There and Back Again: A College Tale

Things we Hoots have done since we last talked... Texas Vacation Ben and I visited Ben's grandparents and extended family in Texas during my spring break. It was my second time in The Lone Star State, and we had such a great time! We spent one night in San Antonio and the rest of the week at Ben's grandparent's home. It was so nice to finally meet Ben's extended family; they were all so welcoming and kind. The main event in Texas was definitely eating. From the famous three-pound cinnamon roll to all the Texas fast food chains, I feel like we spent the majority of our time eating! Girls' Trip Grace, one of my best friends, got married in May, and the week before, we took a quick trip to Nashville and Franklin to celebrate. We stayed at an Airbnb for the very first time, and it was incredible! The place was so nice, and we had a wonderful time together. It is very rare that the four of us get to spend time together these days, so having almost two whole da...

I realize that I should have posted these photos many months ago, but, hey, better late than never! Ben and I have lived in our first apartment for eight months now, so there have been some slight changes in our apartment since these pictures were taken. Still, since I know many of you will never get to see our Knoxville home in person, I hope you enjoy seeing these photos and hearing about how our little haven came together.  We are so fortunate and blessed to have such generous family and friends. Most of the items in our apartment were given to us, or we bought them for very cheap! Ben bought the dresser a year or two ago while he was living in Riddleton, and I painted it with homemade chalk paint. It's amazing how a fresh coat of paint can take a dated dresser and turn it into something pretty! My favorite piece of furniture is definitely our hutch. It was a wedding gift from my grandmother, and we had so much fun picking it out! I always joke that the hutch looks l...

I finished my last summer class this morning, and my senior year of college begins next Wednesday. How is it possible that I'm already a senior? Granted, I will be finishing my undergraduate career in 3 years and will have spent only 5 semesters at a school where most students spend 8. In just a year I'll be beginning pharmacy school, hopefully, and that just seems impossible to me! It seems like just yesterday my parents were moving me into my freshman dorm, which is what they'll be doing later this week for my sister Julie.  Since that day, so much in my life has changed. I studied abroad, did some (but not enough) traveling, made new friends, got engaged, took the PCAT, and got married in a rush of three amazing years. The last of that list has definitely been the most exciting and the most wonderful. Married life really is incredible! Ben and I spent the majority of our dating years in a long-distance relationship, and I truly believe that that has given us so much...

It's been awhile since I wrote anything, and I need a break from studying Physiology. So, I thought I would give y'all a little update on what's been going on in my life! First of all, Happy New Year! It's mind-blowing to think that it's already 2016. (And has been for 18 days now. I'm only just a little behind.) Where does the time go? 2015 flew by at lightning speed! When I think back to all that happened in 2015, I feel so overwhelmingly blessed. I'm not going to give you a full recap of 2015, because that would be ridiculous, but here are some highlights: 1. I finished my first year in college! Woohoo! Only like seven more years to go!  2. I travelled outside of the country for the first time in my whole life. It took 19 years for that to finally happen, but I know God planned it that way for a reason. Studying abroad in New Zealand (and visiting the Youngs in Australia) was a huge part of my 2015, and I feel as though I'm a stronger per...

Happy 20th birthday to me! It's my second birthday being away from home, and it does feel pretty strange not being with family and friends on this special day. Thank you all for the birthday wishes! They mean so much, especially from all the way across the Pacific! Dear 19, Being with you has been fun. It's been a lot of fun, actually. I've learned so much from you about life, love, people, and God. While you were still around, I experienced my freshman year of college, made tons of new friends, and travelled the world, among other things.  No offense, but I'm actually a little excited to leave you behind. We both know it's for the best; we can't be together forever. Not that being with you hasn't been great, because it has! But, the time has come to move on. What I'm trying to say is, it's not you; it's me. I've got to let go and move on to bigger and better things. I mean, come on, 20 is in a completely different decade! You un...

As my time in this " scruffy little city on the Tennessee River" comes to an end (for now), I've put together a short Knoxville travel guide.  Who better to tell you what's out there than someone who's spent the past two semesters in Big Orange Country? These places are some of my favorites, and hopefully I will be able to add more as time goes by! This one is pretty self-explanatory.  Even if you aren't a Vol fan, Neyland Stadium on game day is something you need to experience at least once! The fifth largest college football stadium in the nation, Neyland Stadium can hold 102,455 people, and game day attendance is usually pretty close to that, especially if another SEC team is in town. The atmosphere is loud, energetic, and fun, and there's orange and white as far as the eye can see! (Being a part of the human checkerboard when the Vols played Florida was so much fun!) Like most large universities, we have an incredible marching band; the first ti...