Close to home... Architectural Digest does Folly Beach

Charleston has so many beautiful beaches, and it's common to see write-ups and pictures of the amazing, multi-million dollar houses on Kiawah Island, Seabrook, or Isle of Palms.

But Architectural Digest recently did an editorial of a house on Folly Beach...definitely the more casual, eccentric, trippy-hippy, 2nd cousin twice-removed in the ol' Charleston beach family.

Houses on Folly tend more towards modest bungalow's, low maintenance rentals,and cottages a bit more shabby than chic.

But mixed in are the occasional gems, and this eclectic ocean front home was fun to peek into.

The colors and patterns were chosen to remind the couple of their trips to India

They owners wanted it to feel like it had been a part of the beach for a long time, so they wanted no Sheetrock or drywall...every room is lined instead with whitewashed wood planks, some vertical and some horizontal for added interest. 

So un-stuffy and bright. 

Completely has a beach house vibe without the theme-y feel or kitsch.

The weekend and such...

I hope everyone had a great weekend.

Did you call your mommas???

Ours was pretty darn fab.

My oh-so-lovely and sweet sister in law came to visit, accompanied by her equally sweet boyfriend. 

We spent the afternoon Saturday strolling around downtown.

and taking pictures

Oh Charlotte...someday you too will have bangs that decide to grow past 1/4 of an inch.

my SIL bren and her gentleman admirer, daniel

go get your married-ness on already.

daniel was miraculously able to get pics of my girls both looking at the camera.

This never happens.

I hardly gave him a chance to experience downtown charleston because I kept commanding him to take more pictures. more. more! I was like a strung-out picture junkie.

why didn't I take my stupid sunglasses off for any of these??

daniel!?  I need more pictures!

Sunday was wonderful too.

Wes got me the necklaces I had been eying from etsy. I got one with a "c" for Charlotte  & one with a "j" for Juliette. They are perfect and oh so tiny and dainty. Kristen's shop is full of simple, delicate pieces...I will definitely be putting more of her things on future wish-lists.

Because of mother's day, Wes only had two church services to do instead of the usual three, so we were able to spend the whole afternoon and evening together and enjoy lots of wonderful fuzzy, family togetherness time.

 By that I mean I got to take a 3 hour nap and who the heck cares what the rest of those people living in my house were doing.

All in all it really was a great couple of days, and I'm so thankful for both moms in my life. One has put up with my ridiculous nonsense for 28 long years, and the other raised a man who has become the most wonderful husband and father. 

Cheers to a good week ahead, friendlies!

A good start...

I hope the week is off to a good beginning for everyone!

My husband works for a church, and unlike a common misconception, he works much more than just Sundays. Right now until they get a new staff member on board, he has a lot of evening obligations too. Since we aren't able to have a normal two-days off in a row weekend, sometimes our time as a family gets compressed into a few hours here, and a few hours there during the week.

But yesterday was a 100%  family day, and we had such a great time.

We made pink pancakes in the morning...

...which is going to have to be a new Valentine's Day tradition.

Then we went downtown to enjoy the gorgeous weather 

we had here in Charleston yesterday.

I will never get tired of walking around all the little alley ways and cobblestone streets. 

And when spring really moves in, and you get to peek through gates and fences

and see the secret, private gardens hidden behind the homes...it's heaven. I never want to move.

Enjoy your day friends!!

Spring Fever...

It is so glorious outside today. 

For those of you who don't live in God's chosen city Charleston, sorry to rub it in. 

It's at least 74 degrees right now. 

So glorious in fact that I attempted to take both girls for a walk. 

At the same time. 

Alone. 

I know some of you are thinking to yourselves, "You only have two kids lady...pull yourself together...how hard can it be". And that is how I will know you have never met Charlotte, my 2 year old. 

Because taking a walk with one Charlotte is like trying to take a walk with 17 gerbils...stressful, fast-paced, and someone's probably coming back with bite marks.

But the girls could use fresh air and I didn't go to all the trouble of putting my bra on for nothing, besides good parents do things like let their offspring out of the house on occasion.

 4 tantrums, 7 thrown rocks, 1 scraped knee, several pitying looks from neighbors, and 3 hissed threats of eternal time-out later...we turned around, walked six feet, and were back at our house.

Six feet totally counts. Score one for good parenting.