Sailin' on the Quote Boat

Always find time for the things that make you feel happy to be alive.

Half United

I have a new favorite jewelry company. It's Half United based out of Wilmington, N.C. Maybe you've heard of them? They're awesome. It's a brother and sister duo who started this company four years ago. Their passions met in the middle, and with only $200, they started Half United Fighting Hunger, where half of the profits from every product sold go directly toward fighting the global hunger epidemic.

You know that gets my entrepreneurial spirit all a stir.

What makes them different? Why do I love them so much? Their products are not only handmade in the U.S. but in N.C. They source their materials from local businesses and hire neighbors to work. They're changing the world, starting right in their own backyard. Even better? Their profits are given to Cambodia, Madagascar, Fiji and... the good ole' U-S of A. You're supporting school lunch programs, planting school gardens and funding book bag buddy programs, which provide children with weekend meals while in school.

I love their signature necklace - the bullet. Why the bullet? "They know bullets carry a negative connotation, but they decided to take something negative and turn it into a positive – to fight hunger. Repurposed, the bullet doesn’t destroy lives; it supports lives."

If you find me, I'll be wearing the jude in gold/mint or the grace in gold. My intern walked in the other day, and I was like wait, you have a Half United necklace too!? She is from Wilmington so of course she does! She was rocking the confetti glitter necklace, and I loved it so much, you'll see me in that one too (three's a charm!). Check them out.

Chas

Charleston! Oh, how I love that place. I surprised my dad with a trip for his 50th birthday. I tried to pack an itinerary of firsts so we were all experiencing new happenings. We agreed the peak of the trip was the Lowcountry Oyster Festival - named one of the top 20 events in the southeast. That's how we started this trip, cruising right into the festival upon our arrival on Sunday. I read a lot of reviews on the parking situation, so we did a park and ride lot, but I think parking at the event would have been just as well.

Not only is this an event with one of my favorite eats, but it takes place on gorgeous Boon Hall Plantation. It's 'Blake Lively & Ryan Reynold's wedding / where The Notebook was filmed' gorgeous. The main drive is breathtaking with oak trees encasing the road. The cost of the festival was $20 per person, and the cost to get into the plantation on any given day is $20. I thought it was a steal for the uniqueness of being able to eat oysters and peruse the property with a local brew in hand.

Now back to these oysters. Aww shucks! The festival was packed, and live music was coming from the stage. We purchased our food tickets and did a lap before saying cheers! to a bucket of oysters and beers all around. The bucket was $12, and it was a perfect 'round one' for three people. The festival sells oyster knives for a reasonable, unmarked-up price of $5. We purchased one, found a spot at the massive area of shucking tables and got to work. They have crackers and local condiments for you. It was so much fun to shuck away, drink some beer and listen to live music. The weather was amazing. We loved this event so much we went for 'round two' on a bucket of oysters before calling it a success.

We checked into our hotel, Frances Marion, on King Street and relaxed a bit before heading to dinner (and to watch the Carolina basketball game) at Guy Fiere-recommended restaurant, Fuel. I dined on ho-cakes (crispy corn fritters with onions, garlic, jalapenos, roasted corn, topped with pepper jack cheese, crème fraiche and tomato chutney), braised pork tacos (pulled pork, green chili aioli, sweet onion relish and green slaw) and a cadillac margarita. The atmosphere was cool, and the food was great, so I was all for it. 

The next morning was my dad's birthday... Happy Birthday! I decorated the hotel room before we headed onward to enjoy the day. After a nice walk on King Street, we started the morning at Toast!, home of bottomless mimosas and an awesome breakfast. They treated my dad like a birthday king, and we had a delicious feast of french toast and eggs meeting street. From mimosa land, we walked to Charleston's historic City Market to do a bit of shopping. Then it was time for our carriage tour with my favorite tour company in Charleston, Palmetto. We saw the sights and took in a lot of history.

Hank and I had yet to find the elusive pineapple fountain, so as soon as we found it, we basked in the sun for a bit to take it all in. We walked around The Battery and marveled at pretty homes too.

Above is where Hank asked me to marry him in 2010 (!!!).

We explored a lot before heading back to the hotel for a bit, with a side of people watching in Marion Square (where we saw the best hula hooper of all time).

Monday evening we toured Patriots Point and the USS Yorktown. My dad is a retired Marine so this was a must do on the trip. There was a private party that night, so we toured around after hours having the three ships all to ourselves. My favorite part was watching the sunset and touring the submarine. When we came back up to the dock, there were dolphins in the harbor - all so pretty.

That night we had dad's birthday dinner at one of my favorites, Coast. I don't think I could go to Charleston without a stop at Coast (haven't yet!). After dinner, we celebrated 50 years. One of my favorite gifts to my dad was a collage of photos from family and friends around the world, as far as Afghanistan, holding signs wishing dad a happy 50th.

Tuesday morning we had breakfast at the hotel before heading home early-ish due to the ice storm heading Charleston's way. It was a fab trip, and I can't wait to return later this year.

Sailin' on the Quote Boat

A few favorites I came across in some quote books over the weekend...

• When you're traveling, you are what you are, right there and then. People don't have your past to hold against you. No yesterdays on the road. - William Least Heat-Moon

• Experiencing our familiar rooms and belongings, our local supermarket and neighborhood streets as if we had never been there, is also traveling. - Melanie Peter

• Happiness, not in another place but this place... not for another hour, but this hour. - Walt Whitman

Kiss the Cook

Hank and I have been tearing it up in the kitchen these last few weeks. I mean seriously, I have loved every meal. Here are a few highlights with a link to the full cookbook at bottom.

{chicken and dumplings}

{chicken sloppy joe sliders}

{top round steak fajitas}

The secret to our success: blueapron.com/cookbook (Thanks again for the intro, Maura!)

Fiesta, Fiesta

New card in the Etsy shop: etsy.com/shop/mrsloveslife. Ariba!

It's pretty much my life motto in card + kraft envelope form. Enjoy!

Happy Love Day

Wishing you all things sweet... with sprinkles... and lots of glitter.

Life is too short not to just live it and LOVE it. Have fun today!

Just Being Alumni

UNC vs. Maryland with my Carolina loves (and ruffles, lots of ruffles). #HAM

Carolina Brewery tour in Pittsboro with fraaands.

*Loving all things sparkly hair bob from ban.do. 

Happy to be a Heel all day, errday.

#SnowCrazy

I am snow happy. When someone talked about snow at work this week, I said "I hope it's a we're snowed in for a couple of days kind of snow." Well, here I sit - snowed in, day two. Offices are closed, and I am in pure white precip bliss. I just walk around the house from window to window oohing and ahing at the prettiness. Right now, I am enjoying life from the diva bag (Coleman sleeping bag) with a cocktail from Durham-based company White Whale, listening to She & Him on Pandora - ready to blog away.

I take gorgeous back roads to and from work each day, and the last time it snowed big, I got caught up behind some non-4x4 vehicles. I said I would be out of the office earlier the next time it snowed - not early enough this time: I have an under 20 minute commute, and yesterday I made it home in three and a half hours. I wasn't mad. I had snacks, good music, water, and the streets were gorgeous. I met new people, was reassured good samaritans still exist and was just thankful I would be making it home that day. 

As soon as I got home, I was out the door playing in the snow with Bentley.

Fresh powder called for snowwwgaritas.

Hank and I borrowed and waxed the bottom of Bentley's crate and went backyard sledding.

Hank wrote me a sweet snow note.

We borrowed a cup of liquid gold (milk) from the neighbors to make delicious chicken and dumplings paired with sauteed broccolini for our snowed-in dinner. Recipe on the way!

We woke up today to ice, ice, baby. Bentley was sliding all over the place.

Bentley and I sat in the rockers on the back balcony (with lots of blankets) to watch the sledders.

To do list for today: bar cart out, kick back, watch the snow keep coming down.

Happy Snow Day!