Lately.

Obviously I've been absent fromt the blog world for a few weeks now, and here's what's been going on. The week before Thanksgiving I went home to Amory and visited my family and friends for the week. It was absolutely wonderful to spend some time with them and seeing my sweet little hometown—especially having been away from everyone for so long.

The next week my parents came out to Austin. I took them to a few of my favorite restaurants and places, then we packed up and drove back to Mississippi. 

Then, on Monday I started my new job in Birmingham (er—Helena, to be exact) and it's been wonderful! As you can tell, things have been crazy and overwhelming, but so exciting. I may not have furniture, or anything really, in my new place, but I'm already enjoying it. Added bonus, Mr. Burton and I are going to get to be in the same city for a whole month!

 I can't begin to express how happy it has made me to move back to the South. There just isn't much like it. 

Sweet Southern Stories

A few years ago, I stumbled across a book called The Sugar Queen while I was wandering through a bookstore one afternoon. It was a strange, southern story that I loved for some reason, written by a woman from Asheville, North Carolina named Sarah Addison Allen. After that one, I read two of her other books, Garden Spells and The Girl Who Chased the Moon. This weekend, I finally decided to read her most recent book, The Peach Keeper. It's been a while since I've read one of her books, but they always make me happy and slightly homesick from their southern charm. Now that I've officially read all of her books, I'm looking forward to the next one she writes. I do recommend all of her books, though I can't really decide which one I liked the most. I guess I'll have to read them again.

"Coffee, she'd discovered, was tied to all sorts of memories, different for each person. Sunday mornings, friendly get-togethers, a favorite grandfather long since gone, the AA meeting that saved their life. Coffee meant something to people. Most found their lives miserable without it.

Coffee was a lot like love that way."

The Little Things

On the way home from work, I decided to try out another little coffee shop for a Friday night treat. I stopped at Bennu coffee and tried the Pride & Prejudice mocha. So good. 
(I also spotted a funny little mural across the street from Bennu)

But the best part of this lovely Friday evening was coming home to find a package from my sweet mama in my mailbox. She sent me two issues of the Mississippi arts and entertainment review (one with good ol' Elvis on the front) and the newspaper from my hometown. 

It's the little things, y'all.