I am, have always been, and always will be a small town texas girl at heart. But while I love my home state and plan to always go back home to Texas, I love traveling and will never be content to stay in one place forever. I also go to school out of state. And during all the extended periods of time that I have spent away, there are definitely some things that I start to miss. There is nothing worse than being stuck in a foreign country and craving whataburger or queso.

1. Whataburger

Even if you do find a Whataburger somewhere outside of Texas, it's never as good.

2. Decent Mexican Food

Maybe its because we border Mexico. Maybe its because everything is better in Texas. But there is seriously no comparison to really good texmex.

3. Real BBQ

A message to any person out there that thinks grilling some burgers is a BBQ. You are so so so so wrong. And every Texan that hears you say this may kinda want to yell at you.

4. Just good food in general.

Texas is home of amazing food. My personal favorite is the classic though! And aside from homemade ( love you mom!), there is absolutely nowhere better to go to get it than Babe's.

5. Not being made fun of for saying "Y'all."

Seriously. Some people look at me as if I have just grown a third head when the word comes out of my mouth. It's not that difficult. It's a very common word and many people use it.

6. Texas Speed Limits

This sign to me, means that I'm home. I live for the moment that i cross the border into that amazing state again and can finally go a proper speed on the interstate.

7. Friday Night Lights

People who aren't from Texas just don't understand. In Texas Friday nights in the Fall are always spent at the high school football fields and the whole town is there. And when your school has a good team (not to brag or anything but my school has been to state 5 out of the last 6 years), you automatically get the respect of every town around you.

8. Sweet Tea

No I do NOT want unsweet tea and to put sweetener in it! No unsweet tea is not okay! People just never seem to understand.

9. The Texas Flag

At home it is on everything. And when I leave it is always so odd Not seeing it everywhere. If you're anything like me, you get a sense of pride and feeling of home each time you see this amazing flag.

10. Breakfast Tacos

I really don't understand why these aren't a thing everywhere.

11. Southern Hospitality

Holding the door open for the person behind you, Sir and Ma'am, smiling at people, making people feel welcome, and ya know, basically just being a nice human. It's like the rest of the world just skipped over those lessons!

12. "Bless your heart!"

This phrase is the perfect description of the South. rather than call someone dumb or tell them that you want to stab them in the eye with your fork at the dinner table, you just say " Awe, bless your heart!" to outsiders it sounds like we are being super sweet. but any Southerner knows otherwise.

13. People who share in your state pride rather than poke fun at you for it

I love when I'm with someone who gets just as excited about Texas shaped waffles as I do.

14. Asking for a Coke, and getting a Coke, not a Pepsi

There is absolutely no worse sin than giving a person who is expecting a Coca-Cola a Pepsi instead.

15. PBR

I grew up in Decatur, Texas. PBR was a massive thing that everyone from within an hour's drive went to and it was some of the scariest and best parts of my childhood.

16. Rodeo season in general

There is actually nothing better than rodeo nights. Cowboys (swoon!), horses, getting to wear your boots... do I need to say more?

17. Strangers who smile at you on the street

People from other places look at you like you're insane and weird. I'm just trying to be a nice person!

18. "Yes ma'am" and "Yes Sir" not making everyone look at you funny

It's just basic manners! I'm pretty sure, even now at 20 years old, that if I went home and DIDN'T say Sir or Ma'am that my mom would yell at me.