I have 4537981 blog posts that I want to write, but have bigger priorities at the moment.  Namely, tending to this sweet face.

 ♥

YES that’s my bra and NO I don’t get fully dressed very often.

I will get to it eventually.  But for now, I don’t make it upstairs much (where I typically blog) and I’m not too upset about it.  I do need to write down all of these ideas, though, before I forget!

In summary, we’re all doing well and Max is still (obviously) the cutest.  I mean, THAT FACE!!!

As his Daddy would say, “Max is the man!”

Just checking in for now!!!  Booby Duty calls!

xoxo

p.s. I can’t get into blogging on the iPad.  It seems like WAY too much work.  I use WordPress…suggestions, anyone?!  That sure would make blogging easier…

Beach Count: 77  

Pool Count: 32 

High Temperature: 87° 

The secret’s out and it feels so good!

I was wedding-day-giddy last Thursday night after coming clean.  Wedding-day-giddy mixed with some post-bachelorette-party-pukey to be exact.  NO, not morning sickness (girlfriend’s been luck-y).  Paranoia pukey.  BUT, the truth of the matter is – anything can happen at anytime and right now I choose to enjoy this pregnancy and share my excitement.

[deep breaths]

I am an open book (shocker!) and hated having to keep our exciting secret from y’all.  Now that the secret’s out, I have so much to catch you up on.

BUT, before we get there – I need to say something overly obvious.  Although this here blog centers on my adventures in Charleston, a new focus has arisen. It’s called – I’m.gonna.be.a.Mommy and it’s kind of a big deal.  Don’t be confused. Pregnancy is an ADVENTURE and I will continue to live IN CHARLESTON (for-ev-er), so relax and keep reading.  For reals.  Charleston is the setting, my life is the plot, and all of you peeps are the characters.  Ya with me?

So about that open-bookness, I must tell warn you that I promise to give you way too many details about this pregnancy.  Aches and Pains and Oohs and Ahhs.  I know no other way.  However, I will be sure to include Yays and Awws and No Way Reallys just the same.  OPEN BOOK SYNDROME comin’ atcha!

The first 13 weeks, in summary…

                                                

I think that pretty much covers the major changes that I’ve been experiencing – minus the obvious belly growth!

I plan on posting weekly updates with pics and stats, so stay tuned for the first installment later in the week.  Also, I will be adding a pregnancy tab to the top of the blog – a place where you can find my pregnancy journey, from the beginning.  

Thank you for all of your support and love following our big announcement.  Love to you all!!!  ♥

p.s. A post about our visit from the Dominy fam is coming your way this week. =)  Why is it they can’t live here again?!

Beach Count: 65   

High Temperature: 60°  

12 months is a long time.  As promised, with each year, those months feel shorter and quicker and, well, sneakier.  Here goes my first attempt at a year in review!  I suggest a beverage and  a snack break around June/July…it was a busy year!

Disclaimer: *Charm* wasn’t born until March of 2011, so (as you’ll see), January and February are pretty fuzzy.  This fact reminds me why I not only write this blog for YOU but as a documenting tool for ME.  =)  Also, I planned on highlighting each month with just ONE picture (“Highlights, Sarah, HIGHLIGHTS!”).  Fat chance…that lasted 1 month!

The Year 2011!

1 – JANUARY

We were fresh off our snow-filled trip to NY, SO happy to be home in 70° weather.  We took a trip to the beach, took some trips downtown, and celebrated Scott’s 32nd birthday.  (Apparently, by ourselves according to the picture above!) Hmph – I’ll document this January a little more seriously  ;)

2 – FEBRUARY

We visited the South Carolina Aquarium for the first time.  I swiftly blogged about it in June.  #oops  #FAIL

We went to a fun Super Bowl party with great friends where I won an award for my garbage bread – yay!

We had an awesome visit from our awesome Scottish friends, Jeremy and Carrianne.  Martelle even came down from Charlotte for a bit to visit (you remember him, right?).  We all fawned over Baileigh-boo and had a fabulous time!  If only we lived a little closer!!!  xoxo

All of us, minus gorgeous Carrianne (if only pictures could take themselves!).  

Lastly, we went to Brewvival and had a ball.  We need to get on the tickets for this year, STAT!  Chucktown peeps, if you like beer and good food – do it, do it, DO IT!

3 – MARCH

We had our second beer tasting at the house, celebrated St. Patty’s Day at Westbrook, and pimped out our patio.

And shall I not forget, I published my very first post on *Charm of Charleston* where I introduced Spikey to the world!

Dead already?  I think so  =(

4 – APRIL

April was bizzzz-eeeeee!  

We had our first Bridge Run experience (sans the actual running part).  What a fun time downtown.  Can you say MIMOSAS?!

Pool weather, it was!

The Brewers stopped by for a quick 5-hour visit on their drive down to Florida (I think this was April and not February??).

I went to my first ever tennis match at the Family Circle Cup and learned that this is a quiet event (who knew?!).

Scott’s brother, Johnny, came down for his first visit.  Scott’s parents’ also came down for their first visit, overlapping Johnny’s by a few days.  Good times!!!

I went to my first Southern wedding…Buffie and Jay’s!

Scott’s parents left and mine came in on the very same day (zZzZzZ)!  We celebrated Easter at Boone Hall Plantation, commemorated the Royal Wedding, and my parents picked out their future house!

AND THEN, we slept  =)

5 – MAY

We checked out downtown Charleston’s Farmer’s Market for the first time, I drooled over the best.burger.ever from Coleman Public House, we soaked up some 90° days, I confessed my ridiculous issues with blinking, and I met the lovely and talented Christina behind Hungry Meets Healthy!

6 – JUNE

We bought the iPad 2 and went to NY for 23 days.  We saw all of our favorite friends and family, went to our friend Katrina’s wedding, and spent as much time as possible at Scott’s parents’ lake house.  The biggest event?  Mom and Dad said goodbye to living in the Northeast and MOVED TO CHARLESTON!

::How ya holdin’ up?  Snacky time?  Hang in, we’re halfway there!::

7 – JULY

Well, I blogged once a day during July (er, 31 blogs in 31 days) and loved-every-second-of-it!

Big things happened this month.  BIG!  Christina and Mike visited from NY for the 4th (!!!), Scott and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary in Charleston AND our 3rd wedding anniversary, we bid farewell to Spikey while welcoming Spunky into the family, Mom and Dad closed on their house, and we found out that we were pregnant.

8 – AUGUST

We celebrated Shark Week by watching a screening of Jaws on the lawn at the Aquarium – FUN!  We checked out the ginormously spectacular tree that is Angel Oak and fell in love with Kiawah Island.  Mom, Dad, and I went to the 8th Annual Wine Stomping Festival at Irvin House Vineyards.  I did some cleaning that resulted in this flashback, this one, and this one.  Luckily, we dodged a large bullet that was Hurricane Irene.  And on a Debbie Downer note, we found out the worst news possible – that we lost our baby.

9 – SEPTEMBER

EXCLUSIVE: Scott was busted for being his bad@$$ self and experienced the rare comfort of the back of a cop-mobile.  A-gain.  Did I forget to share that in September?  (Jokes, it’s our neighbor’s “ride.”  Yes, we’re cool enough to stage fake arrests.  What?!)

Y’all helped me decide that I am a Carolina Gamecocks fan, I poured my heart out on 9/11, and we had our 3rd beer tasting party,

10 – OCTOBER

We celebrated our house anniversary, I shared my you-can-barely-see-me magazine debut, I was invited to and attended Southern Living’s Taste of Charleston event at Boone Hall Plantation, I had a week-long birthday celebration, we went to Charlotte Oktoberfest (where Scott’s homebrew was on tap!), and visited Asheville, NC!!!

11 – NOVEMBER

Scott received his ribbon for coming in first place for his saison in the Savannah Homebrew Contest, we experienced a gorgeous sunset on Sullivan’s, checked out Middleton Place (whoops, still need to blog about this!), and had a 36-hour Knupp marathon IN CHARLESTON.  We also hosted Thanksgiving for the 2nd time – this year with my parents, brother (for his first Chucktown visit), and brother in-law.  =)

 12 - DECEMBER

Scott and I went on our first annual trip (oh yes, it’ll be an annual thang) to Brookgreen Gardens for Nights of a Thousand Candles.  Ahhh – romance. ♥

My first guest blogger, the hilarious Brooke at Veggie Table, shared her great honeymoon in Charleston with us (yay – thanks again!!!)

ANDDDDD…I basically slacked for the rest of December!

And there was my year is a very large and wordy nutshell ← typical ME!

Seriously though, 2011 year was filled with MANY ups and some pretty down-in-the-dumps downs.  I blogged through it all and am very grateful for the opportunity to share my life with YOU.  Thanks for the memories 2011, but 2012 is going to be MY YEAR!!!

Happy New Year, loves! ♥

p.s. If you actually read through this entire post, we are officially best friends forever.  

Beach Count: 64  

High Temperature: 60°  

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!!! =)

As most of you know, I had a miscarriage in August.

I know…I’m weird…I talk about it.

Although I don’t buy the whole “everything happens for a reason” bologna, I do believe that good can come out of even the worst of situations.  Although good may not be great, it’s better than bad.  You get me?  I knew that you would!

What’s the good, you ask?  Well, I consider helping others as good….I hope to do just that.

Since having a miscarriage is a seriously taboo topic (who knew?  trust me – I’ve found out that it is), I’ve had a hard time finding anyone with whom to relate. I’m a big blog follower and I found that there’s not much out there about women’s personal miscarriage experiences.  Seeing as miscarriages are incredibly common…this made me incredibly annoyed.  As we all know, not talking about particular taboo issues breeds shame.  like a weed.  and I am not having it.

[Here comes the good.]

My first blog just went live as a guest blogger on Babycenter.com [enter goosebumps - this is kind of a big deal for me!].  There will be 6 posts altogether over the next few weeks where I talk candidly about the devastating ins and outs of enduring a miscarriage…from finding out, to what it’s been like to go through, and finally to where we hope to go from here.

Please check out the first post and follow our journey.  Maybe this opportunity will turn into something non-guestlike.  A girl can dream!!!  

Thank you for all of your positivity and support.  I love my blog family!

p.s. The brother in-law comes in 3 days; the brother in 5!  Check out our forecast =)

p.s.s. Congrats to one of my best friends, Kristen, on her new baby girl Caroline Emily!!!!!!  ♥

Beach Count: 64  

High Temperature: 79° 

Well folks, today is a big day for Charm of Charleston.

Charm of Charleston is happy to announce that we have our very first *charming* supporter.

[insert intense blushing]

It’s a mark-your-calendar kinda day ‘round these parts.

FOLLYBEACH.COM

FollyBeach.com is a website that provides valuable information about the ins and outs of Folly Beach, SC.  This website is designed for both locals and visitors alike.  Info on surfing, fishing, wedding planning, restaurants, music, wildlife, and more can be found along with a calendar of events and an opportunity to sign up for an informational newsletter.

I plan on using this site to explore more of what Folly has to offer (since y’all know that I DO NOT get to this beach enough!).  I suggest you check it out, too!!!

Thank you for supporting us, FollyBeach.com =)

p.s. Interested in supporting Charm of Charleston?  E-mail sarah@charmofcharleston.com with ideas!

Beach Count: 62   

High Temperature: 63° 

Thanks to the awesome Nicholette Creedmore, I gots me a new pic in the sidebar ::minus the hair helmet::!  - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – ->

Thanks, Nicholette!  

Problem is, I can’t figure out how to center align the beepin’ thing.  I tried the obvious.  HELP ME, fellow WordPress users!!!  Pretty please?!  I’m using the “Image Widget” (it wouldn’t upload at all into the “About Me Widget”).  Any/all suggestions will be appreciated and paid back in lovely comments on your blog!!! Or in cupcakes!  (Did I just sweeten the pot?)

Cheers to better quality pictures on this blog!  

Well, at least when I’m not taking them!

p.s. I’m thinking of changing the whole look of the site, so if you’re good at that kinda schtuff – please share your knowledge and I will be forever grateful! 

p.s.s. Who came up with the word “widget?”  I’m guessing the same person who came up with the word “tweet.“

Beach Count: 62   

High Temperature: 63° 

So, it’s official.  At 92 years old, Andy Rooney is stepping down from CBS’s 60 Minutes.  On Sunday’s program, he will deliver his 1097th and last “essay.”  My dream job is now open for business.  SCORE!

Mr. Rooney has been spitting “duh” and “that annoys me, too” and “I always say that!!!” on 60 Minutes since 1978.  Let’s face it, he is the original Jerry Seinfeld. Or maybe the very first blogger (minus the technology).

Check out young Andy vs. current Andy below.

Yes, apparently, he’s always had those eyebrows.  (1st pic via here.)

Watch one of my fav videos of Andy waxing poetic wisdom about…well, sleep.

I’m telling you…we’re soul sisters.

When I take over his job (I’m not assuming, I’m just confident), I am gonna get to discussing the following very important issues eh-ehs-eh-p (don’t touch it – ©):

And THAT is just where I’d start.  Geesh – now I’m annoyed and want to know those answers!!!

If When I become the next Andy Rooney, what serious topics would you like for me to discuss?!

Is it the weekend yet?

Friday night we’re going downtown for dinner (location: TBD) and some hanging out, Saturday we’ll probably hit Westbrook Brewing, and who knows what else the weekend will bring?

Whatcha got goin’ on?

p.s. Anyone count how many times Andy Rooney said “sleep” in that video.  I had all intentions of counting, but got distracted after #15 (damn, Bravo Network).  I’m thinking he made it to at least 30.

Beach Count: 61  

Pool Count: 18 

High Temperature: 82°

I know of something that makes total sense…let’s give away a free gun (or a heavy duty, serious cooler) with the purchase of a truck.

Haha!

This post goes directly into the “Only in the South” and “Points for the North” category folders.

I only wish that I took a picture of the heart heavy ♥buy-your-sweetheart-a-gun-for-Valentine’s-Day♥ billboard.  Ahhh – there’s always next year!

On a more fun note…I received “The Versatile Blogger Award” from Sarah (awesome name, I must say) at 90 Percent Blonde.

Thanks, Sarah!

There are a few rules that I must follow before I can pass this award onto other fabulous bloggers out there.

Rule #1: Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them in your post.  (See above!)

7.  I feel 100 years old every time I say or even think “I haven’t done that/seen that/eaten that/been there/wore that/etc.” in 10 or more years.  One hundred.

Rule #3: Pass the award on to 15 bloggers that you have recently discovered.  8.  I’m a rule breaker.  Okay, not on the regular, but regarding this rule.  How’s about 5ish?  DEAL!

Fried Green Pickles

Life of a Charleston Wife

Crazy Adventurous Love

North Meets South

Veggie Table

Charleston Craft Beer - okay you caught me!  ←’s my hubby!

Congrats, bloggers!

Cheers to the rest of the week FLYING by!!! 

p.s. Spunky’s growth update on tomorrow’s blog!

Beach Count: 61  

Pool Count: 18 

High Temperature: 85°

Thank you for all of your sweet words and kind support.  

Thank you for reminding me of how truly blessed I am.

~ Peace ~

Have I mentioned lately that I love where I live?  Because I LOVE where I live.