Annual trip back 'home'

Taking a break from the trip recap to talk about the rest of my life...

A couple of weeks ago, several of my bestest friends and I packed up all the maroon clothing and accessories that we own and headed to Elon, North Carolina.  We went 'home.'

As usual, a couple of us went down on Thursday - we said we felt like the Marines, first in, last out. 

I had breakfast with my mentor from college at a Burlington institution and visited some of dad's old friends who own a shoe store in downtown.

We went to Harrisons, La Fiesta, Ale House, BWW, Biscuitville, Hursey's - all of our favorite places from when we were in school, and some new places that have been built since we left.  We literally ate our way through town.

We visited with some classmates stayed long enough to have 1 beer and take some pictures at the annual Young Alumni Party - we have to go while we're still 'young!'

Then we set up camp at 9am in our spot in Harper parking lot.  Tents, flags, Biscuitville, moonshine, Starbucks, Baileys, BBQ, Miller Lite, and friends. 

We had breakfast, lunch, went to the game, then came back, tailgated some more, and even ordered Dominoes to be delivered to the parking lot. We finally packed up at 9pm after a successful day (despite the football score...)

These are some of the best friends a girl could ask for - we've come a long way since the fall of 2000 when we were all freshman at Elon!

Even 2 year old Miss Natalie joined in the fun!

One of my friends hadn't been back to school since 2005, and another since graduation!  It was great to show them all of the new additions...like the only escalator in Alamance County!!  (It's all everyone talked about all weekend!)

Elon will always hold a special place in our hearts.  Retuning to campus each year with friends old and new, we continue to love and support a school that means so much to all of us.  Thank you to everyone for making this truly one of the best Homecomings ever - I am already looking forward to next year!

DF.

Beautiful beach wedding

Our trip to the beach wasn't just for fun, it was for a wedding!

Saturday evening we headed over to Nags Head and pulled up at this adorable dark brown wood beach house, walked around the beautiful wrap around deck, and looked out onto this...

 Isn't it just perfect?  I'd never been to a beach wedding before, and this one is going to be hard to beat.  It was so comfortable and casual.  We had to pose for some pre-ceremony group photos...



Before we made our way to our seats...

The groom was so excited, and just grinning while he was waiting for his bride.

And here she comes!  It was so beautiful.  I love the house in the background.  The house has been in the groom's family for about 100 years - it was so special to the family to have the wedding right there!



Her dress was perfect.  It flowed in the breeze so beautifully.  The one shoulder was so different, I loved it.  

It was a lovely ceremony, short and to the point!  They did the sand pouring, as you can see on the table, which was so fitting with the beach, and they had one reading.  It was very personal and sweet.



And then it was time for the party to get started!!

This was the view from the deck.  It was such a wonderful intimate wedding!

Congratulations Matt and Jenna!!



OBX weekend

Two weeks ago we packed up the 4runner with beach chairs, full coolers and brightly colored towels and hit the road, Starbucks in hand, driving south to North Carolina.  When we were getting pretty close, we stopped at Morris Farm to pick up some fresh veggies.  It must have still been a little early because their produce selection was a little low.  But we found several things to take with us - watermelon, blueberries, strawberries, bloody mary mix, and a delicious balsamic blue cheese with walnut dressing.  I got 3 bottles, one for us and one each for my mom and mother-in-law.  I found this last time we were down there and it's so good, I'm excited to have a new bottle!

We checked into our time share and headed to the beach.  After a couple of beach hours, stop at Harris Teeter, and quick showers, we headed to Awful Arthur's for dinner.  Since it was Thursday, and still a little before the real season started, we only had about a 45 minute wait.  We made a pit stop upstairs at the bar while we waited, had a drink and admired the view...

We decided to order a couple of different things and share.  We got their Old Bay steamed shrimp, clams, and a great mixed plate.  It had grilled scallops, fried oysters, fried shrimp, roasted potatoes and hush puppies.  It was MK's first experience with hush puppies - she had never even heard of them!  Dinner was great - a little fried, a little steamed - it was a great idea to share!  I even ate a couple of oysters!

Friday morning we were up and at'em on the beach early!  We were waiting for MK's fiance to come into town - a couple of our girlfriends were driving him down from Norfolk.  The minute he arrived, we headed over to Pigman's for lunch.  It's one of my favorite Outer Banks' spots.  Jeff got ribs, MK and I got the regular sandwich and Husband got the jumbo sandwich.  Fries, sweet potato fries and more hush puppies came with lunch.  And sweet tea.  Of course, sweet tea.  Ah, Carolina....anyway.  Back to the beach for the afternoon - it was a perfect day but the water was freezing.  Once we felt like we'd had enough, we cleaned up and headed to the Black Pelican for dinner.  Again - season hadn't quite started so the quick 20 minute wait was just enough time for a few pictures!

Dinner was again delicious.  It is just so fresh at the beach!  We got the spinach salad and shared it - It was amazing.  Spinach, roasted tomatoes, garlic croutons, goat cheese, and a warm mushroom bacon vinaigrette.  Oh yes.  Then we also shared the Black Pelican pizza - it had shrimp, Andouille sausage, scallions and sweet peppers on it.  Then we also got some steamed shrimp and veggie medley.  Jeff got this huge bucket o'seafood, which looked great too.  Everyone raved about their dinner.

We headed over to Mama Kwan's after dinner to meet up with the Bride, Groom, and other friends who were in town for the wedding.  They had these amazing frozen parrot drinks.  I sent H to the bar for a beer...and we ended up with these!

I'm typically a beer and wine girl, and rarely drink fancy drinks.  And I still have no idea what these were (it doesn't say on their website) but they were delicious.  Maybe the best frozen fancy drink I've ever had.  

And we got to keep the parrot mugs!  

The Bride and Groom on the night before their big day!

Saturday morning we were up and on the beach around 10:30...ready for another beautiful day.  It was a little warmer, as was the water.  We planned ahead and packed sandwiches, so we could stay until we needed to get ready for the wedding - we headed in around 3.  It was just warm enough that we all got in the water - even me - for a refreshing swim or 2.  There was a decent crowd on the beach, but not too crowded - lots of locals.  And lots of dogs!  We met one adorable collie-lab mix who loved playing fetch in the water.  We played with her for a while!

I love the Outer Banks...it had been a couple of years since our last trip down, so it was really nice to be back again.  And, what a great excuse for a trip to the beach but a wedding!

Carolina on my mind

This past Sunday and Monday I took a quick trip down to North Carolina, my second home.  The reason for the trip was to speak at Elon to a group of seniors about transitioning to being 'adults' and specifically in DC.

I went down Sunday afternoon and stayed the night in Knightdale with a good friend of mine.  We were pretty close in college, despite being at different schools, but grew apart as our lives took us in different directions.  We reconnected during a wedding this past summer, and have now seen each other more since August than in the last 3 years.  Mexican, cheap beers, basketball, and just catching up was a great way to spend my Sunday night.  I love friends who you can be yourself with - who you don't have to worry about what you say, what you're wearing, or anything, because they love you for you.  It's so comforting.

Monday morning I made the 90 minute drive over to campus.  First things first, I had lunch with my mentor.  I worked for him for 4 years during college, and he truly made my Elon experience unique.  I'm honored and blessed that we've remained close friends, maybe even becoming more so since graduation.  I always call him first when I'm coming to Elon.

Lunch was followed by a tour of the beautiful new field house, which just opened a few weeks ago.  After my 4 years in college and one after that I spent working for the athletic department, I have a strong tie still with the people in that office.  While many have moved on, there is still the core who remain - and I visit them everytime I'm in town as well.  The new building is beautiful, with state of the art technology, exercise equipment, beautiful locker rooms, training facilities, and lots of coaches offices.  The tour was great, and as always, makes me wonder what my life would be like had I never left...

That evening, a group of 5 alumni now living in DC sat on a panel in front of 35-40 college kids, mostly seniors.  Questions were about apartments, jobs, bars, our alumni chapter, where to live/not to live, rent costs, commuting, and everything else that is involved in moving to a new city.  We were told that it would last an hour, and the other cities had drawn a crowd of 15-20 people.  Thinking back to the last few years that we've done this program, we grinned when our session had almost 40 people and lasted about 2 hours.  DC has such a draw of college graduates, especially for Elon.  It's great to be asked to attend events like this, it always makes me feel good to be able to give back to my alma mater and fellow Elon family members.

Tuesday morning I got up and went back to campus to do some quick shopping at the campus shop.  Then I stopped by Biscuitville, maybe one of the most amazing places on earth.  A bacon egg and cheese biscuit and large sweet tea....yum.  If you ever see one, stop - trust me.

 

I stopped in Richmond on the way home and had lunch with my parents, and picked up the puppy.  She went on vacation to visit both sets of grandparents while we were away.  It's nice to have her back home again!

How are you involved with your alumni chapter?  Do you go back to campus often?  If so, why?