my twenty-ninth | a gift to remember.

Yesterday was my twenty-ninth birthday. Twenty-nine!

That means I've been going to Wilmington for nine years now. Each trip always adds new memories to my ever growing list, and the last trip I went on, just a week ago, was one I'll certainly never forget. In honor of my final birthday in my twenties, I asked Teesh for a special kind of gift that would be a symbol of "completion," of sorts.

My best girls and I used to drive for hours to sit for hours while we were in college, hoping to get a glimpse of or have a short conversation with our favorite on-screen characters. There were two, however, that we never thought we'd have the opportunity to meet because we didn't start making these trips until after they were already off the show. Then one day, we had a miraculous run-in with Hilarie Burton (AKA Peyton Sawyer) while meandering downtown. Chad Michael Murray (AKA Lucas Scott), however, was someone we never thought we'd have the opportunity to share a frame with.

Then, this past weekend happened. And I got to stand between him AND James Lafferty (AKA Nathan Scott) for a few brief seconds. I got hugs from both of them (true story!) AND even got to take two photos with them because of an exposure issue with the first one (again, true story!). A friend we made while there called this a double portion from the Lord, and I am in complete agreement with her statement. Y'ALL! If only this picture could hold in the way they smelled.

Mmmmm, that was nice.

And yes, my husband knows all about my infatuation.

In fact, if James were to ask me to run away with him, Teesh would be the first person I'd call. Yep, it's that serious!

Anyway (now that some of you are judging me, LOL), standing between the beloved Scott brothers, specifically since I never dreamed I'd ever actually meet the one, was what I meant my completion.

After fifteen years of love for One Tree Hill and nine years of field trips to experience the magic firsthand, I've finally checked off my favorite names from my list. This little adventure has been so thrilling in unexplainable ways, and I'm not ashamed to be so proud of all I (and my best girls) have accomplished. Maybe I should be, but I'm not. HA! Feeling your heart beat out of your chest is just that -- THRILLING! And I'm a happy, content girl because of so many of my teenage dreams coming to life.

This photo collage is worth more than gold to me.

Amen, fellow OTH lovers?

I'll keep going to Wilmington for the rest of my life, mainly because of how happy it makes me -- it's something special to relive such wonderful memories every time I go. I think Wilmington will always remind me of my youth, maybe more than anything else.

So, to stay forever young, I'll go back to Tree Hill for as long as I'm able.

I mean, there's only One Tree Hill. And in my heart, it's home to me for so many reasons.

"It's the oldest story in the world. One day you're seventeen and planning for someday, and then quietly, without you ever really noticing, someday is today, and that someday is yesterday and this is your life."

-Nathan Scott

girls weekend | wilmington.

We'd been planning this weekend for about two months, and we couldn't wait to hit the road. This was their first time in Wilmington, so I got to play tour guide for a couple of days -- so much fun! I've considered myself an "honorary Marlar" for a while now, and this was such a fun treat for me to introduce Katee and Lindsay to so many beloved spots.

Our main motivation for this trip was a One Tree Hill convention that was going on this particular weekend, and our dreams came true when we got to stand between the Scott brothers for a few seconds (more on this later). Swoon! Moreover, this city is overflowing with sights and scenes from our beloved show, and it never gets old revisiting the sweetest spots over and over again -- especially when you get to experience the magic of someone's first time. We spent most of our time walking along Front Street more times than we could count, popping in for coffee at Port City Java whenever we felt like it, strolling along the Riverwalk admiring the beautiful views, and driving around to numerous filming locations to take it all in. We even met a new friend who drove in from Charlotte, and we got to act like a bunch of giddy school girls together -- both before and after our photo op.

We stayed the weekend with one of my college roomies and her husband, and they were SO hospitable towards us. It was icing on the cake to have time with them, talking until the wee hours of the morning both nights. We might have reminisced about our glory days and how old we’re getting, but that’s okay.  

This city will always call to me, even when I'm old and gray (which won't be long now). Some of the best highlights of my life have taken place here, and it really feels like I'm going home every time I cross over the bridge and see the Riverwalk off in the distance to my left. I think it will always feel this way.

naley | round two.

It had been nearly four years since I visited my favorite spot in all the world, and my college roomie's wedding gave us the perfect opportunity to go back for the weekend. After a stunning Friday evening watching Mallory walk down the aisle to meet her man and celebrating the night away, TJ and I extended our stay through Sunday to have some time together, just the two of us.

Today marks one week since we had breakfast and coffee at Port City Java, lunch at the Dixie Grill, ice cream at Kilwin's, dinner at Front Street Brewery, and dessert at The Fortunate Glass. We got to pop in at the weekly market that morning, and we walked until our feet nearly fell off. I even did a little Christmas shopping at a few of my favorite shops!

Our room overlooked the river with a gorgeous view of the bridge and Front Street, and I dare say that this won't be the only time we stay in this particular spot. We felt so fancy to have a waterfront balcony! This was our second trip to Wilmy together, and I sincerely hope it won't be another five years before we tarry here again, hand in hand. It was so refreshing, as always, to be intentional about our time together. I'd let my Teesh whisk me away at any moment, because in my heart, we're still those goo-goo-eyed babies who are crushing so hard on each other. I'm so thankful to share so many of life's most precious moments alongside of him, including these few days. Every minute I spend with him is such a gift -- and it's always will be.

Before we left on Sunday, we enjoyed a long-anticipated brunch at The George and stopped by a beloved One Tree Hill location before hitting the road. My HPB left our mark on that iconic bridge before life took us all in separate directions, and I just had to stop by to see if it was still there. And it was! Our legacy lives on -- just like our friendship.

Oh, oh, it's magic. This city. These scenes. Mmm, they'll never get old.

2012

us.

Mmmm, I just really, really love us. So, so much.

"To be nobody but yourself--in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else--means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight, and never stop fighting."

-E.E. Cummings

leaving our mark.

"Life is short and opportunities are rare, and we have to be vigilant in protecting them; and not only the opportunities to succeed, but the opportunities to laugh, to see the enchantment, and to live. Because life doesn't owe us anything. In fact, I think we owe something to the world."

-Haley James Scott

a few favorites.

Scenes from that perfect weekend in that perfect city.

nothin' beats my #hpb.

This past weekend, we were blessed by our favorite city yet again. We had a slumber party at the bungalow on Friday night, woke up way before the sun on Saturday morning, drove west, and pulled into Wilmington at half past nine o'clock. We visited all our favorite stores +  restaurants + sights, while simply resting in each other's company. I've been to Wilmy a dozen times, but every trip always feels like the first for so many reasons.

Most of this trip was spent talking about how good our God has been to us, and my heart is still overjoyed from the blessings He poured out over us during our two-day get-away. We prayed together + dined together + explored together + made new friends together + reconnected with old friends together + shopped together + and soaked in every minute we had together, not taking any of it for granted. We may not know when the next time we'll be in our home-away-from-home all together again, but we did our best to make the most of this one.

Seriously, how beautiful are my best friends?

#HPBdoLIFE