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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.

Pretty In Pink- The Mills House Wyndham Grand of Charleston, South Carolina

Travel | July 28, 2015

Mills House Wyndham Grand Hotel Charleston South Carolina The Mills House Wyndham Grand Hotel is quintessentially Charleston.  With it’s beautiful pink walls, gas lamps and trickling fountain, it seems to invite you in from the street. It seems to be from another time, and you just want to come and stay for awhile.  The interior of the hotel is even prettier, but far more modern- with brighter colors, rich tapestries and comfortable places to sit and stay for awhile.

Mills House Wyndham Grand Hotel Charleston

Being on the corner of Meeting and Queen, just a stone’s throw from King Street, the colorful accommodations were fit for royals. I think the pictures will speak for themselves.  I loved the mashup of colonial charm and bright, modern colors and prints.

Spend a weekend in romantic Charleston at the Mills House Wydham Grand

Mills House Wyndham GrandThe Lobby of the Mills House Wyndham Grand Charleston South CarolinaMills House Wyndham CharlestonRooms at the Wyndham Charleston- Mills House Wyndham Grand Hotel

The rooms were very comfortable, with quite the view (below).  Our room was stocked with two complimentary bottles of water, which really helped on such hot, humid days.  In my last post, I talked about Husk, which is literally across the street on Queen, but the Mills House Wyndham Grand was also close to some great restaurants like Toast for a really delicious southern breakfast of fried green tomatoes atop shrimp and grits (which I waddled around, stuffed the rest of the day), and also close to tourist attractions like the historic Charleston City Market and Bulldog Tours for some fun evenings out exploring.

Staying in downtown Charleston South Carolina at the Mills House Wyndham Grand Hotel

One thing I loved about this hotel, was the representation of southern hospitality.  Each day from 3-4pm, is a complimentary champagne hour for all the guests.  You can get a glass of champagne and enjoy their gorgeous lobby for a bit before heading out into the humidity again.  It was an excellent touch!

Complimentary Champagne at the Mills House Wyndham Grand Charleston...3pm everyday!Complimentary Champagne! Everyday at the Mills House Wyndham Grand Hotel

If you’d like to spend some time in Charleston, the Mills House Wyndham Grand is centrally located and a really fun spot!  It was right across the street from the very popular restaurant, Husk and pretty much near all the action.  We didn’t get to spend time at the pool, but the roof top pool was also a really nice perk I wish we’d had more time to utilize.

Some rooms are available under $200 a night, and I’m sure with some research you could get a great deal on a great hotel (with a free champagne hour, what’s not to love?) in a great location.

If you're visiting Charleston, SC, I recommend staying at The Mills House Wyndham Grand. There's so much southern hospitality here and it's gorgeous!

 

Thank you for the Mills House Wyndham Grand Hotel for allowing me to stay as a media guest for this feature.  All opinions are mine.

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
Living History In Charleston, South Carolina & The Kings Courtyard Inn »

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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.
Life’s moments are made better with our pets. ❤️

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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