E and A Adventures Day 2

We got up early and went to the cute local coffee shop in "downtown" Hudson, NC. Which is basically six or seven storefronts. Esther had her necessary cup of coffee and we had a quiet morning journaling.

We then headed to Boone, NC and checked out the Mast General store per Kelsey's mom's recommendation. It's a chain of outfitter stores and it was awesome! The kind of store where you want to have a spending spree before hiking the AT or something.

While we were in the store we talked to some employees about places to go hiking (after getting our free stickers) and they recommended we go to Grandfather Mountain. But first I got some goodies!

We didn't actually know if we wanted to go to Grandfather Mountain, but I pulled up to the window to discover it was $20 per adult and then there were five cars behind me so we didn't have much of a choice... But that's okay! We went to their nature museum, saw split rock, and went up the mile high swinging bridge.

This is Split Rock. In case you couldn't tell.

I was a little nervous, but I kept it together.

See those tiny dots on the right? That's where you go after crossing the bridge!

Ominous clouds look ominous.

We decided that if we wanted to do a trail we needed to get a move on because it looked like it might rain. Our car was at a lower parking lot (we did a small hike up to the bridge) and Esther figured out there was a trail leading right to the parking lot.

I'm always a few steps behind, but that's okay!

We made it to the parking lot faster than anticipated so we decided to do the Black rock trail! We figured we'd have plenty of time before 6:00 hit. That was when you were meant to be by your car otherwise they would send search parties out.

There was a clearing of trees on the trail and this was the view!

Esther loved this small rock bridge.

We got to the end of the trail and had to climb up this huge boulder to get to the top. There was a ladder and then a rope line built into the Rock so you could get up it. I've never done anything like it!

Esther being a total boss at the outdoors.

We took a few minutes to enjoy the view.

That was probably my favorite part of Grandfather Mountain park. We were by ourselves and I had pushed myself to even get up to the top. I kept saying I didn't know if I could do it, but Esther was always quick to encourage me. And the gorgeous view that only a few see didn't hurt:

"The rain came pouring down..."

Yeah, we saw the rain and the fact that we only had an hour to get back to the car and booked it! We made it with time to spare, which I then used for a Nalgene photo shoot because my first Nalgene! In the mountains!

We headed back to Boone because I wanted Esther to try Cookout. We got some cheap sandwiches with the intention of getting milkshakes after we hit the local brewery. Esther found out that the Appalachian Mountain Brewery was a five minute walk from Cookout so we strolled over knowing everyone thought we were Appalachian State University freshman getting ready for move in weekend.

We got these delicious ciders. I got Cinnful Plum and Esther got the Green Dragon. Hers had strawberry, rhubarb, and green tea flavors. Hers was sweeter and mine tasted more like cinnamon so, of course, we happily switched. I really wanted to sit outside as the sun was starting to set. Esther willingly obliged.

Pretty nice views in Boone.

After we finished our ciders we weren't really up for milkshakes. It was time to head back to Charlotte. It was about a two hour drive. Through the mountains. In the dark. But we blasted music and made it around 10:00. We promptly got ready for bed ready to sleep in Friday morning.

I can't actually believe we did all of that in one day.

E and A Adventures Day 1

I picked up Esther from the Charlotte airport and we went straight to Crowders Mountain State Park. I happily shared my favorite trail, The Pinnacle, with her! She's great to hike with because she doesn't mind going off trail with me.

View from a boulder off the Pinnacle trail.

We drove to the town I spent the summer in so I could get some mail that was sent to me after I left my internship. Then we headed to Granite Falls Brewery and met up with Kelsey, my roommate during my internship. Esther and I got my favorite beer!

Peach beer is delicious!

We headed to Kelsey's family home in Hudson, NC and chatted before calling it a night.

Road Trip Day 3

The first and most important stop:

This is the bakery that Jami's parents own. I've heard many a tale about this bakery! And here I was in Bedford, Indiana where the magic happens. I had to!

In the back of that picture is a hallway that leads to the room where I had my first ever CREME filled Long John and learned how to make Peanut Butter No Bakes!

After leaving with goodies for the road (literally) I made it to my fifth state!

I had to hang up on my friend Greta and nearly miss my exit to get that picture. But it was worth it. This is where I imagine fancy racing horses are born:

I had planned on only stopping once in Tennessee, but I made a spontaneous decision to check out a local Kentucky distillery!

What surprised me the most at the tasting was how well the bourbon whiskey went with the chocolate they had for us to nibble on. It was actually delicious and smooth.

After getting crunk with my distillery tour mates (all at least over 50) I was headed to Market Square in Tennessee!

I would be willing to drive around Tennessee for my life. It was gorgeous! Even the Market Square in downtown!

I didn't have much time for dinner, so I essentially shoveled a BBQ chicken flatbread for dinner. Thanks Blue Coast Bar & Grill!

The great thig about the border of Tennesee and North Carolina? You essentially drive through these lush mountains! It's so pretty and very enjoyable driving!

And in the middle of all these mountains you cross over into

Hardly readable, but it says North Carolina!

By the time I got to North Carolina the sunlight was growing dimmer and I just wanted to get there. I know, I know! It's all about the journey not the destination. But, I'd gone on the distillery tour? Doesn't that mean I carpe'd enough diem?

If you're wondering, I made it.

Road Trip Day 2

Today I had a shorter driving distance, but I had a nice long stop to break it up!

First:

It was so nice to cross into the fourth state of the trip! And pretty early on I might add.

I finally gave in and stopped at one of those Amish furniture place.

Maybe this one was a particularly spendy one, but it wasn't worth it for me! Although on this same stop I went into one of those Fireworks! Outlet places and got to use their bathroom! That was worth it for me.

I really wanted to experience a little bit of Jami's past so I made sure to stop at:

Indiana University is a beautiful campus!

That's like, fifty yards from a decently busy road. It feels like you're walking in a forest. Also, If you're ever in Bloomington you should check out this bar! They had an awesome patio in the front and the back!

As you can tell Kilroy's on Kirkwood, or KOK, was a pretty happening spot. Also, one of the schools in the University was having a graduation. Kind of weird feeling so removed from college (despite the summer internship) and seeing so many recent graduates in their cap and gowns.

It was a quick drive to get to Jami's parents! They were so kind and friendly! Letting me stay in their guest bed and treating me so nice! Including the dogs.

I had requested pizza from Chef Stroud, because Jami makes his recipe, but I wanted it from the creator himself:

Terrible picture, but delicious pizza.

I got two treats tonight! One in the form of ice cream. More specifically a PUPPY CHOW Cyclone!

The second treat comes with a story. Before Wednesday of last week I worked part time at a bookstore. I would normally wear jeans and never noticed them looking grubby or gross. One day I branched out and tried to do "fashion." I bought a pair of light pink jeans. After the first day of kneeling on them once every 30 minutes to put books away, or check the hold shelf or all the other things you do at a bookstore, the knees were covered in dirt and grime. So I chucked them in the wash hoping that would solve it. Apparently that just sets the stain in even more! Jami specifically told me to bring my jeans to her mother because her mom loves laundry challenges. Well, Momma Stroud did not disappoint!

I'm going to be wearing them tomorrow.

Road Trip Day 1

For those of you who don't know yet, I'm driving to North Carolina! Wahoo! I have a summer internship and I need to get there somehow. My method is through an automobile. #throwback

First I needed gas. And thanks to my friend Mackenzie and the gas card she gifted me it didn't cost me anything!

And here's when I legitimately started crying thinking, "this is the last time I'll drive on White Bear Avenue before leaving!"

Obviously I wasn't really crying about the driving. It was more about leaving what was familiar and heading into the unknown and blah blah blah.

My last day in Minnesota meant goodbye to The Alley for the summer so I attended church one last time. Right after a Taco Bell visit with Jami. One last pre-church breakfast Crunchwrap (Bacon, if you want to know).

And because I put things off I had to go to my friend Esther's house so her mom could check my TB test and confirm it was negative. Which I suspected given that I've never had TB and wasn't showing any of the symptoms. Her mom had made lunch so I enjoyed my first ever popover!

As my friend Hannah would hashtag #homemadeisbestmade.

There was nothing to do after that visit except head out on my journey! Driving over the St. Croix River I said goodbye to Minnesota.

Somewhere along the drive I passed this beautiful scene. #Murica

I drove almost straight to Madison. I stopped a little bit before to try and stretch my legs in a state park, but it would have cost $10 so I got back on the highway.

My friend Brynn called me when I was a half hour outside of Madison! For those of you who don't know, Brynn attended UW- Madison so it's like, cool that she called when she did, okay?

I stopped at one of my favorite bookstores to compare and contrast with the one I'm used to in Minnesota.

I started driving past some really beautiful farm land. I found it so pretty, especially around sunset.

And then. I finally made it. On some fairly small country road I pulled over to snap a picture.

I spent the night with a friend from Youth Encounter. It was so nice to catch up on each other's lives. And she said she'd be okay if I stop by on my way back to Minnesota at the end of the summer.

I genuinely enjoy staying in people's homes. For now I kind of enjoy driving by myself. I can listen to what I want and stop wherever I want to. Sing along to Taylor Swift, or drive in silence talking to myself. But I think I would be really lonely if I had to stay in a hotel by myself. For me, after a long day's drive, I loved staying up chatting with a friend.

2015 Book Challenge: 1-5

In the hopes to motivate myself to get through my annual 50 Book Challenge, I'm doing a book challenge by Pop Sugar. Feel free to follow along!

Here's the books I've read so far:

This was my "Book Turned into a Movie." I saw the movie with a friend when it came out and was intrigued enough to read the story. I enjoy Hillenbrand's style so I might be biased. She writes in an engaging manner that makes me care for things I would normally brush off. This guy has had about seven different lives. He was a punk kid turned All Star high school athlete turned Olympic runner turned World War II bombardier turned life raft survivor turned prisoner of war. If you want to read incredibly hard facts about the war and especially POWs, but also be inspired, you should read this.

This was my "Book Written by a Female Author."  I read the Princess Diaries series as a kid and her novels are pretty much the same standard. They're not meant to be anything thought provoking or serious. And this book certainly delivers. She falls for her neighbor's nephew. Only it's actually the nephew's FRIEND who he asks to PRETEND to be him so he could sleep with a supermodel. You can pretty much fill in the gaps. It's pretty funny because that's kind of Cabot's style. If you want to not think about anything and lose yourself in a predictable story that fills you with warm fuzzies, you should read this.

This was my "Book with a Number in the Title." It's the last installment of a trilogy. It's essentially a YA version of the bachelor, but like slightly more political because whoever wins gets to become a PRINCESS in the royal family. It's set in the future where America has divided its citizens into castes. I think you can tell what happens to the protagonist. As I was reading this, I kind of realized how poorly written it was. But I needed a quick read because I was getting behind!

This was my "Book that Scares You." I read it because my co-worker recommended it, but I told her it'd be too creepy. But then I saw the book challenge and figured I'd kill two birds. Just like Carrie probably would. Only instead of birds she'd kill people. This book was incredibly well-written and had multiple perspectives, which I appreciate. It's a book that I should never have read without the sun as a companion, but I'm glad I challenged myself. If you want to read a GOOD, but scary book, you should read this. 

This was my "Book Based on the Cover." I spotted on a blue book display at my library. Then I looked at the summary and it's about a graduate student who starts working at a halfway house and feels so out of place. 1. I love fish out of water plots. 2. I felt like this was kind of a parallel to my work at the youth house. If you want to know how it feels to overanalyze almost every decision you make to an almost painful extent for fear that you'll be irreparably damaging someone in the house, you should read this.
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I'm hoping to keep you guys up to date with the books I've been reading. Hopefully, writing these will help me hold myself accountable!