Life Lately | May: On the Go!

I feel like May passed by so quickly! Maybe that's because there has been so much going on. But you know what they say, "time flies when you're having fun."

A few girlfriends and I started the month off right with a wine and cheese night. It's always so nice to have an evening in and catch up with girlfriends. 

One of my favorite things about May is Cinco de Mayo! We celebrated with a fiesta at the office complete with taco kits from Minero. If you haven't checked this place out yet, be sure to do so. They have some of the best burritos and sangria in town. 

The Cinco de Mayo celebrations continued after work at Mex 1. 

The best part about this time of year is the length of time it stays light outside. These warm summer months are perfect for late afternoon happy hours. You can't beat this view either. And side note, the cheese in this picture is a fig and balsamic goat cheese is life changing. 

I went home to visit my mom for Mother's Day but the funny thing is I don't have a single photo of us together. Maybe it's because she decided to work that Sunday. If anyone knows my mother, then they know how much of a hard worker she is and it's extremely difficult to get her to slow down. However, we did manage to find time to sip on some cocktails in the backyard.

I posted a recipe for Spicy California Shrimp Stacks a few weeks ago, but let me just tell you one thing, making them with fresh tuna is a game changer. I went over to my girlfriends house for their supper club and had the pleasure of enjoying freshly caught tuna. We had it raw, packed in the shrimp stacks and seared. It was seriously one of the best meals!

 

I received my first Rocks Box set last month and loved it. You can read more about my first experience here. Also, if you're interested in trying it out, use code apolishedpalatexoxo for a free month!

I finally attended the Beaufort Charities Golf Tournament this year. I've always heard it's so much fun but have never had the chance to go. A group of us rented a house for the weekend and had a blast. It was great catching up with high school friends. 

The house we rented was on Fripp Island, which is so beautiful. One of the cool things about the area are the deer that linger around the island. They will come right into your backyard.

 

We spent some time by the pool.

And at the daiquiri hole.

And a small amount of time watching the tournament. 

I checked another restaurant off my list last month. Bur first we stopped at The Gin Joint, which I have been to once before. It's a small cozy little spot off of East Bay Street downtown that serves some impressive cocktails. I highly recommend To Pimp a Butterfly! (not pictured)

We had dinner at Fulton Five. This place has been around a while and was crowned the most romantic restaurant in Charleston. I had the bolognese and it was worth every single calorie. 

Nice weather meant time spent on the water with friends. 

One of my favorite restaurants in Charleston hosted a guest chef series at my office. We had the pleasure of enjoying great food and cocktails prepared by chef Reid Henniger of Edmund's Oast. 

One of my best girlfriends who currently lives in New York, came in town to visit one evening, which meant a long night full of laughs and bar hopping. She's coming back this weekend and I can't wait!

We celebrated Memorial Day with friends and family on John's Island. We were fortunate that the rain disappeared long enough for us to enjoy some time outside. 

Of course one of the best parts of the day was the food. We had pulled pork, mac and cheese, broccoli salad, dips, strawberry short cake, and more. I couldn't refrain from making these pineapple bacon and cheese bites. 

The best way to start your morning after a long day of cocktails in the sun is with a good old fashioned serving of creamy shrimp and grits...and a mimosa of course!

Hopefully this blog posts is evidence of why I've been a little quite around here lately. I'm hoping to get back into my regular posting routine after the next week or so. Thanks for sticking around!

Current Playlist: Summer 2016

It's amazing how a good playlist can completely change the mood of things. It changes the vibe a party, the energy in a workout and helps pass the time while driving, or sitting in traffic — if you live here in Charleston. Here's a little snapshot of what I'm currently listening too. And a little FYI, I like a little bit of everything, from hip-hop and country to reggae and beach music. Today's list is all about fun music to start off the summer!

Swimsuit Cover-Ups

Cover-ups can be a challenging article of clothing. In my opinion, it's necessary to own several styles that suitable for different situations. There are the see through cover-ups like the one below, that are great for lounging around the pool. There are the long flowing cover-ups good for a day at a resort. There are sexy little cover-ups that are perfect for time spent on a boat. And there are cover-ups that can also serve as a casual outfit, perfect for a transition from the beach to a restaurant. Today I'm sharing a little bit of everything and all in a variety of price ranges. If anyone needs me, I'll be at the beach!

Which ones are your favorites?

10 Memorial Day Recipes

Entertaining is something both my husband and I love to do, especially when it involves food. I love any excuse to fire up the grill and by that I mean my husband. With Memorial Day right around the corner, I figured it was a great time to share a few of my favorite recipes with you, perfect for outdoor entertaining. 

1. Tomato Pie

Nothing welcomes summer more than fresh ripe tomatoes. Add them to a pie shell filled with cheese and other goodies, you can't go wrong. 

2. Pineapple Bacon and Cheese Bites

These are the perfect bite size appetizer for snacking.

3. Jalapeno Cheddar Burgers

The perfect way to add a little kick to your burger. 

4. Loaded Baked Potato Salad

No BBQ is complete without potato salad. 

5. Greek Pasta Salad

A nice cool side that satisfies the taste buds. 

6. Jalapeno Popper Deviled Eggs

I seriously look for any excuse to make these. They are so flavorful!

7. Fajita Chicken Kebabs

A more exciting way to eat chicken and veggies. 

8. Apple Bacon Coleslaw

A fun twist and a nice change from traditional slaw. 

9. Blueberry Crostata

Blueberries are always a good idea, especially when they are in dessert. 

10. Strawberry Shortcake In a Jar

Because eating dessert out of jar seems more fun. 

I hope everyone has a great holiday weekend!

Follow along with me this weekend on Instagram and Snapchat @mryanflowers!

Nordstrom Half Yearly Sale | My Picks

Just as I was trying to convince myself not to make any purchases, I realized Norstrom is having their half yearly sale, now through June 5th. I feel like that was my sign to move forward with the things in my cart. Here are a few pretties that caught my eye. And no, I didn't purchase all of these things, although I wish I could have! Click the arrow to the right to view all items.

Rocksbox: My Thoughts + 1 Month Free

I'm sure many of you have heard of Rocksbox, but if not, let me introduce you to this brilliant subscription service. I should preface this by saying that the only monthly subscription I ever had was for magazines, never any of the monthly box subscriptions. A few friends of mine use Rocksbox and I've heard nothing but positive things, so I decided to give it a try myself. 

Rocksbox gives you unlimited access to designer and emerging jewelry brands. After signing up, you will get three pieces picked out just for you by a personal jewelry stylist, and then delivered straight to your door. First, you take a survey so they can better understand your style. Then, you may add up to fifteen pieces to your wishlist. Three pieces are then chosen from your list by your stylist for you to enjoy. If you don't like them, they don't fit, or you simply want a different piece, you can send them right back, using the prepaid shipping label. The best part is, you are free to switch out your jewelry as many times as you want per month. And if you decide you can't live without one of the pieces, you have the option to buy as well. What more could you ask for?!

Here is a look at the first pieces I received. 

1. Jenny Bird | Moonsong Cuff in Gold

2. Gorjana Meg | Collar Necklace

3. House of Harlow 1960 | Arrow Affair Ring in Gold

The quality of all three pieces I received was great. I have very small wrists and was concerned about the bracelet fitting, but it's bendable, conforming to perfectly fit my little wrist. I've been wearing the cuff and ring to work daily and I wore all three pieces out to dinner the other night. I love the idea of switching out the pieces as often as you like. I mean who doesn't like a good mail day? Now that I've gotten a few good wears out of these, I will be sending them back this week. I can't wait to see what pieces show up in my mailbox next! 

I'm happy to also share that I'm able to offer my readers 1 month free using the code apolishedpalatexoxo at checkout after signing up. Enjoy!

Spicy California Shrimp Stack

I was shockingly surprised at how well this recipe turned out. Of course I was browsing Pinterest one evening and came across a delicious looking photo of one of these stacks, saved it for later and figured it would end up being one of those recipes that I would never actually get around to making. But, I did and I'm so glad! 

We happened to have some left over shrimp from a low-country boil, which was nice because preparing the shrimp is half the battle. I decided the leftovers were a perfect excuse to make these spicy stacks. I was also looking to satisfy my sushi craving.

 This recipe was easier to make than I thought it would be. I was pretty impressed with the finished product. I made a few substitutions due to the ingredients I had on hand and they turned out great. I recommend two stacks per person, unless you are serving a side, in which case I think edamame would be perfect. These are a way to take your dinner party to the next level, which is exactly what we did the second time around. I went over to my girlfriends house for supper club one evening and we made these using fresh tuna. I highly recommend it! 

 I can't wait to make them again!

Spicy California Shrimp Stacks
Ingredients

1 1/3 cups of cooked quinoa brown rice (I Seeds of Change brand)

2 tablespoons rice vinegar

8 ounces cooked shrimp, peeled and tails removed

1 cup diced cucumber

1 teaspoon chopped fresh chives

½ cup mashed avocado (about 1 large-because I wanted extra)

4 teaspoons sesame seeds

4 teaspoons reduced-sodium soy sauce

4 teaspoons of mayonnaise

1 teaspoon sriracha sauce

 Instructions

1. Cook rice according to package directions. (90 seconds in the microwave)

2. Cut shrimp into 1-inch cubes. In a small bowl, combine cucumber and chives. In another small bowl, combine mayonnaise and sriracha sauce.

3. Using a 1 cup dry measuring cup, layer ¼ cup cucumber, then 2 tablespoon of avocado, next ¼ of the shrimp, and then 1/3 cup quinoa brown rice.  Carefully turn the cup upside down to turn the stack out onto a plate, lightly tapping the bottom of the cup if necessary.  Sprinkle with sesame seeds and drizzle with 1 teaspoon soy sauce. Top with a dollop of sriracha mayonnaise. 

4. Repeat with remaining ingredients.

*Note: Don’t pack the ingredients in the cup too tightly, otherwise they will not come out as easily. Trust me, I made this mistake. 

*Recipe adapted from Skinnytaste.