After all this time?

"Always."

I was going to wait until tomorrow to post this.

I was going to talk about a different day, a different time, a different setting.

But I didn't think that would do.

I've grown up with these people.

I was 11 when the first movie came out.

17 when the last book came out.

They are a part of me, and in some small way, I'm a part of them.

I'm still waiting for my letter, Minerva.

I just watched my friends go through hell and back.

I was in hysterics, shaking from head to toe, knowing what was to come and what had to be done.

It's the end of an amazing, wonderful, beautiful era.

We'll miss you.

"How can we let go of the,
The ones who we call friends?
And I know it's only a story but
For so many it's more than that.
It's a world all on it's own where we
Want to put on that sorting hat.

And I will miss the train ride in
And the pranks pulled by the twins.
And though it's nowhere I have been,
I'll keep on smiling from the times I had with them."

*The End of an Era, Oliver Boyd and the Rememberalls.

Special Treat - San Carlos SCUBA!

I have a special treat for you guys today. This special treat is my first ever blogsitter. I know, super exciting. And it isn't even a blogger. It's way better than that. In it's own words, "this blogging thing is hard. I don't want to do it again."

And with that, I leave you with my lovely hunk-a-man, Jake!

{leave him lots of love and encouragement, guys!}

Arrr!! Good evening to all ye landlubbing bloggers and boogers,

I regret to inform ye that Miss Brittany Lew's blog has been commandeered by none other than the terrible... the dreadful... the ghastly, Jacob Tyrant, The Roofless. I have just returned from me Mexican voyage, conquering the waters in the Sea of Cortes, and I have been asked to share the tales of me adventures with you all. And by share me tales with ye, I mean I shall mostly just show ye pictures.

Here is the port that me terrible crew and I disembarked from. Twas a bit odd to see such a cacti-filled environment wrapped around the ocean, but it captured me satly heart.

We were caught in a broadside battle with this rusty ol' pirate (fishing) ship. Their puny cannons were no match for our crew nor our weaponry. 

ARRGGG!!!! I'VE BEEN TURN UPSIDE DOWN IN A WRETCHED WHIRLPOOL!

Have no fear you dogs, all is well in the bottom of the sea with me helmsman (brother-in-law), Bryce, the Brave-hearted

WE'RE UNDER ATTACK!!! That monstrous sea lion dared to battle with the likes of me...

Them cowardly beasts made the right choice and fell back to their rocky retreat.

I captured this vicious crustacean with me bare hands! ARRR!!!!

Me favorite starfish in the deep. This black, spiked fiend was the most terrible stationary beast down in Davey  Jones' Locker.

I hope ye all now understand the greatness of me terribleness, and why they called me... Jacob Tyrant, The Roofless.

                                                   Yours Truly,

What a goof! But that's why we love them, right?

Shake it for the birds! Shake it for the bees!

So, I'd like to talk to you about the best thing ever.

Ever ever ever ever ever.

Ever.

It's so much of the best thing ever that we have had it twice since we've been here. Twice!

My best friend raves about it whenever I talk to her about Hardee's, and I brush her off because I know that Hardee's is the cream of the southern crops.

This is a close second.

Very close.

Steak n' Shake is so delicious. I don't know how I'm going to survive without it in Arizona.

I guess I'm just going to have to move.

Wilderness.

The moment I stepped out of the airport into the lush green, all I could think about was being in it as much as possible. Everytime we were out and about, I couldn't stop the longing in my heart to get lost in the dense trees for hours and hours.

So on our second day, my dad gave in and took me hiking!

I don't know how credible the site was, but I found a website that said Umstead State Park was the second best park/trails in North Carolina.

Good enough for me!

So, grab a map.

Pick a trail.

Follow the blue squares.

A-okay.

And go!

This walk made me feel like I was in a fairy tale.

I really think that Fern Gully was based in the woods of North Carolina {the mushroom on the tree? the blue and yellow lizard? I die.}

I love hiking, and it felt so good to breathe in the fresh, clean air while I worked on my fitness.

Oh, and my dad definitely pwned that trail.

Comfort.

Our first day in Raleigh was pretty amazing. Just waking up and knowing that I was here made my day.

Our first stop, of course, had to be my favorite fast food restaurant in the south.

{via, I forgot to take a picture of the big star on the wall, so when we go back I'll post one with me. :) }

Maybe you're a little confused. It's ok, so was I the first time I saw this beautiful, familiar yellow star and my family told me, "No, it's not that sicknast Carl's Junior that we have back home in Phoenix."

This star actually belongs to Carl's Junior's sister restaurant, Hardee's!

I can't even tell you how much I adore this fast-food establishment of deliciousness.

Not only are the burgers yum yums, because they are actually char-grilled when you order them, but I've never seen such amazing service in a fast-food restaurant. Southern hospitality, lemme tell ya..

After that, we went to a place that the front desk recommended for us.

The North Carolina Museum of Art is one of the largest museums in the US, because it consists of the two gallery buildings and a trail that includes art as well.

I've never been to an art gallery before, and it was so inspiring. Oh, and free. That always helps.

My favorite artist/photographer was Anthony Goicolea. I could have stayed at his exhibit all day.

I'm pretty sure that when I get home I'm going to sign up for a photography class. I think I'd love it.

So I think I'm going to try our my amateur photographer skills the rest of the trip.

Bare with me. 

Southern at heart. ♥

This weekend, Jake and I both decided to go down south on vacations that we've been waiting for all summer.

Jake is taking a diving trip here:

{San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico}

And I am in one of my favorite places ever:

{Jake and I, 2009}

North Carolina!

As we flew in over Raleigh, I swear that looking down at the landscape was like seeing a land sprinkled with stars. The lights of the small city twinkled through the trees, and it was almost like Disneyland when I walked out into the cool air with it's perfect vegetation. 

Everytime I come here I'm reminded that I'm Southern at heart.

Hopefully I will be able to post pictures of mine and Jake's adventures, and then I can help you fall in love with this adorable little state as much as I have.