Thanksgiving on the Rocks

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Having moved farther away from home, the holidays have become even more special this season. Luckily, I had just 48 hours to hop down to my hometown just in time for some family fun!

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I couldn’t wait to join my loved ones at the lake. It was so great to see my sisters and parents, but no trip would be complete without my puppies! My mom proudly showed off her new water features, as more family trickled in.

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After everyone’s arrival, we were all treated to a fabulous lakeside lunch. I was thankful to share some sweet tea and sunshine with my sisters. The highlight was listening to my Gramie’s silly stories as the sun set.

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And no great day is complete without the perfect ensemble. I stayed warm on this windy day, outfitted in my Burberry poncho and my luxe leather accessories gidled with gold accents. What a wonderful time to wish you all Happy Fall!

Riding Boots: Naturalizer  .  Burberry Style Poncho: Burberry

Accessories: Vintage .  Jeans: Vineyard Vines

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New Zealand Week 1

Starting off on our adventure, it was not as glamorous as you would think. Cruising out of Hawaii, we made it to the airport. Unfortunately we didn’t quite make the plane, as we just missed the cut off for our flight. To make the best of it, we ate and drank our way through the next 8 hours until the next one arrived. It was another 9+ more hours on the plane until we made it to our final destination, New Zealand.

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It was a rough start, but I knew it could only go up from there. Once we arrived after our all-nighter, we jumped right into party mode, as it was time to get the barbie fired up for our BBQ at sunset. We loaded up on wine and played meet and greet on no sleep with friends and family. I felt right at home sharing stories and plates with my newfound friends.

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The next day we set out to tour the town. We started off by bringing mince (beef) pies from the bakery to the beach. This was the start of my sampling of N. Zed’s delish delicacies. Later on, we made our way back to town for a mid-day matinee.

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Not long after that, we were off to the Mount. My boyfriend’s family has a huge apartment overlooking the beach, the perfect destination to party with our local peeps. We had a few beers and headed to the Pizza Library, a funky joint with quirky character and pies named after school time storybooks.

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The next day we brunched at Café 88 with friends, where I went out of American comfort by adding organic coke and bubble and squeak (similar to hash browns) to my meal. The greenhouse type vibe was nice, until our friends got plopped on by birds!

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To brighten up the rainy day, I set out for the shops. By my surprise, I found some fab fashion. It was so refreshing hunting through haute stores in another country, because everything is new to you. I spotted this chic piece at a local boutique, Alice & Co, and could not pass it up!

For more of my vacay, stay tuned for week 2 of my New Zealand adventure…

 

No Time Like Tea Time

Every year, the ladies of Rock Hill gather at the Women’s Club for the oh-so elegant, Christmasville Tea. My grandmother has forever been a member of the club, and it is always a treat to make it in town to visit her for the event. I was happy to have my parents join us as well.

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Upon entering, we were greeted by charming carolers singing along the stairway. Tables were topped with vintage lace and tasty tea. We were served rounds of savory sweets, starting with biscuits and jam, followed by salty sandwiches, and completed with sweet treats.

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I never leave the ladies without a side-trip to the Sugarplum Shop. They have an adorable array of local artwork and gifts, perfect for Santa’s stocking stuffers. This is one of my favorite Christmasville events, and I can’t wait to see what the rest of this holiday season has in store!

Event: 10th Annual Victorian Teas and Sugar Plum Boutique at Christmasville

Location: Women’s Club of Rock Hill

Dress: French Connection

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Family and Friendsgiving

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This year I am thankful I was able to spend Thanksgiving with both friends and family, and have some seriously fabulous food.

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The Palm Avenue ladies and I hosted our first ‘Friendsgiving’ and I must say, we were beyond proud of our holiday spread. This was also my first time tracking down a turkey, but after all the trouble,  it certainly made a great centerpiece. Each girl brought their best traditional dish to the table, from hush puppy stuffing to momma’s mac and cheese.

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Just when I thought we were all stuffed, there was still just a smidgen of space for dessert. Of course I had to make my famous Pilgrim Hat Cookies, a festive reincarnation of the with hat cookies featured in my previous posts.

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The best part had to be spending the holiday with my fabulous family. My Gramie hosted the gathering at her house in my hometown of Rock Hill, and we all left with full hearts and full bellies!

Hostesses: Kristen Kutchey and Peggy Angel           Pilgrim Hat Cookies: The Prep In Pink

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