Summer Break Scenes | Charleston.

{via Pinterest}

I thought that since I was traveling so much this summer that I would share some of my adventures with y’all! First I wanted to blog about Charleston. Charleston, South Carolina is one of (if not my most favorite) favorite places in the whole world. The home town of Rhett Butler, southern belles, wraparound porches, carriage rides, outdoor markets, sweet grass baskets and flowers, salt and sand, sweet tea, and the best sea food this side of the Mississippi. There is something so enchanting about being by the beach and all of the beautiful sights to see and things to enjoy. I’ve been going to Charleston since I was a little girl and it has always held a special place in my heart. This summer our trip was a girl’s trip with some of our favorite people. We always have a good time, laugh until we cry, and of course take lots of pictures. Without further ado…

Our first stop in Charleston was going to the beach. 

One of our favorite beaches in Charleston is Isle of Palms

We sat somewhat near the pier and I saw that some guys had brought their Eno to the beach like I had and they hung theirs underneath the pier. I was so happy that I had decided to bring mine to the beach and we had fun hanging in it and taking lots of pictures under the pier. 

After the beach, I discovered that I was miserably sunburned on my upper legs and wrist (probably the strangest places for a sunburn). We went to our hotel near the Charleston Marina and Porter Gaud School and showered and got ready for dinner downtown. Our hotel was wonderful and offered a free shuttle that took us directly to Market St. so we didn't have to find a place to park! 

We walked around a little on our way to the restaurant for dinner. Unfortunately, the Charleston Market was closing up so we couldn't shop, but it was fun to walk through anyways. 

We went to Charleston just after the shooting at the church and the town was empty. We were so shocked that the town was so empty so we had to take a few pictures to show how empty one of the busiest streets usually is. 

We had dinner at Hyman's Seafood. It was D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S. Even though Charleston wasn't as busy as it usually is, there was still a small wait at Hyman's. We waited outside and sat on the joggling board and they offered us samples of lemonade and fresh hush puppies. There are so many different things to choose from when ordering. I ordered two appetizers as my meal and my sister and mom split a seafood platter. I highly recommend the crab cakes (they were superb)! 

After dinner we walked over to King Street and walked past all of the shops.

I thought this theater was so pretty, so we had to take a picture in front of it. It kind of reminds me of the theater from the Notebook (even though that theater is just a little ways up from this one).

A pretty pink building downtown.

Beautiful window boxes.

One of my favorite places in all of Charleston is the Charleston Waterfront Park. We didn't get there in enough time to take good pictures, but here's one. It's my favorite place because there is a long boardwalk lined with porch swings. I love to swing and this is the perfect place to do it overlooking the water. 

If you ever get a chance to go to Charleston, take it! It is so wonderful and I'm sure you will love it as much as I do! I'll be heading out on my next summer adventure soon, so be sure to check back for new pictures and exciting tales!

     

Summer Essentials.

Summer is one of my favorite seasons (although I love autumn and winter too). Just life itself is wonderful I guess! During the freezing winter where I go to school, I dream of summer and all of the things I love. Crystal blue swimming pools, warm sun, cute sandals, a cold glass of sweet tea, fresh strawberries and peaches, beach trips, fresh seafood, cookouts, baseball games, concerts, day trips, ice cream cones, new sunnies, and catching a breath after a long school year. I found the cutest “summer essentials” print on Pinterest and I thought I would list my favorite summer essentials for y'all!

sunblock.

In the summer, especially at the beach, sunblock is a must! I have very fair skin so this is very important for me (I have had my fair share of bad sunburns). I learned a new trick about sunblock that I want to share. The number of the SPF is the amount of time it will work before you need to reapply. So if you have SPF 15, you should reapply after 15 minutes. I really like the Neutrogena sunscreens especially in the higher SPF’s like 75. Another sunblock I have tried recently is Sunbum. It costs a little bit more, but smells good and works pretty well.

nail polish.

Painted toes are a definite yes for the summertime. I have never liked naked toes (I don’t know, I just never have). My toes are painted year round, which might not be the best, but I like them painted. My go-to color 95% of the time is Bachelorette Bash by Essie. I tried my first Essie nail polish about 3 years ago, and I haven’t turned back since! When your color is brand new it does not chip easily, but after you’ve had the color for a while it might chip easier. Now I just top my color with a clear coat and it seals it pretty well. Some other fun colors that I have been eyeing are “Cute as a Button”, “Bikini So Teeny”, “Play Date”, “Lilacism”, and “Mob Sqaure”. You can find most all of these colors at Target and they are just perfect for any summer outfit you have picked out!

**Update: "Cute as a Button" by Essie is adorable! I recently bought it and painted both my toes and fingers this color. It's so bright and cheery for the summer and I decided I needed a change from my everyday pink color.

sandals.

This is probably one of the most important pieces of summer and there are so many options. I have a couple of pairs of sandals that I have on rotation depending on what I’m wearing. My newest addition to my closet is my gold pair of Hot Cakes, which are basically a copycat of the famously southern Jack Rogers sandal. They only cost me about $24 and work well for what I need them for. Eventually I’ll get some real Jacks, but these are great for those of us on a budget. I also have a pair of gold braided t-strap sandals from Steinmart and of course my Chacos! I love my Chacos. They are so comfortable and perfect for any summer adventure you might go on.

hats.

In another effort to keep sun off of my face, I like to wear hats especially at the beach and the pool. I bought a new floppy, straw sunhat from Walmart for $7! It was a great deal and I did not get a single ray of sun on my face at the beach (yay for me!). Sunhats are also great for pairing with a flowy maxi dress or a cute cotton sundress. I also bought a seersucker baseball cap with a bow detail on the back at my favorite Christian bookstore in Spartanburg, SC. I also got my sister one and she loves hers. According to Emily Post’s etiquette book, there are certain rules about hats and when they are appropriate to be worn. This seersucker cap is perfect to cover a not so great hair day as well as being a cute addition to your closet.

bags.

Whether it is a beach bag, lake bag, library bag, shopping bag, or a new purse, summer is the perfect time to get a new one or to break out an old favorite. I don’t have a specific beach or pool bag per say, but I got a new one this summer. It’s by the brand Mudpie and is a jute bag that is lined on the inside. This bag was great for the beach and the plastic lining was so great for emptying all of the sand that tried to catch a ride home with me. I would also recommend a canvas bag with a pocket for your phone or whatever else.

sunglasses.

I think sunglasses are really cute in the summer. I can’t always keep them on for a long time because I don’t usually wear them, but sometimes it is just fun to treat yourself and buy a new pair. I bought a pair of tortoise shell print RayBan-esque style sunglasses from Target. I bought them just before heading to the beach and I love them! They go with everything and I think that tortoise shell is such a classic print. A pair I would really like to get is some red heart-shaped sunglasses. I think they look so fun!

the perfect playlist.

Some songs just remind me of summer. In my opinion, the quintessential summer playlist includes country music. I always have good memories of listening to country music in the summer (and year round too). Some of my favorite artists this summer are Zac Brown Band, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Maddie & Tae, and Kelsea Ballerini. I am also enjoying some of my favorite Worship artists like Bethel Music and Steffany Gretzinger this summer. Playlists are perfect for relaxing at the beach, taking a drive, hosting a backyard pool party, or just listening!  

These are just a few of my summer essentials. Summer is such a wonderful time of relaxation, recharging, fun, adventures, and just enjoying life. I hope y’all are enjoying your summer and doing lots of fun things and soaking up a lot of sun. Happy Summer!

Puppy {Tails}: Treats.

Almost three years ago my family got a puppy. My sister and I had been asking for a dog for a really long time and we finally got one. Her name is Zofie and she is a miniature poodle and is the sweetest little dog and loves attention. The cutest thing I think she does is when she runs to greet my daddy when he comes home from work. She can’t sit still and her tail wags and she is so happy to see him!

I’ve wanted to make her some doggy treats for a while and I finally did! I made Oatmeal, Peanut Butter & Banana Dog Treats from the website "Miss Molly Says". I let her smell the dough and lick my fingers and she got so excited. The recipe I used was so simple to use and I will definitely use it again. I took some pictures of the recipe as I made it to show you how easy it was. If you have a dog, you should definitely try this recipe. My puppy loved it!!!

Ingredients: 1 cup whole wheat flour, 1/2 cup rolled oats, 1/3 cup peanut butter, 1/2 cup mashed banana, 1 egg, and a cute cookie cutter

First, add the oats.

Then add the whole wheat flour.

Next, peanut butter. 

Then mash the banana. It should come out to be almost one half cup. 

Add the egg and mix everything together. 

It should form into a ball.

You can either press out the dough with your hands or a rolling pin. Then cut out the dough with your cookie cutter and place on a lightly greased cookie sheet. 

Bake them for 20 minutes at 300F.

They should about the same as when you put them in the oven, just a little drier. 

Someone's excited!

You can store them in a tin or whatever you would like to use. You could also share some with other doggy friends or give them as gifts by using a little gift bag with tissue paper and some ribbon.

She said they were delicious!

I hope you try this recipe and let me know how if your doggy likes it as much as mine did! 

Bucket List.

I like to dream. And I like making lists. I also like crossing off lists. Just to be fun, I thought I’d make a list of things, in no particular order, I’d like to do someday. Check back to see what I’ve crossed off! What are some things you would like to do?

1. Decorate Christmas presents cutely
2. See Harry Connick Jr. in concert
3. Go to NYC
4. Go ice skating outside
5. Have breakfast in front of Tiffany’s (or at least have my picture taken)
6. Worship with Bethel Music
7. Buy a Lilly Pulitzer dress
8. Go to a ball
9. Make a video blog
10. Go to a movie in a theater with reclining chairs
11. Go to a state or county fair
12. Host a Valentine’s party
13. Open an Etsy store
14. Go see a professional ballet at the Joffrey Chicago
15. Swap blogs for a day with a friend
16. Sew a new piece of clothing
17. Make a scrapbook for college
18. Learn how to play the harp
19. Finally get my dorm room decorated the way I like it
20. Learn how to ballroom dance
21. Surprise someone
22. Buy something ugly and remake it
23. Have tea in London
24. Make a bucket list for a season and complete it
25. Be brave and go to a Zumba class
26. Take a floral design class
27. Can peaches or make jam
28. Dress up like a cow for free Chick-fil-a 
29. Do something that is fun, yet scary at the same time
30. Write a children’s book
31. Go to an outdoor movie
32. Create sidewalk chalk masterpieces
33. Go to a farmer’s market
34. Take a day trip with friends
35. Plant a garden
36. Pick a place to live after college
37. Meet someone special
38. Be surprised

You've Got A Friend.

I love that old James Taylor song “You’ve Got A Friend”. In its truest form, it’s a demonstration of true friendship. Who wouldn’t want someone to tell you all those nice things? I’ll be there whenever you call or when the sky falls. It’s such a sweet reminder of how precious our friendships are. During my freshman year of college I entered some of the sweetest friendships I’ve ever had. Picking and choosing friends can be tough for some people and having moved so many times as a child I suppose I’m better at it than most. However, I am by no means a professional at “friend-making”. As it would happen, I became closest with the girls who lived on my hall and we did any and everything together. From having photo-shoots with Christmas props in Target, cramming into one of our rooms to watch a movie together, playing our hearts out on the flag football field, dressing up as every holiday we could think of for Halloween, hiding a pet gecko, camping in the freezing cold and having your tent collapse in the middle of the night, climbing on the roof of our dorm building, getting milkshakes from the sassiest of waiters at 3AM, hammocking on our “front lawn” at 1AM, dancing in the basement laundry room during finals week, to borrowing grandma’s cookies from the vending machine. We shared more laughs than I ever knew I had in me. You know you have true friends when they would do anything for you and would go out of their way just to see you smile. These same friends are there for you when you go through your first heartbreak and they sit on the floor and cry with you and drag a mattress into your room to make sure you don’t feel alone. They will watch cheesy movies with you and eat cookie dough with you when you don’t feel so good. They will listen to you share your heart and all the dreams you wish would someday become a reality. They give you fashion advice and let you raid their closet as long as you let them raid yours. They make faces at you when you pass them on campus and sing crazy made-up songs to you as loud as they can just to show how much they love you. Even if you haven’t seen each other in 30 minutes they’ll hug you like they haven’t seen you in a year. They’ll break out into random dancing whenever a good song comes on and you don’t care who is watching because everyone wishes they could have friends as cool as us. These friends are treasures that God specifically planted in our lives to show how much He loves and cares for us. I’m so thankful for every friend I made this year and I can’t wait for this next year and more crazy adventures with those I love most!