There Is Only One Tree Hill and It's Your Home

Hey y'all its me. I know I have been gone for a few months, but I've been super busy. Plus the past 5 months I have been reading the Harry Potter series for the very first time. That blog post will be coming up very soon with many other exciting things coming! I am very excited about it. Now onto what this post is about, one of my favorite shows One Tree Hill.

One Tree Hill is a show that premiered on the CW in 2003, but I had not seen it until it came out on Netflix years after the show had already ended. A lot of people in my generation created a resurgence of love for the show and if you haven't seen it this is my suggestion you should. It is a great show with love, drama, and fun. I really truly think this show is fantastically made. Sometimes the drama that happens in the show is crazy and probably unlikely, but it is TV! What do you expect?!? The first time I watched it was with my friend Sarah. We randomly choose it on Netflix and immediately fell in love. We binged it together and ever since then we've loved it. Our names in each other's phones are even characters haha. Ever since we watched it in high school, we've wanted to go visit all the sites where the show was filmed. All of the outside locations you see in the show are actual places you can visit in Wilmington, North Carolina. So, after years, we finally did it. Here are my tips and tricks and details on all things One Tree Hill tour.

Here are the spots we visited and my suggestions if you are planning to visit them as well:

Spot one: Tree Hill High
411 N Front St.
Tree Hill High is not a real high school even though we all wish it was. Those scenes were actually filmed at Cape Fear Community College. This was located right by our hotel. We stayed at the Hotel Ballast, which in my opinion was a great place to stay because it was close to everything we wanted to do. We tried to get into the building to explore, but it was closed. If you want to walk the halls, maybe look up times the school is open. It was still awesome to see the school in person, I mean so many intense scenes happened there!!

Spot two: Karen's Cafe
300 North Front St
We all know Karen's Cafe right?! It is where Lucas hung out and Haley worked. Not to forget, Lucas' mom Karen and all her advice she gave right in those very doors! Also, it is once where clothes over bros stood and then when Brooke revived the cafe. SO much happened in that building. We were super excited to see where the magic was made, but unfortunately it is not Karen's Cafe anymore. It is not an outdoor equipment store. It was still cool to be standing on the street where the store used to be. Although, it wasn't Karen's Cafe we knew in our hearts it was and that was enough. Definitely cool to visit!

Stop three: The Dixie Grill
116 Market St
The next day we decided to eat lunch at the Dixie Grill! This is the diner where Sam, Brooke's foster kid, hung out all the time. Many scenes in the show were filmed in here including characters of Brooke and Julian! It was really cool to visit because it is still a running diner and that is where we ate lunch. They had really good food and so much OTH art on the wall. Cool atmosphere and definitely high on the list to visit if you plan on coming to Wilmington!

Spot four: Naley Bench
Along the Riverwalk
"Don't say I never gave you anything?" Remember that famous line Nathan says to Haley in season one? Well I do and I remember where they sat too. That is where we visited. It was along the Riverwalk in downtown and it was such a cool view! It was such a cool thing to visit because a ton of OTH fans wrote sayings and phrases all over the bench. If you plan on stopping by, don't forget a sharpie so you can add some sayings too! Also, the burning boat episode was filmed right near by, so make sure to stop and look at the view!

Spot 4: Shopping
Black Cat Shoppe: 8 Market St
Poodles Island Wear: 18 South Water St Suite 3
Krazy Mike'z: 1 North Front St
There are a couple of shops in downtown Wilmington that sell OTH merchandise. One of the shops is called Black Cat Shoppe. This is the same building that was the "CD Alley" where Chris Keller worked at early in the show. It was cool to walk in and see the layout, it was very recognizable. The other shop we visited was Poodles Island Wear. This was close to the riverwalk and had a few OTH things to choose from. However, our favorite shop was Krazy Mike'z. If you are looking for specifically OTH merchandise, I suggest this one. It had so many t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats and more for all your OTH needs. I bought a shirt and hat from here and my friend bought a hat. It was so much fun.

Spot 5: Peyton Sawyer's House
1901 Chestnut St
We started to go to all the houses in the show. I suggest that you drive to these locations because they are all about a 10 minute drive from each other except for Peyton and Haley's house, which are actually neighbors. Peyton's house was really cool. It looked like someone lived there with a bike sitting out front, but it was immediately recognizable. I could envision the fight between Brooke and Peyton that happen in that very front yard.

Spot 6: Haley Jame's House
1811 Chestnut St
Like I said Haley and Peyton are neighbors. That is a tip to know if you take this tour because we didn't know that and were driving around trying to find it, when it is right next door. Haley's house was really amazing to see because of the iconic scene where Haley and Nathan have their first kiss! I could see it right in front of my eyes, it was amazing! Cute little home that we think someone lived in as well, so just be aware when visiting the homes.

Spot 7: Brooke Davis' House
2314 Tattersalls Dr
Personally, Brooke Davis is my favorite character. Her house is a huge, rich house in a really nice neighborhood. When we arrived we saw a few people in the window, so be aware of people living there. The house was easily the most recognizable for me and it was HUGE! It was so cool to see it in person and be the girl in front of the red door. I was blown away and so excited. Definitely my favorite house out of the bunch that we saw.

Spot 8: Dan Scott's House
1621 Country Club Rd
We stumbled upon the Scott's residence to find a giant truck in the front, so somebody obviously lived there so we weren't not able to see the basketball hoop that Nathan used to play with. We could just see the archway that was visible in a lot of scenes. It was super fancy and big. Nice house to live in for sure. Cool place to visit, just respect the people who live there.

Spot 9: Dan Scott Motors
821 South College Rd
We don't like Dan Scott, but we loved seeing all the different OTH spots and one of those was the infamous Dan Scott Motors. It is where Deb burned Dan to the ground and many other exciting scenes happened there. Now when you visit it, it is a Honda dealership. Still cool to be at the building and know that once Dan worked there. However, Dan deserved the middle finger I gave him :)

Spot 10: Keith Scott Body Shop
19 Covil Ave
Keith Scott is the Scott brother we love and we love the body shop he had in the show. Ironically enough it is still a body shop, just not Keith Scott's. It was super cool that it was still a body shop and they are used to pictures, so definitely give this place a visit. It is a little tight when you pull into the parking lot, but worth it! One of Sarah's favorite things from the show!

Spot 11: Lucas Scott's House
1829 Wrightsville Ave
We were so excited to see Lucas' house and take pictures sitting on his porch, acting like we were getting advice of a lifetime. However, we strolled up to the house and found a private property sign on the window. There was a sign that read 'respect our privacy,' so if you are planning to visit his house just be respectful. We just got a few photos on the sidewalk in front and left. We did not want to disturb the people who lived in the house (how lucky are they though?!)

Spot 12: Peyton and Lucas' Wedding Spot
East Shore Lake Dr
Sorry SPOILER ALERT. If you didn't already know Lucas and Peyton got married in a beautiful scenic area which you can actually go visit. It is a beautifully little park where there is water, trees, and a gorgeous view. Definitely go see it and take some cute pics because it was worth it.

Spot 13: The Rivercourt
USS North Carolina Battleship
This was both Sarah and I's favorite spot of the day. Although, the actual basketball court is demolished the whole view was beautiful. The river was bright blue and running in the prettiest way. Plus they still had the picnic table where Mouth and his friends would run play by plays of the basketball games. It was super cool! Another awesome thing was that they had a big picnic area where a TON of OTH fans come from all over the world to write amazing sayings from the show. There was so many, we didn't even have time to read them all. That sharpie that you brought will come in handy here because adding some of the quotes that mean something you to is a really special feeling. Probably one of the best parts of the whole day for me.

Spot 14: The Bridge
N 6th Street 
We all know the theme song to OTH by Gavin Degraw right? Well the iconic song plays over the bridge where Lucas dribbles a basketball. It is one of the most well known things from the show, even if you don't watch the entire show. It was amazing to see and a really sweet lady who lived next to it let us see it from her balcony. IT WAS THE BEST VIEW! She was super sweet and kind and took cute pictures of me and Sarah in front of the bridge. After that we walked further up while we blasted the theme song and danced around. We took a lot of pictures under the bridge that had millions of OTH themed things written on it. It was cool to be there, we wish we had a basketball. If you want to go and visit this, bring a basketball. It would be a perfect aesthetic! It also happened to be our last spot and it was the perfect way to end our OTH self-guided tour.

Here are some other spots you can visit, that we didn't make it to:
Haley and Nathan's Apartment: 4395 Birchwood Park Dr
Quinn and Clay's House: 650 New River Inlet Rd, North Topsail (outside of Wilmington and about 1 hour from the city)
Tric: 1121 South Front St (we believe this is just a brick building, no signs with Tric on it)
Naley Wedding Spot: Fort Fisher State Recreation Area (also far from downtown, about 45 minutes)
Brooke and Julian's Wedding: Grace United Methodist Church (also Lindsey and Lucas' almost wedding)
Brooke and Julian's Wedding Reception: 515 Nutt St
Brooke working at Carl's Crab Shack: 100 Front St (now Reel Cafe)
Platypus & Gnome: 9 S Front St (restaurant during season 5)
Jamie's Preschool: 25 S 3rd St

I hope you guys enjoyed this little different blog post! Definitely visit these spots if you can. 100% worth it if your a BIG One Tree Hill fan!
"Six billion souls in the world and sometimes all you need is one." - peyton sawyer

XOXO Haley

Book Nook 2019

Hey everyone I got an amazing book to share with you all today! It is called "Five Feet Apart" by Rachael Lippincott. It is an upcoming movie due to premiere in March 2019. I saw a trailer for this movie and immediately was curious. Here's a link to it, you should watch it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cJ7MT1RTqs  I loved the trailer and the story and when I found out it was a book it sealed my fate. This was to become my next obsession. Here's why:

"Five Feet Apart" is about a young girl named Stella and a young guy named Will. They both have  cystic fibrosis. It is a disease where your lungs build up with mucus and slowly decreases its function. It switches off between Stella and Will's perspective every chapter. It is one of my favorite aspects of the book because it lets us into the thoughts, feelings, and reactions of each character. These two have been going to hospitals their whole lives and now this time they end up in the same one. Stella and Will meet and the rest is history. I can't and won't give anything away because this book is too good to give absolutely one thing away. I really want you guys to experience this book. It is immensely heart wrenching, beautiful, and exquisite. I am in love with this book, it has definitely moved its way to my top 10. I finished this book before one of my classes in my car. I was sobbing at the end in a parking lot and had to walk into class looking like a clown because of my tears. I'm not saying the books ending was bad/sad, but it hurt my heart just enough. Please go pick up this book and read it before you go see the movie in March. In the trailer, the movie looks pretty well adapted from the book, so I'm excited to go see it. I even saw direct lines used which excites me so much. I love the book and I'm expected to love the movie.

Favorite Characters: I can't choose between Stella and Will it is impossible. I love them both in different ways. Stella is so brave, strong, and powerful. She knows what she wants and isn't afraid to be vulnerable. I love her. Will is fearless, exciting, and funny. He is living for himself and no one else. I love him.

Favorite Quotes: "If I'm going to die, I'd like to actually live first."

"I know what it's like to have that fear. But the fear didn't stop the scary shit from happening."

"The pain reminds me that they were here, that I'm alive."

Book Nook 2019

2nd book of 2019 is complete! I'm really trying to keep up with this years reading challenge, but with school and homework, it definitely is tough. However, it didn't stop me from completing this book! It is called "The Night We Said Yes," by Lauren Gibaldi. It is a quick read with a cool writing technique.

This story is about a girl named Ella who is trying to forget a boy who disappeared and broke her heart. Then one night, at a party, he reappears in town and he wants her back. What will she do? It is quite the story. I like this one because the way it is written is unique. Every chapter switches from what is happening now to what happened a year ago when Ella met Matt for the first time. So, the story is written just over one night, but in 2 different years. The 'Then' chapters is about when they first met and what adventures they went on. The 'Now' is how Ella deals with Matt coming back into town. It is a little hard to explain without reading it. Furthermore, the title comes from a game they play in the then and now sections. All their friends have to say yes to all the things people suggest to do including truth or dare, skinny dipping, etc. Things get crazy and exciting. Will they end up together or will Ella leave it all behind? I recommend you read to find out!!

I'm sorry if that summary was confusing because it is difficult to explain exactly. It is an awesome book though, with a cute story and an easy read to complete.

Favorite character: Ella is awesome. She starts off shy and kinda of in the shadows, but she grows from it and learns how to be courageous and brave. I also like Meg because she is confident and doesn't care what others think of her. At the end of the day, my favorite thing is their friendship and their loyalty to each other.

Favorite Quotes: "At one point two people engraved their initials because they, for a split moment, felt love could conquer all and withstand time."

"I'm done being scared."

Book Nook 2019

Hey y'all I finished my first book of 2019! I am trying to actually complete the Pop Sugar Reading Challenge they have every year, so I'm hoping to read faster and get reviews out to you all!

This time it is "Sway" by Kat Spears. This book was one that had been sitting on my shelf for a long, hence why I crossed the "book i meant to read in 2018" prompt on my reading challenge. I have had it for awhile now and finally decided it was my next victim.

It is about a boy named Jesse who could sell hell to a priest. He gets people what they want and makes a job out of it. It isn't any ordinary job, he is very lowkey and undercover about it. Everyone calls him Sway because he is chill about everything. This job makes me a lot of money, but in this story it also gets him into trouble. A jock named Ken pays Jesse to get this girl Bridget to go out with him. Jesse accepts, but little does he know love is in his future as well. I won't spoil anything, you'll just have to read it yourself.

I loved this story. It was different from anything I had read before. Yes, it had a love story in it, but the way everything unfolded was new and exciting. There was a lot of mystery in the characters and comedy in the words. I liked the way it was written and the way the characters developed as the story progressed. I think if the characters weren't as interesting or likeable, this would have just been another teen romance, but they were and I really enjoyed how the story unraveled. I recommend it 100%, it's a good, fast read.

Favorite Character: I know it's cliche to say the main character, but Jesse was extraordinarily written out. He had humor and mystery and something about him made him intriguing. He was also caring even if he didn't want others to know about it. I liked the way he ran his life and the way he was so independent from others and his obstacles. It made his character development hella awesome.

Favorite Quotes: "Secrets are power."

"Sometimes what we want to be and what the world expects from us are two different things."

"'I wish my life was like a Taylor Swift song,' Joey said."
"'Not me' I said. 'It's got to suck to be that talented and good-looking.'"

"Can't bullshit a bullshitter."

"Good music never stops being good, no matter how old it is."

Book Nook 2019

Here we go! 2nd review coming your way! This one is a book I started very late in December and it was my goal to finish it before the new year and I succeeded because it was hard to put down! It is by the one and only John Green, which is why I decided to read it because he is one of my favorite authors. It is his newest novel, "Turtles All The Way Down."

This book was fantastic. It starts off with a mystery where a CEO of a big company has disappeared and the main girl, Aza and her bff Daisy, are intrigued by the reward for finding him. Aza realizes the name and realizes the man is the dad of her former camp friend. They go to Davis and they get mixed up together. Aza suffers from a mental illness and that is expressed throughout the whole novel. In a way it gets in the way of Davis and Aza's romantic relationship. It is a roller coaster book with ups and downs.

This book touches on mental illness a lot and how obsessive they can be on one's brains. Sometimes mental health is like a leech on the host, that is how annoying it can be. I love the way John Green describes it in this book. It is an amazing way to put it because it can relate to so many people, including myself. You usually don't see the main character of anything suffering a mental illness and I like that he decided to do it anyway. The book lets you into Aza and the way she thinks and feels about her health and it is insane to see inside a person like that. It is fascinating and heartbreaking all in one.

This book is remarkable, I highly suggest you read it.

Favorite Character: I love them all, but if I had to choose I would choose Davis. He is understanding, smart, and kind-hearted. He takes care of his little brother while his dad disappears and he handles Aza and her mental illness with grace and care. The way he treats her is utterly beautiful in the eyes of someone who also suffers from mental health issues. Also, he writes and that reminds me of myself. Except he is way better at it then me.

Favorite Quotes: "I don't like to throw the L-word around; it's too good and rare a feeling to cheapen with overuse."

"True terror isn't being scared; it's not having a choice in the matter."

"Whether it hurts is kind of irrelevant."

"At some point in life the world's beauty becomes enough. You don't need to photograph, paint or eve remember it. It is enough. - Toni Morrison "

"No one ever says good-bye unless they want to see you again."

"I wanted to tell her that I was getting better, because that was supposed to be the narrative of illness: It was a hurdle you jumped over, or a battle you won. Illness is a story told in the past tense." (i love this one.)

"The term chronic pain captures nothing of the grinding, constant, ceaseless, inescapable hurt. And the term crazy arrives at us with none of the terror and worry you live with. Nor do either of those terms connote the courage people in such pains exemplify, which is why I'd ask you to frame your mental health around a word other than crazy."

"Your now is not your forever."

"The problem with happy endings is that they're either not really happy, or not really endings, you know? In real life, some things get better and some things get worse. And then eventually you die."

Book Nook 2019

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! I'm so excited for all the new books I'll get to share with you this year! I just wanted to start this off wishing you all well in 2019 and that you achieve your goals and succeed :)

To start off I'll be reviewing a book I actually finished at the end of 2018, I just didn't have time to review it on this blog yet. I actually will have 2 blog posts today of 2 books I read last year. First is, "Dad is Fat" by Jim Gaffigan.

Jim Gaffigan is a comedian and actor known for his hilarious stand up. He is one of my favorite comedians, so I couldn't resist picking this up at the bookstore. I knew that if I thought his comedy specials were funny, his books would be too. I was right. "Dad is Fat" had great sprinkles of his comedy and humor. The whole time I was reading it I could hear it in his voice, which was perfect because hearing him deliver it made it way more funny.

The whole book is about him as a dad. He has 5 kids with his wife Jeannie and it is just him navigating that in a funny way. He talks about his wife and the ways he adores her, but he also cracks jokes on her pregnancies. It is a wonderful balance of stories and comedy. I would say that this book is good for any parent. I think while reading it, I couldn't relate as much to some of the parental references. It's not that I didn't understand them, it is just not as funny when you haven't gone through it also. Misery loves company.

Gaffigan has 2 books and I believe this is his 2nd one. I would love to venture into reading his first one, "Food: a Love Story." It seems more up my ally and not as directed to parents. I'm not saying don't read "Dad is Fat" unless you are a parent because I'm not one and I enjoyed it very much. I am saying that it may be a good gift for a parent with a great sense of humor ;)

Overall, Gaffigan never fails to make me laugh even if I don't necessarily understand every aspect. His comedy is gold and if you don't like reading, I really recommend watching his Netflix comedy specials. He has 5, binge em, you won't regret it ! But, also read a book.

Book Nook

Hey guys I just finished a new poetry book! It is "Pillow Thoughts" by Courtney Pepppernell. It has been very popular with young adults and I use to see poems and quotes from this book all over the internet. I decided to hop on the train and pick up a copy for myself and see what all the fuss is about.

First of all, I love the cover of this book and the way it is organized. It has a jelly fish on the cover and the poems are split into sections based on what they are about. For example, "If you need a reason to stay" or "If you need encouragement." Super cute! They were accompanied by uniquely drawn jellyfish that related to each section title. It was quite adorable.

As for the content of the book itself it was just as good. Each poem hits a different part of yourself. It makes you think deeper. I love how you can pick up the book, go to the section you relate to and find something that works for you and how you're feeling in that moment. It is beautifully written with so much love and hard work. I really appreciate this type of writing because I would love to have a book of my own similar to this one day.

I'm very happy to recommend this fabulous book to all you readers. It is for all ages and all feelings. I loved it, definitely one of the better poetry books of the ones I've read. It has been the book that has inspired me to write again, so maybe after you read it, it can inspire you in some way. :)

Favorite Poems, I had a lot, but I'll share a few: