Charleston Summer Bucket List

Although the heat and humidity have already set in, today is the first official day of summer.  This will be my third summer in Charleston, and honestly I have yet to take advantage of everything this wonderful city has to offer.  I have decided to create a summer bucket list to help me accomplish this mission!

Dine at five different restaurants down town that I have yet to experience.  Charleston is know for it's exceptional seafood and southern cuisine.  There is no reason I should escape this experience!

Spend at least one day at each beach in Charleston.  Did you know that there are at least four different beaches to go to in Charleston- Sullivan's, Isle of Palms, Folly, Kiawah?  The two I most frequently visit are Sullivan's and Isle of Palms, but it would be nice to venture to the others as well.  It's amazing the different atmosphere you experience at each one.

Spend a Saturday in Marion Square at the Farmer's Market.  Every Saturday during the summer Marion Square is packed with vendors from all over selling fruits, vegetables, hand made items, etc.  This would be an excellent way to purchase fresh produce for the week ahead.

Tour a brewery/distillery.  There are several local breweries in the area that produce magnificent beer.  Most all of them offer tours of their locations with free tastings.  Firefly Sweat Tea Vodka is also made in Charleston, and their tour is on the top of my list!

Tour one of the many plantations.  As one of the oldest cities, Charleston has gorgeous plantation homes that are available for tours.  They each hold their own place in history, and share a piece of the beauty of the "old" city.

What is on your summer bucket list?

Weekend Shenanagins

Happy Monday, friends!  This was the second weekend in a row that we didn't have to go out of town, and I must say, a girl could get use to this.  It's nice not to have to hit the road out of town after an eight hour work day on Friday, just to dread the return on Sunday.

Friday night we met up with our friends, Dean and Jess, at a local barbeque shack for a yummy feast of pulled pork, hash, chicken, and all the fixings!  After we were induced into a food coma, we decided to catch a movie.  The four of us agreed on That's My Boy that actually premiered on Friday.  Adam Sandler was hysterically funny and I laughed the entire time....until the end that is.  If you  haven't seen this movie, I must warn you that the end takes a turn that no one expects and it's sickening.  For those of you who have seen you, you know what I'm talking about.  Not sure I will be seeing this one for a second time.

Saturday we met a few of my family members downtown for a nice stroll around the city before having dinner at Poogan's  Porch.  The weather was absolutely gorgeous for site seeing downtown and we enjoyed every minute of it!  Friends, if you have never  been to Poogan's Porch you are missing out!  It is a quaint Charlestonian home made restaurant that is tucked away on Queen Street.  Saturday was my first experience, and it is one of the best meals I have had in Charleston.  The atmosphere was perfect and the food was exceptional.  We will definitely be going back...and soon.

That evening we ventured back home to watch the South Carolina Gamecocks defeat the No. 1 team in the country to advance in the College World Series.  We dominated the Florida Gators 7-2.  GO GAMECOCKS!

Fear the Fish!

Sunday was a nice relaxing day spent watching How I Met Your Mother re-runs and a few movies.

How did you spend your weekend?

Really Photogenic Guy

For a week now, there has been some hype about a picture taken of a runner during the 2012 Cooper River Bridge run.  I mean, who can blame them?!  He is really cute, and while he is working up a sweat!

Picture Courtesy of The Post & Courier

I saw this same picture on the local news the other morning, acknowledged that he was cute, but didn't think too much about it.  While getting ready in the locker room at work that same morning, a co-worker asked if I had seen the picture.  She ran the bridge run this year as well, and had done some research to see what the hype was all about.  He lives in New York currently, but is from Charleston and she actually went to elementary school with him.  She also heard that he was going to be on Good Morning America for an interview.  Talk about quick fame...and for just running a bridge along with 40,000 other people!

Fast forward to this morning, my husband texts me to ask if I had heard about the really photogenic guy.  I tell him yes and ask why.  He then tells me his name, Watkins Little, and asks if it rang any bells.  His name is not very common, so it sounded familiar as soon as I read the text.  It must be a small world, because he went to Lander University the same time I did!  

In case you are interested, click here for the article in our local paper 

or here for his interview on Good Morning America!

A Fabulous Year in Review {2011}

2011 was quite a year.  Some good & some bad, but oh the memories will never fade.  I am fortunate to have such loving friends and family, and even a cyberworld full of blogging friends!  This is my first year in review, and I plan to do it each year as I continue to share my thoughts, actions, and opinions with the rest of the world.  It's an awesome way to look back on the experiences I have had over the year.  

Sit back and enjoy...it's going to be a long one :).

January

We rang in the New Year with great friends that we met on a cruise in 2010.

I started my first "real" job after grad school at one of the best places to work in SC.

Moved into our first home.

February

Partied in Charlotte for my Bachelorette Party with my closest friends.

Celebrated our upcoming nuptials with several showers.

March

Said "I Do" {03.19.11}.

Spent a wonderful, relaxing week in Riviera Maya for our honeymoon.

April

Sent my cousin and life long best friend off to Boston.

I ran my first 10K as a married woman with my in-laws.

Met Coach Ray Tanner of the South Carolina Gamecocks 

{Back to Back National Baseball Champions} on our 1 month wedding anniversary!

May

Walked across the stage to receive my diploma for a Masters of Business Administration degree.

Went to Boston to visit my cousin & best friend.

June

Joined the blogging world and wrote my very first post on June 23rd.

Celebrated our friends Kevin and Caroline by attending their couples wedding shower.

Surprised my friend Maureen with a dinner with friends for her birthday.

July

Spent a nice weekend with the family for Fourth of July on the lake.

Spent a weekend in Savannah, GA for Serena's Wild & Crazy Bachelorette Party

August

Spent a day on the ocean with awesome new friends!

Flew to Michigan for Mark & Serena's Wedding weekend.

September

Celebrated the BEST birthday ever as a married woman.

Attended Courtney's Bachelorette Festivities in Charleston.

Was a part of Courtney and Tim's beautiful ceremony in Greenwood, SC.

Celebrated my grandmother's 90th birthday!

Partied with my girls in Charleston for Kendal's Bachelorette Party.

October

Tailgated with family and friends at the USC vs. Kentucky game.

Spent the weekend in Columbia for Caroline's Bachelorette Party!

November

Ran my very first Half Marathon in Savannah, GA.

Celebrated Kevin & Caroline's Wedding Festivities in Union, SC.

Went home to spend time with family and friends for Thanksgiving.

 

December

Decorated my house for the first time on Christmas!

Had the best first Christmas as a married couple with family and friends!

 

 

 

I am very grateful for all the people in my life and how they made 2011 a great year.  I look forward to all the opportunities and experiences 2012 shall bring! 

Happy New Year to You and Yours!