Happy Father's Day

    

              

This one's for you pops.  

Dear Dad,

I'm the luckiest girl in the world. Why? Because on March 3, 1994, I was blessed with such an amazing daddio. Since that glorious, monumental day (my birth), our time together has been nothing less than a blast. From coaching my extremely competitive goofy soccer teams, teaching me how to fish and turning the sunroom into a ballroom for some late night dancing to Butterfly Kisses... to convertible joyrides, NCIS marathons and just hanging around with "ole dad," every moment with you is so so special to me. Thank you for your endless love. 

You teach me new information each day. You're my go-to guy for all things cooking, politics (Pick Rick for President), cars and, well, really anything confusing. Basically, you're my human Google. Aside from your extreme dad-stuff knowledge, there are a few life lesson I'll never ever forget; unfortunately, getting my car inspected on time isn't one. So, here it is:

Life Lessons from Dad

Be a friend. This one I've learned by example. Anyone and everyone that you pass by, you treat with such acceptance and kindness. Everyone's a friend — nobody's left out. To me, this is such an admirable trait. One that everyone should strive to adopt. Whether it's the very first time or 100th time you meet someone, it never fails that they leave smiling and laughing at your quick jokes. Yeah, I guess you're pretty funny. Be kind, be a friend; we're all just walking each other home. 

Chase my dreams. Ever since I was a little-er girl, you've instilled so much confidence in me. Teaching me to never shy away from my dreams — no matter how big or small. To "bust that ceiling out; the sky's the limit." Your empowerment and belief in my capabilities is something I'll hold onto forever. Trust me, this doesn't mean I don't need my Prep Team anymore. No no. I'll never outgrow needing your encouragement. Heck, I'll never outgrow needing you.     

Work hard. You're the most hard-working person I know. That's not all. You give everything you do 110 percent. Maybe that's the whole point of working hard; either way, you've got it down. I believe you've cursed blessed me with this trait. It's likely that I'll take the most minuscule of tasks and turn it into a headache. Annoying in the moment, but worth it in the end. If it's worth doing. it's worth doing right. You've showed me that diligence and perseverance will always pay off in the long run. Because of that, I'll always try to go that extra mile.     

Roots and wings. Lastly, I think we can all agree that you (and mom — hi mom) have given Trey, Jamie and I roots, but you've also given us wings. A place to always call home and run back to, as well as the freedom to fly and reach the stars. What better gift can I ask for? Sure, we're scattered around the country reaching our stars, but I know you wouldn't want it any other way. You know what else I know? You'll always be waiting, arms wide open, when we come back home.

I love you more than you'll ever know. Happy Father's Day, Dad!

Love,

Caroline  

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5 Things I’ve learned since moving to New York City

Coming to you LIVE from a semi-comfy lot of grass in Central Park.

It’s been a little over one week since I packed up my clothes and fled to the Big Apple for summer (hopefully longer). And it took me a little over 12 hours to absolutely fall in love with this city. Since stepping out of the train station and calling a bright yellow cab to take me to “the Upper East Side, please,” tummy butterflies and jitters were no longer a thing. I’m where I need to be at this moment. I’m a city girl now.

So far, my time in the concrete jungle of dreams has been nothing less than exciting. Each day consists of a new adventure. Heck, even taking my laundry out to get washed is crazy for this Virginia girl. If you’re trying to picture me waddling with my bag of clothes down the street, I assure you it’s as funny as you’re imagining. Who would’ve thought that was a thing? Which brings me to today’s quick topic:

5 Things I’ve learned since moving to NYC

1. Grocery trips. Similar to getting your clothes cleaned, grocery trips are a hoot. Repeat after me: 

you don’t have a car. Walking is all the rage in this town (another reason why I love it — fit & fab, amirite?). In other words, you’ll trudge back home with multiple bags. This thought didn’t occur to me on my first round of shopping. Luckily, my tiny apartment is located near about three grocery stores and I’m blessed with extremely long arms. Challenge accepted.

2. Running. NYC has a great running community. On my second morning here, I set out to find a 

trail in the park. I had heard (well, found on Pinterest) that there was a loop run around a reservoir and was on the prowl. The route was perfect. New York beautifully towered over me the entire run. Annnd here comes the running dweeb in me: I was beaming the entire run. Sometimes, I even had chills. Once I learn more runs in the area, I’ll be sure to throw a post together for my fellow exercise enthusiasts looking to travel to NYC.

      

3. New Yorkers. They’re actually some of the best people. Everyone I’ve met thus far has been 

so so helpful and sweet to me. Sure, there’s a few birds that get flipped at cabs or an occasional sassy passerby, but I actually love these no-nonsense personalities. It’s entertaining, nonetheless. New Yorkers rock.   

4. Endless options. Endless is an understatement, especially when it comes to places to eat. During 

the commute to my internship, I try to take note of some cute restaurants or cafes I pass. I end up forgetting them by the next block. There’s just so much! We’re not in Chesterfield anymore boys and girls. Hoping to establish some favorite go-to spots here soon. Right now, it’s whatever I happen to stumble upon. Stay tuned.

5. Never bored. This is the best part about NYC. Whether you’re out for a run, trying a new bar, grabbing coffee and laying out in the park, shopping or even just people watching, you’re truly never bored. If you want to do something, you can in the city that never sleeps. That sounded like an advertisement. There’s a variety of parks and sections in the city (Little Italy, SoHo, Chelsea, etc.), each offering unique vibes and fun activities you never would’ve thought existed. There’s just so dang much to explore!

    

New York, you’ve amazed me already — you might even have my heart. Excited to see what’s in-store and share with y’all my experiences! Now, time to find dinner…

Follow me on Instagram or Snapchat (@carofineb) to watch the adventures first hand.

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