A Week of Pictures

Two weeks ago was my LAST spring break! I never went on a wild spring break that the movies and TV shows depict because that just is not me. I spent all of my spring breaks at home with my family sleeping in and catching up. This year I had the best time exploring three cities! While I am a girl who loves to sit in the sand and listen to the waves roll while reading a good book... I also love strolling city blocks. 

My break started with a weekend in the city I have lived in for four years, Raleigh! My mom and little brother came up for a weekend of flea and farmers markets, exploring the city and goooddd food. They tried to take the train up (multiple times in a two day span) but due to North Carolina's crazy weather of freezing rain to 70s and sunny... they ended up driving!

After exploring Raleigh, we headed home and later in the week went up to Asheville! If you have never been to this North Carolina mountain city I recommend it. It is such an interesting fun city, you never really know what you will see around the next corner!

Our first stop was White Duck Taco Shop. Any Mexican food has my name  A L L  O V E R  I T! It's a great little lunch place on the river and they have very unique tacos. I chose the Jamaican Jerk and BBQ tacos... DELICIOUS!

We then headed to the beautiful Grove Park Inn to sit in rocking chairs in front of huge fireplaces and enjoy the beautiful views!

We headed to another grand building after leaving the Grove Park... Biltmore Estates. Every time I see this house (mansion) it takes my breath away. I also like to pretend I am a part of Downton Abbey strolling the grounds dressed to the nines! :)

The Biltmore is the largest privately owned house in the United States and was completed in 1895 by George Washington Vanderbilt.

For the third city visit on my spring break, we headed to Charlotte for the St. Patrick's Day Festival! Charlotte is such a neat city and I loved seeing so many people out and about enjoying the sunshine and Irish brews. And in classic Morgan style... I found the largest fluffiest dog in Uptown, meet Avalanche a 160lb Great Pyrenees!

Goodness I am SO ready for the warm weather to be back... Bring on Spring!

A Friend for Life

There is not much that can make me cry barely a second into a video! If you have every loved a dog you know the bond that is there. The bond that is loyal, loving and unbreakable. I love how a dog loves you regardless of the day you have had and how they just seem to know what is on your heart. This is one of the sweetest dog commercials I have ever seen. Be sure to grab some tissues!

Chevrolet Commercial 2014 - "Maddie" from The Herd on Vimeo

A North Carolina Snow

I love snow! It is definitely the only positive thing about cold winter weather. I think snow is magical because it can bring out the child inside almost anyone! So when the snow started falling (and sticking) in Raleigh, I made sure to run around my house and ask my roommates to come outside and play!

We ended up running around the neighborhood for a while and it was great to see so many other college students doing the same! The next morning, with my sister and her pug in tow, we headed to the art trails at the Art Museum to go sledding. Attempt one was on a storage bin lid.... so after two sled purchases later we were all set!Love these action sledding shots of Emily!

Ava, the pug, was a diva as usual! But we made sure she was wrapped in a blanket before going on a few sled rides... :)

NC State students have the best snow day tradition. A HUGE group of students head to the Court of Carolina for a school-wide snowball fight! This picture is of the aftermath when most students had retreated to warm-up with hot chocolate.

Later my roommates and I made delicious snow cream and snuggled in with hot chocolate. Snow days are good for the heart! What is your favorite part about snow days?

Wedding Wednesdays: Man's Best Friend

 

I don't know about y'all but I am an absolute dog lover. I have had a dog all of my life and I truly can't imagine life without one! My family has always had big dogs... from a Lab mixed with Shepherd to a Lab mixed with Great Dane! I love the idea of having your furry companion at your wedding. A dog is with you through the ups and downs of life and always seem to know when you need their head on your knee... Why not share the happiest day with your sweet dog?! I think having a {well behaved} pooch at an outdoor wedding is a great way to add a personal loving touch... and why not deck them out in flowers, bows, or bow ties?!

Photography by Red Fly Studio // via Style Me Pretty

Photography by 1313 Photography // via Southern Weddings

This picture is one of my favorites... Oh how I adore that sweet Labrador nose holding those rings! 

Photography by Jeff Cooke Photography // via Pinterest

Photography by Taylor Lord // via Southern Weddings

Such a sweet grey face... Nothin' better than a man's best friend hangin' with the groom and his men! 

Photography by Katherine Miles Jones // via Southern Weddings

I love this...Look at that well-mannered pup waitin' for the groom and bride to get hitched!

Photographer Happy Everything Co // via Southern Weddings

Pinterest // Photography by Peter Miller Photography // via The Lovely Find

Photography by Shannon Christopher // via Style Me Pretty

The bond between a girl and her dog is stronger than any diamond! I would cherish a picture from my wedding day with my sweet four-legged companion who walked with me through the struggles and joys of life!

Apple Cider, Family, and Christmas Trees

Break time...Oh how I cherish breaks! I started this one off right... I decorated my little Christmas tree {and cleaned my room} before I left for break so it was glowing in my room when I got back! 

This was my family's first time EVER having Thanksgiving at home. My mom has never cooked a Thanksgiving meal at home because we are always at my dad's parent's house. This year was different but we made new traditions that I will cherish and my mom made an incredibly delicious meal.

The next day we went up to Boone, N.C. to What Fir Tree Farm to cut down a Christmas tree!

I love when we all are together! We spent plenty of time running around in the trees trying to find the perfect one. Did y'all know these trees only grow a foot a year?! Our beautiful 10ft tree has been growin' since I was 11!

I adore when my family is all together. We are completely dysfunctional and spontaneous but that's what I love the most about our time together! There is a picture below that my brother took and it is hysterical...

 Decorating our family Christmas tree is one of my favorite things about Christmas time. I love going through the HUGE box of handmade ornaments that Taylor, Casey, and I have made throughout the years.

 Any tips on how to photograph a black dog in the dark?? If only I could see her face...

Happy Christmas Decorating!

Stay Beautiful Beaufort

This past summer I had an internship in the charming town of Beaufort, North Carolina. Once I learned that it is pronounced bow-fert not bew-fert (as in Beaufort, South Carolina), I was all set. This town captured my heart. Beaufort is a sleepy little town nestled off the North Carolina's coast on Taylor Creek. While strolling along the the waterfront, horses can be seen roaming the beaches of Shackleford Banks just across the creek. The beautiful houses have wrap-around porches and rocking chairs that sway in the salty air. Ahhh I just love it! My sister and I had the chance to go back last weekend to visit some friends...here are some of my favorites :)

Taylor and Holly dancin' in the street

Love these girls!

Huge front porches and rockin' chairs... Swoonnn

The beach is such a soothing place for my soul. I love the sand under my toes, the sound of the waves rolling onto the shore and the gulls calling overhead. Taylor and I lucked out with an unusually warm North Carolina November weekend! We had so much fun running around on the beach with little Ava :)