Last days in Hilton Head!

Happy "finally, its the end of the week" day ;) I'm here to finish my 2nd, and final vacation recap post.

Thursday, we took a late lunch due to some schedule differences that morning. We went to the AMAZING Salty Dog Cafe. Our best friends got us a gift card to use there for our 1st anniversary, so we were pretty excited. We scored 2 shirts and I got myself a peach colored hat. I'm obsessed.

I actually really think Caleb should've bought that hat! ;)

Wishing I had purchased every one of these now.

Then it was time to walk over and grab a late lunch..finally!

Once we got home, I went for a quick run! It had been WEEKS since I'd hit the pavement, and it was awesome. It wasn't that fantastic of a run, but it sure felt fantastic to run under the beautiful "spanish moss" on those trees! ALSO, can we talk about my dream home?! Yeah...I'm still drooling. I had to stop and snap a shot on my run.

That night, Caleb told me his hear had really been bothering him. Poor thing, he seems to get some kind of horrible thing each vacation (last vacay he got horrible food poisoning that put him out for two days) and this time? Ear infection. Luckily we got him to see a doctor immediately and she got him a prescription written within minutes. He's finally beginning to feel better!

Once we got home we had yummy homemade creamy seafood lasagna. Do yourself a favor and make it right now! Friday was spent literally all day at the outlet malls buying pretty things for great prices, stuffing our faces with Chickfila (duh), and a late night trip to Kroger with my favorite Grandma.

Saturday morning it was time to leave, and we booked our hotel on the way home right in the heart of Gatlinburg, so we got to do some exploring!

To be honest, I love Ben & Jerry's - even though its overpriced, so we splurged at the store. Everyone else got milkshakes (and didn't exactly love them). Me? I stuck w/ regular vanilla with cotton candy crumbles, and yep...I could eat that every day and be happy as a peach.

We truly had such a great trip. It was awesome not having to set an alarm, to eat whatever I want, and to totally unplug for 7 days. I didn't even take as many pictures as normal...I guess unplugging can be good for the soul. Who knew?! ;)

Thanks for reading, friends. Have a fun weekend!!

Left my heart in the Carolina's!

It's no secret that I'd up and move my entire life to Hilton Head the second I had the chance. Not only did most of my vacations growing up consist of that place, but its also the spot Caleb chose to propose to me...and some of my happiest memories began on that little beach. So to say I was looking forward to this vacation was an understatement. The whole week was fun, and so relaxing. Just spending time with some of my favorite people was all I needed to get away from real life for a bit!

Sunday was amazing... I even got to meet an amazing long-time blog friend (Hiiiii Anna! More on that to come later!!). Later that day we left for dinner at my favorite place ever. Not only am I crazy about their crab legs, but they have the best hush puppies on the planet! If you've never had Crazy Crab...run, don't walk, there!!

Monday & Tuesday we woke up, headed to the beach, and flopped like beach bums pretty much the whole day. Tuesday for lunch though, we headed to our FAVORITE wing joint; Wild Wing Cafe...but not before a little family photo shoot action.

My amazing grandparents.

Aunt, Uncle, and cousins!

Might be my new favorite picture of us!

We HAD to stop by our favorite fudge shop on the island... I'd do just about anything to get my hands on their peanut butter fudge. & don't worry guys, the "TON of fudge" was on sale for only $12,000 instead of the usual $15,000 that week.

That evening, I tried Mellow Mushroom for the first time! We got all kinds of specially pizzas, and really liked them all.

Wednesday was also spent at the pool and ocean...all dayyyy! My aunt woke up early and made everyone french toast...are you jealous, Becky!?? ;)

My brother. He's almost 7 years younger than me, crazy huh!?

Thankfully none of us burned all week! (typically, its one of the 3 of us!)

After soaking it up on the beach, we headed back for lunch and I stayed at the pool outside all by myself for a solid hour. It was awesome. Funny back story, LAST 4th of July (yes, 2013) I bought a book...and it took me an entire year to finish. I'm happy to say I finally finished it that day. It was AMAZING. Also this dragon floatie was creeping on me all week... ;)

Then my family came out to join me!

That evening, Caleb and I had our very own date night out on the town...everyone went out to dinner together, and while we waited for them to return so we could take a car, I started my NEW book (its my first Jodi Picoult book...yes, I said first. I'm obsessed!). Once they got back, we dolled up and hit the town! {side note, Caleb definitely left his razor at home that week! Whoops!}

Since this post is already extremely long, I'm going to cut it off here, and talk about our awesome last few days tomorrow. The gist of this post though? Hilton Head completes me... its a serious struggle not to pack our bags and hit the road every month to get there. Now what are you waiting for, book your next getaway!! ;)

Ladies, meet Alexa!

Hi ladies, my new friend Alexa and I are blog-swapping for the day... and I don't think either of us could be more excited about it. She's one of my new favorite friends I've met through blogging. I mean, the girl is gorgeous, funny AND southern.. who couldn't love her? So please (if you don't already follow along with her) take a minute to say hello to this gorgeous gal! ;)

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Hi, My Kind of Yellow readers! I'm Alexa and I'm the crazy Southern girl behind the blog Southern Living, Our Way. I have a handsome husband with whom I still enjoy "newlywedhood," an adorable dog who makes tons of blog appearances {and is terrified of refrigerators; to say we have our hands full is an understatement...}, and a life that's often hilarious and always awkward. I hope you'll hop on over and follow along!

Hubby and I honeymooned in Napa, CA. I highly recommend it. #drunkasaskunk

Now, is it too early to be talking about New Year's resolutions, seeing as how it's only December 12th? I mean, we get mad at people for talking about Christmas before the eat-your-weight-in-food holiday has passed. {Thanksgiving, for those of you who maybe ooze self control when fattening casseroles are on your table. I'm obviously not in your camp.} But, really, let's all admit that we start thinking about our New Year's resolutions way before the holiday season starts. Perhaps it's because with only a a few months left in the year, we don't see a purpose starting something now. I mean, October through October is so psychologically dissatisfying, but something you do while the calendar is in the same year? SUCCESS! Or perhaps you don't make New Year's resolutions at all. I bet you're the same person who doesn't eat delicious casserole, so I'll deal with your shenanigans another day.

All that to say, I always make New Year's resolutions, even if it's something as simple as convincing myself, "2013 is going to be even better than 2012!" If you dream it, you can achieve it. {A wise person once said that. I have a feeing it was Dr. Seuss, because he's the King of Wise Quotes.} 

But this year my New Year's resolutions are in a more tangible, achievable form, things I can literally cross of my list and feel proud about accomplishing. So, in no particular order, here's what my 2013 goals:

Read one book per month

This one was actually my non-bookworm husband's idea, and I was quite impressed! I have an English degree, so naturally I'm a book nerd, but 2012 was a busy year {We kinda sorta did that whole "getting married' thing ;)} so I didn't read as many books as I would've liked. So, starting 1/1/13, Glenn and I are each reading one book per month! Bonus points: I already chose my books from January through July...

Yes, I know, I know, I've never read the Harry Potter series! I'm a non-fiction gal, so I never ventured into the world of Hogwart's and Dumbledore and Accio! But 2013 is finally the year.

If I hate the first one, I reserve the right to switch to memoirs, because those are my jam. 

Keep my house tidy

"Tidy" gives me more wiggle room than "clean" or "spotless," right?! I'm about to read The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin, and I'm hoping the excellent reviews are true! Reviews like, "My house is clean every day, even though I have 2-year-old triplets!" and "I never have dishes in the sink, EVER!" Joke. Those aren't legit, but from what I've heard about THP, they well could be. Here's to dog-hair-free floors and kitchen counters not junked in mail!

Go for a walk {almost} every day

Not for exercise, though that's important, too. But I'd like to go for a walk every day to clear my head and appreciate things I too often take for granted ~ colorful changing leaves, a beautiful new flowerpot on my neighbor's porch, the lovely neighborhood park I've never even set foot in. Plus, this nutso energetic dog I call my daughter will certainly appreciate my resolve to wear her out on the reg. I'm also pretty sure she has a crush on that Labrador across the yard.

Go on "blates"

#s***bloggerssay.  So far, I've been on approximately one blog-date and it was awesome. Living in a huge-to-me city like Charlotte, NC, there are so many local bloggers who I'd love to get together with; it's just a matter of extending the invitation. For my personal growth, and to prove to myself that I'm an extrovert and can be a go-getter, I am sucking up any potential awkwardness or creeperness and sending out some hey girl heyyyys to my fellow Charlotte ladies!

Send cards, snail-mail style

Maybe this one sounds silly, considering it's {almost} 2013 and email is the bizz. But don't lie, you love receiving snail mail as much as I do! There's nothing like opening the mailbox and finding an adorable card with a puppy on the front, sent to me from my Mimi, simply because she was thinking of me. I also simply think of my friends and family often, but now instead of texting them, I'm gonna head to Target {any excuse to go to Tarjay, amirite?!}, buy an adorable card, fill it with warm-fuzzies, and send it their way.  :)

What are your New Year's resolutions? Or do you not "eat casseroles"...? Whatever 2013 holds for you, my wish is that it's as wonderful as can be! {We all know Kayla's 2013 will be great, what with her becoming a Mrs. to that handsome boy and all!}
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