Raleigh

You guys, I am in love. IN LOVE. Raleigh is my new favorite city. I've been here since Tuesday and if it weren't for MacKenzie and Jackson being back in Indiana I'd never leave. The people are friendly and the pace of life is a little slower. Folks call me "miss" and often mistake me for a college student. I told you that I was in love.

 

Meanwhile, back at home, MacKenzie is taking full advantage of being the sole lady in Jackson's life for a couple of days. She even got to ride along with him on a work trip the other day. Those two crack me up!

When Mommy isn't home MacKenzie goes to work with her Poppa

Friends, do you remember what Southern food tastes like? Heaven with a side of heart disease and diabetes, that's what. Yum! And getting to wash everything down with sugar water that passes as tea around these parts doesn't make me mad.


Fried chicken, mac-n-cheese, sweet potato fries and the best biscuit ever? Yes, please. Oh don't forget the sweet tea. Diet?! What diet?! :/ :/

I've been at another tax conference held on North Carolina State University's campus which is just gorgeous. IT has mature trees, rolling hills and it just magnificently maintained.

A gorgeous tree on NC State's campus

I snuck into the heart of campus today to hit the bookstore (we'd been here before and gotten t-shirts, but Jackson's got ruined somehow so I wanted to replace it!) and was just blown away by the beauty all around me.

Same tree, different angle, still gorgeous

It helps that the students are not on campus right now (Fall Break) so I had time to really just meander around. We didn't have that luxury last time we made our quick campus visit.

 

I tried something new this trip and signed up for an exercise class package at a place called "Barre 3" here in Raleigh. They had a package of 3 sessions available and since I was here for three nights it just worked out perfectly. I enjoyed meeting some girls my age, getting in a good sweat session and not spending lonely nights in my room. I highly recommend doing something similar if you're ever traveling alone. The girls in my class made such a fuss about welcoming me. It was very sweet. Again, I love Raleigh.

One of the only reasons to leave Raleigh

Jackson was concerned that I'd intentionally miss my flight tomorrow morning so he sent me the cutest photo ever of MacKenzie. :) No worries, I'll go home. For now.