Living a tasteful life

Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Scenes From The Weekend

Whit and I are really trying to embrace our weekends before the baby arrives. We've been taking all opportunities to get out and do stuff, especially with our friends. I know in just a few short months doing things spur of the moment won't be a reality and much more planning will be involved. I've also been taking advantage of sleeping in and finding time to lounge around the house and just relax. It's been really nice, but I know I've got to get myself in gear and get back on the nursery planning train. In the meantime, here's to making the most of our weekends!
What better way to kick off the weekend than with a big, juicy, animal style burger?! A few of us girls in the office went to Workshop for lunch. It's an exploratory food court with a rotating selection of food options from emerging and renowned chefs. It's great because everyone can get something different. My burger was from Pink Bellies and I highly recommend it. It's similar to the one you would get at In-N-Out Burger. And if you want a side of french fries, pop over to Fowl Mouth for a plate of traditional crinkle fries to go with.
A few of the ladies got this garlic noodle bowl with pulled pork and a poached it which I also highly recommend. It's also from Pink Bellies

Ironically we also had a casual dinner with a large group of friends planned at Workshop Friday evening as well. Thankfully the options are endless. 
And Workshop is such a great, kid friendly spot. I'm definitely adding it to the list of places we will go after the little one is born. We had such a fun night catching up with friends and loving on some of my favorite kiddos!
The cutest little bakery in town- Sugar Bakeshop! Not only is it cute, they have some yummy sweet treats as well. I picked up a vanilla blueberry cupcake after lunch on Friday but was too full to eat it. 
But it sure did pair well with my cup of coffee Saturday morning. 
The weather was beautiful Saturday, so we went over to our friends house to enjoy a poolside happy hour followed by an amazing dinner. We made these simple mocktails which were really refreshing and easy. And would also be good with vodka. : )
I'm so glad this is a four day work week! Looking forward to spending some time with the family this weekend!

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Friday, March 23, 2018

26 Week Pregnancy Update

25 Weeks
Last week was a busy one in terms of baby things! I had my glucose test and I'm relieved to say that I passed. I was so nervous that my new found love of sweet treats was going to cause an issue. And I'm also happy to report that the drink wasn't bad at all. I had prepared myself for the worst based on what I've heard others say. I went with the orange flavor and it basically tasted like a flat orange soda. In other news, excuse the way I look in the bump photos. It seems like every time I try to take one the wind is gusting.

How far along? 26 weeks and 2 days


Baby’s size: This week baby Smith is the length of a scallion.


Weight gain: I've gained a total of  14.2 lbs as of my last appointment.


Energy: Still holding strong!


Appetite & Food Cravings: My appetite is beginning to subside. I'm finding that my dinner portions are decreasing significantly in size because I get full so easily. And breakfast is what drives me to get out of bed in the mornings. I would say it's my favorite meal of the day. So much so, I find myself planning out at night what I'm going to eat when I wake up. 

Workouts: I'm still making it to the gym between four and five days per week. I've been wearing my normal gym pants but they have officially over stayed their welcome. They are now way too tight in the waist! I'll guess I'll be on the search for some bigger ones this weekend. The tops I've been wearing aren't maternity, but just some cute ones I found that I went up in size in. I'm hoping to do the same with the bottoms.

Sleep: I'm cherishing every minute of it. I've been sleeping in on the weekends and not feeling bad about it. I know my quiet, slow mornings are limited so I'm trying to take advantage of the while I still can. 

Movement: My favorite part of the day is when I come at night and sit on the couch after dinner and when I'm laying in bed. That's when this sweet baby boy goes crazy and starts moving all around! There were a few kicks this past week that even made me jump. He's a wiggly little guy! 

Wardrobe: I've got a few dresses in my online shopping cart that I'm hoping will work for some upcoming showers. They aren't maternity, but just bigger than my normal size. It's tricky trying to buy things in advance when your size changes weekly. I still haven't purchased white jeans. But I decided to try and put on my regular ones last week and had zero expectations of them fitting, but I was able to get them on! With the assistance of two hair ties that is...but I'm game for whatever works at this point!
Baby Shopping: Mom and I did some serious damage at the Charleston Repeats sale last week. It was such much fun having her in town. They had a special night of shopping just for first time moms. We got some sweet little outfits that I can't wait to put him in! I also ordered the crib and mattress but still need to get bedding. And I found a dresser that will work as the changing table, it just needs to be painted. I still have a lot more to buy but making progress, slowly but surely. 
Doctor's Visits: I go back next week for another checkup and then I'll begin going every two weeks.


25 Weeks
26 Weeks
26 Weeks



Previous Updates: Pregnancy Announcement | 16 Weeks & Gender Announcement | 18 Weeks | 20 Weeks | 22 Weeks | 24 Weeks



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Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Styles for Spring

Happy Spring my friends! I'm so excited it's finally here. There's something about the time change, fresh blooms and warmer temps in the air that are an instant mood lifter! The new season also leaves me with the urge to shop. I'm trying to refrain due to my growing belly, but I thought I would still share some pretty little things I came across, all perfect for Spring.

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Monday, March 19, 2018

Scenes From The Weekend

The weather was kind of playing trick on us this weekend. We had moments of warmth and sunshine followed by afternoon showers and wind that came out of nowhere. But that didn't stop us from making the most of it. I dined at some new places this weekend, well new to me and I wanted to share because they were so good. 
One of my sweet friends from high school came to visit me Sunday, simply just for an afternoon brunch. I made a reservation for us at Grace & Grit, as it's been on my list of places to get to.  I absolutely love their focus on grits. There are so many different flavors to choose from. But if you have trouble deciding like we did, the grit flight is also an option. The flavors consisted of blueberry, peaches and cream, brussels and pesto and pimento cheese. They were all so delicious, but I loved the blueberry and pesto the best. 
When I found out that they served pasteurized eggs, I opted for the eggs benedict special of the day with Canadian bacon, caramelized onions and arugula. It was so delicious! The restaurant was super cute inside, but we chose to dine on the patio since it was so nice out. I will definitely be going back again for brunch and would also like to check out their dinner. A restaurant that has good food, nice atmosphere and parking is a win in my book!
I enjoyed some St. Patrick's Day festivities with the ladies on Saturday at Charles Towne Fermentory, a cute little neighborhood brewery. No green beer for me, but I did enjoy a few samplings of Spanish cuisine that The Castejons were serving up. 
I had the chorizo slider with manchego cheese and roasted peppers. It was the perfect bite size snack. But my favorite was the sauteed mushrooms and garlic served with goat cheese and toasted crostini. This was such a simple and flavorful dish — one that I will definitely be serving the next time I have friends over. 
Whit and I had date night at one of our favorite restaurants, The Obstinate Daughter. There are so many new places in Charleston to check out but we just can't get enough of this one. The food never dissappoints and neither do the cocktails (unless you are preggo and can't have one.) My photos aren't great because it was dark in the restaurant but if only you could taste this first picture. The gnocchi alla romana - Anson Mills semolina, marinara, Batery Park brie is amazing! We were advised when ordering that this wasn't your typical bite size pieces of gnocchi, but more like a cake. It had so much flavor and was the perfect starter to our meal.
And I couldn't resist ordering the pizza. I went with the Moultrie - tomato, mozzarella, pepperoni, Mepkin Abbey shitakes, parmesan.
Whit enjoyed his fancy cocktails...
while I enjoyed a huge slice of this decadent chocolate cake!
It's safe to say that I was well fed this weekend. We fought off the Sunday scaries with a few a quick trip to the beach. We didn't last very long out there due to the wind, but it was nice to put my toes in the sand for the first time this year. I'm looking forward to warmer days ahead!





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Monday, March 12, 2018

5 Skincare Products I'm Currently Loving


I love it when I randomly come across skincare products that I really love. I've actually found a few great ones lately and I wanted to share them with you today. I've been trying to pay closer attention to the products I use and the ingredients in them, especially now that I'm pregnant. Products that are comprised of food-based ingredients have been naturally grabbing my attention. Now I'm not saying that these products are as safe as can be, I just like to think they are better alternatives than some of the others out there. Here are five that have found a permanent home on the shelf in my bathroom.


I had never head of this brand until recently. And now I'm wondering what took me so long to discover it. I'm loving these two Elemis products and can't wait to try some others. First up, the superfood facial wash. This particular face wash is green and has a soft gel like texture that easily glides on your face. It gently cleanses and leaves your skin feeling so soft and refreshed. (That sounded like a commercial but it's so true. )It has a heavenly scent to it much like that of a spa. This face wash is composed of a nutrient-dense supergreen complex that consists of Wheatgrass, Kale, Nettle and minerals combined which are suppose to leave the complexion looking luminous. I don't know that I actually look like I'm glowing, but I sure do feel like it after I use it. 




I'm constantly on the search for a good day cream. I've always been one to apply lotion to both my body and face before heading out for the day. It's part of my daily routine and just makes my skin feel better. I love this superfood day cream just as much as I love the face wash. The day cream is light and doesn't suffocate your skin and also moisturizing without leaving that greasy feeling. It contains anti-oxidant and omega-rich superfood lipids such as broccoli, flax seed and daikon radish that help plump and smooth the skin along with additional superfood anti-oxidants including ginger, matcha tea and goji berry that help protect the skin barrier. I love it because it's light enough to put on as base before applying powder. 

I got this tub of lotion in my stocking this year and it wasn't until then did I discover how great it was. I've been using it all winter and it has drastically helped with my dry skin. Paraben free and packed with antioxidants,  this cream truly moisturizes and leaves my skin feeling so soft and smelling like coconut. The scent reminds me of a day at the beach. It absorbs easily and doesn't leave an oily residue on your clothing. 



I did a blog post all about this sugar scrub a while ago and I'm still obsessed. Sometimes my face feels like it just needs a good gentle scrub to remove dull skin. This sugar scrub revives and refreshes my face, leaving feeling silky smooth. Some scrubs are too harsh and dry my skin out more than anything but these fine sugar crystals don't do that at all. The scrub is a naturally derived blend of 3 pure sugars paired with finely ground Acai, nutrient-rich Grapeseed and Monoi Oils. And bonus that it can be used on your lips too!



The first time I ever really used an "oil" on my face was when I tried this product from Jeffrey James Botanicals. I've always been nervous that my face would break out and I just wouldn't like the way it felt. Don't get me wrong, there is a fine line between using this and avoiding the aforementioned. Everything in moderation. I found that this best suited my skin in the winter when my face was very dry. I would apply a small drop or two on my face and gently massage it all over before bed. I would only do this maybe once a week to avoid breakouts and I would also wash my face thoroughly the next morning.  Now that my skin isn't as dry, I will dab a tiny droplet around the corners of my eyes, where you would apply highlighter and in any other places that I may want to achieve that dewy bright look. This is definitely a product that should last a while due to the small amounts I use at a time. 

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Thursday, March 8, 2018

Nursery Inspiration + 24 Week Pregnancy Update


Nursery Inspiration




I woke up Wednesday morning and did my normal routine Baby Center app check to see what new updates were in store for me. I'm 24 weeks along and was casually reminded that I have just 112 days to go. That's just 3 1/2 months or 16 weeks in case you're wondering! I feel like time has flown by so far. Our little one will be here before we know it and I'm no where near prepared. I'm a self admitted procrastinator and now is probably a good time to kick that bad habit. I've got to get myself focused within the next few weeks and make some purchases. I mentioned in my last post that I bought a glider which I'm pretty pumped about. But that's about as far as it's gotten on the nursery front. I have an idea in my head of what I would like it to look like, now I just need to bring it all to life. Above is an idea board with some of my inspiration. 

I'm also really starting to show now. This week I've gotten so many comments on my bump and how "you can really see it." People in the gym are now confident enough to approach me and ask me when I'm due, whereas before they weren't sure if I had just had one too many slices of pizza. And I will admit, it's nice to be out of that awkward stage. One thing I find interesting is that some weeks I literally can feel my stomach stretching (or at least that's what it seems like.) Last week it was uncomfortable and eating made me feel like I was going to explode. But this week it just feels as though I stretched just enough for the baby to be comfortable until he grows in length again.


How far along? 24 weeks and 1 day


Baby’s size: This week baby Smith is the size of an ear of corn.


Weight gain: I've gained a total of 10 lbs.


Energy: Energy is still good and I'm so thankful!


Appetite & Food Cravings: The sweet cravings seem to have subsided a bit. Now I find myself reverting back to my old habits of reaching for something salty and crunchy. I'm all about the crunchy stuff. 

Workouts: My routine lately has pretty much consisted of modified Red Zone workouts twice per week mixed with the treadmill. But with the nice weather we've been having lately, I've been trying to make it a point to walk outside more often. I just feel so much better getting some form of physical activity in. 

Sleep: The pillow fort that I've been working so hard to build over the past few weeks is here to stay. I haven't had trouble sleeping but boy have I been having some of the weirdest dreams. And oddly enough, I'm able to recall every single detail when I wake up in the morning. I should start writing these things down. They make no sense at all but are pretty funny.

Movement: I'm now seeing movement on the outside. It's so strange to actually see it happen. It's ever so slight but still really cool.

Wardrobe (Swimsuit help needed!): I just want to say that the maternity jeans I purchased a few weeks ago were a total game changer! I feel so much more comfortable these days. I also took the chance on bathing suit shopping. I found two at target, but I'm not questioning whether or not I should keep them. I bought this one, which may not work for me as I get bigger but it was just too cute. I also picked this one up which was a little big on me, so I'm hoping that it will fit just right as I expand. I'm just not sure if they will still fit by the time it gets really warm here. They didn't have my size in this one buy I loved it. I may still order online. Whit seems to think I should just rock the two piece look, and maybe I will if I find the right one. 

Baby Shopping: I'm super excited to check out the Charleston Repeats, a children's seasonal consignment event that is taking place next week. My mom is coming in town and we are going to the "first time moms" shopping session. Hopefully we will leave with some good stuff.

Doctor's Visits: I have my glucose test scheduled for next week. Fingers crossed that I receive good news! 
24 Weeks
24 Weeks


23 Weeks
23 Weeks

Previous Updates: Pregnancy Announcement | 16 Weeks & Gender Announcement | 18 Weeks | 20 Weeks | 22 Weeks

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