boat times.

Last weekend we went out on a friend's sailboat for the Parade of Boats. The parade includes dozens of boats, from yachts to kayaks, all decked out in lights and decorations. On the shore, people line up on both sides of the harbor to watch the event. We drank champagne, roasted hotdogs, and wondered why we don't do this every weekend.

to me.

via.

Today I turn 27 years old. This sounds a little old to me (late twenties!), but I refuse to be one of those people who freak out about aging. 

Twenty-six was a good year. We spent time in Boston, Newport, Memphis, and Atlanta visiting friends and family. We bought a house and made it our own (though it's still a work-in-progress). I got some of my first freelance writing gigs. I re-started my Etsy shop (and promptly forgot about it). I enjoyed countless happy hours, dinners, and events, from underground art shows to black tie balls. It's been fun.

My number one wish for 27? Some serious travel adventures. And maybe a new car.

charleston christmas magic.

Charleston is simply magical around the holidays, with twinkling lights everywhere, beaucoup festive events (we're going out on a friend's sailboat for the Parade of Boats tonight!), and Christmas trees everywhere you turn (plus the occasional palm tree decked out in lights). We may not have snow, but this is a great place to be in December.

We've already trimmed our tree, and the stockings are hung by the chimney with care, but I want to make my house even more festive. Here's some inspiration I've been pinning to my Christmas board.

wish list.

With my birthday and Christmas on the horizon, I've been selfishly obsessed with adding to my Wish List on Pinterest. Being in a strictly enforced no shopping drought doesn't help matters. Some of my biggest current wants:

pretty graphic pillows and blankets, especially chevron and ikat.

 cookbooks! oh so many cookbooks.

a record player.

a sparkly dress for holiday parties.

I don't know why, but I'm really feeling the dead papier mache animals.

and if I was really good, I'd ask for a sweet new ride with colored rims.

What's on your wish list?

thanksgiving.

I'll probably kick myself for saying this years down the road, but I can't wait to host my own Thanksgiving dinner. I love the six-hour trek home to Virginia — either to Todd's house or mine — but I look forward to having everyone come to me. I like to think I'll go all out, Martha Stewart-style, with fancy place settings and floral arrangements. Or maybe I'll just carry on the family tradition of keeping it simple with endless turkey, taters, green bean casserole, giblet gravy, and pies. Who's hungry? 

 

via. 

barn wedding.

Today I pitched a few stories to a Virginia wedding magazine, and they accepted all of them! I have three to work on in the next few months, and I think I'll start with one about barn weddings. I just love the contrast of a glamorous, sparkling reception inside a weathered, rustic barn in the middle of nowhere. If I ever have reason to host a big ol' party again, I'm gonna do it in a barn.

Images via Pinterest.

What do you say? Would you get married in a barn or would you rather leave them to the horses?

alleys and entryways.

Yesterday I had an interview with an artist downtown, and I was actually happy when he was late — it gave me a chance to take a little stroll around the French Quarter. Fall in Charleston is fickle — some days are 80 degrees, some days are freezing. But yesterday was just right with light breezes and crunchy, colorful leaves on the sidewalk.