Stereotypes

I can't tell if this makes me laugh out of anger or comedy. Sometimes I wish stereotypes wouldn't be proven right! That is so like a North Charleston police officer to be caught doing something wrong while the damn Mt. Pleasant officer rescues a deer. Disgusted.

#Reckless in Charleston

Being that Charleston is on the opposite side of the country from Los Angeles, it is kind of a big deal when we get to see or hear of a movie or show being filmed here. There is a new show called Reckless that has been on for a few weeks and I thought I would share my view on their take of Charleston below!

• The accent that they portray Charlestonians to have is a bit too southern. The people that I have met who were actually born and raised in the Charleston area (including my husband) don’t really have a southern accent at all! …except for a few phrases and using “y’all.”
• In one of the first scenes of one of the first episodes, a girl is using a handheld fan on herself while in the courthouse as if the AC was broke. Let me tell you, if there is one thing that places in Charleston know how to do, it is to blast you with air conditioning! She would not need that fan, but she may need a sweater!
• The police station is actually on the other side of the peninsula from where they are filming. The building that they are using as the station is actually for shops and bars and boat tours leave from there… still looks great in the show though!
• One of the lines from the most recent episodes was to “go drink some beer and count the fireflies”…  I wonder what number they would get to if they actually counted? My bet is on 0.
• The route that Cam Gigandet (Roy Rader) takes to get to downtown from his home on John’s Island by boat is kind of funny. I borrowed this map from Charleston City Paper (below) and it shows the route that he would take based on the scenery that you get from his boat ride. Seems like he got a little lost!

I really am enjoying the show though! I have been trying to see if it is because I am living here or if it is because it is actually good. I will tell you one thing... Cam Gigandet is easy on the eyes either way!

1980s Condo Transformed

The before (black and white) and the after of a condo I did at Folly Beach, SC. The closed stairway, carpeted floor, and dark kitchen were transformed into a bright and airy unit to be used by the owner and renters alike.

The owner originally called us to fix some items that had been neglected over time, such as a drainage issue at the porch, but the renovation grew in size and scope as our client realized the potential of his unit.

Opening up the stairway and removing a large pantry were two of the most instrumental parts of making the space feel larger. Durable finishes, paneled wainscoting, and updated color palette gave the space a fresher and more updated feel. Add a master bath renovation to that, and you have yourself an amazing rental!

Tips:

• Adding the wainscoting gives the unit some dimension and character.
• Running the flooring the width of the unit can make it appear wider (actual width only 13' wide!)
• Adding new lighting fixtures (even off the shelf from a big box store) is a quick and easy way to update any space - and can be relatively cheap! The dining fixture was only $85.00
• When painting a smaller space, avoid accent walls or multiple colors. Painting the room one cohesive color and having the same flooring throughout will make the space seem larger.

Project Specifications:

Paint: SW 6176 - Liveable Green
Flooring - Solid Hickory
Cabinets - White Bead Board
Countertop - Wilsonart 4588K-07 Kalahari Topaz

Charleston's Top 40

Every year the Charleston Regional Business Journal takes nominations for the areas Top 40 people under 40 years of age. This year, my boss nominated me and I got the news yesterday that I was chosen! I am beyond excited for this event. I have wanted to be nominated for a long time, but to my knowledge, this is the first time that it has happened. Congratulations to the 40 under 40 class of 2014! #40CHS

Frenchies in Charleston?

I started a French Bulldog Meetup Group in Charleston! I have been dying to see a bunch of frenchies running around together. I hope some people join and we can schedule a doggy playdate soon! :)

It is not limited to Frenchies only, I would welcome any other small/medium smushed-face breed. If you have one or know of someone who does, find us on facebook!

PGA Championship 2012

I had the fortunate opportunity to go to the PGA played right here near my town of Charleston! It was a blast. It is always fun to go out to Kiawah because it is literally breathtaking.

Condé Nast Traveler recently named the Kiawah Island Golf Resort and The Sanctuary the #1 golf resort in the Southeast... and that is really saying something if you know how many courses there are around here! :)

They were also ranked #1 in the world for tennis and check out the Ocean Course in the picture below! We had wonderful weather.

I also snuck this picture of Phil Mickelson teeing off. Technically I wasn't allowed to do this so let's just keep this between us. ;)

Old Lefty was all smiles and I couldn't help by think of my grandfather, also a lefty, who was probably cheering for Phil from heaven.

First Weekend of April!

I love where I live... seriously. There is always so much to do and the weather is amazing almost year round and pretty much whenever I say that I live in Charleston people exclaim how they either love visiting, want to visit, or even wish that they lived here themselves. I am a pretty lucky girl.

The first weekend in April is always a big one for our City as this is the weekend of the annual Cooper River Bridge Run. And hell no I don't participate! I can run the bridge any day I want and don't have to deal with that crowd you see below! Like 50,000 people run/ walk/ ride this thing and I spend most of my Saturday usually steering clear of this area of town. :)

If you want to avoid exercising but still enjoy crowds, check out the Summerville Flowertown Festival. It is a great time if you enjoy crafts and food, and I love both. I am starting the day with a pancake breakfast followed by ducking and weaving to see, and perhaps buy, some pretty talented handiwork of local artists. I can't wait!

Animal Kingdom, FTW!

Me and my friend Ashley at the Kentucky Derby Party this year, it was a blast! Shout out to my friend Lauren Minors and her creation, the Tasteful Tailgate, for throwing a fabulous party with real mint juleps, real sangria, real BBQ, and a real fun time!

Pictured above are my friend Ashley and myself in "our pearls" [still acting like ladies at this point].

First Beach Day of the Year!

 Folly Beach, Charleston, SC

Lake Michigan - Michigan City, IN

I will admit, I am not much of a beach person. I can't stand the heat, don't care for sand in my toes, and would rather not carry a bunch of heavy crap a mile down a path to get to the actual "beach" where I don't swim in the nasty salt water anyway.

I grew up very spoiled on Great Lake Michigan. The sand is clean and made out of quartz, there is a lighthouse which serves as visual interest, the water is crisp and fresh and absolutely NOTHING to harm, bite, or sting you lives in it, and there is a giant parking lot right next to it so it makes it quite accessible. You can call me crazy, but I prefer Lake Michigan to just about any beach I have been to, sans Hawaii, now those were some gorgeous beaches!

So, like I explained I am more of a "lake" girl or a "swimming pool" girl, I love convenience, but yesterday was a PERFECT day for the beach in Charleston!

My sister and I found a parking spot in the CLOSEST spot to the beachwalk, I remembered to pack a nice lunch and plenty of water, the breeze was keeping us cool, the sun was making us burnt tan, and I had a great full day at the beach with my little sister who I don't get to see very much!

I think I can take back some of the things I may have mentioned above about Folly Beach in Charleston... that is if you follow these 5 important tips:

1. Do not, for any reason, arrive at the beach past 10am. You will beat all the college kids and tourists if you get there before 10am and finding parking will be a ton simpler!
2. Always use SPF before you leave the house, and pack some more spray SPF to re-apply intermittently throughout the day. I say "spray" is better because I can reach my back without bothering anybody.
3. Pack enough water and food so you don't have to leave your spot or pay through the nose for some lunch. If you plan on being there all day, snacks and re-hydration are key!
4. Don't go in the water. The salt hurts your eyes and you may get stung by a jelly or bitten by a shark. Chances are low, but I'm saying there's a chance!
5. If you would like to partake in adult beverages, here are the rules for doing so at Folly:
1. Just put it in a container, not glass, that you cannot see through. I saw people getting away with putting their can inside a red solo cup, but I am not claiming that as complying...

I would like to rant for just a sec... what IS it with the sand here in Charleston? It has dirt in it. Like black, I can't just brush it off, I need water to get it off, straight up, dirt. And it is gross. And the salt water? Forget getting the dirty sand in your eye, you might as well cry it out because if you use salt water to wash it out you also have to deal with the stinging sensation my contacs and I are not so fond of.


Anywho, yesterday probably won't be my last beach day this year, but as you can see I am a bit picky when it comes to beaching it. It is a blast with friends, but they can most likely count me out of joining them in July and August. Oh, and after 10am.

Farmers' Markets Open!

 Baby Eggplant

Store Egg vs. Organic Free Range Chicken Egg

I am so excited that the Farmers' Markets opened back up! The above pictures are some of my finds from last year, baby egg plants and a new found love of organic eggs, and I can't wait to try out some more goodies. I am also a huge fan of the grass fed beef, Nicole's Nutty Goodness, and the crepe tent.

The Charleston Farmers' Market takes place between April 9 - December 18 from 8am-2pm at Marion Square in downtown Charleston. It is full of people, pets, great smells, and all kinds of chances to support locally grown and handmade items, plus the prepared food there is amazing so go hungry!

I have been on this recent, within the last year, curiosity binge on finding out where my food came from and what is in the food I get from the grocery store. The fact is that the facts are kind of scary. I am not SUPER-DUPER overly against processed foods, God knows I still consume them, but I would like to slowly morph my diet into something a lot more natural and healthy, one step at a time and starting with the farmer's markets.

B-E-A-UTIFUL wedding!

It was a perfect Saturday for a wedding and my friend Tyler and her fiancee Danny planned just that! It was held at Lowndes Grove Plantation here in Charleston and was right on the water. Couple that with a great band, delicious food, and fun friends and you've got yourself quite an evening!

Pictured above are most of my Charleston girlfriends [and myself], followed by the first dance, the cake under the tent, and the bride walking down the aisle with the plantation house in the background. The night went on to the wee hours of the morning and Steven and I had a blast!

Wedding Entry #8 | Local Flavor

Sometimes, you can use tradition to your advantage, like when it comes to the catering menu. When I found out what the cost was to upgrade the meals to steak and chicken instead of something else and chicken, I found it comforting to know that since a lot of our guests were coming in from out of town, they might appreciate a little lowcountry cuisine. We served shrimp and grits along with our chicken dish and saved a bundle. Overall cost for our catering was about $6,900, but included all rentals (linens, plates, forks, glasses, etc.) and even the full bar tab as well.

This was actually a recommendation of Elaine at Hamby Catering [shout out!]. She said a great way to serve steak would be in the passed hors de oeuvres during the cocktail party, after the ceremony, but before the actual meal (basically this is “picture time” for the bride, groom, and wedding party). And so that is what we did. We served some of our favorites, albeit pricey, bacon wrapped scallops, beef tenderloin crustadas, and she-crap soup in demitasse cups.

Another popular local item is a palmetto rose made by kids around the market area in downtown Charleston. I commissioned a young boy to make 15 small roses [$3 a piece] that I added ribbon and pins to so they could be used as boutonnieres and corsages [seen in the above picture]. This became a keep-sake for the wedding party as these won’t wilt and die like a flower will. It gave a great look and feel for our lowcountry wedding.