2012 IN REVIEW.

+ january, carter underwent a major surgery that left him home bound for over a month.

+ february, we explored cade's cove and enjoyed the mountain air. 

+ march, we spent time visiting some of charleston's finest rooftops. 

+ april, we met our nephew, miles flynn. (double swoon)

+ may, we celebrated our anniversary on the beach with friends. 

+ june, we traveled to nashville to celebrate a special life. 

+ july, i found out i was high risk melanoma and thankfully, in time for surgery.

+ august, we celebrated carter's 25th birthday kayaking the intercoastal waterways. 

+ september, we watched sunsets on the beach. 

+ october, we indulged in everything pumpkins... patches, lattes, and pie!

+ november, we hiked through the forest and made to-do lists of national forests to visit. 

+ december, we moved back to tennessee, spent christmas with family, and i turned 25! 

-- this past year has been filled with lots of love, laughs, tears and growth. i have no idea what the future holds for us. but i'm thinking it's going to be great! 

happy new year to you all! xo - s. 

PS....

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today, i turned twenty-five!

RADNOR LAKE.

the trails were something. although there were no lush green forests surrounding us or high overlooks, we enjoyed just being outdoors for a few hours... despite the freezing temperatures. we bundled up and ventured through the woods. it's been over ten years since i've visited radnor and i could not believe the wildlife in the area. we passed families of deer, enormous wild turkeys, chipmunks and mallards. this was a nice welcoming home for two nature lovers. 

CHRISTMAS EVE TRADITION.

christmas eve is one of my favorite nights to look forward to. each year, my mom's side of the family gets together to celebrate and spend the evening laughing and stuffing our faces until we can barely stand. we spent some twenty odd years at my grandmother's house until we were all a little too grown up to squeeze together in a tiny living room. tonight we celebrated at my parent's home which allowed for some extra space. the only real difference was my missing cousin, whom was stuck at work. seriously, everyone should be able to be with family during the holidays. we watched my niece open her gifts and admired her classic expressions. us "kids" hung around listening to my dad tell stories about his childhood and making new year's plans. after everyone left, we picked up and all settled on the couch together. my dad made hot chocolate and we watched christmas vacation by the fire. now it's just me and my younger brother and our traditional christmas sleepover. we're all excited for tomorrow around here. especially me, since carter's coming home. our first actual christmas spent together. goodnight!

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

spending the winter here in franklin has just been wonderful. except the fact that i spent a week with the flu and still have a lingering cough some days. the plus side was that i spent a week catching up on sleep and a tv with cable. hello, duck dynasty! here's a little bit of how my holidays have been spent. 

+ having him here with me

+ early birthday present

+ dad's "sons of arthritis" holiday party

+ first hail storm

+ christmas cookies 

+ first drinks of the season

+ the cutest mini blt's and tots

hope everyone has a merry christmas

filled with love and family! 

KNOXVILLE PIT-STOP.

we spent a few days in knoxville with carter's family before reaching our final temporary destination of franklin. we got our things unpacked, caught up on much needed rest and spent some quality time with his folks. we got the turtles set up for the winter, grabbed an orange julius one afternoon and carter got his annual haircut. we were also lucky enough to spend time with the boys. we watched a charlie brown christmas and covered the kitchen with flour while baking holiday treats. somewhere right before heading to nashville, i caught a cold. once we were home and settled, it hit me with full force. i spent the next five days battling a fever, sore throat and zero sleep. it was the flu... and yes, i got a flu shot before leaving charleston. oh, modern day medicine. i'm finally sleeping through the night and almost rid of this awful winter cough. i also finally left the house. and since the world didn't end yesterday, it's time to do some holiday shopping. hooray.....

hope you all are having a wonderful winter break!

TUESDAY TUNES.

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now playing // phillip phillips: home. 

this afternoon after traveling over six hundred miles with loaded down cars, a huge uhaul and two turtles literally strapped in by seatbelts, we pulled into our final destination in tennessee. my parents have offered to let us stay here with them in franklin while we are figuring out our plan. eventually, we see ourselves settling down near the smokey mountains but first we must find jobs and a home. until then, we will be doing some temporary work here, saving some money and spending much needed quality time with our families. 

lately, i have been humming this tune in my head. it was one of the first songs that came on my pandora as i was pulling out of charleston and the emotions of our situation overwhelmed me. we have always seen ourselves as wanderers. taking a job that will force us to travel or to move every few years. ofcourse, plans change in an instant. but these are the things we dream about. and this song tugs at every string in my heart. together, we are not alone. we have each other and we will make a home no matter where we are or end up. 

MOVING UPDATE.

well... someone will have to roll me back to tennessee. do you see all the food i've been consuming this last week? i'm calling this time "no diet december." i've also been running about two miles a day in attempt to counteract some of the extra calories. we've been saying goodbye to not only some of favorite friends but also our favorite restaurants. 

+ breakfast at page's okra grill.
+ sushi at bambu with a few other "sarah's" i know
+ melvin's barbecue
+ mike's bike oyster roast // going away party


this morning carter picked up the uhaul and we were lucky to have a friend help pack up most of the apartment. i went out and grabbed lunch for us all, which we enjoyed on the living room floor. the rest of the day will be spent finishing packing the truck and deep cleaning. i have a few movies for us to watch on my laptop once things settle down. and we should be on the road by noon tomorrow! this is my last post while living in charleston. it's been an amazing few years...

nashville, here we come! 

LIFE LATELY.

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TUESDAY TUNES.

now playing // the band: the weight. this video is from their last concert "the last waltz" filmed by martin scorcese. i've loved this band for over ten years. they are so good. 

now playing // ingrid michaelson: you and i. we've always loved this song. and how neat is this video?! one day, i'll own a ukelele.

now playing // josh groban: o holy night. this song always brings tears to my eyes. it's one of my favorite songs that reminds me the true meaning of christmas. "fall on your knees" chills...

now playing // damien rice: 9 crimes. this song came on pandora today and i had almost forgotten about how hauntingly beautiful it is. 

there couldn't be anything more random than this little playlist.

but these songs are making this tough week a little bit easier for me.

 enjoy!

LET GO.

do you ever have those moments where you stop and wish you were a better person? 

more selfless, less selfish. more patient, less judgemental. more active, less lazy.

i know we are our own worst critic. and with the upcoming move this weekend 

hanging over my head... i am having several of these moments. 

i pray that the best is yet to come. whatever that may be. 

STUFF I LOVE SUNDAY.

                                 

this weekend has been full of a state of nostalgia. our time here is quickly coming to an end. i know in my heart that if this is where we are meant to be, we will find our way back here. but for a few months, i just need to be closer to family and finish my degree. 

yesterday, i worked my last shift with osi. i've been with the company for over six years and walking out, i was filled with a mixture of emotions ranging from anxious to ecstatic. i said goodbye to some wonderful people who have made me feel like family. so far, that was the hardest part. 

today is carter's last day. and i know he is feeling the same. mostly, unsure of where we will end up once we are back in tennessee. to say we are kind of "winging it" would be an understatement. but that's how we ended up in charleston and it has definitely served us well. tonight his boss is throwing a little oyster roast // bonfire for us and we couldn't feel more loved. 

charleston, you have been so good to us over the last two years. 

this isn't a goodbye. we will see you again someday. 

TENNESSEE, PART ll.

thanksgiving morning i woke up early to the sun shining in through the living room windows. when i am home, i sleep on the couch. always... it's just my thing. my pup, king bailey, was barking and both of my parents were there, surfing the channels for the thanksgiving day parade. everything felt perfect, waking up at home and happy. again, minus the fact that my brother and boyfriend were both in the east tennessee mountains and i was missing them. 

my dad made coffee and i grabbed my mama's cute giraffe mug for my morning cup. after the parade, we watched we bought a zoo. it was adorable and had a pretty great soundtrack filled with sigur ros and jonsi. i went for a morning jog around the neighborhood with the hopes of burning a few of the extra calories i'd be consuming over the next few days. the colors were breathtaking. the autumn foliage was in full force. bright reds + crisp oranges in comparison to the hazy blue sky. while mom went to pick up my grandmother, who was recovering from a recent surgery, i helped my dad wash and detail my car. once they were back, we started preparing our thanksgiving feast and waited for family to arrive. 

the afternoon was filled with laughter and too much food. we had all of the thanksgiving basics: turkey, stuffing, mac + cheese, etc... and lots of pumpkin and chess pie! yum! my cousins spent the next two nights with me. we caught up over chocolate chip cookies and lots of movies. we did our yearly tradition of seeing the twilight film in theaters. we always enjoy it a little more when we're together. 

saturday morning came all too quickly. but i had to get on the road early and go pick my boy up! i was so happy to see him. while he was a little under the weather, i let him rest while i drove us through asheville. we stopped and picked up an oreo blizzard which was absolutely delicious. and tried to keep each other's spirits up on our long journey back to charleston. we will be making this long drive in just two short weeks as we say goodbye to the east coast and head back to tennessee for an extended stay. part of me is filled with excitement to spend more quality time with our friends and loved ones. but i know we will truly miss this place that helped us grow so much. hopefully some day, we will return. 

TUESDAY TUNES.

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01 // van morrison: into the mystic. "let your soul and spirit fly, into the mystic"

02 // neil young: heart of gold. "that keep me searching for a heart of gold"

03 // led zeppelin: over the hill and far away. "oh darling, walk a while with me"

04 // john prine: in spite of ourselves. "won't be nothin but big ol hearts dancin in our eyes"

05 // the beatles: something.  "you're asking me, will my love grow"

classic rock / folk is one of my favorite genres of music. the lyrics are so inspiring and the sound is easy on the ears. some of my favorite childhood memories include listening to the beatles with my dad or singing with my friends around a bonfire. those were such good times. 

STUFF I LOVE SUNDAY.

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+ this article // 15 things you should give up to be happy
+ these cookies from ambitious kitchen // nutella stuffed brown butter + sea salt chocolate chip
+ this weekend bag from julie thevenot // i love the geometric print, i don't love the price
+ diy ideas from green wedding shoes // this site is pure genius i tell ya
+ paperback weddings // this beautiful wedding shot in charleston. it excites me so much for the future

i am so thankful for the life i have been given. 

TENNESSEE, PART l.

wednesday morning i woke to the sun rising. while carter packed my car, i finished a few things around the house and brewed some coffee for the long day ahead of us. we listened to a few of our favorite pandora stations and sang until we needed a few minutes of silence. while carter concentrated on driving through the mountains, i caught up on some reading. this literature book from college is still one of my favorites. i took the time to remind carter of how incredibly thankful for him i am. being from two different cities, however luckily in the same state, we have spent the last four thanksgivings apart. it's only for a few short days, but they deem to be the longest days of the year for me. and being seperated from something you are most thankful for, well that's tough. i dropped the boy off in knoxville and spent a few minutes visiting with the family and our sweet nephews before finishing the drive solo to nashville. as i was pulling into my parent's neighborhood, the sun was setting over franklin. there were deer roaming around and the crisp autumn air reminded me i was finally home. i spent the evening catching up with my parents over pizza and beer. quite the start to the holiday break. 

COLD, NOVEMBER RAIN.

this week has been dreary. the temperature has gradually been dropping and there are threatening clouds above my head. my keurig has been a blessing this past year although i have finally succombed to the addiction which is coffee. i have fallen into a routine. every morning, filling the kitchen with the smoky aroma of a dark, italian roast and preparing carter's thermos to take with him to work. and with these cold temperatures, there is nothing better than a warm cup to start my day while catching up on emails. unfortunately, he used our last cup the other day while i was summoned into work early. however thankfully, it gave me an excuse to pick up some tasty peppermint mochas while out shooting yesterday morning. it took every ounce of will power i had not to pick up a frosted snowman cookie at ten a.m as well. i haven't been able to run as often as i'd like, cold weather is not nice to my bones. thanks to years of aggresive sports and a mother who suffers from lupus. and with all of this rain, i may as well be in washington. still dreaming i guess... 

TUESDAY TUNES.

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just one more day until we hit the road for the holidays! we will be making the ten hour journey through the mountains of tennessee and i can't wait until i am surrounded by my family. speaking of which, my sweet grandmother is in surgery right now so if you have a second, please say a prayer for a quick recovery, hopefully at home. 

here are a few tunes that have been buzzing in my head the last few days. 

01 // ben howard: only love. "darling you're with me, always around me."
02 // grouplove: tounge tied. after over playing this song all summer, i recently heard it again and as always, it gets stuck in my head.
03 // young the giant: cough syrup. their debut album is great. from start to finish.
04 // she and him: baby it's cold outside. if you're getting excited about the upcoming holidays, just turn on she and him's christmas pandora station. it's oh so lovely!

have a safe and happy thanksgiving, everyone!

let the festivities begin!

STUFF I LOVE SUNDAY.

just like every year before, i will more than likely obsess over breaking dawn for at least another month. i know my wallet is somewhat thankful for my busy schedule or else i would be tempted to see it every other day. especially since my friends know to ask me if they need someone to see it with....and they have been. luckily, i only have to wait til the end of the week and i'll be seeing it with my mom and cousins. something that has become one of my favorite thanksgiving traditions.

today, i worked a double. which meant more or less standing around for the better half of the morning. i was thrilled when i noticed a few books in the trunk of my car and naturally picked up twilight. it just felt right with all of my current excitement to begin re-reading it on what felt like the coldest and rainiest day of the year. one customer even said it was seattle weather... and i was gleaming on the inside.

you better believe i am keeping an eye out for a deal on flights to washington. i have practically begged carter to visit forks with me. and i'm serious when i say that it's not for anything twilight related. i just love that town. and if my family was a wee bit closer, i could easily see us living in a little cottage right outside of the woods. and who knows, maybe one day, we will! :)

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WEEKEND UPDATE.

oh saturday, i can't wait until i can actually call you my weekend. 

[saturday is kind of a "monday" to us. yuck.]

i've been a busy little bee around here. more packing, more working. 

but what an exciting week it has been. here's a little re-cap of what we've been up to. 

+ burger night at one of our favorites: liberty tap room

+ sons of anarchy marathon on netflix. 

+ working with the lovely ladies of den of thieves. 

+ putting our official notices in at work. six years later...

+ carter made a huge decision about a temporary job in . i'm continuously praying over this.

+ again, i'm continuously praying about our future. everything will fall into place. just trust in the lord.

+ this week's episode of the vampire diaries... hello, delena! my heart is smiling but breaking for stefan. 

+ found out my grandmother is having surgery on tuesday, please keep her in your thoughts & prayers.

+ i'm going back to school in the spring, next step is meeting with the advisor once back in tennessee!

+ BREAKING DAWN // BREAKING DAWN // BREAKING DAWN. 

+ this amazing mural. we plan on getting a french bulldog and i was over the moon when i saw this.

so yeah, a lot has happened in the last few days. several big decisions with a couple minor setbacks. i'm so excited to be heading home on wednesday for the thanksgiving holidays. hopefully, if all goes well with my grandmother's surgery, we will be able to celebrate at home together and not in the hospital. we are packing my teeny car down with as much as we can to give us a head start on moving. luckily, carter's dad has agreed to bring a uhaul down the following week to help us with the rest. now, we just have to figure out how to get our turtles home. not as easy as strapping them in seatbelts. i am so thankful for both of the amazing families i am a part of. and for the time we are about to have with them. but most importantly, i am eternally thankful for the man i have in my life. with everything going on, he just wants to make me happy. and i, him. 

happy real weekend to you all!

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