Fall Favorites

Fall is in the air! Well, technically it only feels like Fall during the morning hours here in Charleston. Although I love the warmer months, I'm looking forward to putting on a pair of booties, jeans and a comfy, loose fitting top. 

I've put together a list of just a few of my favorite fall pieces to share with you today.

1. This Bella Dahl Utility Shirtdress would be perfect with a pair of booties and the color is perfect for fall. 

2. I bought a pair of the BP. 'Trolley' Ankle Booties last year and love them. They go with pretty much everything and are comfortable too. 

3. The Rag & Bone Skinny Jeans are a perfect structure fit, pairing well with a slouchy top and booties of course.

4. You can never have enough scarves and the lightweight, striped fringe scarf from Loft seems perfect for keeping you warm on those chilly Fall mornings. 

5. The Petite Plaid Henley Softened Shirt would pair well with black skinny jeans and lets face it, everyone needs to own at least one plaid shirt. 

6. I love the Ribbed Gray Shift dress from Banana Republic. There is so much you could do with this dress, like pair it with a scarf, fitted jacket, heels, booties, you name it.

7. The  Soft Pleated Skirt from Banana Republic would be great for a conservative work look or dressed up for a more sexy evening look.

8. The Sloan-Fit Slim Ankle Pant from Banana Republic are another great work staple. I own several of these in different colors and love them. The best part is they hit at the ankles, leaving room to show off your shoes.

9. I'm beginning to have a slight hat obsession. I am really liking the Apt. 9 Wool Felt Floppy Hat. perfect for Fall. 

10. I bought the Slouchy Vegan Free People Tote and have gotten so many compliments. It really is a great bag. Bonus...it's reversible, which is basically like buy one get one free. 

11. The Sienna Stripe Poncho from LOFT looks like the perfect comfy top to pair with leggings to wear during a long day of traveling.

12. I wasn't sure how I felt about the Topshop 'Finest Shillie' Lace-Up Pointy Toe Flats at first, but the more I see them on people, the more I like them.

13. Pair the Lush 'Karly' Print Shift Dress with a fur vest and booties and call it a day. 

14. The best part about the Forever 21 Drapey Shift Dress, it looks expensive but won't hurt your wallet. 

Hilton Head Island

I'm back! I feel like I've been disconnected from the blog world for a long time, although it's only been one week. Things have been super busy lately and there hasn't been an ounce of time to spare. I guess I will start by catching up on where I've been and what I've been doing. 

The past six months have been spent prepping for a work conference that I coordinate annually, however, this year we happened to have two.  You can read more about the first one here. Our second meeting was held last week in the beautiful area of Hilton Head Island, SC. 

This was our view for the week.

Unfortunately, most of our time was spent in conference rooms. The fun was had in the evenings over dinner and drinks.

Lobster rolls, surf and turf wedge salads, and mac and cheese balls graced our table.

This was the first time I've ever had mac and cheese balls, and I hope it's not the last.

We had a casual BBQ on the beach for dinner one night.

Complete with s'mores.

Followed by our own version of corn hole.

The next day brought more meetings, and left us wishing we were here instead.

 

Another long day of meetings called for another evening of fun. We had dinner at Poseidon, a waterfront restaurant at Shelter Cove Towne Center. 
   


The food was delicious and the staff was wonderful. The appetizers were spot on. We had an assortment of flat bread pizzas, fried green tomatoes, and a trio of deviled eggs.

Deviled eggs may not sound exciting, until they are topped with spicy tuna that is. They were by far one of my favorite things on the menu. The endless additional items on our pre-selected menu were just as tasty. 

Dinner was a hit! I would definitely like to go back, when I can relax.

The remainder of our meetings were productive and the overall event was a success. I left feeling accomplished, motivated and pretty darn exhausted. 

The next time I visit Hilton Head, I hope it's to enjoy the view below.

Until next year!

25 Stylish Coffee Table Books

Coffee table books, they inspire conversation, add color to tables and height to shelves. Often I find myself removing the cover of books to see exactly what the spine looks like, and trying to envision it on my bookshelves. In this case, yes, I judge a book by its cover. Books about fashion, food, decor and travel, I love them all. Today I've rounded up a few beauties that would add style to any shelf, coffee table, mantle or end table.  

Nordstrom End-of-Summer Clearance Sale

There are tons of sales going on right now. Today I'm sharing a few of my picks from the Norstrom End-of-Summer Sale. The good news, this sale doesn't end until September 13th. 

Happy Labor Day and happy shopping!

Perfectly Posh: A Review + A Giveaway

I had never heard of Perfectly Posh products before until just recently. To be completely honest, I was given some things to try and I quickly became a fan. In addition to the wonderful fragrance and the natural ingredients they're comprised of, these products are reasonably priced. Today I'm reviewing a few of the products I sampled and have a fun giveaway for one lucky reader. 

First up is Da Bee's Knees Body Scrub. I don't use body scrubs very often, but this one came at a good time. I've recently been using self-tanner on a regular basis and have been left with stained skin. I used the body scrub in the shower the other day and the thick honey-like consistency  really helped scrub away the top layer, leaving me with soft and silky skin. I also like the great combination of ingredients this scrub is made with, including,  honey, shea butter and sea salt. 

This Honey Dip Chunk bath bar bar smells nice and from the looks of it's size, is sure to last a while. The honey and green tea ingredients left me feeling moisturized and clean.

 For my face, I used the BFF Best Face Forever Exfoliating Face Wash. The micro beads weren't overpowering as in some face washes. If you prefer a more gentle scrub for your face, this is the way to go.  I really enjoyed the lingering scents of peppermint and grapefruit from the oils. 

Next up, the Kale Face Fresh Mask. I love a good face mask, and this one left me feeling refreshed. I may have looked like a ninja turtle, but it was worth it. The green color comes from the ingredients it's comprised of, which include kale, spinach, parsley, and argula.  The mask goes on smooth and doesn't leave your face feeling tight when it drys.  I would gladly add this to my nightly ritual. 

The Night and Day Face Moisturizer was a nice finishing touch to all the attention I had given to my face. It's light weight and doesn't leave your face feeling greasy or sticky. For the evenings, I actually prefer a stronger moisturizer, one that prevents those evil things called wrinkles. But, I think this would be great to use in the mornings before the gym, when your looking for something to cut the dryness but still leaving room for your face to breath. 

Last but not least, the Amaaazing Big Fat Yummy Hand Crème. I really appreciated the hydration it gave my hands without leaving a greasy residue. My hands were left with lingering scents of mint and honey.  I think this lotion would really come in handy (no pun intended)  in the winter. I frequently reach for something to sooth my dry hands and this did the trick. 

I was really pleased with the products I sampled, and I'm glad to have learned of the company.  If I could choose only one thing to purchase from this list, I would have to go with the Kale Face Mask because I think I would get a lot of use out of it. All of the products each had their own benefits, but the face mask was my favorite!

You can shop the products mentioned above and more here.  

If you haven't tried Perfectly Post products before, you may be in luck. I'm giving away a Flower Power Pretty Kit, which includes a 2 fl oz luxury body wash, 2 oz luxury body whip, and   hydrating crème mask.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I was sent these products to test out. All opinions are my own.

Guest Chef: Josh Walker of Xiao Bao Biscuit

Last week I had the pleasure of enjoying a few dishes prepared by chef Josh Walker of Xiao Bao Biscuit, a Charleston restaurant that serves delicious Asian soul food. This particular dinner was special because we weren't ordering off a menu in the restaurant, but instead, chef Josh and his wife were in the Le Creuset kitchen, cooking for our small group. 

At the restaurant, you will find a selection of Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Thai, and Vietnamese dishes, inspired by "kick-ass grandmothers." It was fascinating to have chef Josh and his wife share their insights and tips for preparing these diverse, and sometimes intimidating, dishes. If you haven't checked out Xiao Bao Biscuit, definitely make time to do so. You can read more about my previous visit to the restaurant here. 

We began our three course meal with Mapo Dou Fu, a spicy Sichuan tofu dish in chili oil & broad beans over rice. I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little nervous to try this. We were warned about the spiciness of this dish and the numbing sensation it creates in your mouth caused by the Sichauan peppers. I'm normally a big baby when it comes to spicy things, but I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to eat this dish without breaking a sweat. 

Mapo  Dou Fu

Our second course was a flavorful beef stir-fry. This dish isn't on the menu at the restaurant, but it should be. It may not have made for a pretty photo, but it sure did taste good. The savory beef accompanied by the crunch from the cucumber created an excellent combination. I found it interesting that cucumbers were in this dish. I never would have thought to throw them in the mix, but I will definitely make sure to incorporate them the next time I prepare a stir-fry.

Beef Stir-fry

Our third course was a miso soup. This wasn't the typical miso soup you get at Japanese restaurants, which consist mostly of stock. This soup was full of veggies, including mushrooms, bean sprouts and leeks. Miso soup is typically low in calories and high in protein, which is a win-win in my book. 

Miso Soup

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to jot down the instructions for all of these dishes.  But the good news is, Chef Walker shared the Mapo Do Fu recipe with  Bon Appetit. I can't wait to give this a try at home! 

Mapo Dou Fu

Ingredients

4 dried chiles de árbol

1½ teaspoons Sichuan peppercorns

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 scallions, 1 cut crosswise into 1” pieces, 1 very thinly sliced

4 ounces ground pork

½ small Fresno chile, finely chopped

2 cloves garlic finely chopped

2 teaspoons finely chopped peeled ginger

⅓ cup doubanjiang (Sichuan-style fermented chili bean paste)

6 ounces silken tofu, drained, cut into ½” pieces

1 cup baby kale or mustard greens

Steamed short-grain rice (for serving)

Instructions

1.       Toast dried chiles and Sichuan peppercorns in a dry small skillet, turning and stirring, until fragrant,                   about 1 minute. Let cool; finely grind in spice mill.

2.       Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Cook 1" pieces of scallion, stirring, until bright green,                         about 30 seconds.

3.       Add pork and cook, breaking up with a spoon, until just cooked through, about 1 minute.

4.       Add dried chile mixture and cook, stirring, until meat mixture begins to look dry, about 1 minute.

5.       Add fresh chile, garlic, and ginger; cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute.

6.       Stir in doubanjiang, then tofu and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and add kale. Simmer until               kale is wilted and tofu is heated through, about 3 minutes.

Life Lately

The past few weeks have been busy to say the least, but I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.

Instead of doing my typical weekend recap, I thought I would expand a little and share a few photos of life lately. 

I had the pleasure of sampling a few delicious dishes prepare by Josh Walker of Xiao Bao Biscuit (recap coming soon).

Our office took an afternoon boat cruise to have lunch at Vickerys, a seafood restaurant on Shem Creek in Mt. Pleasant. It was a celebratory lunch in honor of new roles for some and new beginnings for others. 

 My husband Whit and I gave babysitting a shot. We looked after our friend's sweet little girl one evening while they went out for a date night. 

After living in Charleston for almost five years now, we finally visited the Angel Oak on John's Island. We have a photo of this beautiful tree hanging in our bedroom that we received as a wedding gift and surprisingly this is the first time we've seen it in person. It truly is an impressive, historic piece of nature. 

 

We checked another restaurant off of our list, and had dinner at EVO, a wood-fired pizza spot located in Park Circle in North Charleston. 

 

Whit ordered the pork trifecta, pictured below and I had the margarita. 

I also enjoyed some quality time in the kitchen making a delicious brunch with some girlfriends.

Here's to a productive week!