Outdoor Spaces

Lately I’ve had the urge to focus my attention on decorating our back deck. Whit and I bought our house about one month before we got married; and needless to say, my focus was not on our new home. Now that we have been homeowners for two years, and the wedding planning is behind us, things are finally starting to come together. Our home had been renovated before we moved in, and fortunately for us, there was little to do other than add a few of our own touches.

Our focus has mainly been on the inside, however recently we've (Whit) been working on sprucing up the landscaping. Now that our yard is shaping up, it seems only fitting to move on to the back deck. There are so many great outdoor pieces that I’m lusting over right now. I would love to create our own relaxing oasis that we can escape to whenever we want to pretend we are at a luxurious hotel. 

I love dining outside, especially when the weather is nice, and all I’m missing is the perfect set-up. We currently have a wooden table and chairs and an outdoor bar on our deck. However, I’m in the market for a more cozy set up, one more suitable for comfortably socializing or peacefully lounging with a book and an ice cold beverage. I'm envisioning a plush sectional couch, accented by colorful pillows, and a coffee table for resting cold beverages, all sitting on top of a neutral rug,  with a fun umbrella nearby for optional shade. Are you with me?

Below are some of my favorite pieces that I think would create the perfect outdoor space.  Now, if only we had a pool!

Weekend Recap: Summer Nights

 It's hard to believe that we are already halfway through July!  I'm just not ready to say goodbye to summer. However, in the South, we don't see cooler whether until around October. I still feel like winter will be here before I know it. So, until then, I plan on enjoying these warm summer nights.

Rewinding to Thursday, I had the opportunity to attend the Community United charity dinner at Belmond Charleston Place, raising money for the Emanuel nine.

Auctions items included everything from Grammy Award tickets to this little sweetheart named Addy, from the Charleston Animal Society. 

This was an incredible event. The beautiful ballroom at Belmond Charleston Place was full of hundreds of attendees and 50 plus food and beverage purveyors serving their finest fare, all while the sounds of the Lowcountry Voices gospel filled the room. There was also a number of amazing items to bid on in the silent auction.  However, the evening wasn’t just about the socializing, food and auction items, it was about a community coming together to support one another. As  Rev. Norval Goff said, “ We are stronger together than we are apart.” It was wonderful to attend the such an uplifting charitable event.

Friday evening we met our friends Megan and Brandon downtown for drinks at 492.  This place has the cutest seating area in their outdoor courtyard, perfect for carrying on conversation while sipping on cocktails.

  Saturday we headed to our friend’s house for a BBQ. The evening was spent snacking on some great food,  sipping on a lot of wine, playing a few rounds of cards against humanity and enjoying this beautiful view.

On another note, did anyone watch the Miss USA pageant?  All of the girls looked stunning! Those questions had me sweating! Congrats to Miss Oklahoma, I was happy to see her take the crown.

15 Things I'm Loving Right Now

Oh, and in case you haven't heard, The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale has begun!

Happy Thursday!

Simple Summer Sandwich: Tomato, Mozzarella and Basil

It’s a little messy, but so delicious you won’t even care if the juice runs down your arm. I’m talking about a fresh, ripe, tomato sandwich with a few added goodies, in between 2 slices of sourdough bread. It’s the ultimate summer sandwich, and today I’m sharing my take on it! Now don't get me wrong here, there is nothing special about this sandwich. I just thought it would serve as a nice reminder of how delicious a few simple, fresh ingredients can be when put together.

Tomato Sandwich

Ingredients

·        2 slices of sourdough bread

·        1 large ripe tomato

·        1 packaged of fresh mozzarella

·        Bibb Lettuce

·        1 avocado

·        Olive oil mayo

·        Handful of fresh basil

·        Pepper

·        Sea Salt
Instructions

1.     Chop a handful of fresh basil and mix with ¼ cup of olive oil mayo.

2.      Spread mayo on both slices of bread.

3.     Rinse a few leaves of Bibb lettuce, pat dry and place on bread.

4.     Top with sliced tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and a few slices of avocado.

5.     Season with sea salt and pepper.

Weekend Recap: Beach, BBQ's & Boating

The work week is never easy after a long weekend. I personally think every weekend should consist of three days. Whit and I enjoyed some time with family and friends, and ate extremely too much food (at least I did, anyway). 

Here is a brief synopsis (aka food pics) from the weekend.

We kicked the holiday weekend off right with a BBQ at the office on Thursday, immediately followed by dessert.

Which consisted of warm baked chocolate chip cookies, topped with ice cream and a sweet assortment of toppings.

And a delicious fruit pizza made by my co-worker, Alicia.

Friday afternoon was spent at the beach with friends, until we got rained out. A rain interruption called for beer and smoked pork nachos at Home Team BBQ.

Saturday, we headed out to John's Island for a cookout with family and friends.

We enjoyed some time at the pool and a quick boat cruise before dinner.

On the menu: a steamy lowcountry boil, loaded with shrimp, fresh corn and sausage.

Sunday, we headed back over to Whit's family's house for brunch. The leftover shrimp from the low country boil made the perfect bowl of shrimp and grits. Later that evening, we joined our friends for a birthday celebration and some backyard grilling.

The weekend was the perfect mix of family, friends, food and fun in the sun!

How great is this view?!? Can I move in, please?

I hope everyone had a great Fourth of July!

News Feed Friday

Photo courtesy of Martha Stewart

Happy Friday and happy long weekend!

How delicious do these Creamy Mango Popsicles look?

Speaking of delicious, breakfast anyone?!

This hat, this tote, these sunglasses, and this cover-up = poolside ready.

Taking a trip sometime soon, The World's 50 Best Travel Apps could come in handy.

I'm loving this post from The Delicious Life!

This website is a great place to find eco-friendly and fun dinnerware. We recently ordered a few items for an event last week and were quite pleased. Check out some of the photos here.

Keeping it short and sweet this week. Oh and...

And a big congratulations to my best friend Melissa on the birth of her beautiful baby boy last week!

And on a serious note...

The continued outpouring of love and support and the way our Charleston community has come together after the tragic events that took place on June 17th is so amazing.  A fundraiser is taking place on July 9th benefiting the families of the Mother Emanuel tradegy, more information here. 

Red, White & Food: 4th of July Prep

The holiday weekend is just a few days away, and who better to turn to for your party needs than Pinterest! I love getting together with family and friends during the holidays, especially when it involves food. The Fourth of July is the perfect time to show off your creative side with some patriotic treats. I'm currently trying to decide what I will be making for the weekend. There are a ton of cute and delicious looking recipes on Pinterest. If you haven't started your party prep yet, here are a few ideas to consider.

Appetizers:

Blueberry, Strawberry & Jicama Salsa

Red, White and Bruschetta

Cheesy BBQ Bacon Jalapenos

Pineapple, Bacon and Cheese Bites

White Cheddar & Vidalia Dip

Meats:

4th of July Firecracker Dogs

Honey Mustard Fried Chicken Sliders

Spicy Peanut Butter Bacon Sliders

Sweet Potato Bun Sliders with Portobello, Red Peppers + Pesto “Mayo”

Thai Hot Dogs with Cucumber-Mango Slaw and Homemade Srirachup

Smoked Gouda and Bacon Burgers with Barbecue Sauce

Fajita Turkey Burgers

Sides:

Bacon Sriracha Potato Salad

Grilled Chipotle Lime Corn

Pizza Pasta Salad

Bacon Guacamole Deviled Eggs

Corn, Bacon and Avocado Summer Salad

Slow Cooker Barbecue Beans

Desserts:

Red White and Blueberry Pound Cake Kabobs

Red, White and Blueberry Trifle

4th of July Rice Krispie Treats

Strawberry Cheesecake Bars with Golden Oreos

Brownie & Fruit Kebabs

Cocktails:

Red, White + Blue Sangria

Blueberry Coconut Sparkler

4th of July Wine Sparklers

4th of July Mojito

Red, White and Blueberry Cocktail