Charleston Wedding Weekend 2013: 1 of 2

Well, hello, Monday.  My you have come so soon.  I'm back to the grind after a fabulous wedding weekend in Charleston.  The weather cooperated, the wedding venue and decor was gorgeous, and the food delicious.  Getting to spend the weekend with some of our closest friends took the cake though.  I didn't want to be the crazy camera lady so only have a few pictures to share from the wedding.  I'll try to do a better job at next weekend's nuptials.  Location?  Charleston.  We're goin' back, baby!  Only five days (last week of school at that) stand between me and the coast.  Hope y'all settle nicely back into the work week!

Daniel Island Club

 

Hydrangeas are my favorite.

Loved this idea!  Personalized drink stirrers.

My other half

 

Signing the matting on the framed map - another fabulous, unique idea!

Charleston Bound

That's right folks.  After almost eleven months of Lowcountry withdrawl, the hubs and I are headed back to the place that will always have a place in our hearts.  It's where Tyler was born and raised, where he proposed at sunset on that warm July evening, and where we said our vows to begin our life together.  This weekend we're celebrating the nuptials of friends out on Daniel Island.  I can't wait to share the pictures with you on Monday. Happy Weekend, y'all!

Charleston has a landscape that encourages intimacy and partisanship.  I have heard it said that an inoculation to the sights and smells of the Carolina lowcountry is an almost irreversible antidote to the charms of other landscapes, other alien geographies.  You can be moved profoundly by other vistas, by other oceans, by soaring mountain ranges, but you can never be seduced.  You can even forsake the lowcountry, renounce it for other climates, but you can never completely escape the sensuous, semitropical pull of Charleston and her marshes.  Pat Conroy, The Lords of Discipline

This Bread is Bananas

B-A-N-A-N-A-S.  Picture me jamming to this modified version as I dance around in my kitchen.  It happened all right.  It all began with two majorly ripe bananas...and remembering it was Custodial Appreciation Week.

Instead of picking up a pre-made treat at Publix, I thought I'd put my very amateur baking skills to use. I found a simple peanut butter banana bread recipe via Pinterest and adapted it to ingredients that were already in Sylvan's kitchen.  It was my first go at this, and it turned out quite tasty if I may say so myself.  I definitely recommend it to those looking for a quick-n-easy breakfast bread.

Simple Peanut Butter Banana Bread (adapted from allrecipes.com)

Ingredients

• 3/4 C peanut butter 
• 1/3 C melted butter 
• 2/3 C white sugar 
• 2 very ripe bananas 
• 2 eggs 
• 1 3/4 C all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 C buttermilk
• Chocolate chips*

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.  Grease a 4x8-in. loaf pan.  
2. Beat peanut butter and melted butter in a bowl.  Gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy.  Beat one egg into peanut butter mixture until completely blended before beating in the second egg.  Beat in ripe bananas.
3. Combine flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in a bowl.  Stir flour mixture into banana mixture alternately with buttermilk, mixing until batter is just blended.  
4. Stir in chocolate chips.* 
5. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.
6. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, approximately one hour.

*The recipe didn't call for chocolate chips, nor did I put any in my batter mixture.  However, I plan on adding them next time to bring the taste factor up a notch.  A little chocolate never hurt anyone.

Going For That Green Thumb

While my motivated hubby spent Saturday morning hustling through a sprint triathlon, I spent it parked on the couch, watching the Today show, and researching container gardening.  While I was perusing Marshall's last Thursday, I found two identical planter containers for $5.99 a pop that I just couldn't pass up.  They were orange, had a fabulous design, and were begging to call Sylvan's deck home.  Hence, began the research train.  Southern Living had an awesome slideshow which got my wheels turning.  I, unfortunately, haven't had much luck with plants in the past, so I knew I would need to get something hardy that wouldn't need too much TLC...    

...which led me to these sweet little "petunies", as my mama calls 'em.  I initially was on the hunt for solid white petunias but settled on these cheery, yellow ones.  I felt the yellow/orange combo screamed summer.  For now they're sittin' pretty on the deck table.  They definitely put a warm smile on my face when I glance out back.
Let's keep those fingers crossed they last!

I also had to share the knockout rose bush I planted in our backyard last summer.  Just when I thought she was dead, she came back to life full force.  Oh, what a little patience and MiracleGro will do!

I'm trying my best to get that green thumb, folks.  I absolutely love flowers and hope I can manage maintaining these...gotta get my confidence up so I can carry on!

So, what are your tips for successful gardening?

Memorable Mother's Day

Look at those two gorgeous ladies sandwiching me...ow ow.  And they're just as beautiful on the inside as they are on the outside.  Tyler and I are truly blessed to have the most spunky, caring mothers, always putting others before themselves, and molding our brothers and us to be the people we are today.  I can only hope to one day be half as amazing as super-moms Diane and Nancy.  Boy have they set that bar high!

This year Tyler and I divided and conquered so we could each spend Mother's Day Weekend with the two most important women in our lives.  Tyler headed to Clemson for some triatholoning (so proud of him!), grilling, and brunching with his parents.  Below are his sweet mama and him enjoying their meal at Blue Heron.

My parents and I headed up to Barnsley Gardens on Saturday night.  We had a delicious meal with the added bonus of watching Bobby Cox's daughter get married on the beautiful grounds.  The night also couldn't be complete without a brief photo shoot.  What can I say?  I get camera happy.  I'm sure T was uber happy to get out of this one.

Sunday morning I treated mom to one of her favorites, crepes, that I've been making since middle school.  Below is the simple recipe that will fix that morning sweet tooth.

Crepes Recipe 

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 C milk
• 1 egg
• 1 egg yolk 
• 1 T butter, melted 
• 1/4 t salt 
• 2 T sugar 
• 1 C flour 
• 1 T Vegetable Oil 
• Confectioners Sugar 
• Toppings (Nutella, whipped cream, chocolate chips, strawberries, blueberries, etc.)

Directions

1. Place milk, egg, egg yolk, butter, salt, sugar, and flour in a blender.  Blend one minute until the batter is smooth.
2. Heat oil in small pan.
3. Pour in a spoonful of batter.  Cook one minute (or longer if needed) until crepe is lightly browned.  
4. Turn and brown the other side.  
5. Discard the first crepe as it will be oily.  
6. Fill and top off the crepes with confectioners sugar and your favorite toppings.  Eat up!

I hope everyone enjoyed their Mother's Day Weekend as much as we did.  It's important to not only honor your mother on this day but remind them of what they mean to you each and every day.  We love you, Mom & Nancy!

Mother's Day's A-Comin'

It's about that time to honor and celebrate the most wonderful woman in your life.  Looking for a gift besides the go-to flower bouquet or spa treatment?  Below are a few of my favorites that won't break the bank, and your sweet mama is sure to love.  

1: Curvy Chrysanthemum Vase via Anthropologie

2: Meyer Lemon Hand Soap & Lotion via Williams-Sonoma

3: Capri Blue Volcano Candle via Amazon or Anthropologie

4: Coral Bangle Set via Banana Republic   

5: Spa Essential Monogrammed Classic Waffle Weave Knee Length Kimono Robe via The Monogram Room 

6: 'Spring Lotus' Infinity Scarf via Nordstrom

7: NARS Orgasm(Blush)/Laguna(Bronzer) Duo via Sephora

8: Silver-Plated Engravable Frames via Pottery Barn

Happy (early) Mother's Day to all you special ladies out there!  

Welly Wants

April showers bring May flowers--er more showers.  What's up with that?  The relentless rain has got me wanting some cute wellies.  If I can get my hands on a pair of these, bring on the rain!

1: Huntress Gloss Wider Calf Rain Boots
2: Joules Evedon Women's Premium Rain Boots in Navy
3: Chooka 'Top Solid' Rain Boot
4: Burberry Check Panel Rainboots
5: Hunter Original Tall Gloss Rain Boots in Pillar Box Red
6: Valentino Lace Print Rain Boot