Christmas 2011 was wonderful!

We were lucky enough to see many of our favorite family and friends in New York, to enjoy the cold to see some snow flurries but no big bad storm like last year (thank goodness!), and to sleep in for a couple of days.  Ahhh – it was nice. We were, once again, reminded why we are so blessed!  Icing on the cake: we were were home, in Charleston, by Christmas Eve night.  A perfectly balanced holiday week.  Success!

* * *

We received wonderful gifts from family  - thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!!

As for Scott and I, we went big this year without really meaning to (purchasing for the future).  Let’s just say that the Southwest credit card was a-smokin’ this week!  Oh well.  Life is short and Ramon Noodles are cheap.

* * *

Our big purchases that are assumed to last 5+ years…

1. A new microwave (that continues to live in his box).  But oh yeah, you already knew that!

2. An awesome camera…The Canon Rebel T2i

I need to sleep with the manual under my pillow, grad school comps-style. Girlfriend’s got a lot to learn, but I am confident that I’ll get the hang of it.  It is already 100% clear that this camera is one million times better than my digital camera that we’ve been using from the beginning of my college days (ahem, 12 years ago?!).  This is like a gift for you guys, too.  Pics on the blog should be much easier on the eye now – YAY!  AND…extra special bonus?  No more I-need-a-new-camera whining from →this girl←.  You’re welcome.

Thanks for camera suggestions on Facebook, friends.  We were thisclose to getting the Nikon D3100!

3. A gorgeous new car…A 2011 Honda CR-V SE in Opal Sage

[My heart pitter patters.]

It was only a year and a half ago that we got our Mazda 5.  She will be missed, but we are Honda-lovers through and through and couldn’t pass up a great deal!

We’ve been bonding over Zac Brown Band (both albums) and the new Gavin DeGraw-Sweeter.  I’ve been parking far away and driving much slower than usual.  Yup, we’re in the honeymoon stage.  ♥

I hope y’all had a wonderful Christmas 2011.  Who else can’t believe it’s already over?

2012 is just around the corner!!!

p.s. 70 degrees and sunny the next 2 days!!!

Beach Count: 64  

High Temperature: 69° (and beautiful!) 

I love both of these people.  I of course knew that Zooey Deschanel could sing (hello, Elf!), but I did not know that adorable Joseph Gordon-Levitt could.

Super cute!

Enjoy while I get my act together to actually blog.

Thanks for your patience.

Miss y’all!!!

p.s. Stand by for my posts re: my year in review, my thoughts for 2012, and my Christmas recap!  I’m baaaaaaaaaack!

Beach Count: 64  

High Temperature: 60° 

This dance is called “The Charleston.”  I just couldn’t resist!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS, BLOG LOVES!!!

And now…for a special treat, kiddies!  My very first guest post from a blogger friend of mine.  (yayyyy!!!)

Hi *Charm of Charleston* readers!

I’m Brooke – better known as the veggie head behind the meatless, Pomeranian-obsessed blog called Veggie Table.

I have been an avid reader of the Charm ever since discovering the blog world and I’m beyond thrilled to be guest posting today!  I adore Sarah and her writing style for several reasons:

1) she is very open, honest, and absolutely hyyyylarious

2) her palm tree updates crack me up (Hi Spunky!)

3) she and Scott are always doing something fun (I live in lower Alabama – enough said)

4) we have several things in common, brown hair, vertically challenged, our husbands love a good brew, beach bums, and Charleston holds a special place in our hearts

Two years ago, I married my best friend, Forrest, in a small ceremony in Huntsville, Alabama.  We planned our wedding in a week (no, I wasn’t with child) and invited nine members of our family to join in on the festivities.

After our “I do’s,” we celebrated our commitment with a brunch and then hit the road to Honeymoonville…Charleston, South Carolina!!  As soon as we arrived, I fell in love for the second time that day – Forrest was lookin’ pretty snazzy in his wedding attire .  Reasons I love Charleston and want to a book a flight back immediately…

Tree-lined streets and the beautiful, historic homes nestled behind them…

Ohhhhh those trees are so magical and I found the house I want to live in if we win the lottery

Henry’s…

We loved this vintage rooftop bar – it was close to our hotel, the decor was funky, rooftop = outside, and the drinks were strong, ha.

French Quarter Inn

Forrest booked reservations for this place not knowing much about it – turns out it’s awesome!  Great location, incredible view of the water, our room had a huge balcony, and it was super convenient to everything.  We were winning waaay before Charlie Sheen.

The Market

I loved waking up in the morning, demolishing breakfast, and walking around the market.  All the vendors were selling such beautiful and original items – I wanted one  of everything.

The water

Forrest and I spent many hours of our  honeymoon strolling along the waterfront thinking of ways to make this city our home.  No luck so far but my fingers are still crossed.

Shopping

Let’s just say the husband’s bank account was hurting and we’ll leave it at that.

Dinner cruise

As touristy (cheesy?!?!) as it might sound, we did hit up the dinner boat.  It was a great way to see Charleston and all it’s beauty from a different angel; however, the cruise did last longer than anticipated and we were both ready for land.

Many types of transportation

By the end of the week, our legs were sore and my toes were swollen but we still wanted to see more of the city.  We cruised around in this carriage for a half hour and loved it.

A few other reasons why I love Charleston that went unpictured:

All the amazing restaurants – our favorites included Monza, Snob, and Poe’s Tavern on Sullivan’s Island.

The people – everyone we met was so friendly and helpful.

So, if you are planning a vacation I would highly recommend Charleston.  I could go on and on but would hate to wear out my visit on the Charm.  Thank you Sarah for asking me to guest post – it was fun reliving our honeymoon in the city you call home.

Isn’t she the cutest?  Follow her blog…you’ll get obsessed.  promise.

Brooke, thanks for sharing your awesome honeymoon with Charm readers!!!  Our door is always open – BRING YOUR BUTTS BACK!!! =)

IS…

[drumroll please]

a  N-E-W  M-I-C-R-O-W-A-VE!!!  [cue ridiculously pathetic clapping]

Oh no, that wasn’t it.

But we had to drop 200ish big ones on one anyway, because the old heater-upper’s circuit board (yes, seriously…I said “circuit board”) decided to poop out when a light bulb died.  Awesome.

Exciting, huh?

It’s an after-Christmas-project.

For the record, we’ve been microwave-less for almost 2 weeks now and life has been just fine.  All I’ve missed it for was melting butter (for Scott’s special popcorn, of course), reheating brown rice, and double-checking the time (what? the oven clock could all of a sudden be wrong – weirder things have happened!).

Maybe we should’ve bought a TV to put above the oven instead?

Oh well [cough, bah humbug, cough]!

I have dreams of new bras, socks, and underwear to round out my Christmas dreams.  

How about you?!

p.s. Don’t you love homeownership?

Beach Count: 64  

High Temperature: 74° 

We’ve had ridiculously warm temperatures in Charleston lately and I.LOVE.IT!

So here is Charleston’s forecast for the week we’re in NY…

VERSUS the forecast in Upstate New York…

We’re looking at a 30 degree gap, people.

Can I get a – what?  really?

I know it’s December and that I lived in that climate for 27 years, but MAN, me-no-likey.

Better get packing my sweaters!!!

HAPPY FRIDAY, Y’ALL!!!

p.s. Who thinks we’ll get a snowstorm while we’re in NY?  Obviously the meteorologists aren’t thinking so, but I just have a feeling.

p.s.s. Can’t wait to see all of our NY favs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Beach Count: 64  

High Temperature: 74° 

So far this Christmas season…

- We hit up James Island County Park Holiday Festival of Lights - a 3-mile drive through hundreds of light displays while listening to static-y Christmas music on a specific radio channel.  If your husband is patient you’re brave (it’s REALLY busy), you can park to roast marshmallows, take photos with Santa, take a train ride, yada yada.  Yes, kid-oriented.  Yes, we kept on driving.  Going right after Thanksgiving was a great way to kick off the holiday season!

- We went to Nights of a Thousand Candles at Brookgreen Gardens, but you already know that!  Amazeballs.

- We went to the Charleston Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in Marion Square Downtown.  This year, I was sans-Scott but with the parents.  We really just caught the butt end of the ceremony – the actual lighting.  Again, I loved it – but will go for the entire set of performances again next year.

My cute parents in front of the tree

Scott and I last year

- Next we walked through Charleston Place (because the decorations are to.die.for.).  Of course, my camera sucks…per usual.

Amazing train set that made me drool

- THEN, we attempted to check out the Parade of Boats at the Battery.  Key word: Attempted.  Awesome boats all decked out in Christmas lights parading across the harbor…WE WILL SEE ALL OF THIS NEXT YEAR.  so cool.

- I’ve eaten A LOT of these…

and a bit of these…

- I filled my iPod with Christmas tunes (fav? Brad Paisley – 364 Days to Go)

- I/We did this…

and this (horrid picture)…

and THIS…

Spunky…all lit up ♥

- Wrote out Christmas cards for the first time in 4ish years.  Oops.  [Don’t worry – I’m back!)

I know I’m forgetting stuff, but oh well.

Next year, we’re definitely going to the Mount Pleasant Christmas Parade.  We hear it’s a great time!

What’s left to do, you ask?

- START and FINISH my shopping (yes, that’s right!)

- Once the shopping happens, WRAP (huge fan, I’d be a professional wrapper if Scott would let me – REEEEEMIX)

- Pack for NY

- Watch ELF and Christmas Vacation at least 42 times…each (and White Christmas at least once)

AND…I’m exhausted.

What holiday traditions have you already checked off your list this year?  Anything you’re going to skip?

Am I the ONLY one who hasn’t started shopping yet?

p.s. Do you think I was an elf in a former life.  I mean, Wrapping fan?  4’11”?  You do the math!

p.s.s. Really, who’s buying me a new camera for Christmas?!!?

Beach Count: 64  

High Temperature: 67° 

I’m a Christmas-holic.  A closet one, if you depend on this blog to find out (clearly).

My husband is more scrooge than Elf, but humors me because he loves me.

Last year, I heard about this awesome event at Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet called Nights of a Thousand Candles.  Murrells Inlet is about an hour and a 40 minutes away from Charleston.  All I had to hear was “hand-lit candles,” “sparkling lights,” “hot cider,” and “carolers” and Scott was doomed (while I was doing cartwheels).  It didn’t happen last year, but this year, it was on like Donkey Kong.

I went with the if-you-build-it-he-will-come mentality…if-I-keep-saying-it–it-will-happen!  Poor Scooter.  I’m such a tough crowd!

Saturday was the day.  Forget my never-ending sickness, we were going and it was going to be amazing!

Scott had a fun idea – to drive 20 minutes past Murrells Inlet and drive around “the strip” in Myrtle Beach!  Scott went on family vacays to Myrtle for many years and remembered it like he’d been there in the past 15 years!  He lit up like a little kid – it was so cute.

Scott’s favorite, um, restaurant? spot in the Myrtle – K&W Cafeteria (the rest of the pics he took on his phone)

We had to stop and take a picture here, because I mean, come on!

Sadly, it was closed.  No BOGO shark teeth for me.  [wahh]

Look at this beauty!

If I were more bendy, I would’ve propped myself up in there.  Reason #253 why I should work out.  Damn.

Oh, Myrtle Beach!

ONTO THE PLACE OF 5,500 HAND-LIT CANDLES!!!!!!!!!

So we took 108 pictures and 38 short videos.  Lemmerephasethat.  We took 108 crappy pictures and 38 crappy short videos.  Basically NOTHING does this event justice.  All I can tell you is that Scott is now a believer and that we will be making this trip on a yearly basis…for-ev-er.

I told you.  Christmas-holic.

Enjoy the crappy pictures below, but PLEASE use your imagination (and give me money for a new camera – ‘preciate it).  There is absolutely no perspective to be found in these pics, so please know that this place is 300 acres of gorgeousness. Also, insert carolers and bagpipes and candles and lights and ponds and a snow machine and hot chocolate and hand-holding and dreams coming true.

Ahhhh!

The land of chinese lanterns was my absolute fav

This poinsetta tree made me think of this picture from Lake Placid in 2010. Awww ♥

Yup, it’s cold there.

I hope to go back to Brookgreen Gardens another time just to enjoy the gardens. and naked statues.  LOTS of naked statues.

Happy Christmas season, friends!!!

p.s. I’m officially on Twitter now.  I mean I know I said that before, but I’ve tweeted now.  13 times (believe it).  Follow me and I’ll follow you back, boy-eeeee!

p.s.s. NY in 3 days.  I am NOT ready for the coldness!!!

Beach Count: 64  

High Temperature: 67° 

Oh goodness…I cannot stand that show on ABC.  Ask Scott.  He tries to make me watch it and I cringe.  Just cringe.

I’d like to believe that if I saw teenagers heckling an elderly man whilst stealing his walker on the sidewalk outside of the clothing store where I was shopping that I would say/do something to make them stop.  I mean – come on.  No brainer, right?

Guess not everyone would or else this show wouldn’t exist.  Uh-doy (FYI: this rhymes with boy – ha!).

Well, a real-life “what would YOU do” happened to me a few weeks ago and an even crazier one happened to both Scott and I just last week.  #whereisjohnquinones

Here is my story [insert Law & Order's "doink doink" here]…

Around Thanksgiving I was at my fav grocery store, Harris Teeter, when I found 2 twenty dollar bills on the ground in the frozen food section.  {We’ve all been distracted by ice cream flavors a time or two, no?}  $40 ain’t nothin’ to sneeze at in my world, so I thought someone would be teary-eyed and panic-stricken momentarily…because I know I would be.  I walked the money up to the customer service desk (über awkwardly as if they were actually grenades disguised as money).  I told the man where I found the money and headed back to get my frozen fruit frozen pizza.  A Harris Teeter employee apparently followed me.  She asked me for my name and number because if the money wasn’t claimed, they wanted to give it to me.  Wowzers.  I would never think of that.  So I left the Teet feeling good, having done the right thing.  I wouldn’t ever in.a.million.years think of keeping it for myself.  Never.  Ever.

Er…well, maybe.

Yesterday I received a voicemail saying that weeks had gone by and the money was never claimed.  They asked for me to call back or just come by and pick it up. Wheeeeeeeeeeeee!

Except, could I really take it?  I mean, it didn’t really belong to me!

BUT, I did do the right thing.  Maybe this was my reward?

What would YOU do?

Here’s what I did…

I immediately picked up the money.  Thats right.  ::GUILTY::

The Harris Teeter employee thanked me, yet again, for doing the right thing.  As I signed on the line confirming the money pickup, I simultaneously wondered if I was also signing a deal with the devil.  I hope not.

Girlfriend got this Tyler Christmas scented candle…

So delish.  I could eat it.

AND this People Magazine to read while getting my hair did…

Can’t these Bachelor/Bachelorette peeps just make it work for me?!?!  Goodness gracious.  I’ve devoted a lot of my life to them.

Those two purchases totaled about half of my newfound fortune.  The rest is burning a hole in my pocket.  for now.

Should I donate the rest?  Probably!  Will I?  We’ll see.

For reals though, this would never happen in New York.  New York doesn’t return money to people who do the right thing.

Have you ever accepted a reward for doing the right thing?  Would you have taken the money?  Am I a bad person?  Do you think that I just established bad karma for myself?  Is $40 big money to anyone else?  Am I asking too many questions?

I’m a good person – I swear!

p.s.  Check out post #3  on Babycenter where I talk about our miscarriage timeline.  

p.s.s. Someone please teach me how to Twitter.  I’ve gotten some new followers and they must hate me (since I can’t even remember how to log in).  A short tutorial?  Cheat sheet?  Anyone?

Beach Count: 64  

High Temperature: 76° ← Oh yes, that’s right!

We had thee best time over the 5-day Thanksgiving Break.

BUT, I was simultaneously sick (yes, that’s right – Rudolph came to town early) AND THEN it was time to go back to work AND THEN I let Christmas loose all up in here.  Hence…the blog break.

Please forgive me.

Now I am back and have lots to say!  Buckle up, kids.

I shall start with Thanksgiving.

{Nicer pictures courtesy of my brother, Jon.  His camera is 843289532432 times better than mine.  Yes, I did the math.  His photography skills are also that much better.}

I am thankful for the beach…

I am thankful for this bridge (which leads to Downtown)…

I am thankful for this guy – my Dad…

I am thankful for the pier at Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park…

I am thankful for our freedom…

I am thankful for the *charm* of Downtown…

I am thankful for palm trees (duh)…

I am thankful for this flag and what it represents…

I am thankful for my brother, and his first visit to Charleston…

I am thankful for my Mom’s famous shortbread cookies…

I am thankful for my parent’s fat cat, Garfield…

I am thankful for festive table settings and Thanksgiving at our house for year #2…

I am thankful for my Mom (and Dad) lending their cooking expertise…

I am thankful for this yummy bird (not her best angle)…

I am thankful for these brothers…and football…

I am thankful for delicious food (including corn pie – a Southern Thanksgiving side dish!)…

I am thankful for the best husband in the entire world…

I love these people and am incredibly lucky to have them in my life!!!

I hope ya’ll had a FAB Thanksgiving!  Now it’s time for Christmas, kiddies!  YAY!!!

xoxo

p.s. 70s for the next 4 days – woop, woop!

p.s.s. Got the tree yesterday, decorating it today!   =)

Beach Count: 64  

High Temperature: 67°