2019 Holiday Gift Guide: GENTS

Happy Thanksgiving Eve...again!

I'm so pleased y'all are already enjoying my Ladies Gift Guide!

I did an Insta poll earlier this afternoon to see if the Gents gift guide was worth it and y'all overwhelming voted "Yes please!" to a a guide for all the men in your life. As usual, this is skewed to the Southern Gent, and just like the Ladies guides, most of these items are things Bryce has and loves or wants for himself. In fact, most of the items in this guide were compiled by him for you!

Many links below are affiliate links meaning I earn a small commission if you click and make a purchase. More details on each item linked below the collage!

leather catchall / head lamp / lip balm / dot socks / personalized stationery / old south hat /

South / performance button down / torch / almond toffee petites / nano puff jacket / 

needlepoint cuff links / letter opener / suede loafers / yeti lowball / camo dopp kit /

pheasant lapel pin / exofficio boxers / watch / democracy coasters / charging carabiner / 

hot sauce ornament / garment folder / waxed tote / throw blanket / pocket saw / ostrich boots /

cigar / shotgun shell belt / rattlesnake belt / card bottle opener

Leather Catchall: 20% off + free shipping with code FRIENDS; Bryce has a similar square version in a dark brown he keeps on his dresser, but I am loving the look of this "baseball leather" and shape and size; also love that the snaps on the corners enable you to flatten it; this catchall can make a collection of items (spare change, collar stays, etc) look tidy

Head Lamp: under $40; a favorite in our house - we have a bunch scattered about ready to grab at any moment; Bryce said to be sure to share it's not just for camping - think walking the dog, taking the trash out, grilling at night; this particular one is Bryce's very favorite!

Lip Balm: I gifted Bryce some of this lip balm last year and he loves it so much he recommended I include it on the guides; would make a great stocking stuffer!

Dot Socks: I gift Bryce socks in his stocking every year and also include them in my gents gift guide every year; these merino wool dotted socks are Bryce's favorite for dress up and I'll likely be choosing these for his stocking this year so he'll have a few fresh pairs; a bit on the pricey side, but sure to please; come in the black shown, plus 3 other colors

Personalized Stationery: under $30!; Bryce has some custom Crane stationery he was gifted that is so nice, but this stationery I found for the guides is equally handsome and a fraction of the price...plus I'm all for supporting a small American biz; I'm partial to the trout design pictured, but there are tons of other options sure to please any man in your life

Old South Hat: under $30; Bryce's recommendation - "Cool hat!"

South: under $30; if you follow Southern cuisine at all, you've heard of Sean Brock; he actually trained under Bryce's brother Chef Walter Bundy of Shagbark here in Richmond and we're big fans; this book is his newest cookbook and shares classic Southern recipes with a spin; if you haven't yet, also check out his first cookbook Heritage

Performance Button Down: I popped into Onward Reserve when in Georgetown last month and had to resist the urge to buy the whole store for Bryce for Christmas; I especially fell in love with these performance button downs that have the tailored look of a nice shirt, but the performance fabric of a fishing shirt; Santa may just have to bring one down the chimney for Bryce; run large - order one size down

Torch: under $50 and the satisfaction that will come using and showing off this torch is priceless; used to light a charcoal grill, one of our best friend's actually commented on Stories that I needed to include this - I mentioned it to Bryce, asking him to send the link, and he said "Oh yeah, Davis and Frank love the torch!" 

Almond Toffee Petites: the way to a man's heart is his stomach, and Bryce recommended these; I've never actually had them, which shows he keeps them all to himself, haha!

Nano Puff Jacket: Bryce has both this Patagonia puffer and the down version and prefers this one because it's lightweight, but still warm, and the nano puff is water resistant unlike the down; made of recycled materials; compressible and can stow in its own pocket; a little pricey, but quality, quality, quality and brand known for ethics; comes in 10 colors and true to size

Needlepoint Cuff Links: 20% off with code FRIENDS brings them to under $50; for the dapper guy in your life; these personalized black and white cuff links would look so good with a tux!

Letter Opener: under $40; this letter opener is made from the wood of tulip poplars Jefferson planted at Monticello; Bryce loves his!

Suede Loafers: under $100 and have 105 5-star reviews!; every man should have at least one good pair of loafers or driving mocs; these come in 6 colors and I also love the brown here on sale for just $60; Bryce has these crocodile ones I included in my guides last year; on sale for under $100; and, if you really want to spoil your man, I'd get these splurge suede driving mocs

Yeti Lowball: just $15 with code BRIGHT; Yeti products really are the best; we have a few of the tumblers and I'm continually amazed by just how cold they keep our drinks; love this lowball version for a cocktail on the go; would make a great stocking stuffer or white elephant gift

Camo Dopp Kit: 20% off + free shipping with code FRIENDS; a good dopp kit is another essential for every man and this camo printed leather really caught my eye; love that it's also lined with nylon for easy clean up and that the foil debossed monogram is included for free

Pheasant Lapel Pin: under $60; the best things come in small packages and this pin would make a great addition to a suit or blazer; also comes in lab, fly, and trout styles

ExOfficio Boxers: currently 40% off; these were the only thing Bryce asked for last year for Christmas; when I went to REI to get them, every salesperson in the place raved about them and when I shared on Stories and in my Prime last minute gift guide, many of you shared the men in your life are equally as obsessed as Bryce is; Bryce stocked up today while they're on sale, and you should too

Watch: on sale for $129 and has rave reviews; love the versatility of this classic watch and that it can be personalized with an engraved monogram on the back of the face 

Democracy Coasters: this set of 4 coasters feature the Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, Constitution, and the Civil Rights Act; great reviews and sure to please the patriot or history buff; also love these coasters and my parents gifted these to Bryce years ago and we always get compliments

Charging Carabiner: 20% off making it under $25 with code FRIENDS; this tool is so handy; throw it on a backpack or use it carry your keys and always have a phone charger at hand

Hot Sauce Ornament: just $8 (or less) with code BRIGHT; perfect for the hot and spicy man in your life

Garment Folder: Bryce bought this in advance of a two week work trip to Germany a couple of years ago and insisted I include it in my gift guides- he raves about it!; helps to perfectly fold your shirts when packing and also is a space saver

Waxed Tote: Filson products are a splurge, but are made in America of the highest quality and are extremely rugged and durable; the waxed style is water repellent and this is also nylon lined; Bryce has an earlier version without the zipper and loves its versatility; I'll also remind you of this other favorite tote that y'all have loved in my gift guides the last 2 years that is just $55!

Throw Blanket: currently 30% off; made of recycled materials, this throw is stylish enough to please both gents and ladies...much better than the nylon camping camo throw Bryce loves, haha!

Pocket Saw: under $40; another Bryce recommendation - "my favorite saw" - he keeps it in his blind bag when hunting to brush blinds; also great for cutting small firewood when camping, or even just pruning in the yard

Ostrich Boots: these boots are definitely a splurge, but handmade and so so good; I am hoping to be able to pop into the Tecovas store when in Austin next week; also love these and these are Bryce's all-time favorite boots (that I love, too), but I couldn't find a shoppable link to include them in the guide above

Cigar: under $70 for a pack of 4; if you're guy's into cigars, Bryce highly recommends these; would be the perfect Christmas present that could be enjoyed on New Year's Eve

Shotgun Shell Belt & Rattlesnake Belt: these are Bryce's two favorite belts, and that's saying a lot because he has too many belts; the rattlesnake is more of a splurge (and not my favorite, honestly), but he loves it and always gets compliments on it!

Card Bottle Opener: under $20 with code BRIGHT; love that this bottle opener is the size of a credit card and can fit easily into a wallet or money clip; would make a great stocking stuffer!

What men are you shopping for this year?

Happy shopping!

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Late Summer Supper Club

Hello friends, and happy Labor Day!

It's been quite some time since I've posted here on AlexandraBeeBlog.com, but my heart has been longing for more of a creative outlet, and the blog seems like the best place to flex my creative muscle at the moment.

If you'd like to read more on this, check out my "On Hospitality" highlight reel on Instagram. In short, though, I've been musing over this idea of Southern hospitality - or graciousness, warmth, welcome - in all aspects of life, not just entertaining. I'll be experimenting with some different ways to bring you content (with a good dose of my usual "lifestyle" content mixed in) in this area over the  next few months. As I find myself reading blogs less and less, I'm not sure where to strike the balance between here on the blog, and micro-blogging, a new term I learned which is essentially blogging via Instagram. (Any thoughts?) Stay tuned.

Being that Labor Day is the unofficial last day of Summer, I wanted to share a recent supper club dinner party before shifting gears to all things Fall. When it comes to entertaining, one detail is often the jumping off board for all others for me. For this particular evening, these beaded placemats "Millie" found at Home Goods and gifted me for Mother's Day were that one detail.

Because of their coral design, I knew a seafood meal was in order, and other coastal details like shells might have to play a part on the table. I also knew, I wanted pink to be the other main color on the table and toyed with the idea of pink candles, napkins, peonies, or glassware.

I really wanted pink peonies for the table, but wasn't able to track any down, so opted for my other go-to: white hydrangeas. They have such a simple elegance, require no floral arranging skills, and last forever (our party was 3 weeks ago, and they're still going strong on the table!). Pink glasses gave a dose of pink to the table, as did my tobacco leaf china. 

The Staffordshire dogs had been moved from our mantle to the table while we had painters in the living room earlier in the week, so ended up on this tablescape somewhat by accident. I loved the way they looked mixed in with the shells and other decor, though. 

With all the colors and other elements on the table, I decided to stick with classic white linen napkins. These from our wedding are a favorite to use at dinner parties. One napkin is embroidered with my monogram and another is embroidered with Bryce's. I put these at the heads of the table, and the remaining napkins are plain. I never bother to iron my napkins. I think the wrinkles have their own kind of understated elegance and put people at ease and keep things from getting too stuffy. 

For menu, we started with a simple cheese and charcuterie board, thanks to Trader Joe's. Their apricot stilton and marcona almonds are two of my musts for cheese boards!

For the entree, I knew grilled shrimp over twirly pasta would fit the coastal theme. One of our guests is dairy free, so we opted for this dairy free pesto over angel hair. We topped it with grilled shrimp, charred cherry tomatoes, and toasted pine nuts. We also served my go-to arugula salad and bread.

Finally, for dessert, we served this Molten Chocolate Cake with Coconut Whipped Cream and Pistachios. In addition to being dairy free, it was also gluten free, paleo, and oh so delicious!

A wonderful night was had by all, and the marvelous company and pretty table, made all the dishes the next day well worth it!

Are you in a Supper Club?

What are your favorite summer eats?

Have a great (short) week!

Holiday Gift Guide: GENTS

Happy Hump Day friends!

I don't know about y'all, but I'm ready to gobble gobble and have some time off for the Thanksgiving holiday!

Thanks for some great feedback from the Ladies Guide on Monday (here, if you missed it!). I was glad to hear that many of you look forward to my guides each year, just as I do!

I'm excited today to be sharing the Gents Gift Guide with you today! Not gonna lie, I'm pretty proud of myself for making the time to actually get you this post today!

As always, this is inspired by Bryce and includes many of his own favorite belongings! Again, I condensed it down to one big guide and worked to include mostly items under $100! This post does include affiliate links, meaning I can earn a small commission if you click and make a purchase. Thanks for your support!

stanley thermos / whiskey pennant / multi-tool / garment bag / watch / 

orbiter sunglass retainer / cast iron skillet cookbook / hunter's tote bag / 

charging carabiner / wicked good slippers / sriracha beef jerky / facial fuel / 

quarter zip sweater / waterproof gloves / socks / chef's knife / rocks glasses /

bow tie / leather portfolio / collegiate needlepoint pillow / bottle opener /

chop wood matches / chukka boots / woven belt / fatwood / fatwood bucket

This list has me swooning! I've always had a type...good thing Bryce embodies it completely!

What do you tend to gift the men in your life?

After the expenses of the wedding and honeymoon, we've decided to keep things simple this year and just do some small stocking stuffers! 

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Wedding Inspiration

Hello Old Friends!

Remember little old me?

I can't believe this is just my second time posting in 2017! The window for a new year's post has come and gone, as has the window for a SIX year blogoversary post, BUT, my wedding is still 24 days away, so I don't think I've missed the window for a wedding inspiration post.

First things first, though, I can't say I haven't missed this space: I've missed it dearly, but when planning my new year's post that never was, I decided 2017 was going to be a year of, dare I say, apathy? No...that's not quite right, how about imperfection? Acquiescence? Unapologetic-ness?

You see, I think a part of the reason I never wrote that post was because, I couldn't find the right word to embody my goal for the year. I really wanted to choose one definitive word to drive my year ahead, yet, every word I came up with had a negative connontation. Let me tease it out for you. These words that came to mind - apathy, imperfection, acquiescence, unapologetic-ness - what they meant to me for 2017 was being more carefree, less of a perfectionist, accepting my limits, and not feeling bad about it.

I've never been shy in sharing that I'm a perfectionist (in fact, I mentioned it in one of my very first blog posts here), and while I think being a perfectionist has it's positives, it's also just plain exhausting!

As I embarked upon 2017, I knew that I'd have to be willing to cut myself some slack to stay sane whilst planning a wedding in six months, and managing a new job, that has been a great "career" move, but not the best "life" move.

All that being said, I never intended to abandon the blog to the extent I did, but it's one of the many balls I've had to decide not to juggle these last several months. I do miss the creativity, therapy, and connections blogging brings, but am grateful that I've been able to be an "Instagram-blogger" during my absence here.

So, unapologetically, that's where I've been. I'm hoping to be back more soon, but make no promises. I have lots of blog posts in the "queue," but then again this post has been in the queue, 75% written, since January. Apathy, imperfection, acquiescence, unapologetic-ness.

So without further adieu, here's my wedding inspiration post. I'm not going to adjust it too much from it's original version in January, but have a huge grin now at just how much I've accomplished since then. Pat on my own back? Don't mind if I do!

As you know, our engagement has been just over 6 months. I initially worried I might be crazy for choosing to have a short engagement, but things have all come together quite perfectly, albeit quickly!

If any of you are considering a shorter engagement I say go for it...if you already know what you want. For me, let's be real, Bryce and I have been together nearly six years, so I've been planning my wedding for years! It's really been just a matter of getting my ducks in a row and bringing my vision to life.

To set the backdrop, I'll first share our venue, the venue I've dreamed of for years: Tuckahoe Plantation. Not only is it the boyhood home of Thomas Jefferson himself, but it's also less than 20 minutes outside the city of Richmond, and just minutes from where I grew up! As you can imagine, it books up far in advance, so when June 3 was available I felt like it was fate! The crepe myrtle lined ceremony site is utterly gorgeous and reason enough to get married there (see here). We will have our cocktail hour in their main gardens, followed by a tented reception in front of the house itself. I am so giddy with excitement just typing these plans I've anticipated for so long!

Now what is this wedding I've been planning for years, you ask?

Let me show you...

When describing my wedding to vendors, friends, etc, I have shared that I envision a classic Southern garden soiree, but with a modern, fresh, and somewhat whimsical spin! Y'all know when it comes to fashion and interior design, I'm classic and traditional...with a twist...and I envision no less for my wedding day itself. Our colors are lilac and green with black, white, and gold accents. Oysters are also a bit of a theme. 

When I first wrote this post, I initially had drafted a "nitty gritty" section where I dove into a more detailed description of the different elements, but now that the wedding is so near, I'd rather let the specifics remain a surprise. I will share, however, that much of the inspiration board you see above remains on point with our final plan.

Any guesses what elements from the board will, or will not, be a part of our big day on June 3?

Have a great day!

Richmond Musts with Deep South Details

Happy Hump Day, readers!

Today is actually my "Friday" as I am headed to Charleston tomorrow for one of my best friend Anna's bachelorette party! I am feeling really sad about leaving our Millie girl, but know she will be in good hands with Bryce. I let him know that I expect lots of pictures of the baby throughout the weekend.

Today I am excited to share a recent interview I did with the Dana and Kendell of the podcast Deep South Details.

I first met Dana in April while at the Southern C Summit in Charleston. We had a great chat over cocktails at The Striped Pig Distillery. She was so down to earth and had me laughing while we talked. That being said, I was thrilled to hear from her partner in crime, Kendell a few weeks ago, asking me to come on the podcast to talk about Richmond. Since getting to know Kendell, she is just as much fun as Dana, and the two are certainly a dynamic duo.

Their timing was also perfect, as I am planning to launch a new series on the blog called "Richmond Musts" later this summer. So much is happening in my hometown, and I regularly get emails asking for Richmond recommendations. I thought a series devoted to all the fun happenings would be a great fit for the blog. In the interview I covered Must Eat, Must Drink, and Must Do as a sneak peek of what's to come in the series.

Click here to listen to my interview..I guarantee after listening to one episode of the Deep South Details you'll be hooked and wanting to listen to more. I love listening while I'm getting ready in the mornings.

You'll hear me spill all the details on the following favorite spots:

MUST EAT

Edo's Squid

Heritage

Shagbark (blog post here!)

MUST DRINK

Hardywood Park Craft Brewery

Ardent Craft Ales

Blue Bee Cider

Quirk Hotel

MUST DO

Maymont Park

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts or "VMFA" for short

Monument Avenue

I always find it funny hearing bloggers actual voices for the first time!

So tell me, what are some of the musts for YOUR hometown?

Have you listened to Deep South Details before?

What else would you like to see on my Richmond Musts list? So far the plan is to cover Must Eat, Must Drink, Must Do, and Must Shop. Anything else I should add?

Have a great day!

Southern Proper Summer Fun Giveaway

TGIF, my friends!

I hope this post finds you well. Still in the summer blogging swamp a bit over here, but I am enjoying staying connected through Instagram!

Today's post is an exciting one, though, that certainly pulled me out of my slump a bit: A collaboration AND giveaway with Southern Proper!

I've been a longtime Southern Proper fan for Bryce, but more recently have been loving their new women's line. It is full of classic, preppy pieces with the utmost attention to detail. You may remember I first mentioned the line in this Five on Friday post back in March.

Well, after that post, I had the pleasure of meeting some of the Southern Proper ladies, and seeing the line in person, while at the Southern C Summit in Charleston.

Let me tell you, the pieces were just as fabulous in person as they had looked on my computer screen! That being said, you can imagine I was thrilled when Ashley of Southern Proper reached out wanting to collaborate. Ashley was sweet enough to send some goodies for both me AND you!

When it came to me, I knew I had to have the Chambray Dessie Skirt...I have been eyeing it for months, y'all! Wanting to provide you with a full Southern Proper look, I decided to also feature the White Ansley Blouse and the oh so fun Striped Caroline Flats. I also accessorized with the SoPro Sunglasses that are a part of the giveaway!

I paired my Southern Proper look with a red lip, and coral necklace to provide a little pop!

My Clare V clutch is always a favorite and you know I love some pattern mixing! I thought it went great with the chambray and stripes!

Please tell me some of you fellow bloggers feel as awkward as me when taking fashion photos? I tip my hat off to the real fashion bloggers out there. It isn't easy! This is just one of many outtakes! Bryce is a great sport!

These SoPro sunglasses are so fun! They are made in Italy by Red's Outfitters and have fabulous gold detailing, while also being eco-friendly. They also came with a great protective pouch!

You can shop  my entire look here:

To talk fit and detailing, I'll share that the clothing fits pretty true to size. The top is made of a durable eyelet, that's breezy for the summer heat! I am wearing a medium, as I typically size up a bit in button downs to avoid the dreaded gaping that can happen in the bust area. The skirt is a great lightweight chambray and I am crazy about the buttons and scallops! I am wearing a 6. The flats run slightly large. I am a true size 8, but wear a 7.5 in these.

And now friends, the moment you've been waiting for...THE GIVEAWAY! I titled this giveaway the Southern Proper Summer Fun Giveaway and timed it after the 4th for a reason. I think I've mentioned here before that I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with the July 4th holiday. The hate piece comes in because I always feel like after the 4th, summer flies by! Can any of y'all relate? That being said, a full 8 weeks still stand between us and Labor Day, so there is still plenty of time for summer fun! Not to mention the fact that, those of us who live in the South can still enjoy summer weather through September, and sometimes even into October! The fun is just beginning!

For this giveaway, I worked with Southern Proper to come up with all the essentials you'd need for some summer fun. I had hoped to photograph the pieces while at the river this past weekend, but the weather had other plans. The giveaway, valued at $180.50 includes the SoPro Sunglasses, Party Time Beach Towel, Embroidered Coozie, and a Seersucker Hat. To enter the giveaway, use the Rafflecopter widget below. The winner will be announced a week from today on July 15th. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A HUGE thanks to Southern Proper for providing all of the pieces featured in this post!

What summer fun do you still have in store these next 8 weeks?

Have a great weekend!
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Shagbark Soft Opening

Happy Tuesday, readers!

Good weekend?

The most exciting part of ours was getting the chance to attend a soft opening at Bryce's stepbrother's new restaurant, Shagbark! We are so proud of his stepbrother, Walter, and let's just say the new restaurant did not disappoint!

We ate at a high top table in the bar area, and I have to say, it's my favorite space in the restaurant. There is lots of natural light, gorgeous grass cloth wallpaper, custom lighting, and stunning oil paintings!

The name Shagbark pays homage to a Shagbark Hickory Tree which was used to create the communal table in the restaurant. Our hightop was also cut from the Shagbark, as you can see above. The tree used for the project came from a property on the James River. It's important to mention this, because the entire restaurant pays homage to the bounty of Virginia. The shagbark tables, the art on the walls, and just about everything on the menu is hyper local, from right here in Virginia. 

We sipped on cocktails while salivating over the menu. Bryce had the Shagbark Sour pictured above and I had the Shagbark Smash.

We started with the Manakintowne Farms Squash Blossoms and Chicken Fried Chesapeake Bay Oysters. The squash blossoms, were fried with an herbed goat cheese, roasted peppers, tomato coulis and basil oil. The goat cheese reminded me of a creamy pimiento cheese and complimented the blossoms so well! We were also, as always, excited for Walter's oysters! He fries them up regularly at family dinners, so I was pleased to see how he put a restaurant spin on them. They were served with Byrd Mill stone ground grits, shoots & sprouts, dill pickle remoulade, and Tabasco butter. The oysters were scrumptious, and it was a real treat also getting to indulge in some grits!

For entrees, I ordered the Pan Roasted Carolina Grouper and Bryce chose the Autumn Olive Farms Berkabaw Pork Chop.

I can never resist a well prepared fish dish, and well prepared this certainly was! The grouper came with Victory Farms spring leeks, Florida rock shrimp, sweet corn, parmesan risotto, and champagne-citrus butter. I ate every bite.

Bryce's pork chop came with black sticky rice, roasted sweet potato, garlic broccolini, and lime-scented coconut curry broth. It was so juicy and good! 

And of course, we couldn't resist dessert! We shared the dark chocolate tart, which came with chocolate ganache, banana ice cream, and candied peanuts. It was heavenly and I especially can't wait to enjoy the banana ice cream again sometime soon!

Before leaving, I had to snap a photo of these gorgeous Shagbark panels!

To get the recipe for Walter's delicious chicken fried oysters, which was featured in Garden and Gun, click here. 

You can read an additional Garden and Gun spread from a couple of years ago, featuring Walter, as well as several other top Southern chefs here. The piece, titled "For Love of the Game" shares a hunt on the same James River farm where the Civil War-era Shagbark Hickory in the restaurant originally grew.

And last, but not least, my favorite piece leading up to Shagbark's debut, can be read here.

For those of you in the Richmond area, Shagbark officially opens to the public for dinner service tomorrow. However, the restaurant is unofficially open to the public tonight. If you're in the mood for an amazing meal tonight, stop by! Your tastebuds will not regret it!

Are you a local?

What are your favorite Richmond eateries?

Have a great day!

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Cru Cafe

Happy Monday readers!

I hope you had a great weekend! I took a little needed blog break last week. I had social obligations almost every  night and the thought of writing blog posts on top of them was just too overwhelming. I'm excited to be back in my groove this week!

Did y'all have a good weekend?

Mine was great! I took a personal day on Friday to unwind after my busy week. I logged a run in the morning, and then headed to the pool with a girlfriend for the rest of the day! That night, we had an impromptu double date night with our friends Emily and Frank. We both had planned to stay in, cooking our Blue Apron miso-glazed wings, so we decided to combine food and forces to enjoy the night together! Saturday I headed to a baby shower for Bryce's cousin and that night we had a date night. We decided to take a chance getting a seat at the bar of our favorite date night spot, Edo's Squid, and were pleasantly surprised when a prime table by the window was available sans reservations! Yesterday we went to brunch and then headed to my coworker Joanne's to celebrate her sweet baby boy Oliver's 1st birthday. After the party we had leftovers for dinner and went for a nice long walk. It was the perfect weekend in my eyes--a great mix of fun with friends, as well as downtime!

Today I am excited to be sharing one of the highlights of my Charleston trip with you: Dinner at Cru Cafe.

After a big trip, I am always overwhelmed by the the amount of pictures and activities to share here on the blog, but this meal was absolutely amazing, and a "must post" for sure!

Thanks to the recommendation of Ashley of Sweet Southern Prep, we decided to visit Cru Cafe. This restaurant is a secret gem in Charleston and a little bit off the beaten path! Erin (my bestie and travel buddy-see her blog here) and I had both hit some of the big Charleston hot spots on past visits, so we were excited to try a new place! Meg of the blog Borrowed Heaven, also joined us and it was certainly a meal and experience to remember!

When you arrive at Cru, you automatically feel like you are sitting down to dinner in a close friend's home. The atmosphere is casual and bright. 

I loved the giant whisk mounted above this bar seating area 

that is open to the kitchen!

After getting comfortable and taking a few sips from your beverage of choice, prepare to be amazed by the drool worthy menu! Cru has a great selection of classic Southern fare, tailored to the freshest low country ingredients available, as well as an eclectic mix of additional menu items with Asian and Caribbean influences.

I was delighted to be eating with Erin and Meg, who both wanted to try as many different items from the menu as I did! We decided to order quite the assortment of small plates, sides, and entrees to sample quite a bit of the menu.

Service was also impeccable! Our waiter was so friendly and had great knowledge of the menu. The chef, coincidentally named Erin, was also fabulous! She came out to speak with us multiple times: sharing both her story, as well as the history behind Cru. We were delighted when she sent out the amuse-bouche above as a surprise! It's tough to find shrimp that lovely or tasty outside of the low country!

Next up, we couldn't resist sharing the four cheese macaroni! If you've read my bio on the sidebar, you know I am quite the mac and cheese lover...and this baked cheesy goodness did not disappoint! 

As the last of our starters, we shared the Seared Nantucket Scallop small plate, which came with spatzle, Italian sausage, and shrimp. Scallops might be my absolute favorite shellfish and these were oh so tasty!

For entrees, I chose the Shrimp Special du Jour (when in Charleston, right?); Meg chose the Grilled Basil Shrimp Pasta, and Erin chose the General Tsos Brussel Sprouts and Truffle Parmesan Fries.

After all of our indulging, I was glad to choose something a bit on the lighter side as my entree. Arugula is hands down my favorite salad green and I didn't feel like I was sacrificing any flavor by going with a lighter option!

Meg's pasta was comfort food at its finest! I'm a sucker for orecchiette, and this was filled with peas, mushroom, basil, and shrimp, all in a cheesy, creamy sauce! Yes, please!

Erin's fries were also a treat and were served with a yummy aioli!

Finally, we were blown away by the General Tsos Brussel Sprouts. They were cooked perfectly and literally tasted just like General Tsos Chicken! 

With full bellies, we snapped a picture in the kitchen with Chef Erin before leaving!

Cru Cafe is most definitely a "MUST" when it comes to Charleston eats! I cannot wait to take Bryce on our next trip!

To check out some of my other favorite Charleston dining experiences, check out my "Charleston Eats" post here.

Have you dined at Cru Cafe before?

What are some of your favorite Charleston spots?

Have a great day!

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Mantel Refresh

Happy Friday readers!

I don't know about y'all, but I'm ready for the weekend!

This 4 day week has felt like a 6 or 7 day week!

Those of you that follow along on Instagram know that I did a little mantel refreshing this week. You may remember from this post, exactly a year ago, that our mantel is one of the spots in our home that I've struggled with. I dream of someday having a big mirror or marsh painting to hang above a mantel flanked by a fabulous pair of ginger jars, in the meantime while that's not yet a reality, I've found myself constantly tinkering with it to find a "right now" style that I love.

Those of you that have followed along for a while also know that I love to play around and redecorate while Bryce is traveling. He's been out of town, so inevitably I found myself playing with the mantel earlier this week to kill time...and I finally think I found a style I love!

Ready to see?

It all started with the  modern blue and white vase and hosta leaves on the left. I love the tropical vibe that some big green leaves add to a space. I'm big on symmetry...or the illusion of symmetry by two pieces that balance each other. I had our Alison Evans oyster plate on the right and thought the vase might provide the balance needed.

When the balance wasn't quite working, I tried to figure out what might also provide an additional illusion of symmetry and brought out the Jefferson cups on each end, as I've been wanting to find a place to display this collection. They have been stored in our corner cabinet, somewhat hidden by our oyster plates, for quite some time because I hadn't figured out a better space for them! 

The oyster plate still wasn't quite working, so I decided to give up on making it work on the mantel and starting roaming the house looking for a blue and white piece to flank the other side! I had honestly forgotten about this vase I found antiquing on the Outer Banks several years ago, because it's been styled on a bookshelf in the sun room for so long! I thought it worked perfectly, especially once I added the leaves and shells.

I then brought in the remaining silver collection, and grabbed these candlesticks off the dining room table. I knew fresh cut blooms would be the perfect finishing touch! If only they were available year round!

Here are some detail shots:

Green is an accent color throughout our home and I love the fun pop these bright candles provide!

I really love that this is a "his and hers" space. We are able to pay homage to Bryce's VMI education with the art and sword, the silver is a mixed collection with pieces that belong to the both of us, the flowers come from the garden Bryce lovingly tends to for me, and the rest of the styling, the blue and white pieces and pops of colors, are particularly me!

You can get the look yourself by shopping below:

How is your mantel styled?

What are the "problem spots" for decorating in your home?

Do you mix things up as often as I do?

Have a great day!

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