4 fourth of july memories

My family moved around a lot throughout my childhood, which meant I got to experience holidays in many different places with different traditions and events. I've always loved Independence Day due to my emotional obsession to fireworks and all things sparkly. Also, hotdogs, cotton candy, funnel cake, watermelon, boiled peanuts, etc.

This year, Christopher and I will be hanging close to home after have a couple really busy weeks apart and I'm looking forward to attending my first ever Firecracker Fest with friends. Some of my favorite memories surround the fourth of July, in some way or another!

1. When we lived in New York, we went to watch the fireworks shot off over the Hudson River. The weather is so very different there: much cooler, and no humidity compared to Georgia. I distinctly remember being told to bring a light jacket as it would get chilly once the sun went down {I also remember the atrocious silver wire glasses I wore at that time, but that's another story}. Over the next year, we moved back south, and when the fourth rolled around and it was time to go see fireworks, I ran to get a jacket much to the amusement of my parents. Needless to say, it took me a while to assimilate back into the warmer weather.

2. The summer after I graduated high school, we moved from north of Atlanta to Florence, SC, where I was born. My mom, who at the time had a very popular blog, invited the daughter of one of her bloggy buddies to come stay with us the week of the fourth. Brooke and I were close in age, and both of us were starting college in the fall. We spent the week together exploring Florence and we all went to Myrtle Beach on the fourth of July. We beached at the Myrtle Beach State Park, which is a great place to go for the day, and then watched fireworks that evening while eating dinner which was so much fun. Brooke also has a blog, and it's been a great way for us to stay in touch...check her out, here!

We had bought the same dress in different colors for Easter
and wore them together--weren't we the cutest?!

3. Two or three years ago, I went with my mom and brothers to the Darlington race track for the fourth. They have a huge event with turkey legs, race cars, and amazing fireworks. It was quite the people watching event, that's for sure!

4. Last year, Christopher and I spent the day on Hilton Head with some of his pharmacy school friends. We had a great time at one of the hotel's private beaches, and a lovely dinner at the Westin. But truly the best part was when we were coming back into Savannah over the bridge, just as the fireworks began over the Savannah River. We were higher up than the entire town, and could see sparkling explosions from every square, too. It was absolutely beautiful, and I so wish I had pictures from that night!

Happy fourth of July to you, and yours; here's to making new memories!

Summer Bucket List

I can't wait for summer! While laying awake one night after accidentally having caffeine for the first time in a few weeks {okay, whatever, sometimes a thirst can only be quenched by a large Diet Dr. Pepper} I was thinking about all of the things I wanted to make sure I did this summer. Being a listy person, I started a list so that I could check things off as they happened. So here is my Summer 2014 Bucket List:

1. Weekend Getaway in Charleston
2. Find/make/restore a vanity for my bedroom
3. Learn to play tennis
4. Throw a White Party 
5. Build a Sandcastle 
6. Watch the sunrise on Tybee
7. Unsubscribe from pointless emails
8. Read: The Fault in our Stars, The Southerner's Handbook, Girls in White Dresses, Tipsy in Madras, The Summer We Read Gatsby, The Reagan Diaries...basically I just need to read more
9. Watch all of Friday Night Lights {the TV show...so good}
10. Take the boat out
11. Watch fireworks with my love
12. Go to Six Flags
13. Late Night Milkshakes {or slushies...Sonic's Sour Blue Raspberry with Nerds changed my life forever}
14. Get organized in all parts of life
15. Tan...duh 

The Best is Yet to Come

If New Years Eve is any indication, 2014 will be a blast--literally! I spent the week in Dublin with the fiance and his family, just hanging out and getting ready for NYE. Christopher and I had gone to Clemson earlier the week before and stocked up on what promised to be the best fireworks around. Crazy Steve did not lie! These were the best home-done fireworks I have ever seen! All 24 were absolutely huge! Of course the boys had to not just shoot them out of the {rocket launcher? fireworks tube?}, but had to throw them by hand--I'm so glad no one lost a hand...