Sending July off with a Bang!

 We finally got to celebrate Nan's Birthday after a scheduling delay. It was so good to be together and celebrate our amazing Mom and Nana.

 We also got to cheer on Reid a couple of times since Wylie made it to the Little League State Tournament. We have loved watching him play over the years.

Campbell played a role in the church VBS Musical on Daniel. Of course, I thought she was just the cutest Israelite child ever.

 We had to get a picture with our star!

 Kaylee and Reid at one of their favorite places in the world.

 Can you tell they are pretty excited about a Ranger win over the Yankees? I just love that these two have remained friends over the years and share such a sweet love of baseball.

July was action packed and filled with lots of memories...now on to make the most of what is left of the summer.

A little Birthday, a little Fishing, and a lot of Fun!

 Once I returned home it was Cary's turn for his annual fishing trip with some dear friends. Of course, we had to celebrate his birthday first. He is 39 and holding for the next year. I just love these three so much!

 Somewhere picturesque in New Mexico.

(Kaylee, Addie, Campbell, & Cooper)

 While the Dad's were fishing we went to see Minions, that sounds like an even trade, huh?

 We also had some fun bowling...

 I think I was the big winner because I got to spend time with these two and I had the highest score.

We had a great week of girl time but were more than happy to have this guy home and refreshed from his trip. Fishing is good for his soul and after a grueling tax season it is always a welcome treat.

Mom/Daughter Craft Night

My dear friend, Mendy< puts together some amazing events through out the year and one of the is for Mothers and Daughters. This year she decided to have pajamas and crafts be the theme of our night. We enjoyed pizza, creating something fun of our choosing, and a lot of laughing. The pictures are a little blurry but the fun we had can still be seen in our smiles.

 Kaylee created a sucker tree and Campbell created a big "C" for a decoration in her new big girl room.

 I love these nights together with friends!

Charleston Girls' Trip 2015 (The End of the Road)

 On Wednesday, it was time to hit the city of Charleston again for some sight seeing and shopping fun. We first made our way to Callie's Hot Little Biscuit which is divine by the way. You have to put it on your list of places to eat in Charleston. I had a shortcake biscuit and it melted in your mouth. I am not even kidding...it was that good.
The states pictures here are from Battery Park in the downtown area.

 This is the beautiful Calhoun Mansion that we had the pleasure of touring. The new owners of this mansion still live there part of the year and to say they have a lot of things they collect would be the understatement of the year. The interior of the home was used in The Notebook,  scenes of the inside of Allie's family home were filmed here. We were not allowed to take photos inside but I found the outside more appealing to me personally. 

 We decided to have an early dinner at a restaurant called The Grocery. I believe this picture is of the Wagyu Bistro Steak. It was hands down the best dish on the menu. All the food was delicious and i highly recommend checking it out if you are ever in the area.

 Thursday was another beach day so I decided to meet a high school friend, David, for breakfast. We had not seen each other since my freshman year of college. (Pardon the very close up selfie.) We met at this cute little restaurant on the Isle of Palms called the Sea Biscuit Cafe. It was two hours of laughing, catching up on each other's families, and just reminiscing about high school fun. It is so wonderful when you have a friend that you can go 20 years without seeing and pick up the conversation as if no time has passed. 

 After breakfast I returned to enjoy my last beach day with this view.

 On Friday, those of us who did not have to leave early, went back to King Street for some shopping, took a walking haunted tour of places in downtown Charleston, and ate at Tavern & Table one more time.  The pictures above and below this post are of the dungeon in the Old Exchange building.

 Saint Michael's Church

 We also saw a haunted jail and cemetery. Don't worry, there were no ghost sightings on our tour.

The fab five; Erin, Melinda, me, Megan, & Sherry

This trip, with 11 of these precious friends, was the thing dreams are made of.  We laughed a lot, had a spontaneous dance party where we all learned to Whip and Nae- Nae, sang at the top of our lungs, shopped, enjoyed the beautiful gift of friendship God has given us, and ate really well. I am so thankful for a life filled with amazing women. Thank you to Megan, who is the best, for doing all the planing to make this trip possible. Thank you also to Charleston for letting us enjoy your beauty, we will definitely be back some day because a piece of my heart stayed there with you.

Charleston Grils' Trip 2015 Part 2

 Guess what day it is here? If you guessed Tuesday (beach day) then you are correct! I want to go back to this place right now. There were so many wonderful visits with friends, good books read, and just nature to enjoy on these days. I want a chair in the ocean right now. How do people who live near this ever go to work? That would be a problem.

 Me and my amazing friend and hair stylist, Sherry

 After a day spent on the beach we got cleaned up and headed back in to town to eat at Husk.

Below is the menu for the night that we dined there. To say the food was rich and very filling would be an understatement. The food was delicious but we all decided that Tavern & Table was still our favorite, sorry Husk.

Husk Menu (June 2015)

Fire Roasted Sewansecott Oysters, Fried Chicken Fat, Hot Sauce, Honey, Smoked Shishito Peppers      $15

Compressed Melon Salad, Pickled Shrimp, Ricotta     $12

Arugula, Plums and Summer Berries, Candied Pecans, Asher Blue, Young Onion, Plum Vinaigrette     $12

TN Cheddar Pimento Cheese on House Made Benne Crackers, Dilly Bean Relish, Crispy Country Ham     $11

Kurios Farms Bibb, Cherry Tomatoes, Farm Egg, Cucumbers, Red Onion, Garden Radish, Buttermilk Dressing     $12

Cabbage Salad, Sugar Snaps, Peaches, Spiced Peanuts, Red Peppers, Crispy Lonzino, Goat’s Milk Feta    $12

Kentuckyaki Glazed Pig Ear Lettuce Wraps with Sweet Marinated Cucumber, Red Onion, Sea Island Benne    $11

Wood Fired Clams, Smoked Heirloom Potato, Beer Broth, Lemongrass, Peas, Shiitake, Crispy Chicken Skins    $14

SUPPER

Cornmeal Dusted Catfish, Sweet Corn, Field Peas, Smoked Tomato, Charred Squash and Zucchini, Blossom Butter      $30

GA Chicken Breast, Ricotta Gnocchi, English Peas, Oyster Mushrooms, Roasted Onions, Lacinato Kale, Manchego     $30

Mark’s Snapper, Grilled Snap Beans and Nardello Peppers, Charred Eggplant, Chanterelles, Peanut Romesco, Confit Tomatoes     $32

American Spot Heritage Pork*, Heirloom Tomato Salad, Roasted and Raw Fennel, Fried Cornbread, Tomato Vinaigrette       $34

TN Flat Iron*, Nicola Potatoes, Bacon Cream, Cabbage, Ramp Sauerkraut, Spicy Duke’s, House Made Pickle      $34

Wreckfish from Mark Marhefka, Shiitake, Sugar Snaps, Baby Carrots, Hakurei Turnips, Mushroom Broth      $30

SIDES FOR THE TABLE ($8)

A Skillet of Allan Benton’s Bacon Cornbread

Pan Fried Cabbage, Smoked Pit Beans and Tomatoes

Wood Fired Geechie Boy Grits, Sweetwater Valley Cheddar Gratin

 Heather, Allison, Sherry, Kelly, Me, & Megan

 Not sure what dessert this is but doesn't it look pretty?

Back row: Heather, Megan, Kate, Erin, Melinda

Middle row: Lydia & Me

Front row: Sherry, Allison, Kelly, & Lori