Some snaps from our Charleston mini vacay! The beautiful view from the new Cooper Hotel.
Used this canvas tote (my code is SYDNEY15) as my carry-on as I checked a bag and didn't bring my laptop (which almost *never* happens).
The bar at The Cooper hotel is stunning. Worth popping in even if just for a drink, which is what we did!
We ate our weight in oysters! We don't get great seafood here in Pittsburgh, so we always fill up when on the coast!
The most beautiful pool bar at our hotel, The Charleston Place. We loved staying there and will definitely stay there again.
The whole city was so festive for the 4th. Isn't this floral arrangement incredible? This was in the lobby of The Charleston Place.
I snagged these neutral shoes. They're simple, but I loved the small block heel. I've already worn them several times!
Hope you are all having a wonderful week! Apologies for the lack of posts this week. I was planning on taking off Monday to allow myself a mini vacation, as I rarely do; however, it ended up rolling into Tuesday as we sat on our second flight to get home from Charleston for a very long time- so long they started passing out snacks before we even took off! I have had quite a few travel hiccups before, but never one in which we just sat on the plane at the airport, though I know it happens quite a bit. I guess it was just my turn to experience. We got home very late, and I left my computer at home (almost *never* happens), so I decided to get some rest instead of staying up even later to catch up on it. I feel fortunate to have been able to make that decision!
We had the best time in Charleston! It was a fun little getaway, and I was shocked to realize it was actually hotter in Pittsburgh than it was in Charleston. Though I could tell it was getting a lot warmer on the day we left! We try to go to Charleston once a year, but haven't been since celebrating my parents' 40th anniversary back in 2024. We definitely realized how much we missed it! It's such a charming city with so much to do, see, eat, drink, and more.
I got back, unpacked, caught up on work, laundry, groceries, and all of the little tasks one does after returning home! I find it cathartic to kind of 'put my life back together' after a trip. We were only gone 4 days, but even that was long enough to remind me of my love for our home and routine. It also felt so good to work out. Because it was so hot in Charleston, we were only doing about 7-10k steps a day, when we often do 15k or even 20k!
This weekend we have a symphony date night, which I am looking forward to. We booked many symphony shows in the latter half of this year. They have a lot of good programming! It is truly one of my favorite things to do. I also love how affordable the tickets can be compared to so many other things in Pittsburgh. Other than that, I hope our weekend is low-key and relaxing!
My travel outfit. Lots of linen to beat the heat!
What I wore on the 4th! MM gifted me this dress, and it turned out to be the *perfect* thing to wear. It was so lightweight! It's hard to tell, but the eyelet lace is stars!
Dress (my code is SYDNEY50)
Shell Bracelet (I got the 6.15")
Wearing: Peak summertime wardrobe: linen, lightweight basics, flowy dresses, and lounge/athletic clothes! I added a lot of my outfits from our trip on ShopMy!
You can find me on ShopMy, where I link all of my outfits, favorite finds, home decor, beauty, and more! I am constantly updating it with the latest! You can also follow me on the LTK app. Plus, you are able to access all of my posts, here, on my website!
Chubby Fish
167 Raw
Eating: We ate all our favorites while visiting Charleston, plus a few new spots we hadn't tried yet! Chubby Fish was even better than I remembered, and of course, the lobster roll at 167 Raw is always a highlight of our trip. We ate there for lunch twice! I'll do a little Charleston travel guide for you all! I have a slight shellfish allergy, and I always end the trip with swollen lips/eyes and a few hives. It's par for the course, and thankfully, nothing a Benedryl can't clear up, but now I am on a strict no-shellfish diet for the next week or two to get it out of my system!
Drinking: This Harney organic peppermint tea has me hooked! I love the organic green citron and drink it every afternoon, but this peppermint tea is caffeine-free, and it's the best to drink in the evenings! I get all cozy in my pajamas and turn on a show with a cup of tea, and to me, that's just bliss! I've really been trying to be very intentional about slowing down/taking the time to really unwind and relax before bed, even if only for a few minutes!
Sale: Varley is having a rare sale! The pieces sell out pretty quickly, so act fast if you spy something you love. I generally find their pieces true to size, and sometimes I will size up to a medium in the bottoms!
Watching: I watched a few of the 'Worst Neighbor Ever' episodes on Netflix, honestly, out of boredom as we sat on the plane. The storylines were crazy, but the production overall wasn't great. I'd honestly skip it! As of right now, I have absolutely no shows! I finished the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and loved it. I liked the previous seasons better, but this was very good! My husband and I were just talking about how we haven't watched a show that had both of us hooked in a long while!
Listening: Like many pups, poor Henry is terrified of fireworks/thunderstorms/anything loud. We put on this calming jazz playlist for him, and it really does seem to help and drown out any outside sounds! We often put it on if we are leaving for a few hours, as he seems to really enjoy it and relax to it! And honestly, it's nice to listen to as background music even when we are home.
Loving: Have you all ever heard of this sock brand? I was gifted these, and they are not only SO cute, but they are incredibly soft and cushioned. They are much nicer than any socks I own (and I love all of my socks!). They come in all different styles, colors, and prints. They even have grip socks, which I wear to Pilates, but I also find myself wearing them around the house in the winter months!
Wanting: Lots of fashion happening this week! New arrivals at J.Crew (they almost always happen on Tuesdays, in case you didn't know)! This dress is my favorite from the bunch, but I also really like this shirtdress, this embroidered top, and this cuff bracelet. This bandana bucket bag is adorable and inexpensive, and looks like Kutjen/Call It By Your Name! I like the navy, too! This hand/foot cream sounds amazing. This dress looks like something Shopbop would sell for 5x the price! Adorable! This travel leather train case is gorgeous and under $100! Cute and comfy flip flops in the perfect shade of red. The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is coming soon, and you can preview it all here! Rolling access starts on the 14th, and public access begins on the 18th. I'll have my usual one post about the sale next week. The embroidery on this short-sleeve cardigan is too cute! I'm considering replacing the rug in our family room with this one! A cute and classic striped dress and an easy breezy chic dress (my code is SUMMERWIND). I'm seeing beaded tassel necklaces everywhere, and this one is a good option under $50. This little puffer fish charm is darling! I tend to wear more navy than black in the summertime; however, I'm willing to make an exception for this chic little number! My favorite lightweight pullover is now available as a full-zip jacket (my code is SUMMERWIND20). Love the look of this mockneck pullover. Just ordered two of these lightweight oversized tees for workouts and walks. I've been wanting to cover my shoulders and chest from the sun lately! Love the look of these striped lounge pants. Lots of new arrivals from a favorite, J.McLaughlin. This top is gorgeous, this striped navy wrap is begging for a trip to Nantucket, and the ikat print on this shirtdress is perfect. A darling nightgown that I would also wear as a swim cover-up.
Pittsburgh: Picklesburgh is next weekend! We went last year and had a lot of fun! For those not familiar, it's a festival centered around, you guessed it, pickles. There are tons of local vendors, live entertainment, and more.
Amazon Rec: I've loved the steamer I've had for many years, but over the last few months, it's started sputtering and has some limescale buildup. I've tried to clean it, but nothing seems to fix it. So we were due for a new steamer. This one was in our hotel room in Charleston, and it was SO good. I went to order it, and of course, it had to be the most expensive handheld steamer I've ever come across- isn't that how it always works? Even my husband encouraged me to order this one, though. It was so powerful and not bulky or all that heavy. You can lay your garments completely flat and use it like an iron without water leaking out. The only thing I don't love about it is that it has a much smaller water reservoir than my old steamer, so it has to be filled up more often. It's not a deal breaker for me, and one of the reasons it's considerably smaller than my last steamer, but worth noting.
You can find more of my Amazon favorites, here on my Amazon page where I am constantly updating it with all of my finds and top picks from home, beauty, fashion, and more!
Traveling: We are off to the lake in a few weeks. I am always so excited. There is nothing better than being with family and friends. We are also going to celebrate our 5-year wedding anniversary in Highlands, which I am really looking forward to!
Quoting: 'Do something. If it works, do more of it. If it doesn't, do something else.'- Franklin D. Roosevelt// See more of my favorites, here.
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