i was meant for daniel island.

Someone who had a part in planning Daniel Island must have had me in mind

without knowing it. I'm in love with this place.

Augustus and I went strolling around Smythe Park yesterday

and then I went out later on the Belleville to take some more photos.

before he tuckered out from the sun.

my attempt at being artsy with a reflection.

the rest of these were taken from the seat of the belleville.

that brick walkway goes almost all the way around the water. it's gorgeous...
and risky if you're anything like me and you tend to fall over unexpectedly.

this was perfect timing for them to be playing.

dancing in the garden.

this kid was practicing his golf swing the ENTIRE time I was there.

dedication.

This house just says "home" to me. 

a quick break.

Augustus and I are in the midst of unpacking everything I stuffed into the saab, 

so I'm taking a break from posting while we settle into 
our new home on Daniel Island. 

We are so excited to be living in Charleston!

Dad's coming down tomorrow with the big furniture...

including my white wicker seating for the porch!

But by Monday evening, everything should be in its spot,

and hopefully by Tuesday (Wednesday at the latest), I'll be posting again.

I leave you with this photo of what we drive to get around Sam's farm.

epitome of whimsy. in my opinion.

"When I think about it, photographs, to me are really a kind of dream state.

It's not about a good dream, or a bad dream...

it's more that your day hazes and your mind drifts towards only 

being concerned by your imaginings...

and, as you tour your imagination you want to photograph

what you are seeing... BUT...

the only way you can do this is by BELIEF...

really, really, utterly, absolutely, passionately, firmly believing...

you see, you are SO very keen to be able to show

what you've seen that somehow it becomes true, 

and, the picture you end up taking becomes a souvenir,

a piece of proof brought back from the daydream."

-Tim Walker, London, 2008

The quote is from the foreward in Tim Walker's photography book, Pictures.

He has a way with words, what can I say?

and a "zooble" is...??

Image by MRPhoto62 via Flickr

Here's to my last week of walking through the family room and catching glimpses of iCarly, the Suitelife, Wizards of Waverly Place, and Victorious. Goodbye teenage starlets of nickelodeon and disney.
(I won't deny the fact that I did watch iCarly out of choice yesterday and enjoyed it AND I'm also a fan of Selena Gomez and Victoria Justice)


But Nickelodeon features tons of commercials for sugary snacks and the newest kids' toys. Gone are the days of the Littlest Pet Shop and babbling baby dolls... the time now calls for "Zoobles"? And just what might a Zooble be? I'll admit I like saying  the word zooble.

These Zoobles must be pretty major. I'm predicting a Zooble demand for Christmas 2010. According to my googling research, Toys R Us even has a Zooble Special Edition Deluxe Zooble. Something about that seems repetitive... not only is it a "special edition", but it is also "deluxe". Jiminy.
Hmmm... a "Bucky Woopsies Zooble"? Someone, please explain. Oh wait, "Bucky Woopsies to the Rescue Zooble" is the complete title..
Apparently, the Zoobles live in worlds that can be purchased in playsets called "happitats". How happy for the Zoobles.

from timetoplaymag.com

I'm glad I was satisfied with Breyer horses and American Girl Dolls.

fate.

"you can change your fate.

you can sit back,

or you can

go after your life

and all that you want it to be."

-hilary swank

this photo is by Kamen Ferdinandov.

After graduation, I was so unsure about the path I was supposed to be following. I had some ideas and possibilities, but nothing seemed tangible. I wasn't trying hard enough to get anywhere... I was on a hiatus, just waiting for an opportunity to fall into my lap. I don't know why I thought staying stationary was going to start me in the right direction...

obviously, life doesn't always work that way.

Thank goodness I have an aptitude for persistence. When I find something I really want, I'll keep going for it. Without that, I wouldn't have this internship. I wouldn't have gone down to Charleston for the interview. I wouldn't have stumbled upon Daniel Island. I definitely wouldn't be moving down there this weekend.

BUT...

I did get the internship with the Charleston Magazine. I did stumble upon Daniel Island and I am moving there this weekend. And I couldn't be more ready for this next chapter to begin.

So Charleston here I come. Accompanied by Augustus and the belleville (a person can get everywhere on her bicycle on Daniel Island!), my camera, and a mindset to get as much experience as I can from my journalistic endeavors during this internship.

what a tasty tennis ball!

 Apparently we're missing some tennis balls for Sailor to chase 

 and we happen to have a plethora of pears falling from the pear tree...

Sailor has found a pear to be an absolutely divine substitute for a tennis ball.

His stomach seems to be a little more iffy about it though...

"Hmm... it's green, it's pretty round for the most part.
It doesn't bounce, but it must be some species of a tennis ball.
It'll do."

Sailor is so intent on this pear-tennis ball hybrid that he's not even aware
of how close Prairie was to stepping on him.

"This is the most scrumptious tennis ball I could ever dream of chasing.
In fact, I shall not even chase it. I'll gnaw on it for hours on end instead."

"what do girls do who haven't any mothers to help them through their troubles?" louisa may alcott

One of my mom's good friends, Beth, came over today with her daughter Sarah and we took some photos of them together. Sarah's smile is so sweet (no wonder Sean calls her his girlfriend!). They're so happy posing!

I think it looks like they're cracking up about an inside joke.

Two pretty ladies.

Sarah's adoration is just so visible in the way she's looking at her mom.

my reward for moving out?

This is what I found in the middle of my bedroom 

when I brought my bags up from my trip.

Typically, one would think indignantly, 

"Ohhh, so this is what they're doing with my room now that I'm leaving?!"

But, nope. Because my parents and brothers are moving this week too.

They have a new house in Maryland.

So are these drums my going away present?

Again, nope. These drums are Luke's newest acquirement.

Although I'm sure my experience from playing the Wii Rockband with Meredith

at Baylor totally gave me AMAZING skills, 

I'll leave the practicing to my brother.

I'll post pictures of Luke in all his drummer glory this afternoon!!

That's right... Luke. Live. In my bedroom. Amidst the packing.

This explains a recent phone conversation with my mom...

Me: What is that noise in the background?? I can barely hear you!

Mom: It's Luke playing his drums.

I mean, how appropriate is that response? It just makes me smile, because for once, 

it's completely legitimate.

home is where the heart is. i found mine.

Yes, that's where I'm living. I was walking around at dusk taking photos.

It's official. I'm moving to Charleston.

Daniel Island, to be exact.

Now I need to get one of those decals for my car...

the one with the palmetto and the crescent moon.

I love, love, love Daniel Island.

How lucky am I that I wound up on an island where bicycles 

are absolutely appropriate means of transportation?

I'll probably never leave!

Savannah, don't be jealous, but...

... I think I'm falling for Charleston. 

Yes, it's true that this new adoration could be due to my hotel's close proximity
to King Street and its shopping opportunities.
(It was the same situation in Boston with my hotel being a block away from Newbury Street.)

But how can one deny the fact of how convenient it is when it's discovered
that a person forgot to pack undergarments (how basic), 
and she can simply walk down the street to Victoria's Secret?
There's no denying the benefits of that.

i found this photo here.

But honestly, it's always the history of a city that finds its way into my heart.

On my walk to the MUSC Wellness Center (the wimp in me that couldn't bear 

this morning's humidity opted for a run on the treadmill instead of outside), 

I passed historic building after historic building, houses and churches, etc.

and those buildings always present me with 

an explicable feeling of contentedness.

I'd imagine that's the way these wonderful constructions would feel too.

and off she went... Sam left for China today.

Augustus tried his best to convince Sam to stay.
He had his pouty look out on display.

Today one of my dearest friends, Samantha, left for a year-long stay in China.

It's her sabbatical of opportunity, "to find what she's been looking for"...

I'd rather go to Ireland... or the Caribbean... 

but China presented itself to Sam, and she took it.

After about an hour and a half of zipping and unzipping,

and pushing and stuffing, we managed to pack a seemingly impossible amount into three bags.

And they were JUST under 50 pounds. Lucky girl... that never happens to me!

But of course airports never miss a chance to showcase their superior skills

of stressing people, and Sam was not going to be left out.

Instead of showing an itinerary that was supposed to follow 

a flight route to Dallas, then Chicago, and finally China...

the airlines had Sam on a quick trip to Dallas.

And that was it.

It's this kind of instance where I wish giant arrows and angry cloud cartoons 

were visible over people in a frustrating circumstance.

But now that I think about it, if that really happened we would see

angry cartoon clouds hovering over every other person in the airport.

Sans arrows and clouds, we knocked down that obstacle (well, Sam did.

I continued to stand uselessly by her gigantic luggage waiting to be checked).

And then there was no stopping her. With boarding passes in hand, 

this traveler was ready to find her gate and be on her way.

Samantha Anne Mogul- if you're brave enough to fly 30 hours 

and live in China for an entire year,

you're absolutely going to find what you've been hoping to find.

No doubt about it.

Image by angrytoast via Flickr

Written by Ingrid Michaelson

They say that home is where the heart is

I guess I haven't found my home

And we keep driving round in circles

Afraid to call this place our own.

Are we there yet?

They say there's linings made of silver

Folded inside each raining cloud

Well we need someone to deliver

Our silver lining now

Are we there yet? Are we there yet? 

Are we there yet?

Home, home, home. Home, home, home.

They say you're really not somebody

Until somebody else loves you

Well I am waiting to make somebody somebody

Soon

Are we there yet? Are we there yet?

Are we there yet?

Home, home, home. Home, home, home.

Where you will lie on the rug

While I play with the dog

And it won't be too much

'Cuz this is too much

'Cuz this is too much for me to hold

This is too much for me to hold

Home, home, home

And are we there yet? And are we there yet? And are we there yet?

Home, home, home. Home, home, home.

i need it. i want it. i have to have it.

So, just cruising around the internet and came across this ADORABLE puppy. 

His name is Grizwald and right now he's available in Mt.Pleasant, SC (coincidence? i think not.) 

at the Palmetto Paws Animal Rescue.

photo from petfinder.org

He obviously needs me to come adopt him as soon as I move to Charleston.

Augustus votes "yes" on this :0)

give me a break.

The thoughts that come to me while I'm running are totally random. For instance,

this morning I remembered how completely share-able some candy bars are 

and how marvelous it is for them to be that way. 

Scenario reminisced below photo:

The lovely Sarah and Me!

The Setting: Spivey Residence, Plano, TX... around 10 pm, watching Giuiliana and Bill (sp)

Nat: I have two classic candy bar choices- Twix and KitKat. Which do you want?

Sarah: Hmm... I like both! You can choose!

Nat: Oh no, you should definitely pick first. Go ahead, I like both of them too!

Sarah: I like them both equally. Really, please pick the one you want and I'll have the other.

Nat: No REALLY. YOU pick first.

Sarah: Okay, give me the candy bars. (She breaks the kitkat in half and keeps one of the twix bars.)

Nat: Oh my gosh! These candies were made to be problem solvers!!

Sarah: That's right. They're perfect for splitting!

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my favorite photo subject.

Poor Auggy... he just can't escape from my camera. No matter what he's doing, 

I always find a reason to take a picture of him.

It's the same as a new mom documenting her toddler.

He always looks directly at the camera. He secretly loves it. I'm certain.

He's saying, "why must you incessantly take my picture?! just. let. me. sleep."
He's so adorable. I can't help myself.

the popsicle: a summer standard.

We're having one of those humid days that's sunny one moment, rainy the next.

In between rain sets, I meandered outside with a blueberry popsicle 

and witnessed my very own phenomenon.

My popsicle was steaming!

Okay, I realize this isn't really "phenomenal",

 and there's probably some scientific term for it,

but I'm only used to the whole steaming when it's cold outside 

and I have hot chocolate thing!

Apparently I don't pay enough attention to popsicles in the summer heat

because it took  me 23 years to notice this occurrence.

But still, it was enough to amuse me on this boring afternoon
 and inspire a popsicle photo session.

And since my half-eaten popsicle became a model, I just had to get a new one...

tangerine- delicious.

time for another east coast road trip.

Bound for Charleston this time next week. 
One more step on the path I'm trying to determine...

South Carolina- a land of palmettos, porch swings, and hammocks.
 Absolutely cannot wait to arrive.

Image by waywuwei via Flickr

My family's most recent trip to Pawleys Island in South Carolina was commemorated by my 

predictable accomplishment of running our golf cart 
into a very large bush outside the house.

My driving skills... they've always been extraordinary.

Image by Hunter-Desportes via Flickr

all it takes is a hot day, a garden hose, and some dog shampoo.

Sailor and Prairie had baths today. It was my solution for getting some sun while having a source of water very conveniently placed- in my hand.

Plus, I was making myself useful. They needed those baths.

Prairie loved it. With all that golden retriever hair, how could she not?

  Sailor endured it gallantly. Shivering, but brave.

My only mistake was thinking that they would dry off quickly running around in the sun...

Sailor's quick-dry method was to roll in freshly mowed grass clippings.

How predictable. Should've seen that coming.

Prairie was thinking along the same lines, as you'll see below...

This pictures is funny to me for two reasons:

1. Prairie's face is squashed into the ground.

2. Augustus is just sitting there, watching in fascination.

NOTHING beats a good roll in grass clippings after a refreshingly cold bath.

Prairie may not be graceful, but she always looks content with how things are...

Wait... maybe her lack of grace is inherited from me.

Just a thought.