Eight Signs that I'm Back in the South

Since moving back to South Carolina from Maine last week, I've noticed a lot of differences. These things have been common occurrences my whole life, but I haven't really noticed them until they were gone. Boy, am I glad to be back in the South!

1. I have to change shirts after returning from my walk to the mailbox. 

2a. A local car dealership commercial says, "Come on down after Sunday service."
2b. The weatherman said that the rain would be gone by the end of most church services. 

3. I can't get out of Wal-Mart without seven people talking to me, and I don't even know any of them.

4. The waitress at a restaurant specifically asks if I want a sweet tea. Uh, yes please.

5. It's a total waste of time to straighten my hair (or do anything with it but wear it in a bun).

6. The thought of wearing jeans makes me sweat.

7. I can eat at Cracker Barrel or Chick-Fil-A anytime I want (except for Sundays of course).

8. AND my sister can actually drive down for a visit!

Life Lately

Life's been coming at me pretty fast lately.

Memorial Weekend: We had an incredible time exploring Maine with some great friends. 
+ Ben and Sarah - not pictured :(

Beautiful Camden

To anyone that knows Andy: Doesn't this picture just put a big smile on your face?

A week later: I flew to Nashville for one of my dearest, bestest friend's wedding. I never thought I would say this, but it was so nice to be back in the southern, humid, sultry heat. It definitely helped that I got to spend time with some of my best friends and help Kayla put the finishing touches on a beautiful wedding.

Wasn't she just gorgeous?

I'm so excited that I'll get to see my sweet friend in Chatt. soon!

A few days after that: I found out that I'll be teaching 9th grade English at the school I student taught at in the fall!!! This makes me even more excited to move back knowing that I get to work along side of the teachers I learned so much from last semester.

THEN a couple days later: Patrick and I celebrated our first anniversary, and my mother and father-in-law flew in for a long weekend. We had such an amazing time roaming and hiking around Acadia, driving up the coast, and taking a long bike ride around the national park. It was an amazing Maine experience for us all. Plus, an Acadia hike was a prefect anniversary trip to celebrate an awesome year with my love!

I'm truly blessed to have these two as my in-laws!

At the first place to see the sun in the U.S. We weren't quite up for getting to the top of this mountain at 4 a.m. to experience the sunset, but he view was definitely just as impressive at 4 p.m..

Currently: I'm finishing up my last week of work, preparing for the movers, and packing for a trip to Vermont this weekend. Oh! And since it's a given that I'll be teaching Romeo and Juliet, I started reading it for THE FIRST TIME EVER. Yeah, I know every high school freshman is suppose to read it, but my teacher decided to spend the entire semester  reading The Odyssey instead. (Good job preparing the young minds of the future!) I think it's definitely works out in my favor though because I appreciate the text and comprehend it much better than I ever would as a 14-year-old.

Our time here in Bangor is quickly coming to a close and as I think back on our experience I'm filled with a sense of relief that we survived such a rough winter, joy that I found a fun, rewarding job, a bit of sadness that we're leaving at the most beautiful time of year, and a ton of incredible memories that I'll be able to share with future Hortons many years from now. South Carolina: here we come! (Hopefully to stay.) :)

Year One

We've made it. The exciting, exhilarating, yet frustrating adjustment of the first year of marriage is over. And adjustment is exactly what it has been.

It only feels likes a few weeks ago when I was putting on the final touches for the big day. I had never been more excited, anxious, and happy in my life. The hours I put into making decorations, printing invitations, and organizing the details had me worried the it would all come together in a non-tacky, storybook kind of way. My amazing friends and family worked so very hard to set everything up the day of, and when I pulled up to the gardens, I was elated. It was better than I had ever imagined. It was undoubtedly my dream wedding (husband included).

I could go on and on how perfect and beautiful of a day it was, but I will spare you of an obnoxious rant and share pictures instead because who wants to read a long, boring post when they can look at pictures, right? I'll just say that it was a wonderful kick-off to what has been one of the most life-changing, rewarding years of my life. From a move from TN to SC, then SC to ME, and soon to move from ME back to SC all in the first year of marriage has not been easy, but it's been an incredible journey so far. It's made us completely rely on each other for all of our needs, which has taught us far more about ourselves and one another than we ever could have learned otherwise. We've realized that marriage takes daily work. Whoever said you could live on love must have had a short marriage. Though the whole idea of a 'lovey dovie,' 'I get butterflies every time you walk in' kind of marriage is nice to daydream about when you're dating, it just isn't real life. There are days when I'm so frustrated that I just have to find some coupons to cut before I go off, and that's where love comes in. I'm exceptionally blessed to be living this awesome life God has given me with such a wonderful, funny, loving, crazy smart, easy-going man.

(Jessie Holloway truly is the best!)
           

    

          

Here's to many more...

Saturday Happiness

I've been thinking. Thinking about things that make me happy. Thinking about things that help me relax. Thinking about things that fill me up (foods and non-foods included). So, I've compiled a list. Kind of. The list is scattered in my mind at the moment. Some things may come up as I write. Thoughts scattered. List in no particular order. Sentence fragments allowed...just this once.

1. Newest addiction.

Cinnamon Life has been my go-to cereal for some time now, but when I saw the big box of Life Maple & Brown Sugar on sale at Wal-Mart I had to give it a try. Boy-oh-boy, pancakes in cereal form. Sound good? Well, it is. I'm constantly grabbing at handful and just eating it dry. I can't get enough of this stuff; therefore, it makes me oh-so-very happy.

2. The smell of rain on a warm day. I could just lay on the asphalt and sniff it for hours after a spring shower. I haven't personally done this yet, but if I could find a road where I know no one would see me or run over me, I would be all over this.

3. Snuggling on the couch with hubs and Walter after an exhausting day at work...or just anytime.

I love these guys.

4. Going to the new laundromat.

The laundromat I've been going to moved to a new location, and it was such a pleasurable experience...well, as pleasurable as a laundromat can be. It's super close to the apartment. It smells fresh and new. The machines are bigger and better, which means it takes fewer quarters to clean and dry. I felt safe the entire time. They have complimentary coffee and T.V.s.
You have no idea how happy my trip to the laundromat made me today. It's the small things, y'all.

5. Finding great deals.

I went to Goodwill yesterday and bought a few outfits and a large bulletin board that's in great shape all for the price of one pair of jeans or a meal for two at Olive Garden or a movie date including popcorn. It's good deal, folks. I'm planning on re-vamping the board, so check back later for the before and after. (Give me a few weeks. I tend to procrastinate.)

6. The fact that we just found a place in Greenville for when we move back in July!

We are enjoying our time in Maine, but we're anxiously counting down the days until we get back down south. We miss our family, friends, Chick-Fil-A, sweet tea, and the southern way of life. I never thought much of this laid-back, slow-paced, friendly, southern drawl way of life until I moved away. Then I realized it's the only life for me. Patrick and I love Greenville, and we're extremely excited to settle down there for a while.

View from a hike near Greenville.

7. Skyping with my sister.

She's my greatest friend, and talking to her makes me feel at home.

8. And what fills me up the most tonight is thinking about my awesome mom. I wish I could zap myself home to spend Mother's Day with her and the rest of my family tomorrow, but it doesn't look like that's going to be a possibility this year. She's such a kind-hearted, incredibly funny woman. Y'all should meet her sometime. :)

I love you Mom!

Okay, I guess that should do it for now. But come to think of it, compiling a list of what makes me happy makes me happy, so consider the closing number nine.


Until next time.


Diana

 

Confession

I would like to think of myself as a mature, well-educated woman who only reads from the literary canon and The New Yorker and watches award-winning historical documentaries and world news. But in all reality, I'm a sucker for reality shows, day time TV, and romantic comedies. I'm actually extremely distracted right now because I'm watching Mean Girls 2 on E!, sorry.

With that said, I'll go ahead and admit it, I miss the cheesy, dumb,  scripted . . . romantic, passionate, totally real Bachelor. I have real emotions with the girls on the show. I love them, hate them, laugh and cry with them, and by the end, I feel as though I'm the third wheel in the engagement. Then, I'm dumped. No more dates, family time, gushy conversations...nothing. I feel like this after every season. The happy new couple gets to go on with their steamy, new relationship, and I'm left wondering if everything is working out and how the wedding planning is going. Plus, it's the only time of year that I look forward to Mondays.

If you didn't think I was creepy before, have I now convinced you otherwise? If not, then congratulations, you're a creepy Bachelor fanatic too. Welcome to the imaginary club, "Girls Who Daydream of Past Bachelor Episodes."

I could seriously write a 5,000 word essay on my thoughts of every girl on the last season, but I'll spare you...this time. Only a few more months until Des' season!

                                            

source

All of this romantic love talk has got me thinking of the hubs and my wedding. Post about all the big day to come? I'll think about it. 

For now, I've got other weddings on my mind...like my super cool friend Carla's, which is this Saturday in Florida!!!! Ahhh, I want to be there! And of course my best bud Kayla's wedding in June. To bring this post full circle, these two gals are proud members of the "Girls Who Daydream of Past Bachelor Episodes Club" for sure! We spent many Mondays watching The Bachelore/ette and eating Chick-Fil-A. Those days are missed big time!

Have a Happy Thursday y'all, and Happy Wedding Week, Carla!

Here's a Start to Something New!

Welcome to my tiny space is the vast, thriving world called the Internet. This is where I can share my creative ideas (at least I perceive them as creative), fun beauty finds, awesome shopping deals, and give you all a glimpse into my ever-changing, yet stagnant life in Maine. I'm a newlywed who married a pretty cool cat. This guy...

Pretty cute, huh? 

We're both from TN, but we recently moved to Maine for his job. Let's just say the southern charm flew out the door about two thousand miles ago. It's definitely an interesting place. We certainly moved here at the worst possible time of year. I hear the summers are quite spectacular. They don't call is Vacationland for nothing. At least that's what I'm hoping. Anyways, we're only here for 4 1/2 more months (it's not like I'm counting down the days or anything). I'm just a true southern girl, and I belong in the South by golly! 

Okay, okay...enough of my rambling. I'm currently a stay-at-home wife. I know what you're thinking, "That's not a profession." Trust me, I completely agree! It's not by choice, but when you're uprooted in the middle of winter for six months to a different region, it's a bit difficult to find work. I'll explain later. So, let's just say I have a lot of time to hone in on my creative projects, recipes, and ideas that often get pushed to the corner while in school. I'll also share about life happenings..oh, and my awesome money saving finds! My frugal ways wasn't mentioned in our wedding vows for no reason. Like today for example! I was strolling through Target (only on the inner aisles of course) and I found some Mio for $1.75. Mio is the ONLY way I'll drink water, unless it's mixed with sweet tea. So I throw one in the cart because they're typically around 4 bucks. Then I glanced over and saw Mio coupons in the next aisle down for $1.50 off one, so I threw four more of those babies in the cart. Deals like that put me in a good mood for a whole day and a half. CHA-CHING!

So this is my blog. My venting mechanism of sorts. My way to share with friends and family who are thousands of miles away, and whom I miss oh so very much. Welcome!