NC Edition: Five On Fri... Er Saturday (Part II)

Well, kids. It's been an exhilarating week here in my hometown of You-Never-Heard-Of-This-Place, North Carolina. Up until yesterday, the weather was lingering around a perfect 65 degrees and then I think the sun sensed my Floridian presence and scooted the temp up to 82. C'est la vie.

Sans the missing my husband part, this week has been absolutely golden. Visiting with family, reuniting with old (best) friends, talking to teenagers about why they should and shouldn't enter the life of an actor, eating Mama's chili. It doesn't get much better. I'm not entirely sure how I'm supposed to narrow this sweet September vacay down to five things. But, goshdarnit, I'm gonna try.

// Airports //
For about 2 years now, I've been nursing a hefty fear of flying. I'm kindof getting over myself now. The truth is, I could live in an airport. Just don't put me on the plane. On Tuesday morning, I discovered the best cure for plane anxiety: pumpkin spice coffee from Wawa and Tina Fey's book, Bossypants. Oh. Mah. Gawd. Prepare to bust a gut, split a side, laugh out loud, and do a spit take on the passenger to your left. Also, Charlotte likes to greet you with an overpowering wave of Cinnabon spice when you arrive, which is a pleasant way of saying, "We're a great city! Come get fat with us!"

// Friendly Reunions //
Anyone who knows me knows I am distinctly wretched at keeping in touch. I detest talking on the phone. I am a wild homebody (oxymoronic, much?). And I have a huge guilt complex. So, when I havent spoken to you in six months, I assume you are mad at me and I stop making the effort.

But, when I found out my best friend since kindergarten was in the same place I was for the first time in nearly three years, I 'bout flipped a lid. Thusly, the pizza outing and impromptu Krispy Kreme drop-by commenced. Per the request of mi madre, we were able to visit our old high school theatre teacher and give a 2 hour Q & A session to his students. I've done actor workshops before, but these were some of the most wide-eyed, inquisitive young actors I've encountered in a while. And as most youngsters, we were forced politely asked to sing for the class. ;)

// Seesterly Love //
My sister is my rock. Even when we don't chat for weeks, dare I say months (lest we forget my aforementioned communication skills), we can always return to the all familiar state of inside jokes and overall good times.

Taylor and I never take things too seriously as you will see in this series of Vines we took at Target yesterday...

• Halloween Costumes Are Weird This Year
• Hot Dog Costume Variations

I love you, Taylor and I love our delightfully strange senses of humor.

// Nostalgia //
Without fail, coming home always takes me back to a simpler (albeit more homework-laden) time. Like, when I'd come home from college on Fall break and sleep for 13 hours at a time, shoulders feeling light as air from completed term papers and daunting exams.

Often, I like to revisit 20-year-old Candace when I'm home. Mama makes her heaping batch of awesome chili. I get to cuddle with James Bond, my first ever college cat (that my parents sweetly adopted when actor life took over). And I totally raid my sister's bathroom and closet and pretend I'm fifteen. You guys! Twilight Woods! Teen deodorant! Prince Brand Hand Salve that I never even knew existed! Totally, for sure!

// iOS 7 //
Kids. iOS 7 has arrived and I am in love. Everyone's got their panties in a wad about how different it is. But, the iPhone overall software look hasn't changed much since its installment in 2007 so I. am. on. board. Plus, their are buckets of new alert and ringtone so I am kindof losing my mind. They're s'cute! In love am I.

This is but a morsel of my glorious week and I look forward to sharing more of my NC exploits with you soon! I'll be back in super hot Florida (husband reunion time!) late tomorrow night. How was YOUR week been, darling people?

Linking Up With:

5 On Friday | High Five For Friday

Sunday Social: Witches And Sisters And Fruit Snacks, Oh My!

Sunday already? Where'd the weekend go? Golly gee. Time for a little Sunday Social action!

/ What are 3 items you can’t live without on a daily basis /
iPhone, iPhone, iPhone. That's right, kids. I am a walking stereotype struck by the modern day technology epidemic.

/ What is your all time favorite book? Why? /
Without a doubt, The Witches by Roald Dahl. It's the idea of a children's tale being told almost mockingly in a muddled adult fashion. It's a terrifyingly hilarious and brilliant situation. It's a sweetly cynical and viciously charming little read.

“She might even be your lovely school-teacher who is reading these words to you at this very moment. Look carefully at that teacher. Perhaps she is smiling at the absurdity of such a suggestion. Don't let that put you off. It could be part of cleverness. I am not, of course, telling you for one second that your teacher actually is a witch. All I am saying is that she might be one. It is most unlikely. But--here comes the big 'but'--not impossible.” 

/ What is something you’d like to accomplish before the end of 2013? /
Paying off my credit card... Fie on you, finances!

/ If you could go back and relive any year of your life which year would it be? /
Age 9. 1995. A very good year. Mom was pregnant for most of it and it was a big honkin' party on Christmas Eve-Eve-Eve (that's the 22nd of December, mind you) when my little dark-haired, curly-headed sister arrived.

AHH. Look how cute my little sister is! She's 17 now but she's STILL just as cute. :)

AND I just made this fancy connection: this is the year that my dad tried to force me on Disney's Hollywood Tower of Terror where I proceeded to have a panic attack in refusal. Who knew that 16 years later, it would be not only my favorite ride on Earth, but also the place Timothy would propose to me? EVEN FANCIER? That proposal day was exactly two years ago today! Aug. 4, 2011.

Other good things about 1995: Billy Madison, A Goofy Movie, Clueless, Toy Story, Kiss From A Rose by Seal, Total Eclipse of the Heart, and Singled Out. Loving it.

/ What do you wish people knew about you without you having to tell them? /
That if they ever want to give me any form of fruit snack or gummy, I will happily accept it.

5 On Friday (8.2.13)

It's Friday! It's August! It's my mom's birthday! Clearly, there's a lot to celebrate. :)

/ My Mama! /
She is a super hero. No, really. She's beautiful, kind, hilariously enthusiastic (especially when it comes to unexpected wildlife while driving), quirky, joyful, unwaveringly supportive, giving, vivacious, and she always knows what I'm thinking. Happy Birthday, Mama. You deserve all the pumpkin pie and daughter hugs in the world. I love you so much!

(That's Mom on the left. Isn't she cute? S'cute!)

/ Thrifting My Face Off /

I have been going thrift store crazy this week. Found some delectable cardigans (to be showcased later this week), a cute shelf, and some whimsical vases for a secret project I'm working on and can't wait to unveil! I even gave our bathroom a sweet little tidy-up. These bowls were 25 cents each. Why does anyone ever go to Pier 1 EVER these days when you can score awesome deals like this? :)

/ House Blend Cafe /

In the midst of my thrifty antics, I stumbled upon a happy accident of a café: the House Blend Cafe in Ocoee, FL. It's quite far from our neck of the woods but I'd be happy to make the trek again and bring the hubs along for an afternoon bite. I ordered their Egg White Spanish Frittata (sans onions) and it was just lovely! I'd like to head back to try the Curry Stew over Rice, their New Orleans Red Beans And Rice, and their Mexican Salad Mondays! To top it off, 100% of their net profit goes to the community. Their slogan is "Eat Good. Do good." Who doesn't love that? Any locals ever been to this little gem?

/ Krystal Burger /

Timothy and I raaaarely eat fast food these days. If we do, the furthest we will go to "fast food" is often a sub shop. However, when I drove past a sweet little Krystal burger joint yesterday, I just had to make a U-turn and surprise my husband with a bag o' burgers after work. To be quite frank, I'm not a big burger person. I enjoy them but hate the inevitable guilt that, without doubt, ensues every time I take that last bite. There's something so alluring about the miniature state in which these burger find themselves. They're like the Honey I Shrunk The Kids of burgers. I've never had a White Castle burger so, WC loyalists will have to let me know if I'm missing out on something better or if both of these burger joints are merely twins with different names.

/ Crayola Doesn't Make A Color For Your Eyes /

I forgot about this little tune by Kristin Andreassen. Before "Cups," there was this. Get some. Best Listening Conditions: Barefoot while driving with the windows down on a sunny day. You're welcome.

Linking Up With:

5 On Friday | High Five For Friday | Back That Azz Up