Living a tasteful life

Thursday, June 30, 2016

Red, White and Blue | Recipes for the 4th

Traditional hamburgers and hot dogs are always a safe bet at 4th of July cookouts. Then there are the sides, which I get most excited about. I typically stick with bringing one of those or some sort of dessert, and leave the grilling to someone else. I usually spend way too much time on Pinterest searching for the perfect dish to make. I then find several that make me drool and have a difficult time deciding. I like my food to not only taste good but also look pretty as well, especially when it comes to festive holidays. Often times I end up choosing the well styled foods that look the prettiest in the photos. So, if you're looking for the perfect red, white and blue recipes that are beautiful enough to serve during this holiday weekend, I've got you covered. I can't promise that some of these might not turn out to be Pinterest fails, but they all look pretty darn good to me. 











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Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Mara Hoffman | Sale

All the colorful Mara Hoffman pieces I've seen floating around Instagram lately has had me doing a little online browsing myself. I haven't caved in and purchased anything yet, but there are quite a few things that I would love to add to my closet. Here are a few pieces of her's that are on sale and various retailers.  



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Wednesday, June 22, 2016

8 Summer Cocktails

In honor of the official first day of summer taking place this week, I thought it would be a great time to share a few drink recipes to keep you cool on those long, hot summer days. Here are a few favorites that I've rounded up.  What are some of your favorite drink recipes?











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Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Travel | What to Pack for a Comfortable Trip

Well, hello there! Remember me? I've been a little absent in the blog world lately due to life's busy schedule. I'm looking forward to getting back into my regular blogging routine. Although, I do think time off isn't always a bad thing. It's nice to step back and give my thoughts a break so that the creative juices can start flowing again. 

I just returned from a work trip in Vegas which pretty much drained every ounce of energy I had. It was a great trip, but six days in Sin City is more than enough. Not to mention the travel aspect of it all. Traveling takes so much energy alone, especially when it involves a time change. If I'm spending a lengthy amount of time in an airport and on a plane, I want to make sure I'm comfortable. I thought this would be a good opportunity to share some travel items that will help get you deal with those sometimes unpleasant hours and varying temperatures both on the plane and in the airport. I've put together a comfy travel list including everything from pants and tops, to accessories and shoes.


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Friday, June 10, 2016

Happy Friday!

I'm so happy the weekend is finally here! These next few days are going to be a whirlwind with everything I have on my agenda. I'm taking a little trip and will be gone for a few days, so pardon the silence on the blog. Follow along on Instagram and Snapchat @mryanflowers to find out where I'm headed! 
Have a great weekend!
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Thursday, June 9, 2016

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!









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