2013 is almost over.

Standing outside Obama's viewing box for the inaugural parade in DC

Despite my best efforts, I turned 25

Crafting Easter eggs

Enjoying good music, food, and company at Googa Mooga with free VIP tickets.  Later in the trip, I met Matthew Broderick. 

Reliving Rocky's glory days in Philly.

Me and my wedding date, using as many photo props as possible.

I found myself back in DC, riding bikes in front of the White House with these two patriotic beauts. 

Grandma and Papa celebrated 65 years of being married

One of my first days of teaching, taking selfies in the staff bathroom

Celebrating Melissa's engagement to Vance

Oliver and I dressed up as Charlie Brown and Snoopy for a Halloween party

I attended my very first country concert...and enjoyed it. 

In November, my oldest sister had her first baby the day before Thanksgiving.

In December, I played bingo and had lunch with my grandma's church group consisting of many older women who are avid supporters of both bingo and a modest lunchtime

New Car, New Job

What our life looked like for a few days- Oliver watching me watch TV, read,  etc.

Hi! A lot's changed in the past couple of weeks. But we'll start back in August. Or really, last spring. I began applying for teaching jobs earlier this year and after the school year started, I hadn't heard anything from any school. In late August, I started getting job interviews. I went on several and while they went well, none seemed like a good fit. Then two weeks ago, I interviewed at a school and loved it. Towards the end, they told me I was the youngest and least experienced candidate. My hopes of getting the job sank, especially when the day I expected to hear back came and went without a phone call or email. 

Then about two weeks ago, I got in a wreck. I won't go into the details but it was bad. I came out of it as well as anybody could in that sort of thing- with a few scratches, bruises, and banged up knees. I spent a few hours in the hospital before some very sweet friends (D+L- seriously, I can't thank you enough) were able to bring me clothes and wait with me until I was discharged at some point that night.  I was still in shock at the time and spent the majority of the night wondering where my new Bonlook glasses were. The firemen couldn't find them in my car before taking me to the hospital. Once I was at the hospital, I kept fixating on how much one of the doctors looked like Emilio Estevez. I've heard when you're in shock, you focus on one thing to cope with the stress. Now I understand why.

The next few days were weird, for lack of a better word. I ached all over and kept reliving that night. My parents were wonderful and helped me out more than I'll ever know. And Oliver was totally fine with napping all day. On Friday, my dad and I decided to go car shopping. It was his birthday and I felt guilty that he had to spend it helping his hobbling daughter pick out cars. On the way, I got a call from the school I loved. They wanted to hire me! I couldn't believe it. And my dad was so happy to be looking at cars that he failed to realize at one point that I was half asleep on a bench. 

That night, we found a car I liked and enjoyed late night milkshakes and everything felt alright again. Since then, most of my bruises have gone away, I turned in a notice at my current job, and started collecting supplies to decorate my classroom. I'll be finishing up my current job on Friday and hopefully starting my new one shortly after that.

It's wild to think of what I was doing just a month ago and what I'll be doing at this time next month. Thanks for taking the time to read all this. I'm excited for what's coming! 

65 Years

This week marks my grandparents' 65th wedding anniversary. SIXTY FIVE YEARS! Can you imagine? They're the funniest, sweetest people and I'm incredibly lucky to have had the luxury of growing up next door to them. They let me watch Scooby-Doo on Saturday mornings when my parents wouldn't, turned me on to the Grand Ole Opry, and best of all, my grandmother always had a homemade cake cooling in the kitchen. A huge crowd came out to celebrate and, as usual, my grandpa was wild. Did you see the knife in that first picture? 

Oh, and I taught my Grandma the art of selfies:

Featured in PineStraw magazine

I wrote a piece for my hometown's local magazine, PineStraw, and finally saw the finished product in the December issue yesterday! Though the magazine is mostly justavailable around Pinehurst, you can read it online here. (Hint: I'm on page 75)

Hope you have a very happy weekend!

Long Thanksgiving Weekend

Thanksgiving crept right up on me. It felt like one day I was watching fireworks in July and then the next I was being questioned about the lack of turkey on my plate during Thanksgiving dinner. Like most weekends, this one came and went entirely too fast. Though it was filled with all kinds of goodness: shopping all night on Thursday straight on until breakfast time on Friday, hanging out with beautiful friends who I rarely see now that they're off being brilliant in other states, watching Grand Ole Opry with my grandparents, and seeing Sufjan Stevens at the Haw River Ballroom.

This is the first holiday season where I've felt old. I knew the day would come when I didn't have a month-long holiday break but after being in school for so long and then switching sides to play the part of a teacher, I've had long Christmas breaks for the entire time I've had a working memory. 

Less than a month until Christmas. Good thing I got my shopping (mostly) done on Black Friday. It was worth staying up all night and was much more fun than those pesky exams that force college kids into caffeinated disasters around this time.

Kelly and Ryan

The bride

The Colliers

Bride & her maids: Kelly, Kristin, Lauren, Danielle, Caitlin, Lizzy, me, Erika

Our grand entrance to the reception

More of the bridesmaids

There's not much more I can say about this wedding than that it was perfect. Kelly was beautiful, Ryan was sweet, and the reception got wild (in the best way).

P.S. Thanks to Courtney Lancaster for the incredible photos!

Over the weekend...Feb. 3-5

Not too much to talk about this weekend- went home, did lots of laundry, attended a baby shower, and watched the Super Bowl long enough to see Madonna perform. I also learned never to go to Walmart on a Saturday night, especially if said Saturday is the day before the most watched sporting event of the year...

Last weekend...

Kristin, me, Moriah (and baby bump), and Kelly at Moriah's baby shower

Poptart is ecstatic to be 87! 

     Earlier today I realized that I'd forgotten to do an "Over the Weekend" post for last week. Normally that wouldn't be an issue but last weekend was a big deal! I went to a baby shower for Moriah, my first friend to have a baby, who is expecting a girl in April and celebrated my grandpa's, or Poptart as I like to call him,  87th birthday! 

A Week's Worth of Friends

These are just a few of the friendly faces I was able to see over the past two weeks at home and on a few adventures! These are some of the funniest, coolest people I know. 

P.S. Amy, Allison and Kate- One of these pictures is just for you. :)

Movies & Moms

Over the past week, I've had way too much time to think. I had minor surgery and stayed at my parents house to recuperate for a few days. The things a mind wanders to when stuck without internet, tv, or a phone...


As an avid list-maker, I spent most of the days making hypothetical lists in my head (after reading Harry Potter for approximately 5 hours). One list completely stumped me: What do I know about? Sure, I know a little about a lot of subjects but what do I actually know to the core?


After spending a few days with that lingering question, I was able to get Klout's take on my knowledge. According to the site, here's what I'm most knowledgeable and influential about in the cyber world:

World- 1, Courtney- O.

Farm Life

Sometimes when I go to my parents' house, I cringe at the unpaved roads, dial-up internet, and hearing roosters crow at dawn. But then I wake up in the morning and see this: our alpaca creeping up on the geese during their daily meeting. 

So long, Beriyo.

Last weekend, one of my very favorite places closed. Beriyo was the hangout spot for most of my friends during high school and became the meet-up place when we were home for breaks during college. 

Then: 2006 

Kelly, Moriah, and I at Beriyo together on one of our last days, if not THE last day,  before beginning college. 

Now: 2011

Kelly, Kristin (a stand-in for Moriah/my roommate/her mom owned this joint), and I on Beriyo's closing day last Sunday. We ate lots of yogurt.

So sad to see it go!