2013 Bucket List

A lonnngg way back we wrote a ridiculous bucket list for our lives.  Some of the items on that list are fairly doable(I didn't know that was a real word until I just typed it) and others that are just a dream.  While having this conversation the other night, the idea occurred to us to make a bucket list for each year instead:

(setting: on the couch, drinking wine and watching Eat, Pray, Love)

Me: "I am fascinated by other cultures.  Like their traditions, not their foods, but I would like to try new things this year.  I mean ... I did try Oysters, so why not?"

Trevor: "Yea ... that is probably a good idea because not every restaurant is going to have a crab cake sandwich."

Who me?! Only ordering the same thing at every restaurant? NEVER!  

Fine ... you caught me.  It has been something I have always done ever since I was little. My parents will tell you I went from only ordering chicken fingers to only ordering lobster tails.  I guess this little trait of mine has continued on in Charleston with Crab Cake Sandwiches, but can you blame me?  The crab is great here!

Anyway ... here is what we have so far for our 2013 Bucket List.  Hopefully we can add more to it as we think of new ideas:

Try a new restaurant every month

Try food from different cultures

Purchase Kayaks

Visit Savannah

Visit Atlanta

Buy a House!!

Take Ballroom Dance Lessons
Take up Tennis
Go to at least 1 concert
Gamecocks Game
Make a new recipe every week
Convince at least 1 person to move to Charleston
Learn the history in Charleston
Get Thurman a brother or sister(in dog form) when he is a year old

Have any other ideas for us?? 

p.s. I was going to let the hubs write this post, but I was afraid our bucket list would look like this:

Hiking in the South

On Sunday afternoon we were all going a little stir-crazy in the apartment and decided it was a great day to go for a hike.  We went to Swamp Fox  Passage of the Palmetto Trail which is about 20 minutes from our apartment.

Hiking in the South -  I don't know if I would call it "hiking" it is more like walking in a very flat wooded area.  When I think of hiking, I think of climbing up a mountain to reach a great view at the top.  That is the best thing about a hike right?  The challenge, the view, the accomplishment.  We got none of that on Sunday.  We only hiked walked for a little over 2 miles because it was boring with no reward at the end.  Maybe these trails need to open up to beautiful marshland or something else southern because I need something to look forward to after walking through tick infested woods(clearly I have tick issues, that is a whole other subject). 

The only great thing about this so called hike was that Thurman had a blast ...

Running like a mad man

Eating every stick and leaf in sight

Here is a quick video .. sorry for the shakiness and sniffles(it was a little chilly out)

I guess it was worth it to see the little man have so much fun.  It seems like it will be a pretty decent bike path, so maybe in a few months we can try it again for a longer journey.  Overall, the trail is 42 miles!!  We need more outdoor places to visit with Thurman that involve some good running time. 

Do you know of outdoor places in or around 

Charleston for us to go explore? 

Our Love Story

I finally updated our 

"About Us" page!

Check it out by clicking on our picture to the left 

or just click here. 

Hope you enjoy :) 

Weekend Recap

Saturday

It was another beautiful day here in Charleston, but got a little chilly at night.  After checking into a few doggie-day care locations, Trevor and I brought Thurman to the dog park to play with some of his "friends."  Look how happy this little guy is ...

Saturday night we went downtown for a much needed date night.  We decided on Pearlz Oyster Bar on East Bay Street because I really wanted to try oysters before all these festivals happen next weekend.  When we walked into Pearlz it was very crowded and the hostess told us it would be over an hour wait for a seat! YIKES!  Luckily, there were two seats at the bar calling our name.  

For an appetizer we had a dozen steamed oysters.  I enjoyed them more with hot sauce, but Trevor said they were great either way.  For dinner we both had the Mixed Seafood Grill special.

It was AMAZING!

(scallops, monkfish, and two other fish I can't remember over goat cheese and asparagus risotto with truffle lobster broth)  

I can't wait to go back for happy hour for great priced apps and $3.00 house wine.

Sunday & Monday

The rest of the 3-day weekend we pretty much just hung out at home and went to the dog park.  It was great to spend some time together and not do to much.  

This is pretty random - but, I can't wait to spring clean.  There are so many things I want to organize/clean/throw-away/make.  After a long chat with my brother the other day, I plan on making all my own cleaning supplies.  Maybe that is what has me in the mood to clean or maybe it is this spring time weather.  Whatever it is, I can't wait!

p.s. I have some exciting news to share this week!  Stay tuned!  

From Shoes to Center Pieces

We shared some of our favorite moments from the wedding a while back, but I wanted to share some of the details today.  We were so excited with how everything turned out and were very happy with all of our vendors.  They were wonderful and deserve a little shout out!

The Ceremony 

Held at The Arts Center on the Hudson in Mechanicville, NY.  

An old church renovated into a beautiful Arts Center.

The Reception 

Held at Longfellows in Saratoga Springs, NY.

Longfellows is a restored dairy barn that was opened in 1996.

The Dress

Purchased from: Lily Saratoga 

(also purchased my veil there)

The staff at Lily is so amazing and attentive.  I couldn't be happier with my experience there

and thank them so much for making the big event of shopping for a wedding dress such a fabulous experience.

The Shoes

Purchased (from left to right): Jill's Wandering Cowboy, Violet's & Stella's of Saratoga, Toms.com

The first two shops are both located on Broadway in Saratoga Springs, NY.  

Wedding Party Attire

Dresses - Purchased from: Nordstrom

Tuxes - Vera Wang Collection at Men's Warehouse

Flowers

Flowers by: Heaven Scent Floral Art in Saratoga Springs, NY

Jordy(the owner and florist) was absolutely wonderful. If you ever need a florist in Upstate NY, you need to use her!

(there was a 2nd arrangement of center pieces I loved, just can't find a picture of it)

 

Cake Topper

Purchased: on Etsy from Betteroffwed 

I was so happy with this cake topper, it is something we can keep forever.  Now, I am

trying to decide what I want to turn it into ... so many possibilities! 

Cake was done by Longfellows, it was a red velvet(our favorite)

Place Cards

Little champagne bottles ...

My wonderful sister wrote all these out for me because let's be real .. I write like my two year old nephew. 

Guest Books 

Saratoga Book

Purchased:  Impressions of Saratoga (one of my favorite little shops in Saratoga)

This book had a lot of great pictures of different places in Saratoga Springs.  We asked our

guest to sign by their favorite picture so we can always remember the great city we got married in.

         

Thumbprint Guest Book

Purchased: on Etsy from Bleudetoi

When I got this in the mail I was so thrilled.  It came out so great, but after all of our guest "signed" it I loved it even more!

Card Box

Saratoga Springs Hat Box

Purchased from: Impressions of Saratoga 

I saw this in my favorite store in Saratoga and had to have it!  I went back and forth about wanted to cut a hole on the top or the side for the card slot.  Ultimately, I decided I wanted to keep this box forever and just propped the lid up. 

Table Numbers

We used the three different types of The Dreaming Tree Wines; Crush, Chardonnay and Cabernet.

I soaked the originally labels off and used Avery wine bottle labels I found at Staples along with a downloadable template to create personalized labels.  

After trying many different approaches to this and ruining my dining table (hot glue gun ... oops!), I found this was the easiest and looked cleanest. 

Other Vendors:

Officiant - Kathleen M.(I'll leave out the rest of her last name for privacy). 

Kathleen was an officiant of a wedding for the first time for close friends of ours.  Once we heard her sermon we knew she was exactly what we were looking for.  The love she has in her marriage and her family is truly inspiring.

Photography - Kathleen Hertel Photography

You have heard me rave on and on about Kathy in the past, but she gave us the best wedding gift we could have ever received.  Beautiful memories to hold onto forever.  We will forever have these amazing photos  at and remember the best day of our lives and we couldn't thank her enough.

Music - Discovery DJs of New York - Chris Wright 

Chris is a long time friend of Trevor's, so it was great that he was able to be our DJ and share the big day with us.  Next to have great photographer, having a great DJ was just as important.  We wanted a lot of old school hip hop and just overall fun music to dance the night away to and Chris definitely pulled through for us.  I don't think Trevor and I stopped dancing the whole night and one of my aunts said "it was the best music she has heard at a wedding." 

Any other details you want to know?

Thurman Update

It has been a month and a half since we welcomed our little man into the family.  I want to say TIME FLIES, but it honestly it feels like Thurman has been a part of our lives forever!  

Since we got Thurman, he has grown from 11.9 pounds to 22.3 pounds! Almost doubled in size, I am thinking we are going to have very big Vizsla on our hands ... Look how big he is!  

Taken: 11/26/12

Taken: 1/11/13

"Thurmanator" goes to the beach or park every day and soon will be going to doggie day care a few times a week.  Yes ... he is spoiled, but trust me it is all of the better.  A Thurman without at least one hour of off-leash outdoor running is NOT fun to be around. 

When he is not running or sleeping he is usually insisting on attention.  This is what happens anytime I am on the computer, reading, sleeping or doing anything that doesn't involve him.

"Mom you are not allowed to do anything other than stare at me!"

I found this on pinterest the other day. it basically sums up our lives:

Thoughts on Doggie Day Care? 

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year

2013

Last year was a great year for us.  We had so many great moments ... a couple highlights from 2012:

Ringing in the new year!

NYC to see Memphis

Opening weekend at Saratoga Race Track 

(last year living in Saratoga)

Wedding Shower

Vegas! 

We Got Married! 

Moved to Charleston, SC

Added a new addition to our family!

What an awesome year right?!  Here is to 2013... Cheers!!! 

pic

We hope everyone had a wonderful New Years Eve and New Years Day!