weekend recap

Monday's are tough. Monday's after a three day weekend are even tougher. Monday's after a three day weekend in my favorite city ever are the toughest of all.

Cory and I spent a long weekend in Charleston getting some wedding planning done. In all actuality we were done with the "planning" by noon on Friday, but we'll use any excuse for a trip to Charleston. We did apply for our marriage license, and we met our officiant for the first time (he's wonderful). Other than that, we're leaving the details in the hands of our also wonderful, very-capable wedding planner. I seriously don't know what I would do without her. She's amazing.

The rest of the weekend was spent exploring, eating, happy houring, eating, eating some more, attending SEWE, and celebrating Valentine's Day. I'm so lucky to have found the best travel partner, and partner in general. We have so much fun together, and he's pretty darn cute too. Okay. Done being mushy. The number of new restaurants opening in Charleston constantly is insane, and each one is just as delicious as the next. So not good for my wedding diet, but so worth it. Anyways, rather than bore you with what we ate where, I'll let the pictures do the talking.

After applying for our marriage license at the Courthouse, we met our wedding
planner at our wedding venue, the Gadsden House. 

I mean, these chandeliers are insane. Love love love!

Avocado toast at my favorite brunch/lunch spot - Park Cafe.

Followed by coconut cake at a bakery I've walked by half a dozen times, but had yet to try, Carmella's Cafe and Dessert Bar.

Happy hour drinks (my first drink since NYE mind you) at The Watch Rooftop Kitchen & Spirits

Happy hour stop #2 for $5 Moscow Mules at The Rarebit

Pizza (from Desano's) and prosecco in our hotel room to round out day #1. Perfection!

Acai bowls for breakfast from Huriyali. 

Doing some cardio (and starfish hunting) at Isle of Palms before we met up with some Charleston
Jayhawks at Moe's Crosstown to watch the KU-Oklahoma game. What. a. game. Rock Chalk! Also, I didn't
snap any pictures at Moe's but it's a great little neighborhood dive bar with delicious (and cheap) bar food.

I made a new rule during the game - if KU wins then we must eat dessert. Hence the brambleberry crisp
waffle cone from Jeni's. Best ice cream ever! Saturday night Cory and I had dinner at a great little Italian
restaurant, Wild Olive, on John's Island. The food and atmosphere were great. I was too busy stuffing my
face to document it, but I highly suggest trying it!

Of course we had to cap off the night with some more ice cream - a strawberry shortcake ice cream
sandwich from Peace Pies to be exact. 

This was my favorite thing I ate all weekend - pear toast from the Daily. If I'm being totally honest, I ate it twice.
We went there on Saturday morning, and then I begged Cory to take me back on Sunday because it was just that good. 

You guys. I wanted to adopt this little pup at SEWE so bad. Isn't he precious? Sadly I came back to KC empty handed.

Cory and I rounded out our feasting with a trip to Minero for a late brunch/lunch. I'm always game for a margarita
and some chips and guac so this hit the spot. The chef, Sean Brock, owns a few other restaurants around
Charleston, all of which are delicious.

Cory and I rounded out the weekend watching the Dock Dog finals at SEWE. Those poor little guys jumped their little hearts out in the freezing weather. I felt so bad for them jumping into that water, but they didn't seem to mind too much :)

If you're ever planning a trip to Charleston, be sure to let me know and I will happily give you a laundry list of suggestions!

Only Pictures

As if I haven't talked about Charleston enough, here are some more photos from my recent trip for today's Blogtember topic - only pictures.

one of my most favorite dates ever

Getting back into the swing of things after a few days off work is proving to be harder than I thought. I made it to the gym before work this morning, but also managed to forget shower sandals, hair conditioner, and a bra. Fail. Right now I'd like to relive any one of the many moments of my mini vacay as I sit on the couch after an extremely long day of work, but tonight you all are in for a treat. For today's Blogtember topic (a memory I'd love to relive), I'm going to share all the juicy details from what I consider to be one of my most favorite dates ever.

Now my man friend and I have a very unique situation. We've never lived in the same state since we met so some of our "dates" have been rather interesting. Technically we went to Walmart on our second date. How romantic right? I guess I can forgive him for that one though after this weekend. :)

Even though my hair and the humidity clearly don't get along, I'd say we clean up rather nicely.

After a day at the beach, C and I got all cleaned up and headed downtown. He'd made dinner reservations a few weeks prior, but kept the location a secret. Apparently the restaurant was quite popular (and also happened to be participating in Charleston Restaurant Week) so our reservations weren't until 10:00 p.m. which provided ample time for a little bar hopping beforehand.

We started the night at The Rooftop Bar at Vendue Inn. If you ever find yourself in Charleston, you must go here (preferably at sunset). This place has some of the most spectacular, breathtakingly beautiful views of Charleston. I promise you won't be disappointed. For our next drink we moved across the street to The Griffon. This place was quite the change from The Rooftop Bar (think English pub). It was voted one of the "Best Bars in the South" by Southern Living in February, and was a perfect place to cozy up in a dark corner with a beer.

After the Griffon, C informed me it was time to move closer to where we were actually having dinner so we headed out, although it was quite a slow go. Another pointer - as much as it pains me to say this, pass on the heels in Charleston if you are going to be walking a lot. The sidewalks are like minefields in stilettos, or maybe I'm just terribly clumsy (probably a combination of the two). Before we made it to our final destination, C had one more surprise up his sleeve. Months ago he posted a photo on Instragram joking that Philadelphia Alley was the "prime make out spot" in Charleston. Now I've never claimed to be much of a drinker so I was feeling slightly giggly after my two drinks and didn't even realize C had led me on a little detour right into Philadelphia Alley. Whether or not it's the prime make out spot in Charleston is a call I'll let you make should you ever find yourself there. If I had to vote, I'd say it's up there for sure. ;)

After our little stop, C and I finally reached Husk. We were still a little early for our reservation so we grabbed another cocktail at The Bar at Husk. I ordered the Charleston Light Dragoon's Punch which was California brandy, Jamaican rum, peach brandy, black tea, lemon juice, and raw sugar. It was ah-maze-ing. I can't remember what C's first drink was, but I know he ordered the No Whey, Jose? which I just couldn't stomach. I usually love tequila, but apparently I can't take it when it's jalapeno muddled with Si Senor, whey, Chocolat Royal, and mole bitters.

Finally it was time for some dinner. Husk offered 3 courses for $40 from a menu that changes daily. Executive chef Sean Brock's rule is "if it doesn't come from the South, it's not coming through the door." I let C do all the ordering and his choices and the food did not disappoint. For our first entrees we had Kentuckyaki glazed pig ear lettuce wraps, salt "fermented" cucumbers and peppers, shaved onion, benne, and the TN cheddar pimento cheese, crispy country ham, and grilled bread. The cheese and carbs were my favorite obviously.

For C's second course he had slow cooked Heritage pork, smoky beans with Carolina gold rice, red Russian kale, and Appalachian tomato gravy. My second course was Keegan-Filion Farms chicken, Anson Mills farro, sweet peas, marinated heirloom tomatoes, and arugula pesto. Again, the food was fab. Finally it was time for dessert. We had the buttermilk pie with macerated SC peaches and whipped sweet cream and the NC Mountain apple crisp with pecan-oat crumble and whipped creme fraiche. The apple crisp was to die for. It took a lot of restraint not to lick the plate clean.

After dinner we waddled our way out of the restaurant and decided to make one more stop at the Market Pavilion Bar before heading home. Yet another amazing rooftop space. Why is Charleston so spectacular?!

Outside of Husk (post-feast)

After I stumbled around in heels for most of the night C decided we should end the night with a ride home in a pedicab so I could see a bit more of historic Charleston. It was a perfect end to the perfect evening...and so much more romantic than Walmart!

My Newfound Love...

Today's Topic: Write a public love letter to someone in your life (it doesn't necessarily need to be romantic).

This past weekend I fell in love. Let me tell you, at age 27 I've been in love a time or two, but this love isn't like other loves. I fell hard, and I fell fast. Before I send a certain someone into cardiac arrest, I should probably clarify. I'm not talking about being in love with a boy. Charleston, even though we just met 4 days ago I feel confident in saying this. I love you! And here I thought all those girls on the Bachelor were completely cray-cray, yet here I am professing my love for you after less than a week. Do you hear me Charleston?! I LOVE YOU! I just want to shout it from the rooftops.



I know just last week I was tooting Kansas City's horn, and KC is still great and all, but there is just something totally infatuating about you, Charleston. Every building has a story. I'm smitten with your historic downtown. I absolutely adore all your picturesque steeples that adorn the skyline. It also helps that I had a cute tour guide leading the way all weekend, but don't worry. I'm not picking up and moving to the Low Country anytime soon. My hair can't take your humidity. However, if I win the lottery or stumble upon a large sum of money it would be so tempting to snatch up one of your gems. Does anyone have $10,000,000 they want to give me? If so, I just might be a South Carolina resident faster than I can say pimento cheese.

As an avid heel wearer, I think our biggest relationship problem will be your cobblestone streets, but I'm confident we can get past this little hiccup. Clearly, you love me too Charleston as evidenced by your behavior when I tried to leave this morning. Even tripping me and causing me to face plant (sending coffee flying down the sidewalk and all over my white blazer mind you) didn't dampen my flame for you.

My heart is yours forever,

I realize I missed a day of Blogtember on Friday, but as you can see, I was a little busy. I still have several more photos and stories and that I want to share from my recent trip so I'll probably have more Charleston coming at you the next few days.