April in North Carolina

So, I'm getting caught up on my April North Carolina trips! I've been twice and plan on going again next weekend... In the beginning of April, Darrin and I went to stay with his younger brother in Raleigh. We went to see the Red Hot Chili Peppers play and it was an awesome show! I have never seen Darrin so pumped before! The next day, the guys took me around Duke University and I was in awe. The campus was so gorgeous and it made me want to be back in college again. Miss Maddie Duke got a picture in front of the chapel of course! We had lunch in Chapel Hill and saw UNC. Their sorority/fraternity row was so beautiful. It reminded me of the houses in Palo Alto.

Then last weekend, my Mom came to visit! She flew into Charlotte and we stayed the night. The next morning, I showed her around the area and she was very impressed. Then we headed off for a two hour drive to Asheville, NC. I had no idea this town was so artsy! I felt like I was in Santa Cruz again. We had lunch downtown at Mayfel's which is a New Orleans style restaurant. The fried green tomatoes with goat cheese and muffuletta were sooo good! This place had such a cool atmosphere and loved how they were dog friendly;)
I found this Antique Tobacco Barn that is #1 in the Western NC. My Mom and I drove up and our jaws dropped. This place was 77k sq. ft. and we had only an hour to look before they closed! This store was amazing and not like the crappy antique malls. I wanted everything, but found one item I will cherish forever! That will be a separate post:)
That night we wanted some Carolina bbq, so I found this cute place online that had great ratings. We had the best ribs, collard greens and mac and cheese! We had the best Bloody Mary's too! They make a BLT Bloody Mary, which we didn't try. It had bacon, lettuce and tomato all stuffed inside the drink. Talk about Southern! Yep, we ate pretty well on this trip.


Our last day was spent at the Biltmore Estate. One of the most beautiful house tours I've ever been too. It makes Hearst Castle look tiny!
This weekend we are going back to Asheville again and it will be fun to experience it with Darrin this time.

Miss Maddie Duke at Duke Chapel.
Who's named after her Daddy's favorite bball team.

HUGE!!

The Biltmore Estate

The Estates Backyard. It was a gorgeous day.

My big redneck NASCAR weekend!

My first NASCAR experience in Martinsville, VA was a great one! 

I remember watching a couple of races with my Dad on t.v. while growing up, but NASCAR is not a big deal on the west coast. I would have never imagined going to a race, but now that it's on in our house eleven months of the year on Sunday afternoon's, I am beginning to like it. Mostly, I like the goss on the racers and the wrecks. Then Darrin fills me in on the rest, ha!...The past weekend was quite an experience and quite a party! The weather was absolutely perfect, but the ticks were out in full-force! I had a total of 7 blood sucking ticks attached to my skin! I guess that's the nature of camping in a field;)...We had a group of about fourteen and we all wore our high fashions from Walmart! Goooood times!

"If you ain't first your last!"--Ricky Bobby

American pride.

Of course you have to have camo solo cups!

Camping field that was right next to the track.

Will's sweet mullet for the weekend!

So stylin'

Chuck who's creeping in the back.

Race time!!!

My man Tony #14 didn't win, but his team mate Ryan Newman won.

It's been a year already?!

This past weekend marked the one year anniversary since I move to Virginia. I can't believe it has already been a YEAR since I packed up, left my job, and said goodbye to my family and friends in California.  I was ready for a big change and two years of doing a long-distance relationship was enough. Darrin and I needed to be together and I made the move. 
I remember that morning saying goodbye to my Mom at the San Jose airport so well. I was so numb. I still feel a bit numb, but I never thought I would do so well with being so far away. I really do love it here and I've experienced so many different things that I would have never imagined. I'm learning everyday about Southwest Virginia and still anxious to visit more places. Before this past year, I had never been to Tennessee, Kentucky and West Virginia. It's so cool, that we can drive into another state and visit for the weekend. Just two weeks ago, Darrin asked me when we were on a ski lift at Snowshoe, "Would have you ever guessed, that you would be skiing in West Virginia?" It was a weird feeling to think... No! 

I do miss a lot about my home in the Bay Area, but I'm so happy Darrin and I made the decision for me to move. We've done a lot this year and can't wait to see what another year will bring. 

Moved super bowl weekend.
My mother-in-law got me this welcome cake.

Unloading my life 

Our first townhouse together

Mini pre-honeymoon getaway to Savannah, GA

My Bach's

Tied the knot in May!

Playa Del Carmen-Honeymoon

Miss Maddie changed our life in July.

All the bf's at Laura's wedding in Sept. in CA.

My Mom and sis visited me for the first time in October.
Blue Ridge Mountains in the back.

We both went back to CA for Christmas.
My nieces and nephew have grown so much.

Maddie's loves her new backyard--Feb.

West Virginia, mountain momma

I have learned that I can't say, "We are going to the snow" here. When I was talking about our upcoming ski trip to Darrin, he kept saying you can't say that; it snows everywhere here! I'm used to going to just one area (Lake Tahoe) to go to ski resorts.

This past weekend, we drove four hours on West Virginia country roads to go to Snowshoe Mountain Resort. It wasn't the huge Sierra Mountains, but I was very impressed. It was gorgeous skiing in the snow on Saturday and we went back at night too. That was a first for me! Darrin was very patient, since I stayed on the bunny slopes most of the day. We stayed with our friends at their new condo, so we will be planning to making another trip soon! I need to get over my fear and go fast down the slopes! 

It was a great weekend trip and no one got hurt;)

Snowshoe Resort, WV--Trip Advisor

My first night skiing experience

Pooped from the weekends activities.
Yes, Maddie can sit like a person;)

Blacksburg is #1 place in the U.S. to raise kids

Blacksburg is #1 place in the U.S. to raise kids, according to Businessweek.

A few weeks ago this survey came out and we very surprised! #1, that's pretty big.

Click here if you want to read the article. Wow, we are moving to suburbia!

10 Things I've learned since living in the South:

1) Food, food and more food!--Let's just say, I miss my Trader Joe's.
Ex: Think the best was when I asked a grocery clerk if they have fresh basil and she handed me a jar of pesto! Fresh green beans=canned here, biscuits are a staple and I can't find polenta anywhere.
2) You can strike up a conversation with anyone.
3) Going to the beach is a vacation now. It's not 30 mins. away anymore.
4) Freeway=Interstate, purse=pocketbook, ice tea=sweet or unsweetened (which I love now).
5) College football fans are truly devoted to their team.
6) Never seen so much camo before.
7) It's nice to hear the National Anthem and Pledge of Allegiance everyday at 12 pm on the radio.
8) Walmart is an experience in itself.
9) Don't miss the Bay Area traffic one bit and the overload of consumerism.
10) Life just seems simpler--in a good way.
More to come....

Thanks to my bro-in-law, I have my very own turkey calling camo hat.
We were in W. Virginia at an all day country fest, this explains Darrin's chest hair.