Living a tasteful life

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Holiday Weekend Sales

The holiday weekend is approaching us, and with that comes sales! I am fighting the urge to go shopping and it's taking a whole lot of will power with all of the cute things I've spotted online. I've been practicing the art of adding items to my cart, and then trying to forget about them. I've been specifically lusting over a few items from Loft and J. Crew Factory. 
Someone please buy these things so they will be sold out before I hit the purchase button!


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Monday, June 29, 2015

Weekend Recap: Life Lately

It felt great to have a few days of rest and relaxation this past weekend. As I mentioned a few days ago, my time last week was devoted to executing and overseeing my company conference. I was pleased with how everything came together and relieved when it was all over. 

Working for a cookware company gives way to the automatic assumption that food is an important aspect in our line of work, which is very true. Needless to say, the highlights of the majority of our work functions are based around food. So, I thought I would share some food highlights from the week.


What better way to kick the work week off than with food trucks at the office! Charleston has a pretty good food truck scene, and it's even better when you have them all to yourself. Platia, a Greek food truck known for their delicious traditional Greek cuisine, was a big hit! I couldn't resist the chicken gyro, which by the way, was one of the best I've ever had. This enormous pita was filled tzatziki, onion, tomato, chicken and wait for it...Geek fries! The portions are huge and the prices are easy on the wallet. Need I say more?

If you're looking to hire a food truck for an event, I highly recommend them.

Platia shared the spotlight with Outta My Huevos, another equally delicious food truck that Charleston has to offer. This was not the first time that we've had this brunch-style food truck around the office. A few of my favorites from their menu include the crispy chicken biscuit (topped with pimento cheese), drug store burgers, huevos rancheros and their Geechie Boy Mills cheddar grits.


And what better way to top off all of this savory food than with King of Pops! It was about 100 degrees in Charleston last week, so these sweet treats were lifesavers. They may not have a truck, but this little cart packs a lot of flavor. 

 

This one was my favorite!

After a satisfying afternoon of endless lunch options and a long day of meetings, next on the agenda was dinner. 


You may have seen a post or two (or several) about Edmund's Oast, one of my choice dinner spots in Charleston. You can read more about some of my favorite things on the menu here and here.  

We rented out the bower, a covered outdoor area with picnic table seating. Fortunately we had a nice breeze that evening, providing a slight bit of relief from the uncomfortable temperatures we experienced throughout the day.



We welcomed day two of the meetings with another round of food, from a truck. This time it was all about my favorite food ever...pizza! 



Coastal Crust is no stranger to our office, either. We've requested their presence on a few different occasions. Their restored antique food truck is complete with a wood-fired oven and all! They also have a truck dedicated to craft beer, premium wine and coffee. Unfortunately, that was not part of our lunch plans last week.


Below is just one of the many different pizzas that came out of the oven. I may or may not have eaten my weight in pizza.

Dinner was not a typical night spent dining in a restaurant. We opted to instead host everyone at the office for an evening filled with cuisines of the world. With a few small touches of decor and rentals from Ooh! Events and Event Works, we were able to transform our office into an environment with ethnic elements. 

Chef Michael Carmel of the Culinary Institute of Charleston, along with his staff, put together a delicious spread for everyone with flavors from all corners the world. 
The menu included tortilla Espanola and an assortment of tapas, including ceviche, marinated olives, pickled vegetables, whipped feta, hummus and pita bread. For the mains, a toasted farro succotash, heirloom tomato salad, paella, braised lamb, pork pan-fried noodles, and chicken balti. And for dessert, cardamon crème brûlée, mango coconut rice, and an olive oil cake. 







We washed it all down with beverages from Squeeze, an excellent hosted bar service. Our bartenders were great and worked hard to make sure everyone was pleased. Our specialty cocktail of the evening was a spiked lemongrass lemonade.



This was seriously one of the most refreshing cocktails. It was the perfect mix of a hint of sweet from the lemongrass syrup, balanced by the tartness of the grilled lemon. I enjoyed it so much so that as soon as I got the chance this weekend, I immediately went on a search for the ingredients to make my own. I was unsuccessful but the search will continue. 


Overall, it was a successful week of events filled with learning, laughing, socializing and food!

If you're still reading, thanks for hanging in there through this long post. Being away from the blogging world a few days leaves much to catch up on!

Have a great week!
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Friday, June 26, 2015

News Feed Friday



It has been a long week, hence the lack of postings. TGIF!

Here are a few links worth sharing:


Who doesn't love a good milkshake!

This pizza dough recipe has been bookmarked for future reference.

What's your foodie town?  

Clean eating, two words that you've no doubt heard. These recipes serve as some healthy inspiration.

How pretty is this Harbour Cane Bed!?

June may almost be over, but this cocktail calendar is good all summer!

Looking to take a weekend roadtrip? Check out this list of charming, small-town escapes.

Or for those of you looking to plan a longer vacation, 6 of the best beach resorts in the Caribbean

Have a great weekend!


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Thursday, June 25, 2015

Earrings Worth Wearing


I couldn't resist sharing a few of these fun earrings that I came across while browsing the web. It's funny how one little pair can pull a while outfit together. I will take one of each please!
      
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Monday, June 22, 2015

Weekend Recap: Here &There

Last week was pretty busy and I wish I could say that this week is going to be different, but that's not the case. I've been planning our annual company conference, which is like planning a wedding and then some. With that being said, I'm not sure how present I will be this week, so I'm apologizing in advance. 

In addition to my crazy work schedule, I somehow managed to squeeze in some socializing. Here are a few photos of life lately through the lens of the iPhone. 


Thursday night was spent at The Americano, sipping cocktails and snacking with a few ladies from the Charleston Blog Society. 


I recommend the yellow fin tuna tower appetizer. It's a very large portion of tuna accompanied by avocado and mango salsa. Order a side of chips, and you can make a meal out of it. Read more about a past visit to the restaurant here.


Friday we joined some friends for a little happy hour at Mex 1. I don't know why we don't go there more often. The food is good and the live music is an added bonus.


Saturday we met up with some friends at my husband's favorite BBQ spot, Home Team BBQ. I'm a fan of their wings, which are served with Alabama white sauce for dipping. I don't know what is in that sauce, but I like it!


We made our way to The Barrel for an after dinner drink. This spot has been on our list of places to check out. It was a lot smaller than I had imagined, but still a good place for settling in at the bar (or outdoor area) for a few craft beers.

Sunday I headed to my parents house for lunch and to spend some time with my Dad for Father's Day. I'm so thankful to have such a loving and supportive Dad, who always puts his children's needs before his own. 



Have a great week!


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Thursday, June 18, 2015

Father's Day Gift Guide

In case you haven't seen enough blog posts with Father's Day gift guides, here's another. This one is for all of you last minute shoppers out there, (including myself). I've put together a list with a little something for all personality types. So show your dad some love this Sunday with one of these great gift ideas!

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Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Southwestern Salad

I love a good salad. In fact, most days that's what I have for lunch. I find it easier to buy all of the ingredients, take them to work and prepare it there. With that being said, I'm always looking for new combinations. Let's be real, lettuce tomatoes and cucumbers get old after a while. 

When I first made this Southwestern salad, I was instantly hooked. It's basically a bowl of greens with a Mexican vibe, but without the guilt. And the best part about it... you can add as little or as many of the ingredients as you would like.


As I mentioned in yesterday's post, I made this salad for dinner over the weekend. I will admit, this is the one salad that I can convince my husband to make a meal out of. The protein and carbs from the beans, corn and chicken are enough to leave you feeling satisfied. 




Southwestern Salad
Ingredients
1 large head of romaine lettuce
1 Rotisserie chicken (already prepared)
1 package of cherry tomatoes
1 package of yellow tomatoes
1 can of black beans (no salt added)
1 can of corn (no salt added)
1/3 cup of a red onion
1 avocado
1 package of tortilla strips
Juice of 1 lime
Jar of salsa
1 5.3 oz cup of non-fat plain Greek yogurt
Cilantro (chopped)
Black pepper to taste

Instructions
1.       Rinse 1 head of romaine lettuce, pat dry, chop and add to a large bowl.
2.       Rinse tomatoes, using approximately half of each package. Slice them in half and add to the bowl.
3.       Add half of a diced red onion.
4.       Pour the can of black beans into a strainer, rinse, let drain and add ½ cup to the salad.
5.       Pour the can of corn into a strainer, let drain, and add ½ cup to the mix.
6.       Add sliced avocado.
7.       Shred the rotisserie chicken into pieces, discarding the bones. Add a generous amount to the mix.
8.       Top with a few springs of chopped cilantro and a handful of tortilla strips.
9.       Squeeze fresh lime juice all over the top of the salad and add a dash of pepper.
10.   For the dressing: In a small bowl, mix Greek yogurt with a few tablespoons of salsa, until the consistency is to your liking. (I add a good bit of salsa to balance the bitterness of the yogurt.)
11.   Top the salad with a dollop of dressing and serve. 
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Monday, June 15, 2015

Weekend Recap: Charleston

For once, this weekend didn't involve traveling. Whit and I had a weekend well spent right here in Charleston. I must say, it was one of the most relaxing weekends I've had in a while. I've always appreciated where we live, but sometimes life gets so busy we forget to stop and take in our surroundings. So that is exactly what we did.

We enjoyed a nice little DIY wine and cheese happy hour on our back porch Friday evening. I also made a delicious salad for dinner, which I will be sharing the recipe for this week.

Shop some of my favorite wine and cheese happy hour essentials at the bottom of this post.

Saturday we made our way out to The Sanctuary on Kiawah Island. It was absolutely gorgeous. So luxurious, that we decided that we need to have a "stay-cation" here sometime in the near future. 
We explored the island by bike.



The scenery was worth all the pedaling. 


After cruising around in the 90 degree heat, we couldn't get to an ice cold beverage quick enough. So, we drove over to Seabrook Island which is on the other side of Kiawah. 



We stopped in Red's Ice House at Bohicket Marina for a little afternoon pick me up.





To round out what ended up being a perfect day, we ended the evening with a dinner date at The Obstinate Daughter. I have been wanting to go there for the longest time now, and I must say, it was worth the wait.  It was so enjoyable, that it deserves it's own blog post. 


It was great to spend some quality time with the hubby, especially while enjoying the sights and sounds of what the area has to offer. 
 
By the time Sunday rolled around, it was time to relax. 
 
You can't beat sunshine, a clear blue sky, sand in your toes and the ocean.

Shouldn't all weekends end like this?!






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Friday, June 12, 2015

News Feed Friday




The above photo is my idea of the perfect happy hour. A few months ago, my girlfriends and I went to the cutest little rustic cheese shop called Avondale Wine & Cheese and I can't wait to go back. Wine, cheese and good friends...what more could you ask for?

Speaking of happy hour, I wouldn't mind cooling down with these flavorful ice cubes.

I came across this photo on Instagram and now I desperately want to throw a party so I can recreate this amazing display. It reminds of the beautiful setup at The Southern C Summit.

On another note, how amazing are these shoes?!

I may have gone a little crazy in the Banana Republic Outlet a few weeks ago. I left with these white jeansthis topthese dress pants (in a few different colors), and this casual tee in olive green. There may have been a few other items as well. #oops

I've been on a shrimp kick lately. I don't cook them much home but I would like too, and this sees like the perfect recipe to start with. This one looks delicious too!

I'm so happy that it's finally Friday! It sure has been a long week. 
A few things on my radar this weekend include: a glass a few glasses of white wine, probably snacking on something like this, watching season 3 of this series, and finally enjoying some dinner here.

Cheers to the weekend!

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Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Tuesday Things

Just a few pretty things I would like to get my hands on...




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Monday, June 8, 2015

Weekend Recap: Pool Party

Happy Birthday Laice!

Another fun weekend in the books and a few photos to tell the story. 

The weekend started off right with a delicious lunch at Leon's Oyster Shop. We had the char-grilled oysters for an appetizer. 


I've heard a lot of great things about their Siam Salad. So of course that's what I had to order and I was not disappointed. It was full of so many different flavors and the portion was huge. 

Friday evening Whit and I headed to my parents house for the weekend. 


It's always nice to be in the country and enjoy some peace and quiet.

However, Saturday was neither quiet nor peaceful.


We spent a lot of time in the pool and going down this slide. 
My childhood best friend has been throwing a pool party complete with a huge slip 'n for her birthday the past few years and it's always so much fun. 


The slide below was from 2012.

Last year's slide.

And the tradition continues. 



Cheers to pool parties, birthday's, great friends, and summer!
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