Yoga Under the Oaks

Last week, I was counting my blessings while laying under the oak trees at Charles Towne Landing. It's a pretty peaceful setting. Tucked in the back of a beautiful historic state park, Yoga Under the Oaks happens a few times each spring and fall. Each session is followed by a happy hour at the Legare-Waring House. Practicing yoga never felt so good.

Charles Towne Landing is located at the exact spot where Charleston's first settlers landed on the Ashley River. It's hard not to be taken back a bit by the history that surrounds you when you are on the centuries-old site.

The total cost of the class is $10 and admission to Charles Towne Landing is waived for those participating in the class. After the class is over, nosh on a few bites from Coastal Craft & Cru Food Truck. The light happy hour included a Mediterranean Salad and a cool glass of Pinto Gris served from the side of a 1956 Ford F600 truck.   

The birds were chirping throughout the trees during our session. The scenery was inspiring. I left feeling relaxed and energized at the same time. The next class is July 8, but check here for more upcoming dates.

Sweet Sweet Tea

This week we apparently celebrated National Iced Tea Day and National Seersucker Day. It seems we're on a roll with the fun southern holidays. I'm guessing National Fried Chicken Day isn't too far off.

If there's one thing I love, it's sweet tea. I've been known to sit on the porch and drink a whole gallon throughout a weekend. Whether you dress it up with a sprig of mint, a slice of lemon, or a splash of bourbon—it's delicious all day long.

True sweet tea is made with tea, sugar, and water. Don't let anyone tell you to add baking soda; that is a myth that is pointless and silly. If you want to brew your batch with local tea, use Charleston Tea Planation American Classic Tea from Wadmalaw Island. It's simply the best.

C'mere and Give Me Some Sugar

Y'all are sweet as pie. C'mere and give me some sugar. These are a few things my sweet grandmomma says all the time. My grandmother can bless your heart in the most sincere way. Completely different than the way folks are saying it nowadays. The minute you tell her something unfortunate, she's blessing your heart. Like a little songbird, she's going around making a melody with her southern sayings. When we were little she'd start singing "A Bushel and a Peck" or "Hush, Little Baby" as soon as she could convince us it was bedtime.

Sweet as Pie - Odd Daughter Paper Co.

I intended to write about cards, but these sayings are bringing up memories of visits to my grandparents house. It makes me want to whip up some creamed corn and butter beans. Or just make a giant glass of sweet tea. As for the cards, my granddaddy will be receiving the card with the jam jar on his next birthday. He's been putting up peaches and pears for as far back as we can remember. 

Belle and Union

Belle and Union is one of my favorite stationary companies. I featured them here last year, but they're still cranking out amazing pieces. The folks behind Belle and Union have a story that will make you want to grab your valentine. He's a soldier, and she's an artist. He's a yankee boy, and she's a Southern Belle. Together they make gorgeous cards in Texas.

The South Print - HardInk Calligraphy

I love this print by HardInk Calligraphy. I'm really starting to think I should make a gallery wall with my favorite southern prints. These pieces are way too pretty to send off and never see again. It'd make for an inspiring office wall, and day-dreaming of my sweet grandparents would be pretty awesome too.

A Day at the Museum

A few weeks ago, I went to the Gibbes Museum of Art to see their newest exhibit, "Photography and the American Civil War". This collection is currently on loan from the Metropolitan Museum of Art and will head to the New Orleans Museum of Art in January. 

Gibbes Museum of Art

Truthfully, the Gibbes Museum is a work of art itself. She's been standing since 1905, and her best kept secret is the Tiffany dome in the Rotunda. The blue and green stained glass is gorgeous and should not be missed. 

Tiffany Dome, Gibbes Museum Rotunda

The exhibit was amazing and thought-provoking. History is far more exciting to me when I can find a way to relate to it. Well, 150 years ago Charleston was a tough place. Life was much harder back then, and these photographs illustrate what we already know; war is never pretty. 

Photography was in it's early stages during the Civil War. Photographs were made with glass negatives and had to be processed on-site in a tent like the one pictured below. 

[Picture Gallery Photographs] Unknown, American

I can't imagine gathering my photo supplies and trekking across the Charleston Harbor to take wartime photos. We go fishing in the Charleston Harbor, and I can promise you it would be a very rough boat ride back then; especially with cannons being fired overhead.

Terre-plein off the Gorge, Fort Sumter Alma A. Pelot (American, active Charleston, South Carolina, 1850s–1860s)

Hopkinson's Plantation, Edisto Island, South Carolina Henry P. Moore (American, 1833–1911)

Bonaventure Cemetery, Four miles from Savannah George N. Barnard (American 1819-1902)

While the photographs are gruesome and sad, the real story for me was that they even exist. With over 200 original photographs, it's hard to believe these pieces have been preserved for so many generations. The Lowcountry is a constant landscape in the story that unfolds, and the exhibit certainly made gave me a greater appreciation for this area. If you are looking for a uniquely Charleston excursion, head to the Gibbes Museum to see this unbelievable collection. 

Setting Trends Down South

The face of the South is changing. And the days of over-buttering your biscuits for a little publicity are starting to dwindle. Don't get me wrong. My Georgia family knows how to butter their biscuits, but it ain't for show. Lately, the more genuine South has been catching the eye of the nation. Is this a change in our makeup, or just a change in our PR? 

Top 15 Home Decor Trendsetters From the South

I was reminded last week about how much we Southerners value our reputation. Thanks to Pamela Berger and The Huffington Post, we're looking pretty good in her article, Top 15 Home Decor Trendsetters From the South. Check out these amazing artists doing their thing, and making a name for themselves. And check out Pamela's blog while you're at it: Sweet Peach Blog.

Belle Maison Art

Art is such a personal purchase, and it's one you will live with everyday. Sometimes I struggle with balancing different types of art in my house. I get excited about one medium, just to realize it might be dominating the other pieces. I currently have four illustrations of fish in my living room, and now I am drawn to these gorgeous prints by Belle Maison Art. 

Antique Crab Plate 1903

Vintage British Seaweed Series 1839

Antique Seashells 1800's

I've been looking for some office art and these pieces are just right. I especially love the crab print. The Rainbow Swimming Crab is a much sassier version of the Lowcountry Blue Crab I know and love. I can't imagine catching a mess of those little rainbows. It would certainly add some color to the next crab boil! I've also been on the hunt for a good oyster illustration… but that's obviously an entirely different obsession.

Bright Ideas

If there's any doubt that summer has arrived, a trip to the Charleston Farmer's Market will confirm it. Yesterday it was almost too warm to enjoy a popsicle without it melting down your hand. Of course, I ended up with another mint plant. I consistently use mine at a rate that is not healthy for keeping plants alive. Check out the beautiful fresh flowers we spotted at the Thackeray Farms booth. I love the colors that pop out when summer days start heating up. 

I've been thinking of bright colors and listening to beach music all weekend. I pulled together an inspiration board with some of my favorite seasonal items. The doormat is hand-woven in Maine by mariners, and is made from reclaimed lobster trap rope. They come in so many different colors, it's hard to choose which one is best. Pillows are always an easy update for your outdoor area. This year I'm learning to buy good outdoor pillows. Using an indoor pillow on the porch is not a very good long-term solution. 

The ice cream scoop and latte bowls make me want to sit back with a big helping of sorbet and one of those seersucker napkins. Nothing says summer quite like seersucker. I'm in love with the beige and coral ones. 

1. Maine Rope Float Doormat 2. Mini Latte Bowls

3. Sonar Outdoor Pillow 4. Metal Ice Cream Scoop 5. Seersucker Napkins

I hope you're enjoying the warmer weather. Cheers to a happy summer!