A SATURDAY IN CHARLESTON

Sometimes my heart still yearns for Charleston and all the many nooks, crannies, overgrown alleys, beautifully shaded cemeteries, and all the quaint charm of a locally owned coffee shop.

We don't have any of that in Augusta. None that I've found anyway.
I was mostly inspired to do this post because my friends and I are planning on making a trip there sometime soon (you know, sometime when I have money… and a job… and a real functioning life again) and I immediately started thinking of all the places I'd try to jam pack into my day. Here are only nine locations, but I'm sure in the future I'll share more. Here we go!

Start your morning off with a visit to Sweetwater Cafe in downtown Charleston. Home of the best french toast I've ever tasted in my entire life. They also have a not-too-sweet-but-still-perfect iced coffee and the nicest servers. Located on a side street right beside the city market, you can easily dip over there and check it out if you're embracing full tourist mode. If you're craving the beach that day, you can hit up the one on the way to Folly.

After walking from Sweetwater down King, because come on there's an Anthropologie begging for you to visit, stop in Marion Square for some local goods. Anything from bundles of freshly picked cotton, one-of-a-kind art, beautiful ripe fruits and vegetables. You name it, it's there. Including our local break-dancers that are always there putting on a show at the fountain. If it's nice, I'd definitely consider laying in the grass and soaking up some rays. I've laid here with my jewelry designing roommate reading a book and it was one of the most memorable days I ever had - surrounded with college students and puppies.

All this shopping would make anyone a little hangry. Don't eat what you bought at the market. If you can spare the walk, get yourself over to East Bay and stop by BakeHouse. If you can't walk, get in your car. Hail a cab. Kidnap a horse off a carriage. This place is that good. Taylor Swift has visited here, and Blake Lively ordered her wedding cake and other sweet treats from this lovely little bakery for her wedding to Ryan Reynolds. Reconsidering not going now aren't you? One of the ways I test if a coffee shop is worth my time is by telling them what I usually like and requesting their baristas to do what they wish. This place nailed it with their cinnamon bun iced latte that the (super cute) barista recommended. I'm sure it's a strictly fall drink, but that's just reason enough to make a second trip back when it gets cooler. Their sweets are also equally delicious. Enjoy the hustle and bustle of East Bay too - I spent most of my adventurous strolls over there after I got tired of seeing King Street all the time.

Let's scoot over to West Ashley for lunch. It's worth it. Triangle Char and Bar, located a short drive over the Ashley River bridge (which is a beautiful sight - boats for days), is not only my favorite restaurant west of the Ashley, but it's somewhere I cherish so much because of all the memories I created there: I ate my first "fancy" Charleston dinner, celebrated both my and my old roommate's birthdays, and had my going-away party there. Their burgers are out of this world delicious, as are their appetizers and drinks. The "What She's Having" is my favorite if I'm feeling something other than a V.T.

You're going to want dessert. I know you will. Hit up Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream on your way back downtown. Firstly, it's freaking amazing. Secondly, there aren't that many out there so embrace it. Home to many creative and interesting flavors, you're sure to be dreaming of this ice cream well after your visit.

Head over to Charleston's Waterfront Park to work off that lunch and watch the sunset. With plenty of swings, sights, benches, trees, piers, and the ever-famous Pineapple Fountain, this is one of my favorite places in Charleston. I can't tell you how many nights have ended in sitting here with great friends and how many days have been spent walking the stone paths. It's a peaceful place that everyone should visit.

After you get freshened up, and maybe even take a nap because you deserve it, it's time for some din-din. You can really switch this place with lunch if you want to stay downtown all day, but I prefer to be downtown for the night - in case you get a little too much to drink at dinner and need to walk or call a cab to your next destination. King Street Grille makes me think of three words: Blackened. Chicken. Sandwich. I'll keep "on a pretzel bun" separate. The Ravioli is my jam too, but I don't think they make it anymore. I urge you to stay and take your time. This is a meal that shouldn't be rushed. Get it with mashed potatoes too. Perfect.

After dinner you're going to want to start the night off quietly. Head over to my favorite bar - Closed for Business. Guys and gals alike love this place. It's chill, but still got some excitement in it. In the front the windows open up to let in the breeze, while the middle holds couches and a faux fireplace. In the back are booths for anyone eating from the kitchen. With a menu that changes everyday to bring you the most unique and fresh brews and ales, you can't really have the same experience every time (unless you're like me and you get the Doc's Apple Cider every single time ever… okay one time I got Pear Cider, but still.)

I know that I like to stay at C.F.B. for a long while and you should too. When you're done with your brew, head to upper King around 11 and see if they're playing some good jams at Midtown. I can't tell you how many 90's cover bands, nerd boys singing the hits of the 00's, and bands that knew what was good when they sang Usher's "You Got It Bad" on my birthday in this place. Be sure you bring cash because they'll give you grief if your tab is less than $20 on your card, but well worth it regardless.
Close the bar down and get a cab or uber or whatever floats your boat… just do NOT drive drunk. That's not good for anybody.

I hope you enjoyed this little travel guide! If you've visited Charleston and have any cool places I should visit with my friends be sure to let me know below.

DROWN

Well Hello everybody! I'm in the highest of spirits today because it's been a -

 VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I'm the proud new owner of a crock pot, record player, and many other small morsels of goodness. It's been a good year. I also have a third date on Friday with a rather nice guy (details to come later) and I'm going home to Chucktown tomorrow, which means I can cook up some lasagna in my fancy new crock pot.

This past weekend my darling friend Josh came into town for the night. He has been wanting to go skydiving in a city an hour away and he thought it would be the perfect time to come visit me as well! He blew into town and blew right back out - but not before we had an awesome time. He came and met me at W.W. and of course all the ladies just HAD to know who he was - and since I get embarrassed so quickly when guys are involved, I blushed and said we were just friends with a big grin on my face (because let's be serious here for a second - Josh is gorgeous and is one of the nicest guys I've ever had the privilege of knowing so in my mind he's an absolute catch for any girl.) We went to my apartment to get ready, did a bit of pre-gaming, caught a cab, and were off for a fun night. Long story short we went to all our favorite places, including back to Midtown for another great cover band that played tons of Blink 182 and The Killers. Josh and I danced the whole time and I laughed like I haven't in ages.

 {Kayla and I laughing like little school girls}

 {The always lovely Josh and I at Midtown}

I woke up Sunday morning to start doing laundry and packing for my trip back home to Augusta and let everyone sleep in until eleven. Josh woke up and get dressed and I drove us over to Sweetwater Cafe for some brunch. We had the greatest time with our waitress and I couldn't help but smile when he bought my meal AND gave her a big tip. We walked through the market on the way there and walked through the surrounding shops on the way back, including the Black Mineral Market (an all-time fave) and got some fudge. Sadly he had to go home soon after, and so we said our goodbyes and I ran back inside to finish packing.
To say I ran out of town is an understatement. I all but galloped. I took the back way home and drove through country and small towns that I'd never heard of before. Just me, the radio, and the wind in my hair. I made it home just before my parents got home from Atlanta and it was a nice surprise for them to see me earlier than planned. I spent the past few days recuperating from my crazy retail filled month and a half by reading, watching movies, and playing video games with my brother.

{Family Photo in front of the tree}

 {After seeing the movie I HAD to reread the first and then read the second - TEAM PEETA!}

But as with all good things, it must come to an end tomorrow. Now if only I could have a vacation after my vacation to recover.
I hope you all had an amazing Christmas!

WE MIGHT BE CRAZY

{Perfect Saturday Night outfit - Boots, thrifted. Dress, Target. Tights, Forever 21. Men's Button Up, thrifted.}

This weekend was absolutely wonderful! It's been a long long time since I've let Kayla convince me to go out and run the town until 2 A.M. but I caved and let it happen.

It all started on Saturday when Kayla's ex-boyfriend Matt came into town. We decided to take him out and show him all our favorite places to hang on crazy downtown nights. Naturally we started at Closed For Business - it's our current favorite place to go and it's SUCH a chill place with an always changing menu, which encourages me to continue my mission to find a beer that agrees with me. For now I'm settling with pear and apple ales by Doc's Draft.

{C.F.B. on a random October night}  

Next we tried to go to a really great spot called Prohibition that has a bar at the front, a dance floor in the middle, and a outdoor patio bar and tables out back, but they're suddenly all about charging covers and I'm definitely not all about that so we kept walking down King. Kayla mentioned this place called Midtown that was pretty nice so we ducked in there only to be greeted with a live band and phenomenal 90's music screaming out of the amps. We jammed, we drank, we danced, we sang until we were hoarse... it was epic.

{The Swift Robinson's - reuniting since their high school glory days}

{Pre jam-session at Midtown with Kayla}

Getting tired and thirsty I suggested we head over to A.C.'s - our original Chucktown stomping grounds. This is the bar that I have curated so many amazing friends and fond memories, including the New Zealanders (Whom of which have sailed back to the Bahamas until January and I miss them so very dearly.) This is also the bar where I saw Cam Gigandet so many times the fact that he was famous was more annoying than exciting, but he was also a total jerk so it didn't really make me weak in the knees to see him. After one final drink we headed home. While Kayla and Matt went upstairs I hung out with Neighbor Nick and played with his sweet hood-cat JoJo.

{she is literally the tiniest and sweetest thing on this block}

Then Sunday night came! It was my day job's, we will call it W.W., annual Christmas party and it was a hoot. Long story short, Liam Hemsworth posters were cuddled, Where's Waldo hats were searched, phone numbers were given to bartenders, vows were made, book clubs were started, and lots and lots of chicken wings were consumed. I'm so blessed by my little family of co-workers I have here. They're more my family than anything, especially since I spend forty hours with them a week and see them more than my own roommate.

{from L to R: Stephanie, Me, Courtney, Sarah Jean, Hillary, and Ashley in front}

{I love these girls - they're the absolute best}

After a long long long day I'm finally at my three-days off break before I head back for three more days of working and then I'll be done for the Christmas season. It'll be back home to sweet ol' Augusta, Georgia and I can't wait!