struggle with the weather, springlike, warm and wet, reminding me of a nursery rhyme I recited in Kindergarten. Mary, Mary, quite contrary. . .  My body longs for the winter. Cold, harsh, and bitter. A simple reminder of our worth and a testament to our life. And also a reminder of how shitty things can be or how amazing.

What I've been into lately:

The most awesomost fall playlist: Daydreamers Delight

Having my Performance Review at work and this is all I can think about.

Hobbit holes actually exist!!!

And an amazingly inspiring article. If you only click on one thing here, this should be the one.  

Hair Barrels because I live at the beach and I can

Pumpkin Pie Spiced Apple Chips

Tiny Dumpster House: possible storm shelter

The Top Knot Tutorial 

Thinking of Logan and a new baby on the way.

My Favorite Catch

It’s been trout for dinner this week. And that’s not a complaint. Adam braved the north wind, the cold rain, and the blistering temperatures to catch us two wonderfully delicious trout this past weekend, so we’ve been sitting high on the hog enjoying the fruits of his labor.

As a younger version of myself spending summers on the Outer Banks, I was often surrounded by people fishing. My dad or uncle would toss in a line, drink a beer and watch us children play in the waves, or we’d take a ride down to the Old Oregon Inlet for some of the best fishing the Outer Banks used to offer, but the nostalgia for me was watching the slimy thing wriggle on the line, watching the bloodworms draw blood like vampires, and off-roading in my uncles Bronco, me and my cousins crammed in like sardines. In high school, I dated a few good ole boys, who had spent their lives growing up in Fuquay-Varina, and whose idea of a nice date was pond fishing, which I didn’t mind. I enjoyed being outdoors and the flattery as they tried teaching me to cast. What I did mind was catching mostly turtles.

 

But I wouldn’t say I actually became a fisher until I started dating Adam and when I caught my first shark, which was an amazingly fun catch. Adam showed me that fishing can be relaxing, peaceful, serene, even if the only thing you catch is seaweed. He gave me confidence in my cast and he sets me up with just the right bait to catch the big one.

His recent fishing excursion has got me thinking about my favorite catch, reminding me of the way it swallowed the bait and fought the line. How it tasted when I brought it home for dinner, or how it felt when I set it free.  I’ve only caught two or three in my time, including  this shark in Ocracoke, but it’s a far second to Adam, who will always remain my favorite catch. So lucky to have him!

Fall beer review

I don't know about you, but I sure do love finding new brews, especially during the fall when the light is slowly weaning away from the day and the air is cool and crisp. Call me an alcoholic but those evenings are made for beer. My last trip to the store was a whopping 60 bucks of IPAs, black ales, and October brews.

And so here you have it folks, my fall beer review:

Estate Homegrown Wet Hop Ale
Brewed By: Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., California
Style: American IPA
ABV: 6.70%
Limited availability, only when brewed.
Notes: Refreshing wet hop beer. Not overwhelmingly hoppy. Love Sierra Nevada and their selection. Delicious, easy drinking ale.

Pumking
Brewed By: Southern Tier Brewing Company, New York
Style: Pumpkin Ale
ABV: 8.60%
Available Fall Only.
Notes: Contains flavors and notes (aka. smells) of pumpkin, cinnamon, gingerbread, vanilla, caramel, and nutmeg. Comes in a 22. It was too sweet for my taste, despite being one of the better pumpkin beers I've had. Even had to pour out the last bit. Cool label with fun little Celtic folklore story.



Dubhe Imperial Black IPA
Brewed By: Uinta Brewing Company, Utah
Style: American Black Ale
ABV:9.2%
Available Year round.
Notes: Chocolaty dark malts combine with hops. Leans more to hoppy IPA side than chocolate. Very Smooth. Easy to drink considering the color and ABV.

More to come . . .

Happy Voting Day!

This video cracked me up. Partially because I almost didn't vote today, but mostly because I am so fed up with the political campaigns, tv commercials, facebook feeds and everything else urging people to vote. I'm over it already.

Don't worry folks, I exercised my right and voted, but the lines were long, I feel as if my vote didn't count, and I'm apathetic. Please don't  hate me or stop reading my blog because of it. I just think some serious changes need to happen and they won't come about because I exercised my right to vote. Call me a cynic. . .

Chickens, Carrots & Complacency

Let this be stated: I am complacent.

I am complacent in the sense that when I am asked where I'd like to go for lunch I reply with I don't care. Because truly, I don't care.

Am I thinking of things that mean much more? Am I so disconnected from food that it doesn't matter what I eat because it is all equally the same? Am I ignorant in choices? Do I lack desire or drive?

I am complacent and this scares me because I do not want to get stuck in the typical american life, working 9-5 for the man and in society. This not my dream. It has never been my dream.

My dream consists of simplicity, vegetables, working where I live, living where I work, a husband, a child. Please note that not once did I say money to buy any of these things. If I never had to touch a dollar bill in my life again I'd be happy. When I was a child I didn't understand the concept of money or of buying things. Maybe this is because I was provided everything I needed, food, shelter, love, or maybe this is because of my complacentcy. One time I told my mother: I don't want to have money. I don't care about money. My mother couldn't understand this, I couldn't understand her. I couldn't make her understand me and she couldn't make me understand her. So I was silent. And I have been silent for so long. Partially because I didn't understand myself, but now I am beginning to understand. And now I realize that this is what I should have told her: The world is not made of money but rather based on it and this is wrong and I have trouble living my day to day life within these confines. If I have a chicken, but need carrots. And my neighbor has carrots but needs a chicken. I should be able to do one of 2 things. Give my neighbor a chicken in exchange for carrots or share in our bounty and make chicken soup to feed us both. I am an odd person, I know, but I don't understand how things became so over complicated.

Whisper this to yourself everyday (or scream it off of your roof top. I don't care, just do it):  Homesteading is the act of simple self-sufficiency.

What I'm into lately:

http://www.120squarefeet.com/ 

Why do so many of us willingly compromise our dreams and passions?

http://tinyhouseswoon.com/
Fall Fashion: Burton's Lookbook

The News according to Adventure Journal, November 1st, particularly the Sugar Mountain part.
Halloween colored Lobster

Becoming a Digital Nomad + another Halloween photo

I think one of the best things about having a blog is the ability to share whenever, whatever and WHEREEVER. This blog has really evolved since I first started typing away almost 2 years ago. Evolving from a place to share my thoughts and confessions about scary after college life to a lifestyle blog where I dream about what is and what isn’t and I share my confessions about scary after college life (okay maybe things haven't really changed).

Keep reading and you'll get to see how Adam and I spent our Halloween.

I have come to realize thru this blog and my daily ramblings that I have a huge issue with living in society and I fuel myself by creating dreams of adventure and simplicity even if a huge part of me thinks they will never come to fruition. I dream them as a drug to keep myself stable. This week I am dreaming about location independence. I am not a technological geek, but am inspired by the idea of working and living from anywhere. The closest I have gotten to achieving this is working in the travel and tourism industry in cool places like the Outer Banks, Raleigh, and Boone. My job alows me to be a visitor in my own city and to share my city with other visitors. Pretty awesome! But, my desires to be location independent is driven more by my desire to be in the Applachian Mountains living like a nomad. So maybe I am not interested in being a digital nomad at all, but rather am interested in a lifestyle devoid of restrictions.

I am trying to work all of these things out because one day I won't be here dreaming of living elsewhere and of doing other things, but instead I'll be doing them. Sounds simple enough.

Here's the Halloween photo I promised you. Adam and I drank pumpkin beer and watched scary movies for our Halloween. This beer was awesome and bright orangish-red in color. The photo doesn't do it justice.

What I've been into lately:

Fall Fashion: Burton's Lookbook

The News according to Adventure Journal, November 1st, particularly the Sugar Mountain part

The most awesomost fall playlist: Daydreamers Delight

Having my Performance Review at work and this is all I can think about.

Hobbit holes actually exist!!!