Small Town Living

1.27.2014

This weekend my mom and I made a little road trip to North Alabama to visit my grandmother for her birthday. My grandmother lives in Florence, the same town where I was born and raised until I was about seven years old. I love Florence. In fact, for years I was convinced that I would move back to Florence after college to start my (adult) life. The town itself is precious. Downtown is full of historic buildings and local boutiques. There is a little diner in the heart of downtown that has been around for many years. In fact, it's kind of a tradition to eat lunch at that little diner anytime we are in town.

We spent the day Saturday shopping downtown at the most adorable little boutiques I've ever seen. I bought a few outfits for upcoming wedding showers, and we even found a dress for my grandmother to wear to the wedding (75 days to go!). I love the occasional get away back to my original hometown, but if I were to be honest, I could never see myself settling down there anymore.

You see, I like a fast pace lifestyle. I like meeting up for happy hour after work. I like having multiple malls within a fifteen mile radius from my house. These are all things that Florence is most definitely not known for. In fact, I think they have one bar in the entire city. One. Even more confusing, there is a fairly large university in the middle of the city. What the hell do these kids do for fun?!

At one point I saw my life panning out in the small town of Florence, Alabama, but these days I can't see Steven and I starting our life and raising our kids anywhere except for Birmingham. It's my home, and I love everything about it. 
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16 comments:

  1. I feel that way about my hometown! I would have loved to raise kids there, but it's just so in the middle of nowhere. And my city born husband would go absolutely crazy with the small town life!! I can't imagine us ever moving back there- but I do love visiting.

    Glad you had a good visit with your grandma :)

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  2. I love going back to visit where I grew up! That must have been so fun! Your grandma is gorgeous.. as is you and your Mom!! =)

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  3. Y'all are just precious! And I love the thought of a hometown such as Florence - how amazing! Such a blessing to be able to return and have the memories just flooding back. Happy belated birthday to your grandmother! :)

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  4. Funny how we change our prospective on where we want to be as we get older, isn't it? I have moved around so much, it was hard for me to envision where I would end up. Pittsburgh is my "home" because that is where I was born and raised, but Atlanta is where I lived the longest and now I am here in Birmingham...if you would have told me 10 years ago I would have bought a house in a little town north of Birmingham, I would have laughed at you and said yeah right!!!! Don't hold your breath!

    Chris's whole family lives here, and my parents and sister all live within an hour of here and I love that. If I would live anywhere else, it would be back in Atlanta...but I am really growing to love the 'Ham!

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  5. I think it's interesting to read your perspective. I've lived in Birmingham and didn't like it at all. We may very well call Florence home someday as it's undeniably my favorite city in Alabama. Don't worry; there is more than one bar. People also happy hour at the restaurants downtown or at the Marriot. Billy Reid has really brought a lot of top-notch talent and entrepreneurs into the city. To each their own!

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  6. ugh I live in a small town and hate it!! you are right on they are nice to visit but fast paced is the way for me too!

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  7. 75 days!! EEK! It'll be here before you know it. Yay for shopping too!

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  8. Glad you had a great time visiting with family! It is always good to go home, but I totally agree a bigger city is more my style!

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  9. Isn't it funny how your dreams and plans change. I moved from Upstate New York to Oregon when I was 15 and thought for sure I would one day be a New Yorker again. Now I could never see myself back there. Just goes to show that you don't have to have it always all planned out! :)

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  10. I love this post!!! I have lived in a small town my entire life but moved to the City a couple of years ago, and my heart is just so torn between the two of them. I think as I get older, a small town just seems more appropriate!

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  11. I love small town living! I grew up a few miles out of a middle of nowhere, population 3000, town. More than anything I want to move to a small town again to settle down.

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  12. This is an adorable post! Thank you for sharing :)

    http://neatly-packaged.blogspot.com/

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  13. you 3 definitely resemble. and what a great thing to do. Go back home where you born and raised. home sweet home huh? that's always nice. I know you enjoyed yourself.

    pinkowl07.blogspot.com

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  14. What a fun day! Birmingham has some really cute spots. One of my good friend's mom owns the store ETC in Mountain Brook. Go check it out!

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  15. Sounds like such a fun weekend!!!

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