Easter 2017

I hope you all had a fun weekend!

Easter officially became one of my favorite holidays this year... capped off by a surprise visit from my parents!

Though I could do without the double pink eye and colds that two out of three of us have right now. Not sure how my boys got so sick but our house has been on a bit of a struggle bus since my parents left. This could also be partially due to a crash in sugar levels after finishing the last of our Reese's eggs...

The weather was absolutely perfect so we soaked up the sun at Magnolia Plantation's Easter egg hunt on Saturday. Rowan was a bit intimidated by the large crowd of parents charging towards the eggs with their toddlers in tow (I don't blame him) but slowly got into it after tasting every piece of candy in each egg he found along the way.

 
For some reason Easter egg hunts apparently suck the energy out of adults too?! Or is it just me?

We decided after Rowan's nap to set up egg dying outside on our patio while my husband grilled some burgers. It was the perfect evening, with surprisingly little mess to clean up considering you never know what to expect when you give a toddler 5 cups of dye to drop eggs into.

On Sunday we went to an early church service and headed home to host Easter brunch with my parents and close friends. I went a bit overboard on the basket filling... every year I forget what I bought and keep adding to it but the practical things like a shark towel and new red Natives were a big hit! And the bubbles... Always bubbles.

We tried hard for a good family photo but I think Rowan was starting to feel pretty crummy at this point so we took what we could get.

He's now on day two of eye drops and hanging at home with me... honestly if I don't get pink eye and his cold after being sneezed on a million times, I must have some kind of crazy immune system. Fingers crossed!

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Christmas 2016

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

We celebrated Christmas at home this year which was much needed after our emotional Christmas last year. It was low-key with nothing on the schedule besides exploring downtown and meeting friends at the Christmas train display at Belmond Charleston Place on Christmas Eve.

That evolved into throwing pennies into a nearby fountain, which I think Rowan enjoyed even more than the trains, and a stop at Revelry Brewing for the parents. Quite the nontraditional Christmas Eve!

On Christmas morning I expected Rowan to tear into his presents but he was so laid back! We practically had to talk him into opening his gifts because he was so into his new easel and slide, which Santa's elves lovingly built Christmas Eve!

(Excuse the grainy photos, it was so dark Christmas morning despite Rowan sleeping in a bit!)

He was a big fan of his stocking, which is my favorite part of Christmas morning too! Also, that bed head. I love it.

After presents and a big breakfast, we walked around south of Broad Street to see the gorgeous homes before all of the decor is taken down. It's kind of become a tradition which we started when I was super prego two years ago.

I know most people have their trees down by now but we're still celebrating with family so I'm still in Christmas mode over here. I don't think it's even hit me that 2017 is in a few days!

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Best Restaurants in Charleston

You guys I loved reading all of your comments and emails about the first part of my Charleston series, I'm SO glad it was helpful for so many!

If you know me, you know I love food. Luckily we live in a foodie town so the biggest problem we have is deciding whether to go to our favorite spot or trying something new. We've lived in Charleston over 2 years now and I still have a list of restaurants I want to try!

I should warn you, I'm not a fan of oysters or grits (Gasp! I know, my Southern friends are disowning me right now), but I'll tell you where all of the locals like to go if that helps!

Whatever you do, make sure you try anything with pimento cheese, friend green tomatoes, and She Crab Soup!

Also I have never once received a free meal or been paid to blog about these places, just thought that was important to point out!

Upper Charleston

Taco Boy - Love this place and the atmosphere! Can't go wrong with any of the tacos and I have to get the Mexican Street Corn every time.  
Edmund's Oast - Unique, delicious menu, awesome outdoor seating, and great drink menu. One of my favorites once the weather cools down!
Butcher & Bee - They just opened a new location and its so much bigger, which is great because the place is always packed! Great stop for lunch, check their social media for the menu each day.
Hominy Grill - Be ready for a wait if you go for brunch on the weekends but its worth it! The 'Charleston Nasty' is my favorite chicken and a biscuit with gravy in the city.

Sugar Bakeshop - Best cupcakes in the city! And super cute place I might add.

King Street 

The Darling Oyster House - I can't speak for the oysters but I've heard this is one of the best places to get them! I like the hush puppies, kale slaw and fry baskets.
Monza - My favorite wood fired pizza! Insider tip: if they have a wait, get a beer at the place next door called Closed for Business (Monza has more wine) and you can bring it into Monza with you if you're name is called.
HoM - Love their burgers and relaxed atmosphere if you have a wild toddler!
Indaco - Definitely a favorite for Italian food in downtown Charleston. My favorite is their burrata for an appetizer and pizza with brussels sprouts for dinner.
The Ordinary - Ah this place is just so, so pretty on the inside! I've only been for drinks but can't wait to go back for dinner. Oyster fans will love it. Make a reservation ASAP.

Jeni's Ice Cream - The most unique ice cream flavors and so good!
Callie's Hot Little Biscuit - This is a tiny little place and easy to miss on King Street but the line out the door will help you find it. Love their specials but the ham biscuit is so good too! Open late if you aren't old and in bed by 9 PM like we are.

Lower King-ish

Poogan's Porch - My FAVORITE of all time. We take all of our visitors here, in fact once we went for dinner and then brunch the next day. Items to try: chicken and waffles, french toast with berries and pecans, mac and cheese, scallops with pimento cheese ravioli, and pimento BLT. Told you I love pimento cheese!

Eli's Table - Love this spot for brunch and their courtyard is great if the weather is nice!
Queen Street Grocery - I don't go here enough but their sandwiches and paninis are so good. Perfect quick lunch or take it to go for a picnic.

Old Market area

Magnolia's - Upscale Southern food, you really can't go wrong. This is one of my favorite spots during Restaurant Week! Alternatively try out High Cotton if you're looking to recreate a scene from the Notebook.
Caviar and Bananas - They have a few locations but there is one inside the Old Market if you're looking for a quick coffee, pastries, or sandwiches.
5Church - I've only been here for brunch but it was really good and its a great spot if you're in the area.

Just Outside of Charleston

Tavern & Table - We have been to T&T several times and I have never been let down, plus the restaurant looks like JoJo from Fixer Upper came in and worked her magic. It's on the water in Shem Creek so at least stop for a cocktail during happy hour!
Vickery's - This place doesn't look like much on Shem Creek but there is something for everyone. I get the Crab Cake salad with white vinaigrette dressing every.single.time.
The Obstinate Daughter - This charming place is on Sullivan's Island and books up fast so make a reservation ASAP. I recommend the homemade ricotta gnocchi for dinner.
Beardcats Sweet Shop - This is on the first floor below the Obstinate Daughter so its a great spot for dessert after dinner! Love their homemade gelato (red velvet gelato.. yes please!) and ice cream sandwiches!

(P.S. Mamas- there is a really great park near the Obstinate Daughter and Beardcats, great for letting your toddler run off some energy!)

 
Restaurants still on my list? Fig, Park Cafe, Xiao Bao Biscuit, and the American. But the one I cannot wait to checkout is Leon's Oyster Shop! Everyone raves about it even if you don't like oysters, but they had me at the frozen Rosé on tap.

But really you can't go wrong here, this is definitely a foodie town!

If you're planning a trip, don't miss my top 10 things to do in Charleston!

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Top 10 Things to Do in Charleston

I'm so excited to share with you all the first installment of my Charleston visitor guide! I've promised this post for too long and with Charleston being ranked the number one U.S. city to visit by Travel + Leisure, it's definitely time.

Since we moved to Charleston we've hosted tons of guests (most on more than one occasion, which we love!) and I absolutely love playing tour guide. Even though its a much smaller city than a lot of popular tourist destinations, there is always something to do around here and so many gorgeous streets to explore.

I've tried to narrow it down to ten must-see spots in Charleston, with a few honorable mentions and FAQs at the bottom! These are family friendly with one exception so we've got everyone covered. And don't worry foodies, I'm saving my restaurant recommendations for next week!

To start, there are a few historic spots where all of the tourists flock which are definitely worth checking out if you've never been here before. I won't get into the historical significance because I will likely butcher it.

Old City Market
This historic building is now a sprawling indoor/outdoor market filled with tons of interesting local artisans, sweetgrass baskets (gorgeous but steep price, don't say I didn't warn you), food, and souvenirs. It's not for everyone but I'd suggest going once... start at the main entrance and reward yourself with a free sample of pralines at the candy shop at the very end of the market on your left.

Rainbow Row
Gorgeous, bright row homes a few blocks from the market. You can't go to Charleston without at least snapping a photo! You can walk to this from the market or move to my super secret parking tip (read below), and if you have a toddler that needs to let off steam there is a little playground a block or two away right on East Bay Street.

The Battery
Continuing past Rainbow Row on East Bay Street, you'll start seeing the houses get larger and larger until you get to a point where you can't believe someone could live in that house without getting lost. Those mansions keep going along the water until you get to White Point Gardens, which is a park at the very tip of the peninsula. This is a perfect spot for couples, and families with a cooperating toddler, to take a break and have a picnic. (I like Queen Street Grocery for the picnic food).

Wander around the streets South of Broad
The streets and mansions south of Broad Street are incredible, you could walk all over and never get bored in my opinion. The architecture, history, and hidden courtyards are so uniquely beautiful. My favorite streets to roam (also great for photos) are Tradd, Legare, and Church Streets. Chalmers Street is also a fave but its one street north of Broad. 

Calhoun Mansion
If you're a fan of the Notebook (the interior scenes were done here) or dig antiques and architecture, take the 45 minute tour of this place. The current owner lives on the top floor but you can see the first and second floors. I've never seen so many things on the walls of a house, its both interesting and terrifying to imagine living there and trying not to knock everything over because there is so.much.stuff. Not a good place with kids!

Plantations
Boone Hall Plantation is probably the most notable, the Avenue of the Oaks is gorgeous any season. We're partial to Magnolia Plantation if you're into walking the grounds and have kids who love a good petting zoo.

Beaches
There are a lot of beaches around here but my favorites are Isle of Palms and Sullivans Beach. Parking is usually easier at IOP but Sullivans is less crowded, more residential, and has a strip of great restaurants you can walk to. Folly Beach is the most touristy and its the surfers choice. My newest find is driving as far north as you can past Folly Beach to the Lighthouse Inlet. It's a gorgeous spot to see the lighthouse and snag some pretty photos.

Shopping on King Street
If you're looking to treat yourself, head to King Street. You'll find everything from J. Crew, Pottery Barn, West Elm, and Anthropologie to Kate Spade and all of the high end stuff I can only look at through windows. There are tons of cute boutiques too, like Finicky Filly for mama and Kids on King and Sugar Snap Pea for baby. I'll try to highlight some of my favorites later in the series!

On the Second Sunday of every month they shut down traffic on lower King and its my favorite time to head down there if its not in the middle of summer.



South Carolina Aquarium
If you've got a toddler or kids, I recommend the aquarium for a quick visit. It's not big by any means but its really well done with touch tanks and it has a lot of play areas for kids to burn energy.

Breweries
There are so many breweries here, so if you're a craft beer fan you will be in your element. Our favorites are Westbrook, Revelry, and Freehouse (organic beer). Most aren't in the best part of town but once you get off the main drag and into the brewery, they are great. And yes, you can bring your kids! Many breweries will have food trucks on the weekend!

Taking a candle making class at Candlefish just missed the top ten, but I highly recommend especially if you're not super prego like I was and can bring a bottle of wine!

Other honorable mentions go to golfing (specifically the Kiawah courses), the Farmer's Market, paddleboarding on Shem Creek, visiting Patriot's Point and the U.S.S. Yorktown or Fort Sumter if you're into that kind of thing, and stopping by the Pineapple Fountain on the water along East Bay Street.We love grabbing gelato and letting our wild toddler play in this area.

FAQ: Can I see it all in 3 days? Is all of downtown Charleston walkable?
My suggested 3-day itinerary would be to see the Market, Rainbow Row, and Battery on day one. Day two could be a shop on King Street and stuff your face with food day. (Who am I kidding, I'd do that everyday!) And day three could be a trip to a Plantation, Shem Creek, and/or one of the beaches. You most likely will not be able to do King Street and the Market area all in one day, unless you have legs of steel or use Uber.

FAQ: What is the parking situation like? 
Parking is fairly easy downtown. There are parking garages all over plus street parking. If you're heading South of Broad, street parking is mostly residential so watch for signs. There is parking along the Battery and my super secret favorite parking spot... the tiny lot directly across the street from Rainbow Row. There are a handful of metered parking spots there and for some reason they are always empty!

I know there are a lot of folks planning trips here so please don't hesitate to reach out if you want me to cover anything else in this Charleston series!

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Summer, So Far

Brace yourselves for a photo dump. We've been so busy this summer I haven't had time to do many weekend recaps, ramble about how I'm totally over summer in the South, or share even the tiniest of progress in the new home. So here goes...

Rowan's first wedding

We took Rowan to his first wedding! He was a hit in his little bow tie and suspenders (from Sweet N Swag, seriously cannot get over how cute these are!) and though there were a few soggy wedding programs, he was really good and we managed to avoid a mid-ceremony meltdown!

Naturally I had Rowan's outfit planned for months but had no options for myself so I squeezed my post-prego body into my rehearsal dinner dress from back when I was skinny, tan and sans bags under my eyes.

I may have had trouble breathing in it this time around but the tree coming out of my back in that photo serves as a good distraction. As does the cute baby, of course!

House Updates

I hit the trigger on a guest bedroom rug which is lightening fast speed for my decision making skills. Any guesses as to which one it was? We also rearranged the furniture in the room and I think it looks much better now!

I also talked my husband into adding a fireplace to our living room! If you know me, you know I'll be going through withdrawals without a mantel to decorate this Fall. I had to compromise and agree to mounting a TV over the fireplace but I do think its the best use of our space. Here is our inspiration (with different tiling)... I'm not sure if we'll DIY or not but I'm crossing my fingers we can make it happen before Rowan's first Christmas!

Date Night

Six months after the birth of our little guy, Steve and I finally went on a date night! We may have been joined by my dad and some of my friends but hey, I'll take it. Thanks for babysitting, Grandma! We indulged in overpriced beers, Primanti's sandwiches (which include fries and coleslaw on the sandwich... total artery overload but oh so good), and some of the best views of Pittsburgh.



Brunch

The atmosphere and food at Edmund's Oast in Charleston is on point! I can't wait to go back this Fall and enjoy a few Fall beers in their outside seating. If you're in town, definitely put it on your list. Though Charleston does not disappoint in the brunch department no matter where you go!

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Weekend Snaps

Monday, we meet again and always too soon. Ah, how I wish we could rewind to this weekend again, it was such a good one! I felt so productive and we finally got a few full nights of sleep (thank you Rowan!).

Make sure to follow on Snapchat (@HomeSweetRuby) for more of the fun, but in case you missed it here are a couple highlights from the weekend!

Brunch at Poogan's Porch with the Charleston girls + Biana, Pamela, and Amanda during their visit!

SO much fun meeting these gorgeous ladies and catching up! Poogan's is easily my favorite brunch spot in Charleston so you can't go wrong there.

Rowan's first trip to Isle of Palms beach. He still wasn't a fan of the ocean, especially after this mama freaked out when he almost ingested that handful of sand.

Though I'm sparing you from the other 3435 photos we took of Rowan at the beach, you are stuck with my unfortunate hairline above.

I hope you had a great weekend! I'm off to scroll through photos of my now 6 MONTH OLD (!) while he naps. I can't even!

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Friday Favorites

Happy Friday! It's been a crazy week here with my husband out of town for part of it and Rowan's sudden crazy sleep antics. Is there a full moon or something?! Anyway it's been way too long since I linked up with April and shared some Friday Favorites, so here we go!

ONE

We're getting pretty excited football season is almost upon us! And Fall clothes of course. Though everyone here knows we don't get to wear those until at least October. I die over this puffer vest and these moccasin slippers for Rowan. Those slippers are for sure going in his Christmas stocking, if I can wait until then!

TWO

When your makeup doesn't match your face any longer you know its time to get some color. I'm excited to finally try out the Rodan + Fields sunless tanner that my friend Rachel hooked me up with. Has anyone used it? I've heard so many good things so hopefully it lives up to its hype. Any tips for application?

THREE

Stroller (Love it!). Stroller Fan

Rowan totally judged us for bypassing all of the fruits and vegetables at the Farmer's Market this week in favor of the doughnut truck and kettle corn stand... Look at those chins!

FOUR

Excited for our blogger date this weekend! It's always fun getting together with local bloggers (many of which I consider my Charleston family now) but meeting bloggers while they are visiting is an extra treat. It's safe to say a cocktail and some girl time is much needed after an exhausting week!

FIVE

Cheap Rosé from Trader Joes. I think this bottle was $5 and it was much better than the $9 bottle we bought. I know, big spenders. For the record we do splurge for better wine but I can only have a glass or two since I'm still nursing and I hate to waste it. Also what can I say, I'm a cheap date!


I hope you all have fun plans for the weekend! Aside from stuffing my face with food and finally finishing our DIY coffee table, there are a lot of naps planned in this household. Lets just hope Rowan gets the hint!

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Memorial Day Weekend

I hope you all had a fun Memorial Day weekend! There is just something about 3-day weekends and vitamin D. I need more of both in my life. (If you saw how pale my legs were, you'd agree)

We got a lot of organizing done in the new house, more on that later this week!

I finally got to meet blog friends Stephanie and Caroline during their vacation here in the Charleston area. It was fun having all of the new mamas there to catch up in real life, rather than via text messages or blog posts. I wish I could say Rowan was his usual happy self, but some evil version of him I've never seen before made an appearance and caused me to miss out on the first part of lunch. More on that at a later date.

Aside from the bloggers and babes lunch, our Memorial Day weekend was very low key and exactly what we needed..

There were lots of cute smiles with daddy. (Side note: I get the stretch marks and Dad gets the cutest photos? This seems like a raw deal.) (Another side note: Ignore the tacky letters on the wall... the painters are getting rid of those stat!)

Moccs

We fell asleep in whatever position we wanted.

And we wore our red, white and blue in honor of the brave men and women that serve our country.

That smile! I can't even.

And just like that, we're halfway through the week!

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