I miss Charlotte a lot lately. Rob and I both follow Not Just Coffee on Instagram and they posted about now being open 7 days a week at the location in our old neighborhood. On Sundays we would wake up in South End and wish that we could walk to the dog-friendy NJC with Ender, but we'd have to leave him at home and go to the Uptown location at 7th Street Public Market. South End Charlotte really is something special, and I have such great memories of taking Ender on long walks along the Rail Trail every day, often with a coffee in hand.

Ender and I are going to his first training session later this morning. He's always needed some work, but since we were living in our own house with a big yard all summer I forgot how quirky he can be. He's really been pulling me on the leash lately, and the squirrels in our neighborhood are going to drive him crazy. He also barks at people sometimes and it always makes me feel like a bad dog owner. I know it's going to be a lot of work, but I'm looking forward to meeting with the trainer and getting started.

Halloween doesn't strike me as a holiday that could make you feel lonely, but this year it kind of does. I talked to my great friend and college roommate, Caroline, on the phone this weekend for an hour and she was getting ready to go to a Halloween party at a friends' house. We had a really low key weekend which was much needed after all the traveling I've been doing, but at the same time I couldn't help but wish that we were on the East Coast getting ready to meet up with a bunch of our friends, whether they're in Charlotte or Roanoke or Richmond.

It takes so long to adjust to a new place--I keep reminding myself how much I missed Minneapolis when we first moved to Charlotte. I guess patience isn't a virtue I was blessed with.

Photo by Rémy Thurston.

Happy Friday! I'm so excited to have a weekend at home with nothing to do. It's supposed to rain all weekend, so we're just going to lay low and hopefully finish unpacking the last of the boxes, hang up some artwork, and cuddle our pup (although I think he wants to go to the dog park, so hopefully we'll get a few hours of dry weather).

I feel like I've been in catch-up mode since I got back from my work trip to Sonoma, and unfortunately one of the things I caught is a little cold. It's been nice to sleep in and take it easy this week but I still have lots to do, and I can't wait to share some photos from our La Crema event with you next week!

Before I sign off for the weekend, I wanted to share just a few links with you for your Friday afternoon reading (and listening!) pleasure:

• I'm a huge fan of all things Pentatonix, so it's no wonder this song gave me feelings.
• Loved reading Annie's recap of our weekend together.
• Just bought these booties in black and I'm obsessed. They were just $30!
• Doing a little Halloween reminiscing this weekend, as I always do.

What are you up to this weekend? I hope you have a good one!

My brother and I have been best friends for as long as I can remember. Sure, I think that at one point in elementary school he may have knocked out one of my baby teeth--I just can't remember if it was on purpose or not. Either way, he has always been one of the most important people in my life. 

And we've been through a lot together. Lots of good stuff--from Roanoke Catholic to Longwood University, new jobs, big dreams, several music albums and one cookbook. And some bad stuff too, which can really stick to you.

Our parents broke up.

Our mom got cancer.

We left the house.

But we held on to each other.

After all was said and done, things have mostly worked out for us. So, this summer--before Rob and I moved across the country--it was time for a tattoo. To remind us who we are, who we were, where we're going.

And that we'll always have each other.