How was your week, friends? We are having a lovely time in Santa Barbara and are headed to Montecito for the day. I’m hoping for a celebrity sighting, a little shopping, and more sunshine before we head home to Dallas.
In today’s Friday Four, I’m sharing four things that brought me joy this week and might do the same for you.
ONE: I love birthday trips. I didn’t grow up traveling much, so I don’t take a single second for granted. If you missed Wednesday’s post, go back to read about my favorite travel essentials.
Last year, we went to Charleston. It is one of my favorite places to spend a long weekend. The architecture, weather, food, and culture can’t be beat.
Here are my recs if you’re heading that way:
- Stay: Hotel Emeline or The Vendue
- Do: Walks of Charleston Walking Tour (such a great way to see the city and learn about its history); Old Slave Mart Museum (learn about Charleston’s role in the inter-state slave trade); Shopping on King Street (lots of great boutiques mixed in with touristy ones; don’t miss The Preservation Society of Charleston Shop for locally made goods).
- Eat: Amen Street (casual, good for lunch, great local oysters); Leon’s (known for fried chicken, but we love the oysters, Brussels sprouts, fish sandwich, and black eyed peas); 167 Raw (go as soon as they open to put your name on the list and then walk around King Street while you wait; amazing drinks, oysters, crab dip, po boys, pastramied swordfish sandwich); SNOB (classic Charleston, best for dinner, amazing steamed clams, shrimp and grits, bbq tuna); Magnolia’s (another spot for dinner, amazing fresh fish, fried green tomatoes, best pecan pie ever); Carmella’s (a genius dessert bar open until midnight with delicious drinks, cookies, and shareable cakes; don’t miss the chocolate peanut butter cake or espresso martini)
TWO: Sticking on the topic of birthdays, tomorrow is #45 for me. I honestly can’t believe I’ve hit middle age, but I am so grateful for my life and the people who make it special. In honor of my birthday, I thought it would be fun to share 10 things you may not know about me:
- My family had a pet roadrunner when I was a teenager.
- My favorite drink is a gin martini, extra dirty with blue cheese olives.
- I decided to become a lawyer at age 17 because I loved John Grisham books and was good at reading and writing. Maybe not the best way to pick a career.
- Cricket magazine published one of my short stories when I was in the 3rd grade.
- I love mafia movies. Goodfellows and Casino rank at the top of my list.
- I once took ski lessons in Snowmass, Colorado from Katie Couric’s father-in-law Herb Molner on his 80th birthday.
- The first time I met my husband, I was 20 and had just finished a Billy Blanks Tae Bo workout. He was 22 and carrying a full keg of beer by himself. We’ve come a long way in 25 years.
- I want to learn how to tap dance and play the violin. Not at the same time.
- I’ve never colored my hair.
- Maui is my favorite place in the world. Florence ranks second.
THREE: Getting a taste of beautiful weather in California has given me an itch for spring. I’m dreaming of pops of color and beautiful dresses. Here are some things on my wish list.
Sezane blouses. They are so lovely and well-made.
Mirth dresses. I’ve been a big fan for years because they are easy to wear. They are so comfortable and can be dressed up or down. I own this first dress in a beautiful blue print, and I’m seriously considering adding this solid one to my closet.
Farm Rio dresses. Also a long-time fan because I cannot resist their beautiful prints. We are heading to the beach for Spring Break, and I’m definitely packing FR dresses.
You can shop all of these and more in my LTK Shop.
FOUR: Puzzles. Goodness, I love doing puzzles. I usually keep a puzzle in progress thanks to this lazy susan puzzle table.
I used to do puzzles on my dining room table, but felt isolated when the rest of my family was in the living room. Now, I do puzzles on this puzzle table and can move it into the living without missing a beat. If you are a “puzzler” or know one, this is is a must-have.
Now tell me—what brought you joy this week?
