Hello, Summer.

Essie's "Tart Deco" is my summer staple.

Holla.

That's right. We're getting the H-E-double-hockey-sticks outta here! No more trains! No more hoodlums waking me up at 4am!

We just signed a lease on a house (insert squeal here). To say it is our dream home would be a ginormous understatement. For reals. So it was built in the 1920s and has a huge backyard with apple trees and blueberries and rose bushes and a nice patio and 4 bedrooms and a brand new kitchen and....(gotta catch my breath)....and a sunroom and a big backyard with apple trees and blueberries...

Can you tell I'm a little excited?!

Missing Charleston.

I haven't been back there in almost a year, and I'm having withdrawals. Don't get me wrong. We really like Winston. It took us a while, but we like it. No offense to Winston, though. Leaving Charleston to go anywhere would be tough. Anyways, I made a list of what I am missing most about home.

• the beach--I regret I didn't get to go there much to relax, but Sophie, Sully and I loved to go there to run. Not once, in my 4 years living 3 miles from the beach, did I put them on a leash. There may or may not have been a leash law, but we never got caught. We were sneaky about it. We only went in the off-season and usually had the entire beach to ourselves. 

• the boat--whether it be sailing in the harbor or just hanging out while it is docked, there is nothing more relaxing than being on that boat. Ahhh, bliss.

• the dog park--the James Island County Park has a dog park with a huge pond. This is Sophie's and Sully's favorite hangout. Sophie was famous for always having 2 tennis balls in her mouth and swimming in circles for 45 minutes straight in hopes of getting a third. True story.
• sunsets--I never get tired of a beautiful sunset. The pictures don't do it justice.

• Sermet's Corner--amazing food. Always fresh. Always local.
• 82 Queen--best. grits. ever. When I first moved to Charleston, I didn't even like grits. Well, I had actually never tried them. I didn't even know what they were; however, the first time I tried these little morsels of Heaven, I became a new woman.  
• King Street-a shopaholic's dream. Sophie and I often went shopping together. (Sorry, Sully. This was girl time.) Her favorite store to visit was JCREW. They always kept treats behind the counter for dogs, and she just couldn't get enough!
• side note--I left just in time for Forever 21 to take over the Saks Fifth Avenue building. Glad I missed that. Yes, Saks closed right before I left. Sad story. I have nothing against Forever 21, but it's out of place in that gorgeous building. I mean, seriously. The Saks building is in the "old Charleston money/antique" district. How did they let Forever 21 ivade their space?! I feel that it would fit in better near the College, perhaps right next to Urban Outfitters. I digress...
• Club Habana-ok, so it isn't really a club. You know I don't do clubs.  It is a cigar bar. As much as I hate the smell of smoke, and how I felt like I could wash my hair 3 times and still smell it all over me, it was a sacrifice I made for that place (and for Brian). We have so many fun memories there. Somehow, it was always the place to close out the night.

That's all for now. If I write type anything else, I just may get in the car and drive to Charleston right now. It's ok. We will get back there eventually. Winston for now, though. 

 

Anniversary Number One.

1 down, 85 to go. 

Brian and I had so much fun celebrating our first anniversary. We went to Fabian's, an amazing restaurant (understatement of the year) on Saturday night. Then, on Sunday night, our actual anniversary, we celebrated by indulging in our Anniversary Tier of the wedding cake and a fabulous bottle of champagne given to us by a very dear friend. And by "dear friend," I mean, like, since 4th grade. We were pretty much inseparable from 4th grade all the way through high school. We toasted you, Ashlerlee, and even had a drink for you and Elliott!

The BEST day.

I can't believe it's been a year. Time really does fly when you're having fun. May 29, 2010 was such a great day! It was so much fun, but it went by too quickly. To be quite honest, I would love to have another wedding (with Brian, of course) each year for an anniversary celebration. That's right. A wedding every year!!! It goes without saying, that idea was shot down REAL FAST. Back to reality. Here are a few favorites from the day: 

Oh, don't worry. The trains don't run at night.

Yeah. That was one of the many lies we were told when we were deciding whether or not to live at the good ol' Winston Factory Lofts. Perhaps we're the idiots who believed the good-for-nothing apartment manager, but when you're desperate for a place to live, especially in such a great location, you'll believe anything. But, I'll be damned if I don't hear an average of 3 trains per night, usually around 0300, 0330, and 0430. It literally sounds like the train is in my living room. Seriously. I've had enough. We're moving to the country. 


My apologies for letting Debbie Downer guest-post on my blog today. Venting is often necessary.

Hungry Hungry Hippos.

Do you remember the childhood game, "Hungry Hungry Hippos?" Well, every time I feed the dogs, I am reminded of this game. Sophie is the very hungry hungry hippo. She literally acts like a starving orphan every time food is placed in front of her. She scarfs it down in less than 30 seconds. EVERY. TIME. I feel like she is always out to get a PR. 


Sullivan, on the other hand, is the most patient little boy ever. He just waits while I get his food ready, then dances around for a few minutes before he decides to delve in. He savors each little morsel of Heaven, while ignoring Sophie who is hovering over him in hopes that he will overlook a crumb. 

Tender moments with Sophie and Sullivan.

(I will try to upload a video of our mealtime ritual.)