The Olympic games start Friday, folks, and man am I excited.  I’ve always loved watching the Summer Olympic games!  I love the gymnastics, swimming, and diving.  This year, I may have to check out synchronized swimming, trampoline, table tennis, and badminton because…well…just because!

via

Since I’m still pregnant and it’s still hot outside, I plan on catching LOTS of the Olympic games this year.  I wish this girl was going to compete!

 Shawn Johnson –  gymnast – retired at age 20!

But seriously, let’s talk about my ideas for the Pregnancy Olympics.  It would be hysterically embarassing…and get amazing ratings on TV.  (Think Wipe Out or Bachelor Pad.)  Check it out…

Events where I’d would lose.  badly.

- potato sack racing

- remembering what day it is

- keeping my emotions in check (hello inappropriately loud and hysterical laughter!)

- chinese fire drills [I realize this is probably no longer a PC term, but I don't know what else to call it - I apologize!]

- sleeping

- walking

An olympiad, I’d be…Events where I’d KILL IT.

- turning on a gas stove…handsfree…with.ma.belly

- giving a urine sample without incident (this IS a sport – you CANNOT see a thang)

- leg shaving – again, without being able to see squat

- worrying

- toenail painting (there would have to be some serious censoring on this one as it is best executed naked!)

- Oreo-eating (duh)

- list-making

- not sleeping

What Olympic game would be your jam?  Which real summer sport?  Which made-up sport (these are just more fun to think about!)?  

Pregnancy alone IS a 40-week long Olympic trial, if you ask me…but, as usual, no one did.

xoxo

p.s. They replay Olympic events in the middle of the night, right?

p.s.s. All this London talk makes me reminisce about our royal wedding shenanigans!

Beach Count: 77  

Pool Count: 32 

High Temperature: 96° 

July 6th was our 2 year anniversary of living in Charleston.

TWO YEARS ALREADY!  

This occasion snuck up on us (again) as we’ve been committed residents of Babyland for 4 straight weeks.  You better believe that when Scott and I realized the date (at 8:00 at night), that we stared longingly at each other with both gratitude and relief.  We found our forever home, we made the 100% right decision, and we have absolutely no regrets.  We are the main characters in a story of happiness.  The setting?  Charleston.

There were fireworks following the soccer game that night, which I like to believe were in our honor.  What?  I just know that my love ordered them up!

We are so grateful to absolutely love where we live.  If I could find Chuck, I’d squeeze his cheeks so hard!!!

Charleston – WE LOVE YOU!

On a related note, Charleston ranked high on yet another survey.  Charleston ranked #4 on Travel & Leisure’s Best City in U.S. and Canada.  Charleston hotels and Kiawah Island were also ranked high on other portions of this annual list. Check it out and GOOOOOO Charleston!

 Who else loves where they live?  Do we have any shot of our little one loving Charleston as much as we do?!

xoxo

p.s. Here’s my 1 year anniversary in Charleston post from last year, if you’re interested!

p.s.s. My parents hit their Chucktown 1 year anniversary a couple of weeks ago!!!

Beach Count: 76  

Pool Count: 30 

High Temperature: 96° 

Photo dump…GO!

EASTER

We went to Boone Hall for St. Andrew’s Church’s Easter service.  We went last year with my parents and LOVED IT.  The service is outdoors under the biggest tent you’ve ever seen.  They provide bottled water, coffee, muffins, bug spray, and child care.  It’s free parking and free admission (it’s usually $19.50 per person just to get on the grounds!) and free warm fuzzies that last for days.

This year certainly did not disappoint.  Year two solidified that this will be an annual event!

The music is out.of.this.world good!

Next up was some beach time on Sullivan’s Island…

Look at dat belly!

…then it was high time for High Thyme, also on SI, for brunch!  (No pics…sorry!) We had reservations, but were about 30 minutes early.  We figured we’d check it out and if they couldn’t take us yet, I’d wobble mosey on next door for a yummy decaf iced latte-ish drink at Cafe Medley.  Shoot – they could take us!  We sat by the door so we had the open air feeling, without too much wind.  It was heaven. Scott and his Dad both had shrimp and grits, Scott’s Mom had the biggest omelet you’ve ever seen, and I had a fried egg BLT.  It was delicious – I would DEFINITELY go back!  My only complaint?  No lemonade!

The second half of Easter was spent relaxing on the couch watching the Masters!

THE REST OF THE WEEK

We relaxed but fit a lot in, including painting the nursery (YAY!!!), a trip to Isle of Palms, a trip to Folly Beach, some downtown, lots of pool time (once out at Surfside where my parents were on a mini-vaca), and lots of yummy out to dinner (Poe’s, Water’s Edge – 1 of the best happy hour’s in town!, Jestine’s Kitchen, and Pearlz)!

Here are just a few pictures to prove it…

Water’s Edge

City Market

Oyster shooters at Pearlz (I was so jealous!)

The weather was wonderful and the time off was even better!  30ish days until summer break!!!

For all those on a week and a half delay (like me), I hope everyone had a great holiday!

p.s. I wonder what time Cafe Medley closes and I wonder what Scott is doing RIGHT NOW…?! hehe

Beach Count: 72   

Pool Count: 22 

High Temperature: 82°

HAPPY SAINT PATRICK’S DAY…FROM MY CRAZY HAIR BABY AND ME TO YOU!

(Seriously time to do something with that mop)

We’ll be off soon to check out Park Circle‘s 9th annual St. Patty’s Day Block Party (and parade)!  Bring on the corned beef, mechanical bull (for pure people-watching pleasure), and live Irish music!  Did I mention food vendors?

And I leave you with Scott’s favorite St. Patty’s Day jig…

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

p.s. 84 degrees today!

Beach Count: 67   

High Temperature: 81°  

Thank you, Fox News, for your quick and dirty write up on Charleston a few days ago.  The article is titled – “Charleston, the darling of the South.”

Finally we agree on something!

Click here to check it out!

It’s only the tip of the iceberg, but lovely nonetheless.

The infamous Rainbow Row

Happy Monday (and Bachelor 3-HOUR finale)!  Wine is [sadly] not in my future, but special popcorn just may be.

Lots of blogs to come this week!!!

p.s. Countdown to our workless summer is less than 60 days!!!

Beach Count: 67   

High Temperature: 69°  

Have you seen the cover of Southern Living Magazine’s October issue?

It’s me, it’s me!

[Ha!]

This is more like it!

I recently attended Southern Living’s Taste of Charleston at Boone Hall Plantation in Mount Pleasant.  What an awesome event!

Lucky, lucky me – I was invited to attend this event as a guest of Southern Living!

IMAGINE THE E-MAIL – From: Southern Living ~ To: ME.

Okay, I thought, who’s messing with me?!  After a few back-and-forths with the PR Director, turns out it wasn’t a mistake.  Permanent blushing for days, y’all.

The event was over 2 days; I went on Sunday while my parents and some friends went on Saturday.  Lemme tell you, we all had a ball and cannot wait to go again next year (with the hubs in tow)!

Here are some amateur pictures taken on my amateur camera by this amateur photographer lame photo-taker.

Never mind the presence of a million yummy local restaurants…I was all up in the Southern Living “Village.”

Luckily my awesomely talented non-amateur photographer friend, Nicholette, met up with me and took these beauties.  Thank you, Nicholette!

Are you photographically-challenged?  If so, contact Nicholette so she can take some pretty pictures for YOU!  =)

Favorite parts of the day, you ask?

1. The setting

2. Shag dancing lessons (watching only, no shag twinkle-toeing for me)

3. Good company

4. The presentation on how to “Set a Southern Table” by Kimberly Schlegel Whitman.  Did you see the gorgeousness in the first slideshow?  If not, you MUST go back and look!!!  Ms. Whitman had AWESOME ideas, was gorgeous (duh), and was super sweet (yes, I got to MEET HER!)

via here

Here she was, doing here thang!

Thank you, Southern Living, for having me as your guest!  My l♥ve for you is beyond words!!!

Did anyone else attend?  Wasn’t it amazing?  

p.s. Anyone notice my crazy hair on the mag. cover?  Holy wind!

p.s.s. I heard the food & drink, music, and other events were pretty cool, too!  ;)

p.s.s.s. Sorry the stupid slideshows wouldn’t center…boo.

Beach Count: 62   

High Temperature: 73°

I am not normally a person who does roundoff back handsprings carwheels somersaults for fried chicken.  I can take it or leave it.  But, Jestine’s Kitchen made me wanna find a gym mat.

Jestine’s Kitchen has been featured on Rachael Ray’s “$40 A Day,” the Food Network’s “Best Of,” Anthony Bourdain’s “No Reservations” and in Oprah Magazine’s “O’s Charleston’s Travel Guide.”  In 2009 it received the “Readers Choice Award” from Southern Living magazine.

Jestine’s Kitchen is known for home cooking in a warm atmosphere.  A lil’ history… Jestine Matthews was a native to the low country who worked for the Ellison family in Charleston.  Ms. Matthews and the Ellisons built a lifelong friendship.  The owner of Jestine’s Kitchen is Shera Lee Berlin, the daughter to the only Ellisons’ child.  Jestine lived for an amazing 112 years, but her Southern home cooking lives on – on Meeting Street in downtown Charleston.

The rest in pictures -

Thirsty?  Have some water from this jug strapped to a tree outside of the restaurant (there’s no reservations and often a line long around the corner!).  We probably waited 30 minutes on a Friday night at 7:30pm.  FYI: There are fans running outside for comfort.

Pickles while waiting?  Yes, please!

 Ridiculous salt & pepper tchotchkes?  Check!

::holy cannoli, that’s how you spell chotchkey?!::

J’s “Kitchen” 

Scooter’s cuteness + sweet tea 

Yummy cornbread with butter swimming in maple syrup

AND DRUMROLL (US-gymnast-in-the-Olympics-style)…

Fried chicken (white meat only – that was our choice), mac & cheese, and mashed potatoes

If you can’t tell, there were 2 HUGE pieces of chicken.  It barely looked like I made a dent into this dish by the time I was full and we got 2 of these identical plates!!!  Needless to say, we had a lot of leftovers!!!

You probably think we spent a fortune, right?  Think again!

$32.87 before tip for 2 nights worth of dinner!

I very much enjoyed this dinner, but Scott CANNOT stop talking about it.  Time to go back AANNNNDDD invite my father…because he has yet to have fried chicken live up to the fried chicken that he ate in D.C. on a school trip when he was 13.  Yeah, he dreams about this chicken.  Time to make a new memory, Dad!!!

Are you a fried chicken lover?  What’s your biggest comfort food downfall?

I have many, but I’d say nachos and chili cheese dip top my list!

p.s. There were lots of Southern food choices on Jestine’s Kitchen’s menu including “Jes’s Meatloaf,” “Pecan Fried Chicken Breast,” “Okra Gumbo,” and “Peanut Butter & Banana Sandwich with potato chips.”  

p.s.s. Forget the fried chicken, that was THEE BEST sweet tea I’ve ever had – wheeeeeeeeeeee!

Beach Count: 61  

High Temperature: 74°

Another Southern what wha WHAT?!

There it is!

At least I see the correlation more than I did with the buying a car and you get a gun promotion.

And at least this was for a good cause!

Just wouldn’t be that exciting of an offer where I come from 

Beach Count: 61  

High Temperature: 74°

Southern Thesaurus — Entry #9 (It’s been a while!)

Bless Your Heart

from here

Wowza, this one is com-pli-cated!  I’ve been holding onto this one for a while (yes, I have a Southern Thesaurus “bank!”) so that I could be sure to understand it thoroughly.  I think I sorta figured it out!

I have learned that this saying means MANY DIFFERENT THINGS. Here’s my best attempt at breaking it down (native Southerners, feel free to set this sister straight!)… 

1. Heartfelt empathy – Situation: I miss my flight to New York.  I’m crying in the airport like a big fat baby.  Lady in line behind me -  “Oh sweetie, bless your heart.” = “Oh sweetie, I am so very sorry that you are going through this.  Been there and it’s awful.”

2. Pity – Situation: I drive too confidently close to my garage door.  So close that I hit it.  Oops!  (This IS hypothetical, but could honestly happen tomorrow.)  Neighbor under her breath – “Oh boy, bless her heart.” = “Poor schmuck.  I’m shocked it’s taken her this long to take a chunk out of that garage door!”

3. Kudos – Situation: I work a 12-hour day, when it’s supposed to just 7.5, due to pure dedication and love for making this world a better place.  (Again, hypothetical!)  Family member: “Wow, that’s dedication.  Bless your heart!” = “Wow, that’s dedication.  Good for you!”

4. An attempt to make a nasty comment sound more polite (or, um, Southern?) - Situation: I see a person walking in the pouring rain on the side of the road being splashed repeatedly by puddles.  The forecast said 90% chance of rain.  Um, duh.  I say (to myself, of course!): “Um, good going.  No need for a jacket or umbrella – dumbo.  Ever heard of looking out the window?  Hmph, bless your heart!” = “Um, good going.  No need for a jacket or umbrella – dumbo.  Ever heard of looking out the window?  [I'm not a bad person.]”

And there ya have it.  A loaded Southern phrase – without a doubt!  I’m overly cautious to use it, just yet.  Baby [Southern] steps!

Please enjoy a little Miranda Lambert sassiness.  Lyrics including “bless your heart” are below!

Miranda Lambert – Only Prettier

Well I’ve been saved by the grace of Southern charm
I got a mouth like a sailor and yours is more like a Hallmark card
And if you wanna pick a fight
Well I’m gonna have to say goodnight
I don’t have to be hateful, I can just say bless your heart

Southern friends – Do you use bless your heart?  If so, in which way do you use it most?  Did I miss any other meanings?  Do tell!!!

Southern Thesaurus suggestions?  Ones that you love?  Hate?

Lemme know so I can blog about ‘em!

p.s. It’s been rainy on and off for days…Scott and I are in serious need of some beach time.  Bring on the SUN!

p.s.s. Fall beer tasting party at our house this Saturday – sooooo excited!!!

Beach Count: 61  

Pool Count: 18 

High Temperature: 83°

We dodged a bullet.

This time.

Shall we say…beginner’s luck?

Bridges didn’t close.

We didn’t lose power.  (Not even our Direct TV satellite connection – shocker!)

Spunky’s still standing.

I had a half day of work.

All was good in the hood.

We had an evacuation plan that I’m kinda sad we didn’t have to execute (hello Williams family & Asheville!).  We’ll get there soon, regardless!  Now I feel like the 4some has their heads on straight for the next hurricane threat.

Tide was really high, beach erosion occurred, some downed trees and power lines (on Folly Beach, especially), some crazy gusts of wind along with crazy fast moving low-looking clouds, big waves and brainless surfers (sorry – they’re dumb).  BUT, luck was on our side!

Waves on Isle of Palms (from here)

Now I’m worried about my loves in New York.  The irony!  We move from NY to SC and a major hurricane is after the Northeast.  Worried most about my big bro in NYC – be careful!!!

Conclusion of the week?  Life is unpredictable (and for those of you who know me well, you know this is quite the understatement)!

I hope you’re not feeling like this…

BE CAREFUL FRIENDS AND FAMILY!!!

xo

p.s. A picture update on Spunky soon.  I know you miss her.  ;)

Beach Count: 57

Pool Count: 18

High Temperature: 82!°