Kayla Jones at Kayla Jones Photography took our maternity portraits at the beginning of June and she completely blew our minds.

I had some cheesed up prop-related ideas and Kayla rolled with every.single.one.of.them.  She was wonderful with giving us direction and making us feel comfortable.  We didn’t feel too rushed or too staged or too anything.  It was a wonderful experience.  Not to mention, we love the results!  Here are a few 21 of our favorites (it’s so hard to choose!) ♥

Get ready for belly overload!

THANK YOU, KAYLA!  

Can’t wait until Baby T.’s newborn photo shoot!!! ♥

p.s. You know your face has gotten fat when iPhoto no longer recognizes you with its “Faces” feature.  Yikes!

p.s.s. Like Kayla Jones Photography on Facebook, follow her on Twitter, and check out her blog post about our portrait session by clicking here!

p.s.s.s. Those jean capris haven’t fit me since coming back from New York. 

Beach Count: 76  

Pool Count: 30 

High Temperature: 95° 

Two weekends ago, Scott and I unplugged from the world and had a Babymoon Staycation.  Ahhh – it was amazing!  We only have about 9 more weekends alone (fingers crossed) until this baby comes.  It was both worth it and necessary.

Here were the rules – NO PHONE, NO COMPUTER/IPAD, NO TV (except for one show/movie at night for sleeping’s sake), and NO CHEATING!

We took like 1 picture and a couple of sad lookin’ videos, so we don’t have much to show for it.  [What?!  We were staycationing!]  But, it really was the best!  I’ve since proposed that Scott and I do this once a month…seriously.

For real, it was freeing.  I absolutely recommend giving it a try!

This was our weekend…

FRIDAY

- Dinner downtown at Cypress!  This place has been on our list for a long, long time (our Charleston restaurant list is long and strong).  My brother gave us a gift certificate there for Christmas (ahem-in May-cough), so we were thrilled to finally get there.  It was gorgeous inside, we had an amazing waiter, and the food made us do that this-food-is-so-good-I’m-going-to-dance-a-little-in-my-chair thing.  We took a stroll to the upstairs bar afterwards.  We’ll definitely go back there for their happy hour menu!

Yes, I have sweeeet video skills!

- Rooftop at Market Pavilion Hotel Bar.  We’ve never been disappointed with the views, the breeze, or the cool atmosphere up there.  They have these awesome new heaters that I was obsessed with.  A couple more weeks and the plexiglass will be down for an even better view.  (You can’t really see anything in the following video but some dark coolness.  You’re welcome.)

SATURDAY

- A stroll around Freshfields Village in Kiawah Island and then some beach time at Beachwalker Park on Kiawah.

The 2nd video shows the pretty trees better  =)

- Home to freshen up and then downtown for dinner at Basil, one of our favorite Charleston restaurants.  YUM!

SUNDAY

- It was Mother’s Day – so we of course broke the rules to see my Mom!  Scott and my Dad cooked us breakfast.  Scott gave me a new Pandora charm and a sweet card.  I didn’t feel like it was my first Mother’s Day really – it felt more like my Mother’s Day half-birthday.  I need to earn that title!!!  Oh – and Scott got me a grande decaf mocha cookie crumble light Frappuccino.  Yum!  (It was my 4th of the week, due to the awesome Happy Hour deal!)

- We spent some time at the pool.

- We put together a gazillion baby items that were lined up in boxes by the front door.

- I don’t remember the rest.

Overall, we did nothing extravagant or over the top.  We just enjoyed our “alone time” and realized how important and EASY it truly is to unplug.  It was SO.RELAXING.

And guess what?  When we plugged back in, we realized that we didn’t miss much AND no one really missed us!

I love you, Scott Michael Trottier!  This weekend was one that I will hold onto for a very long time!

XOXO

Beach Count: 75   

Pool Count: 29 

High Temperature: 86° 

So I promised to be better at documenting the month of January for 2012 (since I failed at this last year).  And so far – crap.

Well, the 1st of January was Dad’s birthday.  Happy Birthday, Dad!!!

YES I am wearing a Giants jersey and NO I did not shower.

On the 2nd, we finally checked out Shem Creek Park.  It opened in October and we’ve been wanting to go since then.  It’s basically a really long pier, but we loved it.  Water?  Boats?  Marsh?  View of the bridge?  Yup – works for us!  It was a great way to play around with the camera.  By “play around,” I mean use the camera on automatic.  Yeah – we’re rebels.  (GET IT?!)  Check out some pics!

Note: Confederate flag

Yes, I guess I will live in this house with a boat garage.  okaythanks.

We had a couple of cold days at the beginning of last week, but the past two days were in the 70s!  Today, we finally put Christmas away for good (THANK GOODNESS) and watched the Giants beat the Atlanta Falcons.  Actually – we killed them.  GO G-MEN!

Yesterday (chronological order is SO overrated!), we checked out The Main Squeeze – a new smoothie and juice bar at Belle Hall.  I’m officially obsessed. They only use fresh fruit and vegetables and none of their products are more than 200 calories. YUM!

I highly recommend the Hawaiian Honeymoon!

We journeyed downtown afterwards for some fresh air, linner (lunch/dinner) at Mellow Mushroom, and some picture-taking of course!

Now that you’re all caught up, I will try to go back to blogging each event separately (versus in a cluster like this post)!  I guess you could call me a little blog-rusty!  ;)

I hope your 2012 has started off on the right foot!  

I may share my New Year’s resolutions by the end of the month.  What?  I’m still brainstorming!

p.s. How bout that picture quality?  Much better, right?!

p.s.s. I totally forgot to include 2 sets of awesome visitors in *2011 in Review!* Oops!  Diane and Steve visited in March…

AND Laura and Trevor visited in September.  They loved Charleston SO much, they plan on moving here someday!!!

Beach Count: 64  

High Temperature: 73°  

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° 

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°

Extra Virgin Oven (EVO) is yet ANOTHER local restaurant that has been gotten lots of press lately.  A major difference is that EVO is not located by a beach, creek, or in Downtown but in North Charleston’s Park Circle area.

North Charleston is huge with lots of different, how shall I say this?, s-e-c-t-i-o-n-s.  First, just know that this area is huge and spread out.  There are 7 North Charleston exits off of Interstate 526, if that at all helps to explain.

EVO’s location, Park Circle, appears adorable and homey (not “yo yo yo” homey, but “aw, so cozy” homey).  It doesn’t hurt that it’s right around the corner from Coast Brewing – one of our favorite breweries in the area.  Def the hippiest of ‘em all!  Coast is also the location for the most awesomest (yes, I’m deciding that’s a word today) beer festival – Brewvival.  Oh yes, we’ll see you again next year…pretzel necklace and all!

Brewvival fun – 2011

Nothing like beer to get me off track.

North Charleston is also home to the Charleston International Airport, Tanger Outlets, Stingrays Professional Hockey Team, the new (and often controversial) Boeing Aircraft, and North Charleston Coliseum & Performing Arts Center.  I haven’t seen a show at the Coliseum yet, but that tends to be where the biggest acts in Charleston play/perform.  I gotta say (from what I’ve gathered)…Charleston’s got nothing on Charlotte or Myrtle Beach when it comes to concerts/shows coming to town.  Kind of a bummer.

North Charleston has more shopping than just the Tanger Outlets.  It has just about every big name store (Target, Walmart, Michael’s, Pier 1, Best Buy, etc., etc., etc.), furniture store, car dealership, chain restaurant, gas station, you-get-the-point, that you can think of.  In addition – a traditional indoor, old and outdated Northwoods Mall (nothing like gorgeous Mount Pleasant Towne Centre!) and an ungodly amount of pawn shops.  Yeah – don’t ask!  Along with these unlimited money-sucking destinations come some serious traffic.  Patience is key, people…patience, coffee, and legal U-turns!

From what our Sheriff neighbor tells us, there are areas of North Charleston that not even police officers navigate alone.  There are some really rough and scary neighborhoods.  (I’m talking South Los Angeles kinda business.)  Yikes.  So bring your GPS friends, and know your destination!

My least favorite part of the city of North Charleston?  There is NOT a ban on smoking in public places.  Capital letters YUCK!  I have asthma and do not appreciate this situation whatsoever.  This for-sure keeps me from giving restaurants in North Charleston business.  I’m sure I’m not alone on this!

Smoking is gross…AND it kills.  Just sayin’. 

Excuse my current ADHD.  BACK TO EVO!

From their website (because I can’t say it any better!)..

EVO was featured in Food Network Magazine’s September 2011 issue, specifically in “50 States 50 Pizzas.”  EVO’s Pistachio Pesto was voted the best pizza in South Carolina!  That hasn’t been their first public praise.  Click here to see the list of local and national acclaim that EVO has earned.  Have I mentioned that EVO began on a rolling cart at the Charleston Farmer’s Market in 2005?  Yeah.  How cool!

Pistachio Pesto Pizza!

A few nights ago, EVO was featured on Cooking Channel’s “Pizza Outside the Box.”  We DVR’d it!

Onto our personal experience at EVO:

We didn’t get the Pistachio Pesto pizza.  I dunno why.  But it does give us an excuse to go back there!

Anyway, we busted open those doors at 5pm as true early bird specialists. Seriously – the waitresses still had their purses on!

Not sure my chin would reach over this high bar!

Yummy local beers on tap (Holy City and Coast)…

I’m a sucker for mason jars =)

Me praying to the pizza gods.  Yeah, not too sure what’s really going on here.

And behold – Margherita pizza and Pork Trifecta pizza. YUM-EEEEE!  So fresh with amazing crust!

SO GOOD – can’t wait to go back!!!

Warning: EVO is closed on Sundays and Mondays.

What’s your favorite kind of pizza?  I’m a sucker for white garlic pizza with broccoli, but Scooter sadly isn’t. 

p.s. Should I have broken up this post into 2 or 3 separate ones?  Probably! Sorry for my long-windedness.  I have a feeling, though, that you’re used to it!

p.s.s. Crossing our fingers that hurricane Irene skips right on past Charleston!

p.s.s.s. Who wants PIZZA now?!  ;)

Beach Count: 57

Pool Count: 18

High Temperature: 87º (we even opened our windows for some fresh air last night!)