Well hey there guys. I haven’t forgotten about you, don’t worry. I have, however, moved! Yep, if you didn’t hear it before, well you’ve heard it now. I am now living in Charlotte, the Queen City (more than appropriate. I kid. Ok, maybe not), and as much as I’ve been thrilled to tell you all about it – I have yet to do the telling. Here goes nothing. These are a just a few things I’ve meant to tell you all and yes one of them very much involves how I am forever indebted to Google Maps, hey this girl has got to get around. I’m sure I’ll have way more updates for you later and hopefully they won’t involve map issues, but I can’t make any promises.

1.     The shopping just got really real. With Trader Joe’s in my Google Maps grasp, I have unapologetically fallen in love with everything associated with their brand. In all seriousness though, it just took my love life and all its expectations to another level. $4.99 for a bottle of bubbly? Game changer, total game changer. As far as shopping goes, I have steered clear of South Park Mall in hopes to save my bank account from an utter catastrophic disaster. So far so good, but I can’t vouch for what happens this weekend.

2.     Young people. Everywhere. I’ve always been one to workout in the mornings and every morning I was inevitably surrounded by my dad’s friends at the RAC. I love them, don’t get me wrong, but interacting with a younger crowd was definitely something I was looking for in a city. Well, I definitely got just that. I hit up the Y the other morning and I was surrounded by 20-something-year-olds breaking a sweat before 7am. Totally normal in the Queen City, but not so much in good ole Roanoke, Virginia. *I still love you, Roanoke. Don't be mad!

3.     Everything is named Park. As I’ve been driving around Charlotte, I’ve been challenging myself to not only learn new areas (mostly breweries and wine spots. Shh..), but to learn new areas without Google Maps. :: gasp :: Really though, how did people learn new areas without their iPhone? I know it’s such a first world problem, but without my phone I’d be lost, not realize there are separate Park Roads and still not get into work on time. Pro-tip (coming from a girl who is extremely low on data this month due to maps): As a sneaky way to save data, just look up the directions prior to leaving, screenshot it up and voila you’re set. Bring it on, Verizon. Bring. It. On.

4.     Breweries run the world. In all honesty, I’ve passed at least 7 different breweries during my daily explorations. Oh and I have yet to head to one. This is definitely on my Charlotte to-do list. Fully noted.

5.     I have in fact been diagnosed with homesickness. As I packed my single suitcase for my first month of Charlotte living, my emotions couldn’t have reflected a rickety roller coaster. I was an emotional mess. Moving to a new area when you’re a total homebody is painful, you guys. I miss my dad. I miss my morning RAC workouts. I miss the Kroger that had that really nice wine selection. Hell, I even miss my alterationist and her butterscotch hard candies. As much as I was/am excited about the move, I was filled with nerves as I prepared to ‘start’ over in a new city, much less a new job. As I transitioned from Virginian to North Carolinian (is that even right?), I have to keep telling myself that I’m only 3 hours away – 3 short hours that can most definitely be tackled in 2.5 hours if you’re willing to commit to being a speed racer.

** This post is not in fact sponsored by Google Maps.