Honored.

I went back and forth about writing about this on my blog, but ultimately decided I wanted to share because darn it, I am proud of myself.  I shared awhile back that Charleston Magazine asked me to contribute to their local online blog,  CharlestonGrit.  I have been doing this for several months now and love it!  If you are a local you should definitely be reading it, it is filled with so many diverse topics and stories that highlight not only the low country but anything and everything!  Last Thursday night, they had  a happy hour party to thank us bloggers and to give out a few awards.

The party was held at Rebekah Jacobs Gallery on Upper King Street.  The location was perfect.  Rebekah houses some really amazing art in her gallery.
  

There was an entire wall filled with photographs that were knock your socks off good.  This is Matt browsing, but boo he didn't let me buy anything.

Matt and I hung out and chatted with the owner Rebekah for a long time, such a great gal with insane taste in artwork!

They provided us with amazing food catered by Newton Farms and delicious beer and wine.  I was a happy camper.

Now, onto the exciting part,  I won the award for most viewed blogger!  I was honestly shocked!  I mean of course I write about what inspires me, but I wasn't sure who all would want to read what I write!  This is me and Rory Johnson and Ellen McGauley, my two favorite gals at Charleston Magazine after I won my award.

This is all of us winners:

{John F Abess, Desmond Kinlaw, Me, Chassity, and Andrew Peterson ]

I debated so long about to wear that night having no clue I would win an award!  I just wanted to look cute.   I ultimately choose my DVF Maxi dress and I think it was a good choice.  I bought this maxi dress almost 5 years ago right before Matt and I got married.  I wore it the day after our wedding for our plane flight to St. Thomas for our honeymoon, so it holds a special place in my heart.

I am honored each and every day that you guys take the time to read my blog.  This blog brings so much happiness and inspiration to my life.  I truly love writing it and your comments always make my day.  So big thank you to all my wonderful readers who want to read all the random crap that I write because most of the time my mind is all over the place.  I am a lucky girl to have found a creative outlet I love.   And extra big thank you to Charleston Magazine for asking me to be a blogger for their new blog! I am happy to be part of such a great team. 

You can check out my posts on Charleston Grit HERE!  

______________________________________

Yesterday I forgot to mention i was guest posting on Dominique's awesome blog, COMFY COZY COUTURE!  Her blog is one of my new finds and I love it!  She has great style and taste!  I am sharing my favorite Summer recipe for Shrimp Nachos!  Check it out HERE and show Dominique some love!
Happy weekend! xoxo

photos via Charleston Grit

A-Thread Giveaway!

Ladies, I have a really killer giveaway today!  You get to win not one, but two items from the fabulous online boutique,  A-Thread.    First up is this gorgeous silk stripped Blouse.
{Bold Stripe Silk Blouse}

I have the blouse and just adore it.  It is perfect to wear right now with shorts and it is going to look great in the fall with skinny jeans.  Camel + Royal Blue is a color combo made in heaven!

The second item you get to win is this Turquoise Drop Necklace.  Such a great statement necklace, even prettier in person.  Plus, Turquoise goes with everything!

You might remember me blogging about this Green Necklace a few weeks ago.   Well it is also from A-Thread and one of my favorite necklaces to date.   I wear it all the time.  A-Thread makes some gorgeous necklaces.  

The A-Thread site is filled with so many great things.  Added bonus is A-Thread donates 5% of your purchase to a charity of your choosing.   Right now the 4 charities they are working with are: LA Animal Services, Thirst Relief, Kiva, and Children of the Night.   Their motto is to "Shop and Effect", which means you can look good while doing good!   Just to keep things in perspective a $5 donation to Thirst Relief will give someone clean water for 25 years.  So every little purchase helps!  

 All of their items are super affordable and cute!  A few of my other favorite items I am hoping to snag are:

{Turquoise and Gold Beaded Necklace}

{Cobalt Scalloped Shorts}

{Heavy Metal Necklace}

{Silk Color Block Dress}

{KeyHole Dress}

{Chambray Military Jacket}

Great giveaway right??  Two awesome items, over a $100 value! In order to enter (each counts as a separate entry):

1) You must be a follower of Designer Bags and Dirty Diapers

2) Visit the A-Thread website and tell me your favorite item

3) Like the A-Thread FB page

You have until Sunday at Midnight to enter and I will announce the winner Monday!  Good Luck!

xoxo

Obsessions

ALICE + OLIVIA AMANDA PEPLUM DRESS

This dress is top on my list of Fall wants.  It is the perfect little black dress.  I could see myself wearing this to church and date night.  Super versatile!

GAP NAUTICAL SHIFT

My favorite Gap tee dress is back in a longer sleeve version for Early fall.  I want all three colors.   If you want one you better order now because the short sleeve version went fast!

TRADER JOES POWERBERRIES

These little nuggets are so delicious!   It is a blend of blueberries, acai, cranberries and pomegranate dipped in dark chocolate.  The perfect sweet bite to end a meal.

CHASING VENUS SAUVIGNON BLANC

Great wine, only $15 a bottle.  Highly recommend- their Chardonnay is also delish.

 JCREW ARCHIPELAGO NECKLACE

I really don't need another necklace but I can assure you, this necklace is most likely going to make its way into my fall wardrobe.   

Mediterranean White Bean Salad

I'm switching things up and doing a recipe today because I'm visiting my parents and of course their Internet is not working and of course no one knows how to fix it.  So you get a recipe today and obsessions tomorrow:)  I leave for my family beach vacay in less than two weeks,  so this Mama is on a strict salad diet trying to drop a few lbs before I have to rock a bikini in public.   I eat salads because one thing I'm not giving up is my vino.  Small sacrifices, right?  This Salad is light, fresh, and delicious!  It has so many great flavors.  It would be the perfect side dish to serve with some grilled fish or chicken.  I ate it for lunch several days in a row.  It saves really well and is oh so tasty.  Bon appetit!

MEDITERREAN BEAN SALAD

{Adapted from Proud Italian Cook}

-Cherry Tomatoes halved

-Sliced Fennel

-Red pepper sliced

-Kalamata Olives

-Red Onion

-Crumbled Feta Cheese

-Drained Canned Cannellini Beans

- Parsley

- Basil

 Toss all together and then mix with lemon juice and olive oil, also delicious at room temperature.

Scenes From Our Weekend

Here is what went down. My weekend got off to great a start when I received this book in the mail from my sweet friend Giordana.   This book is a real gem filled with great fashions.

Saturday we started off celebrating the hubs birthday with some tasty peach cocktails.

Then we went on a boat ride and ran into this crazy storm.  I mean look at those clouds.   Luckily we were close to the Yacht Club where we waited the storm out with some tasty beverages.

Several of you asked for pics of me wearing my new necklace, so here it is!  Fringe Boutique is currently sold out but you can order one here.

Sunday Morning my little man and I hit up an Estate Sale down the street and scored these awesome goodies.  Vintage Martini Shaker (you know I love a good martini), great coffee table book, and blown glass whale for Sterling's room.  All for under $20.  Gotta love an estate sale!

Figured out the key to a successful car ride:  Fruit Loops.  This kept Sterling entertained for awhile and honestly I forgot how good that cereal is!

Cooked up a tasty veggie bowl.

Sterling had a playdate with his best bud Henry.  Thanks to Yo Gabba Gabba he always wants to make a funny face.  I mean he did this for every picture.  Sigh.

Happy Monday Dolls. 

xoxo

Thoughts For Friday

First and foremost happy birthday to my sweet hubby today!  I love you and hope you have a spectacular day , which I know you will because Sterling and I will be helping you celebrate! 

On Wednesday this week,  I checked our mail and the most wonderful surprise was waiting for me.  The girls at Fringe Boutique mailed me this necklace because they knew I had been wanting it!  How sweet, right?  I freaking love it!  She will be worn this weekend for sure!

My MayBooks also came in the mail and I can't say enough great things about them.  I ordered the Ikat one as a monthly planner and the hot pink/red one I ordered with lined paper to use for my to-do list.  I am a freak and make a to-do list every. single. day.  Helps me stay productive or at least feel like I am being productive.

Can we talk about how dumb Krsiten Stewart is?  I mean who the hell cheats on Rob Pattinson?   I never got them in the first place.  I am just not a huge fan of hers.  I feel like she never smiles and her hair always looks dirty and unkept.  Rob was way to hot to be dating her.  I do at least appreciate her owning up to the fling.  Most celebrities try to deny it but at least she was honest.  Carry on Rob, you will have no shortage of women fawning over you.

I am not sure how I feel about this Justin Beiber Magazine Cover.  The title "Hot Ready Legal"  just seems really suggestive and kind of commical.  I guess he must have just turned 18.  I mean he still looks like a baby to me.

I tried on this Joie Blouse recently and now I am obsessed with it.  I want it in every color.  It is the perfect blouse for fall.  It fits great and looks so good with skinny jeans. It comes in a bunch of colors but these three are my favorites.

{Joie Marlo Blouse}

In order to beat the heat we have done alot of pool dates.  This picture just makes me laugh.  My man loves him some goggles.

Happy Friday.  Stay Cool Ladies.