Alabama Surprise

A Week in Alabama

Lately I’ve been craving slower moments, the kind where you’re not rushing between tasks or endlessly scrolling, but simply spending time with the people you love.

Last week I booked a very last-minute trip to Alabama to visit my parents, my brother and sister-in-law, and my niece. What started as a slightly chaotic travel attempt turned into one of those simple, sweet weeks that remind you how good it feels to be present with family.

Here’s a little look at the trip.

The Travel Attempt

After finishing my 9–5 on Friday, I headed straight to the airport hoping to make it to Alabama on standby. It felt a little spontaneous and adventurous - the kind of travel plan that either works out perfectly or not at all.

The first flight was completely full. The second option ended up being canceled altogether.

By 8pm, my husband was picking me up outside the airport while I walked out with my backpack, having already checked my suitcase and accepted defeat for the evening. Sitting in the passenger seat on the drive home, I did what I had been trying to avoid all along - I opened my phone and bought a ticket for the next morning.

Sometimes surrendering to the plan is the easiest way forward.

A Perfect Spring Day

Buying the ticket ended up being the right call.

The next day unfolded into one of those simple spring days you wish you could bottle up and revisit later.

We started with lunch at The Salt Factory before heading to a nearby you-pick tulip farm. The weather was beautiful, warm sunshine and rows of colorful flowers stretching across the fields.

Walking through the tulips with family felt peaceful in the kind of way that slows everything down for a little while. My niece ran through the rows in her tiny overalls and rain boots, wearing heart-shaped sunglasses like a little icon in the making.

One of the best surprises was that the farm let us keep the tulip bulbs we pulled while picking flowers. They cut and wrapped the blooms and packaged the bulbs separately so we could plant them later this summer and hopefully watch our own tulips pop up next year.

Little Stops Along the Way

The rest of the week was filled with the kind of small adventures that only seem special when you’re with family.

We made a quick run to Lowe’s, grabbed lunch at Tupelo Honey, and wandered through a cute little local market where I ended up finding a chocolate mint plant for $5 and a few traveler-sized soaps for just $1 each. They’re perfect for traveling, and I always love supporting little local businesses when I can.

There were also the inevitable Trader Joe’s and Costco runs, where I somehow managed to leave with a tiny olive tree for only $9. I couldn’t resist.

On the way home we stopped at Buc-ee’s to fill up on gas, and I grabbed a few of my husband’s favorite treats - including Buc-ee’s Overbites - so I could surprise him when I got back.

Sometimes the best parts of visiting family are the simplest things: running errands together, wandering through little shops, and finding small treasures you didn’t expect.

My Mom’s Little Free Library

One thing I absolutely have to mention is my mom’s beautiful handmade Little Free Library.

My dad built it for her, complete with stained glass doors, and it sits outside stocked with great books for the neighborhood. It’s one of those little details that perfectly reflects who they are - thoughtful, creative, and always sharing with others.

It’s honestly one of the prettiest things I’ve ever seen.

An Antique Feature

Another thing that always stands out when I visit my parents is my mom’s incredible eye for design and her very one-of-a-kind vintage style.

I quietly snapped a few photos around their house to share, though they hardly do it justice. Everywhere you look there’s something interesting - stained glass catching the light, quirky bits of taxidermy (including Justin Beaver and Mooselini), delicate mourning jewelry, beautifully framed oil paintings, and vintage doors that feel like they’ve lived a hundred lives before landing here.

It’s the kind of home where every piece has a story.

Honestly, I could feature something different every time I visit.

A Little Thrift Haul

Of course, there was some thrifting along the way.

I found a serving tray frame that I’m planning to restore and use to display cookbooks on our kitchen counter, along with a few clothing pieces that I’m planning to dye black and give new life to. I also scored a leather Brighton belt and two lace curtains that I think will look perfect over our kitchen sink window.

Favorite Finds

Some of my favorite thrifted pieces from the trip ended up being vintage gold sunglasses, a brass candelabra, a mid-century brass lamp, and unsurprisingly lots and lots of books.

I love how thrifting turns travel into a bit of a treasure hunt. Every place has different pieces waiting to be discovered.

A Little Hair Refresh

While I was there, I also did something I hadn’t done in three years… I got a haircut!

I decided to try curtain bangs for the first time, and later my mom grabbed some kitchen scissors and helped me trim a few wispy pieces to soften them up.

Honestly, there’s something very exhilarating about letting your mom cut your hair in the bathroom.

Heading Home

By the end of the week, I was heading back home with a second suitcase full of books, thrifted treasures, snacks for my husband, and a handful of really sweet memories.

Trips like this remind me how much I value the quiet moments with family - the errands, the wandering, the everyday things that don’t seem exciting until you realize how much they mean.

Sometimes the best kind of travel isn’t about going somewhere new.

Sometimes it’s just about going home.