scootin' in the city.

I've been wanting a Vespa for years, but have held off because there really aren't a lot of places I'd feel comfortable driving in Charleston beyond the tiny peninsula. But now that we're moving to Boston and everything we need will be within a 10-mile radius, I think it's finally time to get one.

pillows and ipad sleeves, oh my!

Yesterday the internet was down city-wide (weird, right?), and I felt pathetically lost. So I did something I've been meaning to do for a really long time: I got out my sewing machine and the pile of pretty fabrics I've been hoarding, and I got crafty. I'll be adding pillows to my Etsy shop soon, and I'm experimenting with iPad/Kindle sleeves, too. Stay tuned for that.

I think I'd be a lot more productive if the internet would just go away every now and then.

 

pool party.

Everyone has a goal in life they'll always aspire to. For me, that goal is to have a house with an amazing pool. Aim high, right? Don't even try to tell me that the insurance will cost too much or the chemicals and cleaning will get annoying. I want a house with a pool and that's that.


I have to work on Memorial Day, but here's hoping that those of you who have the day off are lounging by a pool, or somewhere equally lovely.

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the office.

 

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While I'm busy trying to wrap my mind around the idea of living in a brand new city, I've barely even thought about the fact that I'm about to make a major career change. I've spent the last six years working 40 hours a week in an office, and as much as I loved the City Paper, there was always a part of me that was jealous of our freelancers and their, well, freedom.

So I'm giving it a try. I have a lot of projects I'll be working on, like Copy Cat, Whiskey Kittens on Etsy, helping Savage, and writing for publications in Charleston and Boston. Todd will work from home too, so we might be sharing an office (though the house we're hoping for has room for two offices). I'm determined to make it a workspace that will be welcoming and comfortable, that will get our creative juices flowing. Here are some spaces that are inspiring me.

the hooks. the chair. the parsons desk.

some space to stretch out.

plenty of storage. and more hooks!

little big world.

Have you all seen the Little Big World videos? They're mini tours of various cities from a very mini perspective. You can check out everywhere from Brooklyn to Thailand to Poland, or even my soon-to-be hometown, Boston. See them all here.

coupe d'etat.

I've been on the hunt for a set of champagne coupes for awhile now. Supposedly modeled after Marie Antoinette's breasts, these glasses add a glamorous old-school vibe to cocktails and, of course, champagne. My perfect set would be vintage and gold-rimmed, but I also love the glasses with etching. Then again, I love the idea of just having a random selection of different coupes, too.

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Has anyone ever poured a champagne tower? I'm dying to try.

sunnyside.

Anyone care to guess how much these sunglasses cost? Go ahead, guess.

They're $5.80 apiece at Forever 21. I just stocked up for pretty much the rest of my life.

I've never understood the idea of spending a ton of money on sunglasses. Regardless of their cost, they get lost, they break, or you just get plain sick of them. So why not just buy the trendy cheapies and enjoy them 'til you're ready for something new? Check out F21's selection here.

the charleston bucket list.

My Charleston clock has started to tick, and that means it's time to start attacking my bucket list. It'll be tough, what with all the work I have to do over the next few weeks, and all the money I'm not going to have, but it needs to happen. If anyone wants to help me accomplish these goals, just holler.

* A lazy dinner on the patio at Rue de Jean with a shared bottle of bubbly.
* Long, slow strolls through Magnolia Cemetery.
* Margarita pitchers and guacamole with girlfriends at Santi's. And/or Taco Boy.
* A spa treatment at Charleston Place — so I can use the rooftop pool, too?
* Pimento cheese-and-bacon hotdogs, Firefly moonshine cocktails, and boiled peanuts at the RiverDogs game.
* Sunny, salty days on Sullivan's Island.
* Sunset harbor cruise on a catamaran.
* Picnic, concert, and fireworks at Middleton Place plantation.
* Walk the Ravenel Bridge.
* Cocktails and frisee salad at the bar at FIG.
* Swinging by Goat Sheep Cow to pick up supplies for a sunset picnic on the Battery.
* Dinner out on Johns Island at the Wild Olive. And under the twinkling lights at Pane e Vino. And at the Ordinary.

Funny how it all revolves around food, right? It's the Charleston way.

boston bound.

Well, I've officially told everyone who needs to know, so I guess I can now tell my blog that Todd and I are moving to Boston this summer. A lot of people I've told have had the same reaction: A look of shock and confusion, an occasional wrinkled nose, followed by "Why?"

The number one reason is simple: Because we want to. It's what led us to Charleston, and what will no doubt lead us to whatever city comes after Boston, yet it's an answer that most people seem unwilling to accept. Why is living exactly where you want to live such a foreign concept?

I love the size of Boston, that it's big yet approachable, with unique neighborhoods all throughout the city. I love that it's historic, with centuries-old buildings reflected against shining skyscrapers. I love that its population is diverse, and intelligent, and friendly, in their own way. And I love that in just a few hours I can get to Portland, Newport, Cape Cod, or New Hampshire's White Mountains. I can even drive to Montreal in the time it would take me to drive to Atlanta. Yes, I'm dreading the winter a bit, but I can't tell you how excited I am to have distinct seasons. I've missed those. 

So to everyone asking "Why?," I'll just say "Why not?"

making moves.

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I'm going to be annoyingly cryptic here and say that I've got some big changes coming in the next few weeks. Changes big enough to terrify me a little bit, but to completely exhilarate me at the same time. I've been looking forward to the next step for a long time now, and I'm so excited to finally take it.

friday favorites.

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What are your plans for the weekend? I'm headed up to Virginia to see my siblings' new houses and to celebrate my sister's and my sweet neph's birthdays. I have yet to get them gifts, so I guess that means we'll have to do some shopping — she's already scouted out some great antique stores.

Some interesting things I've run across this week: 

The cicadas are coming. And I'm pretty terrified.

Have you heard of "elimination communication?" Basically, it means letting your babies go diaperless. I think it's crazy. You?

I really want to go to the Kentucky Derby someday, but for now I'll just drink mint juleps.

I'm loving jar salads for lunch. It almost makes up for dinners like these.

I bought this necklace for $3.80 at Forever 21, and I love it so much I went online to buy another. I ended up buying four or five dresses, four pairs of sunglasses, three rings, and a few other things for less than $200. I love that place.

Have you seen my new venture, Copy Cat Editorial Services? Please help me spread the word!

newport.

I fell in love with Newport, Rhode Island several years ago when my brother- and sister-in-law got married there. We've visited several times since, and it's become one of those places where I just can't wait to return. Newport to me means gazing up at the mansions that tower over Cliff Walk, peeking in the shops along Thames Street, and sipping cider and slurping chowder on the wharf. I'm hoping to head back that way this year for the Newport Folk Fest. Have you been? You should go.