Carrie Underwood made "So Small" the first single from her double-platinum Carnival Ride album, so it's rather appropriate that some of the little, ordinary things that occur in her daily life are the ones that make the biggest impression on her as she considers the size of her career.

"The pinching-myself moments happen really at the most unexpected times," she told Sun Media. "It sounds weird, but when I'm in the grocery store I just know I can buy the food I really want and not worry about it, or get whatever Christmas presents I want to get for my family, or go on vacation."

That's not all: Driving home from the store has its own "a-ha!" value, since she's no longer a college student headed to her apartment.

"Wow," she said, "I'm a homeowner at 25 years old. That's rare, so that's when success really hits me."

Carrie's nominated for Top Female Vocalist in the 43rd annual Academy of Country Music Awards. They'll be presented in Las Vegas May 18.