Carolina Beach

We had a ton of packing to do when we got home from our Italy trip, but we wanted to cross off a few more North Carolina bucket list items before our move. Most of our list included places to eat, like biscuits and cinnamon rolls from Sunrise Biscuit Kitchen. YUM! We would pass by every morning on our runs and smell the deliciousness, so on one of our final runs we stopped and threw the food in the bottom of the stroller. Nothing makes you run faster than knowing you have amazing food at the end!

We also wanted to squeeze in one last day trip to the beach. We decided to check out Carolina Beach and it did not disappoint. We had beautiful weather and a happy baby despite the start of what turned into two weeks of a cold+teething. We were so excited to take Theo to the beach for the first time, but he was skeptical about the water and didn't like the crashing waves. During our walk on the beach, Theo was hanging off of Todd's shoulder watching the water to make sure it didn't come up to high. After a while, he warmed up to the water and let Todd put his feet in. Todd and I also built sand castles for him and showed him how to play in the sand. 

I had also wanted to eat at a hole-in-the-wall place with fresh seafood served in buckets. Fortunately Todd made it happen and found the Shuckin' Shack, and it was everything I had dreamed! Our food came out in a tin bucket and we really had to work to get our food. Our bucket included shrimp, oysters, clams, crab legs, and corn.We learned how to shuck oysters and crack crab legs open. Seriously so fun! We made a mess, but it was great! The food smelled and tasted like it had just come from the ocean.

I am going to miss the beaches in North Carolina. The waves may be smaller than the west coast, but the water is warm and everywhere you go feels like the setting of a Nicholas Sparks novel. We are missing our friends and it still hasn't hit us that we aren't going back, but we are excited to get to Houston at the end of the month and settle in to our new home.

-Makenzie

Spring Time in North Carolina

Spring is in full swing in North Carolina and we are loving it! The weather is beautiful here, so we've spent lots of time outside at the park, going on walks, and blowing bubbles (which Theo is still trying to decide if he actually enjoys). 

With graduation, the Tarheel 10, vacations, and a cross country move around the corner, we are enjoying having some relaxing movie days and playing outside. April is going to fly by and moving time is going to be here before we know it. I can't believe that our time in North Carolina is already almost over! I have loved living here and I am really sad to leave, but I'm sure we will love living in Texas. 

Happy Easter weekend!

-Makenzie

Breck and Lexi in North Carolina

I love having visitors, especially these girls! It was so fun showing them around and introducing them to the south. We crammed a lot in and ate a ton of good food! Here are a few photos from their visit:

Ice cream on the porch at Maple View Farm.

Some home cooked, southern food at Mamma Dip's.

Beachin' at Wrightsville Beach.

Lunch at George's on the waterfront in Wilmington.

Southport, everyone's favorite stop!

The Christmas store with the best candy and decorations. It's now one of my favorite shops.

Sad to say good-bye.

We explored and ate like crazy the whole time. Thanks for coming girls!

-Makenzie

Chicken & Waffles

Yep, we did it. We tried fried chicken and waffles. Dame's Chicken and Waffles is famous down here in Durham and going on a Saturday afternoon usually means you will be waiting for a couple hours before getting a table (thank you Josh and Melissa for waiting for us!).

It's an experience, eating chicken and waffles together is an interesting combo especially when you throw in smears and syrups. But if you try it, you have to have at least one bite with the chicken and the waffle. It should be a right of passage for people moving to the south.

{Dame's Chicken & Waffles}

Todd's came with a side of mac & cheese. I was smarter and got the fruit. There's so much food!

-Makenzie

Happenings in North Carolina

North Carolina has been good to us so far. There are so many things to do and places to eat that we have just barely scratched the surface. 

We've been able to go boating a couple of times and learned how to wake board and wake surf. The great thing about North Carolina is that there are lakes everywhere!

We've tried Gigi's cupcakes on Franklin Street, very delicious! They have lots of unique flavors, we tried cookie dough and their popular banana split cupcake. Yum!

We also went to a free movie on the top of a parking garage near Franklin Street. Summer nights here are perfect for outdoor movies. We've also hit up the Planetarium on campus. Movies are only $7 for students. Score!

We also took Todd's mom to see the gardens on Duke's campus. So pretty! Great place for a picnic.

And of course in July we had the Hardy family reunion in Charlotte. Very fun!

Cheers to summertime in North Carolina!

-Makenzie

Oak Island and Southport

The best part about moving to North Carolina and not having jobs yet? You get to go to the beach on a Monday! While the beaches and towns emptied from the weekend Fourth of July festivities, we enjoyed the uncrowded beach and the small town of Southport.

I haven't seen the Atlantic Ocean since I was eight, so I forgot how warm the water is compared to the Pacific Coast. We spent the day at one of the beaches on Oak Island, one of the few pet friendly beaches during the summer. We parked right by the beach and didn't have to pay for parking. Score!

Boston's first trip to the beach. He looks like he's having fun, but he HATED getting in the ocean. I had to drag him during our walk on the beach, I'm pretty sure people thought we were being abusive.

After the beach we headed to Southport. Visiting this small town feels like you're in a Nicholas Sparks movie, probably because at least three of his movies have been filmed here. We even got to visit a few of the sites from Safe Haven. I wish we could have stayed longer but it was SO hot that we were ready to leave. I am planning to come back and stay for a weekend, it's the cutest small town and would be perfect for a weekend getaway.

The shack where Katie works in the movie Safe Haven.

This place is so beautiful, I love all of the boats.

The Fourth of July festival fringe is still up and you can see the same fringe in the Safe Haven movie (we watched the movie when we got home and noticed it).

This is roughly where the shop from Safe Haven was located.

Beautiful place. I couldn't get enough of the boats and docks everywhere. Breathtaking.

-Makenzie

The Big Move to North Carolina

Initially when we decided we would be moving out to North Carolina for Todd to attend grad school, it seemed forever away, but the actual move was a blur! After 35 hours of driving, seven states, and two mountain ranges, we made it to Chapel Hill where we will be living for the next two years.

The drive was long, but so much fun to see our beautiful country along the way! Thanks to my mom, I had someone to talk to the entire way since Todd drove the truck and I had to take the car. It's pretty humid out here so far, but we have been able to enjoy some delicious southern food, like Farm Burger in Ashville, The Q Shack in Durham and the famous boberry biscuits at Bojangles. We also enjoyed watching the fireworks at UNC's stadium, apparently it's one of the top ten Fourth of July celebration's in the nation, who knew?!

We are still getting settled, but we are excited to be here and can't wait to explore our new home. Here's a quick video of our adventure via Clipper. More pics and posts to come soon!

-Makenzie

The Hardys are Moving!

After a year of studying for the GMAT, applications, interviews, and serious amounts of stress, we FINALLY know where we are moving- Chapel Hill, North Carolina! Todd will begin UNC's MHA program in the fall. I'm so proud of all of his hard work and for getting into such an amazing program! We have two months until we move, and no, we have not packed a thing!

Obviously we are stressing a little trying to find an apartment, the best way to move our stuff, and going through all of the extra crap we don't need (which apparently is a lot!). But we are both very excited for the change and to live on the east coast. Be prepared for lots of mini vacations all over the east coast!

We have a lot to get done before we leave: two trips to Colorado, Todd's graduation, the Bolder Boulder, Taylor's mission farewell, a car to fix, weddings... the list goes on and on. Not to mention working on the new Hunter Girls DIY Life blog. If you haven't checked it out, you should. Oh and did I mention Todd's car got stolen? So now we are down to one car which makes things pretty difficult. Please don't take offense if we fall off the grid for a little bit, we have a lot to get done!

From Colorado to North Carolina

September was a a blur for us, we had so much going on and had an amazing month. We went on our first camping trip as a family. It was a spur of the moment after we found out that Todd didn't have to work. Our neighbors invited us to go so we brought the dogs and despite a deflating mattress, had a great time!

Next trip, we headed to Colorado for Ragnar number two! Despite the altitude change, a little rain and another night of getting sick, we loved this race! Less teams meant more space at exchange points, more places to rest and shower and more flushing toilets instead of porta potties. Plus, the views were amazing! I ran 10 miles down Vail Pass for one of my legs and the view was amazing! I could barely walk after the race, but it was so fun!

Finally, at the end of the month we headed to North Carolina for Todd's best friend's wedding. We were able to visit family and attend the wedding. I am now OBSESSED with the east coast even more so than before. We toured UNC and Duke's campuses. All of the trees and lakes are breath taking, and I didn't want to leave! We even tried some delicious southern food (sweet potato tater totes are amazing!).

It was a fun month, but we are ready to settle back into our routine and I am sure our pets are ready for us to be home for a while. Here are some of my favorite pictures from September: