Allie


Thursday, August 16

where i come from...

Since I moved from Texas to California five years ago, I often reflect on the negative during my time as a Texan; dwelling on why I left and how I'll never live there again. I forget about all of the things that make my hometown, Colleyville, Texas, special and unique. Thank you, Erin, for reminding me to remember and I hope you all enjoy a glimpse into my childhood!

...Tex-Mex food flows like the queso which can be found on almost any menu.
...Friday nights are spent at the local high school's football games [just like the TV show].
...gentlemen open doors for you and flowers are a common gift on the first date.
...you can't go to the grocery store without running into at least three people you know.
...kids walk to Braum's for soft serve yogurt in the summer and relish in "snow days" (read: ice days) in the winter.
...there's an entire restaurant [Babe's] that only serves chicken fried chicken & chicken fried steak [and all of the sides, of course].
...you may not have a beautiful beach or mountains outside of your window but you'll have acres of land to enjoy because the real estate is so inexpensive.
...most of your friends drive giant oversized trucks.
...you have to drive outside of the county to buy hard liquor [this may have changed since I left].
...competitive cheerleading [like Bring It On] is not only absurdly popular but also a sport.
...people say ya'll... a lot.
...strangers can instantly become your new best friends.
...people are proud to call themselves Texans.

{PS: Don't forget about this little friend!}

44 comments:

Anonymous said...

Colleyville sounds lovely!!

Cassandra said...

I love going to the store and knowing that chances are ill run into someone I know. Small towns do have benefits! I love queso. I wish my small town had it on every menu too!

Celeste said...

So cute! I must say I was a reluctant Texan, but there are a lot of charming things about this place. Although I definitely would prefer California! I don't blame you for never coming back!

Kalie said...

Why did you have to drive outside the county to buy hard liquor?! We had liquor stores that would sell under the counter on Christmas, etc. when there were supposed to not be alcohol sales!

Danielle said...

Oh this linkup is a great idea! I may have to do that soon!

Kristin said...

What a great idea to remember the positive of your hometown! I love the part about strangers becoming your new best friends and that men all open the door for you.- Sounds like a great place (even if you WERE happy to leave!) :-)

Allie said...

Love this series!!!

Alyssa said...

I've ALWAYS wanted to visit Texas, I'm so jealous that you grew up there, it seems so charming. As a northerner, I really love Southern accents!


-Alyssa
The Glossy Life

Erin said...

Ahh I am SUCH a Northerner but have always wanted to visit Texas! I feel like I was a southerner in my past life. I want flowers on a first date and could only dream of growing up in a place where cheerleading actually counted. I was obsessed with cheering and it was absolutely nothing in my hometown. Thanks for linking up! Glad you enjoyed it :)

Tiffany said...

I super love Friday Night Lights. This all sounds so foreign to me, growing up in the burbs.

xix said...

Is it a small town? It sounds so quaint and beautiful - I especially like that people say "ya'll" ( I love it when it's drawled out, for some reason ) and that you know so many people in the town. It really fosters community.
Wonderful post!

♥ xixia | thisisxixia.com

Anonymous said...

This sounds like the coolest, nicest place to live. I wish I could visit!

http://www.teenyhippie.com/

Anonymous said...

What a sweet town! I love the idea of football on Friday nights but honestly within a 10 mile radius, there are at LEAST 13 high schools. It's just doesn't have the small town appeal at all!

Evani
simplyevani@gmail.com

ROBOTXY said...

this post makes me question why i moved back to texas. actually...i've been asking myself that for a year now. it's hard to fit in when everyone's virtually the same. i'll be in SD on Monday. 4 days! excited to see you.

Lindsey L said...

I've never been to texas, but this post makes it sound like a great place to raise a family!

Allie said...

it's not EXACTLY beautiful but it is pretty communal! thansk for reading :)

Anonymous said...

TX is on my list of places to go. And I just love southern manners. =]

Ariel Tyler Henley said...

I think I need to move there. :)

A Texas Girl in California said...

I am going to need to bookmark this so I can remind myself all the good in Texas. Thanks!

Stacy said...

I keep meaning to ask if you still say yall? I don't think I could ever escape it! Great post, Allie!

Sheena Rae said...

Babe's would probably be one of my favorite places to eat! I LOVE chicken friend steak and just had a cfs sandwhich for lunch! Thanks for stopping by my blog!

SallyParadise said...

I was your neighbor. I am from Grapevine, and reading this made me smile:)

Allie said...

no way!! that makes me happy :)

Nicole Marie said...

i love this. always a good reminder to look at the positives in whatever situation... but still move forward and be somewhere that you're happy

Merill C. said...

Love this post Allie. Missin ya from Colleyville! The liquor thing has definitely changed. There's a SUPER cheap liquor store right off of 26 across from the Sonic like the next intersection down from your old house.

Mia @ The Chronicles of Chaos said...

You had me at "Tex Mex food". ;) Thanks for sharing!

Brook said...

I think I need to visit Texas and see a few of these things you mention lol. I live in Michigan (boring) and haven't really traveled far outside of our state border and I am 23, sad I know! Heck even California where you are living I want to visit!

Sam | ashore said...

Allie, I always seem to forget your from Texas since you've made so many cities really your home (... a skill I definitely admire.) All that land sounds like a special place. And flowers on a first date? now that's just something. I want to see Texas so badly!

Sam | ashore said...

p.s. the graphic you made for this post is fantastic!

Unknown said...

It's funny how your views of your small country town change over time. When I finished school at 17 I wanted to get the hell out of the hole that I grew up in which was a small aussie town with 1000 students in it.

Now I can't wait to move back there and get married and give my children the upbringing that I had.

I also wrote one today...I'd love for you to check it out.

http://unspokenconversationsbykirstyarnold.blogspot.com.au/

MacK @ SoulMakes said...

Neato! I'd love to visit Texas one day :)

Samantha said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog! I have always wanted to visit Texas and seeing you describe home like that makes me want to visit even more!
I like that you're from a real life Friday Night Lights kinda town and that cheerleading is taken very seriously! In Canada we do not put that much emphasis on sports.
I also like that you mentioned there are real southern gentleman! Sounds very nice!

Sara Lucinda Bell said...

I love this! My family is from Texas and this reminds me of so much of it!

Tracy said...

lovely!!!

kristen said...

shut up! i am from colleyvile tx!! haha! that was just so fun! i just found you from sometimes sweet! that is fantastic. I bet we crossed paths a few times!! just love this!

kristen said...

shut up! i am from colleyvile tx!! haha! that was just so fun! i just found you from sometimes sweet! that is fantastic. I bet we crossed paths a few times!! just love this!

Rachel said...

Loved this post - I love hearing about other peoples home towns, especially as I'm a Brit, the whole of America is 'different' in my eyes!

Anonymous said...

It's always nice to reminisce. You should do a "where i want to go..." post :)

Katherine said...

that's awesome! i love doing posts when i visit back home because i get to show all my favorite things from my hometown

<3 katherine
of corgis and cocktails

Eliza :: Case Study said...

I'm so curious! - How did you make those letters with the image? That's so cute! xoxo, eliza

Allie said...

thank you! my friend tori (http://toribaldridge.blogspot.com/) taught me! here's what she said on how to make it in photoshop:

"It's called a clipping mask! Open a new blank document, add a layer with your image, then add a layer with the text you want. Once you get your text move the image layer to the top so the text doesn't show. Have the image layer selected then go to "layer"->"create clipping mask". Then you're free to move your text around with the image inside!

Jess said...

So maybe this is really random.... BUT do you like The Rocket Summer? I mean, Bryce Avary is from Colleyville too, so I just assume that everyone there loves The Rocket Summer... hehe.
And then maybe you have no idea what i'm talking about, so I shall just move on by saying, that I grew up in San Diego! I hope you love it there because I did! I live in the SF area now, but I still miss it sometimes.

I just found your blog and I think you are wonderful!

xoxo jess

Dog Problems

Allie said...

thank you SO much jess! im heading over to your blog now. of COURSE i like the rocket summer!!! they played many a shows in colleyville but sadly i never went to one. i absolutely LOVE sd but i spent two summers in sf so i kiiiindaaa miss sf too!

Kasey Lynne said...

Why did you ever leave?!?! ;)

Texas is one of the top places to visit one day!