To Do Today: Be A Better Citizen

Woke up today and jumped right into the whirl wind adventure (of sometimes epic and not-so epic proportions ) that is my life and it seems like there is absolutely no way that I can get it all done. Halloween tomorrow, then thanksgiving, and then Christmas in Pennsylvania, New Years etc. There's bills to pay, shopping to do, my career to figure out and a least a half a million others things, and it's all happening at once!

But then I fired up the Packard and saw that there are a million other people with bigger issues. Our neighbors up the east coast who are dealing with Hurricane Sandy,  the families of the victims of the attack on the U.S. Embassy over seas, our troops and their families, and our nation which is just days away from one of the most important elections of our history.




That coupled with the homeless woman sitting beside the street this morning with "pregnant" written on cardboard, and  the little girl crying in Wal-Mart as her mama screamed at her that they couldn't afford the bubbles, I came to one conclusion: I don't have any problems. Well, not big ones anyway. I have never been without food or shelter, I have never been without clothes or shoes, I have a car that runs and enough gas to get me where I need to go etc.

Pooches and Good Spirits, Review: Poogan's Porch, Charleston SC

On Monday, I joined Mama and my Aunt on their Charleston jaunt and it was a very productive trip. Not only did we find the few things they were looking for, we discovered a new favorite place to eat. You have to understand, after a family spends 300 years in the south they learn how to love a few things, bull-headed independence, air conditioning, and eating.


But especially eating. We love everything about it, the flavors, the textures, the smells, the satisfaction. It's not just about killing the hunger, it's an experience that  deserves to be treasured and done right. And as soon as Poogan's Porch came into view (and smelling distance) we new we had stumbled something with potential. And as we ascended the steps and caught sight of a couple of plates coming through the door and the aroma that was wafting through the air I had a feelin' the people at Poogan's had be doing things right for a while.

We went on though the front door and down the front hall to the receptionist who greeted us with a smile and sat us near the back of the house. Our table was beside the wall, giving us a good view of the room and everything in it. Pure Charleston reverberated through every detail from the antique cabinet that held napkins and the waiters station to the mural on the wall and the Charleston roses in mason jars as centerpieces.

Conway City Council Bans High School Flag, Council Member Sends Message

In a move that could only be expected from the Conway City Council, one downtown shopkeeper has been commanded to take down his Conway High school  "Tigers" flag-as it is against the rules.

Apparently, the shopkeeper of Forgotten Times Antiques purchased the flag from the high school  during a campaign that Conway High School was running that sold flags to be flown on game days. The campaign was approved by the City Council and several business purchased the flags.



Well. All's well that end's well right? Yeah, well, sorta. According to Forgotten Times Antique's Facebook, they started leaving their flag up 24/7 as it was one of only a few flags ever flown (even on the approved game days) thinking that it couldn't possibly be that much of a big deal. Wrongo.

An Idiots Guide To Planning A Wedding....

People get married all the time. I know because I hear about it constantly. On Facebook, Pinterest, TV, magazines. And it's all about one thing: The Plan and the Stuff. Not the love story, not the date, it's all about The Plan and the Stuff. And how long it will take to plan, what should be planed first, who should plan and how much stuff etc until you begin to think it's all a conspiracy cooked up by the media and the retail industry.

Well I for one am, sick of the over-rated, over-blown, over-hyped, mum-Bo-jumbo, crap that society has deemed normal when it comes to weddings.  It's not worth it! Women spend whole years running around like chickens with their heads cut off trying to make everything perfect, original, AND fit into the budget. It ridiculous-and unnecessary.



Brides put so much time, energy, and money into these things and half of it isn't even appreciated. Take photos for instance. It has become a trend for brides and grooms to be ready early so that they can have pre-wedding photo shoots. This is overkill in its absolute worst form.  Why on earth would you rush yourself on your big day to get ready a whole hour early just so you can pose with your bridesmaids in the exact way you will do after the ceremony?

 You want this.                                                                                             Not this.


There is an  exceptions to this, if you will be pressed for light or time after the ceremony and you don't mind seeing your honey before the big show than by all means, get those photos out of the way and you can go visit with your guests.

I could go on about that forever, but becasue that's not practical I've complied a list of suggestions, and Do's and Don'ts for weddings  conveniently put into categories...

Guests and Invitations:

1. Do: start with your guest list. Every aspect of planning from seating and catering to  venues and churches hinges on just how many people you want to invite.

2. Do: include yourself and the wedding party in the final head count. Believe it or not you will need to sit down at the reception too.

3. Do: only invite the most important people in your life. A wedding is supposed to be a celebration of the couples life together and why the heck would casual acquaintances care about your personal journey in life? News flash: They don't.

It's A College Life, Review: The Recycled Rooster & Soho University

Last week I needed a dress for a date with my sweetheart and since I am allergic to malls filled with over priced clothes and Taylor Swift clones I was looking for a bargain and a stress-less experience. So my lovely little southern mother and I climbed in the car and headed off to what as become of of my most favorite places to shop.


The Recycled Rooster is a recycled clothing boutique (similar to Plato's closet only better) that buys gently used clothing, shoes, bags, jewelry and other accessories. It's not a new concept but the reason I like the Rooster better than any other such shop is because it is unique.

First off, it is extremely clean and well laid out. It has a Classic-ly/bohemian/shabby/chic style that is easy to accept and move around in. Music is always playing and at a level enjoyable by human ears. When you walk in you are met by the lovely laid out collection of accessories, bags and other interesting pieces.

A Good Man....

I would like to just take a minute and shamelessly tout "Good Men." Now while men have their flaws and I have plenty to say about that, every now and then a real "Good Man" comes along and puts faith back in the male sex.

A good man is recognizable not so much by his appearance, but by his actions. They listen, they remember  they are honest, funny, responsible, and  full of integrity. They put everyone around them at ease and they are good in a bind, from changing a tire to picking up a much needed bag of ice at the store.

They have a passion for life and a good work ethic. They take pride in what they do and enjoy when they make accomplishments. They are kind to those they love and look out for their safety and their happiness. In a word they are devoted. Devoted to giving life everything they've got-in every way.

I have one of these such men and I do not for a minute underestimate the magnitude of this. Sadly, truly "Good Men" are hard to come by and every day my feet hit the floor I thank the Lord above that I have been so richly blessed. I've had the worse and I know what the difference is.

7 Things I Found/Like/Love: Charleston, South Carolina Edition

Last week my mama invited me to go with her and my aunt on their monthly Charleston excursion and knowing that it would probably involve lots of walking, browsing, and a trip to the Goodwill in Mount Pleasant-I went.

And I was right, there was lots of walking, lots of browsing, and we spent two hours in the Goodwill but we also had a wonderful time and along the way stumbled upon serveal things worth passing along....






 



 

 1.  The Waterfront Park. The tree lined walkway is just beautiful.












I don't know about getting in the fountains, I'm a little too germ wary for that, but it is just as nice to look. Every sport needs a spectator-just saying...









My aunt purchased this Charleston flower for $3 dollars from a small shop/booth just down before you come to the fountain-they range from $7-$10 in the market.

2. Magnolia's. We were ravenous before we even started shopping and we decided on Magnolia's on East Bay for lunch. We were not disappointed. I had the crab cake sandwich which, had it been left to fry a little longer would have been absolute perfection, instead of just awesome. I give it a 3 out of 4 and I'd definitely go back.

I didn't get to get a picture of my own. This one is courtesy of Opentable.com.