National Ag Day

Happy #NationalAgricultureDay, y'all! It seems my entire life was built around agriculture. I was born in rural southern Ohio, in a small town (village, actually) that is literally surrounded by row crops. I remember being younger and sitting on our front porch watching the combines drive by, going from one field to the other. I remember passing the sprayers on the highway and thinking they were something from the movie Star Wars. Although my parents weren't farmers, my grandpa was. Growing up there was always cattle (until they hit the market), tons of chickens (always fresh eggs), 4-H hogs during the spring and summer, a garden full of vegetables and baling hay in the summer. Since I was younger, my family was always involved with 4-H, an educational program for youth to help build skills like responsibility and hard work with hands on projects. 4-H was literally a family affair for us. My parents were advisors for our club, as well as mentors for our projects. My Mam (grandma) would always come down to our house during the summer to help my sister and I with our sewing projects and my Papaw (grandpa) always helped us with our livestock projects. Since my mom was a home economics major in college, she was also able to help us with our sewing and nutrition projects. During the summers we would spend every Sunday weighing and washing hogs while enjoying pizza from Little Caesars. I learned at a young age that although my pigs were my pets, they were also my food. While in 4-H, I literally met lifelong best friends. We would spend weekends cleaning out cattle stalls or riding four wheelers through the pastures, and when fair time came along the entire week was dedicated to hanging out with our friends, as long as we weren't tending to our animals. ;) Fair week turned into livestock judging contests. Spending an hour or so in a truck just so we could go evaluate different types of animals. As I got older, I knew my 4-H career would be ending once I left for college. I ended up choosing a major at a school that specialized in agriculture, basically so I could still be involved somehow with my "4-H roots". Every classmate and friend I made my first year away at school was essentially just like me. We all had similar backgrounds; 4-H, FFA, farming, and a passion for "feeding the world". After a change of my major, I felt like I finally found my calling with my new chosen major: agricultural communication. Now that doesn't mean I go out whispering to corn or talking to cows, agricultural communicators are more than that. We're the ones bridging the gap between consumers and producers. I like to think we're sort of the middle man, the ones who know all the nitty gritty details of the agricultural industry but can tell the farmer's story when they just can't form the story themselves. My time at Ohio State's agricultural college, the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, taught me so much. I was still involved in clubs and organizations that focused hard on the agricultural industry. I completed internships that were focused on promoting agricultural commodities while I worked with the top dawg professionals nationwide. My classes were focused around teaching us to be designers, leaders, storytellers, and communicators. As ag communicators, we wear many hats at our jobs. I traveled to conferences in distant states just to talk and learn from other students who shared the same passion for ag that I did. After graduation, I took my first job with a production company that focused primarily on promoting agricultural commodities. We filmed for numerous commodities nationwide. I've been on ranches in the middle of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, farrowing barns in northwestern Ohio, pastures in the middle of a snowstorm during calving season, oil rigs in the hollers of Pennsylvania, and no access zones of bull pens just to get the shot of collecting semen. (Yep, you read that right!) Although my current job is anything but related to agriculture, the industry is still a part of me. I always cherish the snapchats my friends send me when they're in the fields or at a livestock show. I always take my time when I run by the carriage tour horse stalls in downtown Charleston. I love supporting local farmers, but also support larger "corporation" farms. I don't eat organic, but support those farmers who cater to that lifestyle. I don't buy meat that's "antibiotic free" because honestly, I'd rather eat an animal that was treated if it was sick as opposed to not treated, that's just common animal welfare. And I'd much rather see an animal safe in a barn than living in outside below zero degree Midwest weather conditions. Sorry, Chipotle. I'm a firm believer that farmers and ranchers do care about the food they are producing for the world, because they eat the same food that you do. So here I am, just a small-town rural Ohio kid living the life working at a lifestyle magazine of one of the most tourist destinations in the world. Am I a real life Reese Witherspoon in Sweet Home Alabama or ? Thank you to all of my friends, family, and people I haven't met who dedicate their time/lives providing food to the world. I'll forever share your story!

New Crib, Who Dis

There comes a time in everyone’s life when their landlord tells them they need to move out because their apartment is getting demolished and replaced with a hotel, right? Just me, ok. Back in August when the lease I took over started to expire, I went to my leasing office to let them know I wanted to start paying month to month. That’s when they let me know my wonderfully downtown located apartment would no longer be around. Naturally I began to worry about where I was going to live. At the time, all my summer friends had just gone back to their states for jobs or school and everyone at my work was slowly starting to leave. Being ten hours from home, I was literally alone. Who would help me find somewhere new? I was spoiled by living downtown just off the infamous King Street, so moving anywhere else just wasn’t an option. If I did find somewhere, who would help me move? Numbers of questions filled my mind as I lay awake freaking out over what to do. Luckily it was only August, and I had until May to be moved out. Here we are seven months later, in my new crib, and still downtown. Bless up. My current apartment was a small studio, but lawddddd the amount of stuff I acquired the last few months. Luckily my new South Carolina besties had my back and offered to help me move. I had already been loading my car down with boxes, but there are only so many trips up and down three flights of stairs you can make until you’re like “I’m waiting for the truck.” After a few (ok, more than a few) trips between places, I am FINALLY in my new place. Although most of the place is still covered in boxes and we only have a limited amount of furniture, this new adventure with my brunettes I’m sure will be an exciting one. Casshhh us on Instagram, how ba dah? Also, I appreciate lots of snail mail and the occasional visitor. DM me if ya need my new address!

A Night to Shine

Two years ago I came across the Tim Tebow Foundation. It was right before the foundation had their first annual Night to Shine prom for people with special needs. I knew that I had to attend. I made the two and a half hour drive to the closest church that was hosting one of the proms, where I knew not one person. I’ll admit that I was nervous and scared going somewhere by myself, but I also knew this night wasn’t about me. It was about all the prom goers that would soon be arriving on the red carpet. One year later I recruited my sister to tag along with me to a different church. By the second year, the number of churches that had become hosts for the event had doubled the number from the first year. Although we didn’t know anyone at this church other than ourselves, I was still beyond excited to attend!This year was no different. I had been researching potential churches in the area before I moved to Charleston, just to see if there would be something near my new location. I found a church that was actually a quick, less than ten-mile drive from my office. While this church was quite larger than the previous churches I volunteered at, my excitement was the same. February 10 finally came. Prom night. Like the year before, I recruited my sister to also be a volunteer. She made the ten hour drive, arriving in Charleston two hours before we had to arrive at the church, what commitment! After leaving work, we arrived just in time to be split into groups, take our spot on the red carpet, and put on our paparazzi hats. Every volunteer wore multiples hats that evening. Paparazzi, professional dancers and singers, and most importantly- buddies. We lined the red carpet as our prom goers started to arrive. Everyone was dressed to a T in three-piece suits, crowns, jewels and sequins. We even had Elvis in attendance. Since the church I was buddying at also had an event for children 16 and under, even the little ones were dressed in their ties and fancy dresses.  We’d been greeting guests for about twenty minutes when I spotted the cutest man in a red sweater dancing on the carpet. I’m pretty sure he was even moving it like Bern, my ultimate go-to dance move. As he made his way down the carpet, I could see the excitement on his face when he abruptly stopped beside my sister and held out his arm ready to escort her. He had claimed her as his date for the night! My sister went off to the dance leaving me to hang with my fellow paparazzi friends. A little while later it got darker and colder and I started to wonder if I would become a buddy with someone or not, when next thing I knew I was being paired up with someone. This sweet little blonde was by my side in a cute black dress and sparkly silver flats. When we arrived inside I was instructed that we’d also be hanging out with her best friend and her fellow buddy. The four of us headed off to dinner. The girls chowed down on barbeque while we had a surprise visit from some Disney princesses. After dinner, we hit the dance floor. The girls were hilarious! Always high fiving and doing funny dances. Apparently my dance moves weren’t as cool because I was old! (hehe) When One Direction’s "Best Song Ever" came on, I thought they were going to go crazy. They both started squealing and singing as loud as possible. (not saying I wasn’t doing the same!) The girls loved 1D- especially Harry and Zayn. Earlier in the evening we tried to convince them into doing karaoke, but neither were having it. After 1D played, I think we were slyly able to talk them into singing another song in front of people. So the four of us headed off to the karaoke room! We waited in line listening to others sing songs like “I Got You Babe” “Let It Go” and “Sweet Home Alabama”. Finally it was the girls turn to sing their pick- “Drag Me Down” by 1D. In addition to knowing all the words, they also had some dance moves incorporated into their performance, including a DAB at the end of the song. Another move of mine. Before our night ended, we watched some more friends sing karaoke, popped into the photo booth for some candid shots (the girls threw up the peace signs of course), and we even hit up the main dance floor to bust out some moves. By this time my sister had found us and the girls had ran into some of their friends from the church. Our dance squad grew in numbers! I think the girls started to get embarrassed when I started doing the robot (another old people move). By this time the parentals had arrived and it was time to say our goodbyes. We took more selfies together, did some bro-hugs, and as the girls would say it “peaced out”. Like the previous years, I’m always so thankful to attend events like this and help make someone’s evening that more special. Who knows where I’ll be for next year’s Night To Shine! Every year just keeps getting better and better!

Lowcountry Buckeye

IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR...

I think we can all agree on that? College football season is pretty much my favorite part of when fall starts to hit. However, my love of buckeye football and buckeye tailgates is going to be slightly different this year- I'm living in SEC country.

I still get an "O-H" or "Go Bucks!" when I'm out and about (#buckeyenation), but it's just not going to be the same. I'm so used to tailgates on campus, trips to my beloved Thirsty Scholar (tear), Little Bar outdoor screening of the game, and even finding tickets on the ground giving me a seat inside the shoe itself. Sigh, low key missing the midwest football scene right now. 

However, buckeyes rule the world! Charleston actually has a great OSU alumni club that hosts Ohio State social hours, events and game watch parties. I guess I'm set!

With that being said, Lowcountry buckeyes- this Saturday is the first game watch @ Sports Book of Charleston (4950 Centre Pointe Drive in North Charleston) at NOON! Come out and cheer on the bucks as they play the Bowling Green Falcons!

O-H!

Moving Squad

So I did it! I moved all the way from Columbus, Ohio to the heart of Charleston, South Carolina! I've had conversations (ok, one sentence) with a total of two people since I've been here: a guy at the beach who ask me how to work the parking ticket machine and a counter worker at Panera. Making progress, folks!

I've been able to take evening runs down to the Battery the last two nights, which has been awesome. There's so much to see in this town (hence my bucket list in the last post). I have ventured out of just Charleston a bit for exploring, but not much. Yesterday I was able to make my way to find groceries, which I may have found the beach first. ;) Isle of Palms is amazing and super close to where the grocery store was. There actually wasn't a lot of people out, but the jellyfish were EVERYWHERE! I have honestly never seen so many literally just washed up lying on the beach. I almost felt bad for them, almost.  I did find a Walmart- you can take the girl out of Pike County, but you can't take the Pike County out of the girl! Ha. 

Setting up internet in this town/anywhere I do believe has turned into a headache. What I was hoping for would be a quick "here's your account number, set up a password, log in" has turned into a "you can't access your account until you get your modem in like two weeks." Cool.  So I am internetless, reliving the olden days by watching DVD's. Currently rewatching the first season of Gossip Girl, again. Except somehow I lost the second disc, so I basically missed a chunk of good drama. Sigh. 

My Charleston days have just been spent visiting the beach, stopping in at Target, watching Gossip Girl and going on evening runs. Living the high life, but I love it. 

Move time!

Half way set up.

All done!

Isle of Palms beach. My new hangout. 

My Charleston Bucket List

• Jog to, and around, Colonial Lake
• Watch the Citadel’s Friday afternoon parade
• Go to a Charleston Battery game
• Watch the sunrise on Folly Beach
• Take a sunset Harbor Tour
• Take sailing lessons
• Eat at a 5 star restaurant
• Picnic in Marion Square
• See a show at the Windjammer
• Live on King Street
• Eat oysters five ways
• Participate in glow yoga on the beach
• Explore the streets south of Broad
• Go on a haunted jail tour
• Learn how to throw a cast net
• Run the Ravenel Bridge
• Learn how to surf
• Enjoy brunch 
• Enjoy cocktails with a view of Breach Inlet at the Boathouse.
• Reset your inner clock to island time with a round of golf at Wild Dunes. 
• People watch from the porch while you dig into a burger at Poe's.
• Explore the island's military history at Fort Moultrie.
• See where one of the signers of Declaration of Independence lived at the Charles Pinckney House. 
• Kayak or paddleboard down Shem Creek into the Charleston harbor.
• Discover history at Boone Hall Plantation. 
• Climb aboard the USS Yorktown and other historic vessels at Patriots Point. 
• Stroll through the 943 acres of Palmetto Islands County Park. 
• Take a picture of the Morris Island Lighthouse.
• Enjoy the ocean breeze while you dine at Rita's Seaside Grille. 
• Practice your casting skills on the Folly Beach Pier. 
• Watch the tide roll in while you eat at BLU.
• Take a fishing charter for a fun day out on the water. 
• Indulge in some retail therapy on King Street. 
• Sample some local seafood at The Ordinary. 
• Tour the Edmonston-Alston House
• Spend Saturday morning at the farmer's market on Marion Square.
• See Rainbow Row. 
• Take a picture of the iconic pineapple fountain at Waterfront Park. 

• Walk through the Nathaniel Russell House. 
• Cheer for the Charleston Riverdogs at Joe Riley Stadium. 
• Go shopping for local crafts, sweetgrass baskets, and clothing at the City Market. 
• Walk along the Battery. 
• See Charleston from a new perspective on a boat. 
• Read a book in White Point Gardens. 
• Take a tour of the Old City Jail. 
• Give into your sweet tooth with the creative flavors at Glazed Doughnuts.
• Enjoy some locally sourced food at Husk. 
• Learn about antebellum Charleston and the slaves who built the city at the Old Slave Mart Museum. 
• Walk through the Unitarian Church's graveyard, which is purposefully allowed to be overgrown.
• See where one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence lived at the Heyward-Washington House.
• Take a peek into the Aiken-Rhett House, which has been unchanged since the 1850s. 
• Take a boat tour out to Fort Sumter. 
• Learn about the scary side of Charleston with a nighttime ghost tour. 
• Visit Charleston's largest home, the Calhoun Mansion. 
• Get up close and personal with some sharks at the South Carolina Aquarium. 
• Experience theatre in a historic setting at the Dock Street Theatre. (took a little mini private tour here one night!)
• Take a horse and buggy tour of the historic peninsula.
• Peek into the Circular Church, and then walk through the graveyard.
• Visit McLeod Plantation. 
• Catch the latest indie film at the Terrace Theatre. 
• Learn how tea is grown, harvested, and processed at America's only tea plantation. 
• Marvel at the massive 2,000-year-old Angel Oak. 

• Discover a new favorite wine at Irving House Vineyards. 
• Sample locally made Sweet Tea Vodka at Firefly Distillery. 
• Spend the day at Magnolia Plantation
• Take a tour of Drayton Plantation. 
• Stroll the grounds of Middleton Plantation before eating at the onsite restaurant. 
• Learn about Charleston's early history at Charles Towne Landing.

• Be apart of the Break Dance show in Marion Square (was apart of the show twice)

• Eat dinner on Sullivan's Island (on the beach)

Additional NON CHARLESTON things:

• Visit The Vampire Diaries town, Mystic Falls. (it's filmed in GA!)
• Go to a Braves game (bonus if they're playing the Reds!)
• Take place in breaking the record for World's Largest Sweet Tea

Recipe: Ho Ho Punch

Ho Ho Punch is perfect for your Christmas/Holiday get together!!

-1 bottle of chilled pink champagne 
-1 package of frozen strawberries 
-1 2 liter of Ginger Ale

And there ya go! I made this for a holiday party and it was gone an hour into the party. Depending on how big your party is, you may need to double up on your supply! Enjoy!