SNOW!

I hear what you're saying. You're all like, "Abby. It's March. You're like three weeks late on this snowpocalypse thing." I hear ya. Life happens. I still really really love snow! It's true. Despite the fact that on the day of this great snowpocalypse, I got stuck in my car on the highway for four and a half hours trying to get home ON MY BIRTHDAY and it was horrible. Snow and I made up quickly. It's just so pretty!

I am definitely one of those weirdos who legitimately loves the winter. I love the calm and the peace and the beauty of a fresh snow. The world seems to move a little bit slower when it snows, and it's really nice.

Before the great snowpocalypse, during our first snow of the season, B and I went outside for an adventure. Duke Forest is seriously so beautiful all the time, but blanketed in a fresh powdery blanket? Bliss. Also my car may have almost spun out on the way to get those pictures. It's fine.

ALSO please notice the sequence where B is being so nice with the snow and then the next picture where you see smudgy mascara and a mean mug. That punk hit me in the face with a snowball. Also not pictured: Abby totally biting it trying to climb up a snowy hill. Face first. In the snow. It was awesome.

That has been kind of the theme of life lately. Totalling wiping out on your face and having the ability to brush it off and keep going. Eventually you will both laugh, and it'll be awesome.

It's getting frosty outside again, and B and a friend and I are headed out to a fancy dinner at Lantern thanks to a raffle! No other way I want to warm up and pray for spring than with some fancy Asian food. Yes.

Love from this side of the world!

Abby

DC Magic

This weekend was full of DC magic. My sister flew up from Tallahassee on Friday night, I drove up from CH, and we spent the weekend with my brother, who lives up there.

It was an awesome time. The last time I was in DC was over a year ago for fall break, and it had been at least four years for Carrie. She majorly geeked out at the Lincoln Memorial and we spent all day in cold and dreary weather hiking around to the monuments and the Smithsonians. It was a real adventure and we loved every minute of it.

The highlight of the trip for me was definitely seeing Julia Child's kitchen at the American History Museum. Before her death, Julia donated nearly all of the pieces of her kitchen from her Cambridge home to the museum, which is a near exact replica of what her kitchen would have looked like, including her raised countertops (Julia was 6' 2", after all). It was wonderful to finally get to see it, as last fall when I visited the exhibit was under construction, to my extreme disappointment. It did not disappoint, and I took more pictures on my phone (since my camera died the moment we got to the exhibit, of course) than I would care to admit. It was awesome.

On Sunday, we walked around and got brunch in Georgetown, including a trip to Georgetown Cupcake, by far still the best cupcake I've ever had, and then I drove back home. It's always hard to say goodbye to family, especially when it was such a wonderful weekend, but I am excited to see everyone again in just a few short days going home for Christmas!

In denial about all the presents I still have to make and loving every minute of it,

Abby :)

MEMORIAL WEEKEND (IN IPHONE PHOTOS)

Hey frandz.

You ever have those moments in your life where a lot of stuff seems to be going wrong? And there seem to be a lot of unanswered prayers in your life, but in the midst of all of those, God is just blessing the snot out of you?

Well that's what happened to me this weekend. Tough week ---> stinkin' blessed.

While I'm not sure I'd ever want to live in Orlando permanently again, this city has its cool places to go (besides the theme parks, duh). One of my frequent haunts in high school was Park Ave CD's. Thursday night, I wasn't really feeling like doing much but my sister dragged me over there to go to a live in-store performance of a band she had heard open for Two Door Cinema Club a while back. And when the band started playing, I was really glad that I got out of the house and went. It was really fun and reminded me of how much I used to be obsessed with indie music (and let's be honest, I still am a little bit). I also scored the new She & Him album while I was there! Yes! As if I couldn't love Zooey Deschanel any more. It sounds like summer in the 1950's, and I love it.

On Saturday when the weather was good, my mom and I went and got Slurpees down the street! I haven't had a Slurpee in for-ever and lemme say, they are more delicious than I remembered. We also stumbled upon a yard sale on the way home and I snagged a boho-inspired skirt and slouchy backpack for -wait for it- $5. Yes folks. I am currently saving for an apartment. And I am winning at it. Saturday was also great because it included some fresh guacamole and snuggles with this munchkin. (Those paws!) 

Sunday was jam-packed and wonderful, thanks to my mom who is really good at keeping my mind off sad things. We woke up ridiculously early and ran a 5k out by New Smyrna Beach. We all wore matching outfits, because we're girls, and the weather was so sunny and beautiful and not too hot. After the race, we packed up and hit the beach! (See above, cute new backpack). And rounded out the afternoon with a tour of the Stetson Mansion. True story, Thomas Edison installed the electricity there in the 1880s. So that's pretty legit. (Also see above, boho skirt.) 

Today the blessings just kept on coming with a mom date to the new Star Trek movie and some lets-actually-dress-like-you're-a-professional shopping and major sales at Loft. Whew. Too good. The little things are really being a place of happiness and of big blessing recently and I could not be more thankful about it. 

Lots of things are still in the works, and I could not be happier to say that I also have accepted a part-time internship with A Ban Against Neglect for the summer! I'll be working mostly from Orlando with some trips to Chapel Hill mixed in, but I have known and loved about this organization since they partnered with Thistle Farms for one of their projects (seen here) and so to be a part of their team is just too cool for words. 

Also also, if you live in Nashville and you have not gotten a chance to go to the brand new Thistle Stop Cafe, you should probably drop everything and go right now (if it's before 2 PM). Then text me about it and make me really jealous, please. 

That was a lot, but I'd love to know how you all spent your Memorial Weekends! And of course, thanks to the men and women who make our country free, and continue to do so every day. 

lovelovelove,

Abby

SUMMER BAUBLEBAR FAVORITES!

Have you guys heard about BaubleBar?

It's quickly becoming one of my favorite places to shop/waste time pretending to shop online. I don't know about y'all, but every once in a while there comes along a fun jewelry trend that I want to get in on, but don't want to spend my month's worth of grocery money on. That's where BaubleBar comes in! Remember when bubble necklaces were new and exciting? BaubleBar had those way on the cheap. They do a great job at making beautiful jewelry at prices that normal human beings can afford, along with some awesome splurges! I have bought two pieces of jewelry from them so far and have loved them both, so I thought I would go ahead and make a collage of some of my favorite pieces on their site for summer!

ONE/TWO/THREE/FOUR/FIVE/SIX

These pieces would be great for summer weddings, picnics, Bonnaroo, or just hanging out by the pool. Oh! And if you want to sign up for an account on BaubleBar, use my referral link! :)

What are some of your favorite accessories for summer? 

xo. Abby