Hello everyone!
So for awhile now I've been planning a super exciting trip to Vermillion, Ohio to meet up with a couple of sweet blog readers, Hannah and Krissy. They're both from Pennsylvania but Hannah's family was vacationing here in Ohio for a few days and thought it would be fun to meet up! Vermillion is a cute little beach town about an hour and a half north of where I live, and my father was so sweet to take me up there to spend the afternoon with these lovely ladies.
To tell you the truth, I was absolutely so nervous. I've only met one blog reader before (Claire!) and it was only for a few minutes...not for a whole afternoon! I feel like such a flawed person and was definitely nervous about making a fool or myself. The girls welcomed me with open arms into the most adorable vintage inspired cafe where we had a scrumptious lunch of good ole' American burgers and fries + chit chatting.
We went and explored Vermillion which is right on the edge of Lake Erie and SO beautiful. It's been awhile since I've been near water and sand, and it truly felt like summer sinking my toes into the sand and pretending I was from the famous Notebook scene- 'If you're a bird, I'm a bird.' ♥
After the lake we went exploring downtown amongst pretty flowers and brick lined sidewalks. We went into an Alpaca store and it was erm...interesting! What really caught my fancy was the delicious chocolate store next door that had every kind of sweet you could imagine. I managed to dole out a bit of money for a salted carmel chocolate and bought the girls both a buckeye.
It's weird to think but they (and you all!) don't know what Buckeyes are. Ohio is called 'the buckeye state' because of how many buckeyes we have. They're nuts that grow commonly in trees. Buckeye candies are super popular around here and one of my favorite treats. They look like the nut, but are chocolate and filled with peanut butter. I think the girls liked them well enough ;)
We sat in a pretty gazebo and chatted as multiple trains rushed by...it certainly frightened me because the train tracks in my town are all abandoned (and good thing since I'm always taking pictures there).
To end the heavenly afternoon we went to the ice cream shop that was actually...a...funeral parlor previously! I thought the name 'ice creamatorium' was rather clever, ha. I had seriously the most delicious cup of red velvet ice cream I have ever tasted and left feeling half sick but certainty more than content.
I don't know...I'm just never really happy. But today I was. These girls, even though they're 14 (gosh I feel so old!) were so sweet, so honest, and so real...I don't know, it gave me hope for so many things. That I'm not going to end up being alone and a crazy cat lady. That someday (when I go to Kent, hopefully) I will have friends.
I left the girls with tears in my eyes as corny as it sounds. I just can't explain how appreciative I am of them. Of all of you. Of everything I have. Riding home I reflected how much blogging has changed my life and certainty for the better. It's just been this surreal experience...
Both Hannah and Krissy are Youtubers and filmed portions of our day. If you'd like to see my good old awkward self talk and some rather incriminating pictures of me in an Alpaca hat, I'll make sure to post the link to the video when it's up!
Hope you all had as lovely a day as I did...♥
With much love, Lauren.
P.S. You're probably wondering what the bear and the hat snippet pictures are. Sweet gifts from Hannah's family...they were all too kind to me! x
