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The Wonder Luster

For Those Of Us Whose Dreams Won't Die Between 17 and 65.

Life is wondrous! Feed your lust for life with the tools & inspiration to help make it a great one.

Adventures In Charleston, South Carolina…Cocktails, Color & Southern Couture

Travel | July 27, 2015

From the southern hospitality to the beautiful homes and great food, our adventures in Charleston, South Carolina were truly amazing.

Charleston, South Carolina is low country. Known for it’s colorful Battery Row of historical and colorful houses, shrimp and grits, plantations and southern, preppy style.

It’s hard for me to really encapsulate a city that I love as much as Charleston.  All in all, I love the south.  I love the food, the people, and I’m really happy the confederate flag no longer flies over the state house, though it’s terrible a tragedy had to happen there just a few weeks ago to get us talking about such a conflicted symbol of history.  Charleston is though, a city full of history.   It is composed of historic buildings, ports, culture and plantations- which are both beautiful and haunting at the same time.  Honestly, it’s a city in which history surrounds you- from the open air markets, to the cobblestone streets and gorgeous gas lamps.

From the southern hospitality to the beautiful homes and great food, our adventures in Charleston, South Carolina were truly amazing.

Our goal was to eat good food, experience the history, take some tours, and do a lot of walking and photo taking…which, despite a very warm and bug infested few days, I feel was accomplished. We absolutely had some awesome adventures in Charleston.

Battery Row Charleston South Carolina

First, let’s talk houses.  If you love history and gorgeous mansions, this is the place for you.  Many of these houses are well over a century old.  From what I was told, if you have a house that was built before 1975, you practically need a permit to change a doorknob.  History here, is important and it is preciously preserved. Honestly, Charleston is its history- more so than many other cities.  The streets are uneven, the nooks and crannies of the city are gorgeous. You can look down the alley of a closed gate and see a gorgeous garden, lit by romantic gaslights.  It reminded me a bit of Boston with it’s colonial architecture and layout- but at a warm, southern pace.

Charleston North Carolina Mansion- My future homeNeedless to say, the houses there are what dreams are made of.  I fell in love with this house in particular.  I remember when we stumbled upon it, after turning off of battery row- and it was about a gazillion degrees in the sunshine, but I had to stop and take pictures.  It was so muggy, my camera lens kept fogging up, even after acclimating to the climate…it was like walking into someone’s mouth.

But honestly, look at the steps. I don’t know what those are called, I’m not that rich, nor am I that classy, but I will call those “topiary steps.”  Topiary steps are a thing that I must have.  Oh, how I lust for the southern charm of Charleston.  (faints.)

Historic Mansions of Charleston South Carolina

If you’re in Charleston, take a tour…or five.  You will learn so much more and support local business…plus it makes for some good stories!  While we were in town, we took two tours with Bulldog Tours that were super fun and budget friendly!  At about $20 a piece, we took the Dark Side of Charleston tour– where I learned about my new favorite business woman, Grace- who ran quite the upstanding brothel in town. She also owned a building when women couldn’t own property and was quite savvy in running a business around the law while being a pillar of the community.

We also found out why prostitutes wore red shoes.  Apparently, it was an easy way for men to know who to proposition so the genteel ladies of the day wouldn’t be offended that they were mistaken for hookers.  Seriously.  At least now, when I walk down the street, even when I wear red shoes, nobody mistakes me for a street walker. Ha!

We also took the Ghost & Graveyards tour, where I got eaten alive by mosquitos. I had 30 bites by the end of it, but it was very cool. I also learned about bug spray.  Lessons were learned.

Ghost and Graveyard Tours with Bulldog Tours Charleston South Carolina

Of course, all that history makes me hungry, and Charleston is delicious…  We also took the Charleston Culinary Tour.  OMG.  As we strolled downtown, stopping along the way for BBQ, fresh local fish wraps, shrimp and grits and an amazing pistachio mousse from Carmella’s (featured below).   I was so full, but it was all so good.  I love it when culinary tours are like a big, long meal- you really get to enjoy the city that way.

Charleston Culinary Tours

One place we stumbled upon and totally fell in love with, was the Gin Joint.  My travel buddy usually refers to all good places as a “nice little gin joint,” so of course, when I saw that sign, we had to stop in.  Honestly, it was some of the best cocktails I’ve had- with really fresh, complex ingredients that made for a really sumptuous experience.

The Gin Joint Charleston South Carolina

Sippin at the Gin Joint in Charleston SC

The ice cubes were hand chizzled from a large block and they even had a side menu where you could tell the bar tender two flavors and he’d whip something special up, just for you.  You could combine refreshing and tart or in my case, fizzy and fruity. It was a great way to cool off, as indicated by our steep bar bill.  But yes- it was so, worth it!  Charleston is a cocktail lovers dream!

The best place for cocktails in Charleston South Carolina

Another much discussed place that we were told we had to see, was Husk.  We heard reservations were hard to come by and so we were lucky to stop in between lunch and dinner on a weekday with no problem.  We enjoyed a glass of Maderia– a fortified wine that was a favorite  of the southern elites.  We enjoyed the “Savannah” and “Charleston” blends.  Our waiter, who was not too impressed we didn’t order a bunch of food, advised us it was a dessert wine, but apparently we paid no mind to protocol and ordered anyway.

You know, I’m not very proper- but I love me some fortified wine.  We hit up the Bar at Husk later, and I’d say while this place has one awards, and I know I probably missed what everyone was so jazzed about, I wasn’t super impressed with either visit. It was nice, but honestly- it wasn’t my favorite spot in Charleston.  Sorry, Husk.  Maybe next time?

Husk Charleston South Carolina

Charleston has a variety of tourist locations and really high end shops on King Street- so no matter what you’re looking for, you can find it.  We stopped in Sperry’s and I had to avoid stopping in Kate Spade, it was hard.

One thing we were not prepared for, was the fact that bars would be open until 11 or 12, but many kitchens closed at 10pm.  Our internal clocks always seem to be off when we travel, or maybe we’re just spoiled in Chicago- but a few times we wanted a late night bite with a pint and had to go home hungry.  (Tough life, huh?)  Beyond that (and the really aggressive mosquitos), Charleston was lovely.

Adult Night Tours With Bulldog Tours Charleston NC

I’m sort of obsessed with Vineyard Vines & Lily Pulitzer (though honestly, cannot afford it)- and that style sums up Charleston.  It’s a colorful, but very proper and preppy sort of place.  I also discovered Simply Southern and Southern Couture while I was there, and was seriously tempted to buy anything and everything with a monogram, anchor or bright, warm pastels.  Since I only had a carry-on and a backpack for 2.5 weeks of travel through the south, alas, I left empty handed.

Charleston is a city, ready to be sipped.  It also seems to be growing and changing quite a bit as new business comes into the area and the suburbs grow outward.  I considered relocating there, but wasn’t quite sure if it was the fit I was looking for at this point of my life.

People often compare it to Savannah, but I think it’s a completely different city- it looks different and feels different.  Where Savannah is sleepier, and filled with shady oak trees dripping with Spanish moss that line the many expansive squares and parks- Charleston is brighter, more colonial with it’s colorful pastels and has a completely different vibe.

Many people say you either love Charleston or Savannah more.  I guess you’ll have to find out which is my favorite in a later post! 😉

Stay tuned, I’ll have more pictures from adventures in Charleston, including where we stayed, soon!  

Life is wondrous! Feed your lust for life with the tools & inspiration to help make it a great one.

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Some people just make the world a more vibrant pla Some people just make the world a more vibrant place, simply by being in it.  I can say that about these people- who make life more colorful, brighter and true just by being themselves. 

Grateful we could slow down to capture a little snippet in time for our family before we grow again. ❤️
IYKYK, bath time edition. 🛁. #bathtime #travelb IYKYK, bath time edition. 🛁. #bathtime #travelblogger #travel #familytravel #travellust
3 years since this photo was taken and my former k 3 years since this photo was taken and my former kidney became this guy's kidney. ❤️

I can say, I've grown to appreciate this moment a lot more as time has gone on.  It hasn't been an easy road for my recipient, he and his family have had a few health scares and ups and down, but I'm so grateful we are in each other's lives.

Chances are, you may know of someone in need of a kidney. 1 in 3 adults in the U.S., over 80 million people, are at risk for kidney disease.  While not every diagnosis leads to kidney failure, there are millions of people in this scary limbo hoping for good news.

I didn't know my recipient before this process started, but when I found I could live healthfully with one, I knew I had to try.  Donation is low-risk, my costs were generously covered by my recipient (both through insurance and the kindness of others) and I was back at work in 4 weeks.  Needless to say, it was easier than birthing a baby.

Candidates for kidney donation are thoroughly vetted to ensure the surgery, and life with one kidney are a good fit.  Trust me, your team will not ask you to donate if you have any risk factor of being in need of a transplant yourself down the road.  Testing took months and was incredibly thorough.  Your remaining kidney can do the job of two, and my kidney levels are normal and healthy 3 years later.

Even if you don't personally know someone who needs a kidney, please consider living kidney donation.  You can anonymously donate, be paired through a registry or find someone on social media who is in need, like I did.  There are literally thousands of people using Instagram and Facebook to try and someone who is even willing to get the basic tests.  You could be their person.  Have questions? I’m here for you! 

Being a living kidney donor absolutely enriched my life beyond imagination and has blessed my little family with a beautiful extended family to celebrate with.  Grateful for this day.
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Joey had been with us for nearly 4 years, made possible by the kind folks of South Texas Boston Terrier Rescue. I picked him up, intending on fostering him for a few weeks and ended up falling in love with his sweet spirit, exuberance for anything food related and his lovable derpiness.

Previously, he was kept in a small cage with two other terriers, all day every day and used as a stud. When he was no longer profitable, he, like plenty of others, was surrendered to rescue.  He was blind in one eye, needed teeth extracted and had skin lesions from life in a cage. 

Life hadn’t been easy for him, but I’m glad a rescue was there to give him a second chance, and they trusted me to give in his second chapter.  He was a well travelled dog and he was the Best Pup on our wedding day in Marfa.  Last night we said goodbye. Hubs and I will miss him dearly, but savor the moments and adventures with our little tank. 

Adopt, don’t shop.  Support your local rescues and give your fur kids an extra squeeze for Joey tonight.
“Is this enough for you?” My husband has asked “Is this enough for you?” My husband has asked me this before. To which, I answer- life is full, wonderful, and I am grateful. 

I believe he asks because before kids, I had a very different lifestyle. I traveled to Europe by myself, started businesses, donated a kidney, ran half marathons, got my master’s degree.  I lived a full life, then too. I was fiercely independent because I had to be.

I’m still that person, but fortunately I have more people to share it with. I also have to be more vulnerable than ever.

I had years to find myself and don’t plan on losing that woman I forged. Being a mom has also helped me heal some of the hard parts of the experience I had with my own mom. (I didn’t see that last part coming.)

Being a mom can make you lose yourself.  For me, it’s helped me discover myself once more. Grateful for this day and so many days - I’m just happy to be here. 

Happy Mother’s Day everyone. I hope you discover yourself, heal what you need and feel the love today and everyday.

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