Well we got home a little early from our “big night out”—its only 10:30 and we are in our pjs and ready for bed! Guess we are turning into old ladies! Here’s a recap 🙂
This afternoon Christie and I literally walked Charleston up and down.
We were gone for 3 1/2 hours! We walked all the way down to the water and stopped in some cute boutique stores along the way. I got a refill on my favorite perfume EVER at the Gap (and yes, I still wear the same scent as I did when I was 14)—
I adore this scent and this little bottle was only $4.50! Can’t beat the good ol’ Gap.
We stopped and each got a tiny chocolate macaroon and I got an iced tea…..it was quite hot!!
And then by the market the man at the candy store was handing out candied pecan samples!
Seriously, its so hard to be in Charleston and not shop till you drop; the stores here are a-m-a-z-i-n-g. Especially the shoe stores. We must have gone into at least a dozen stores but we really didn’t buy too much. I got my perfume and some exfoliating face wash from The Body Shop (I will be doing a skin care post in the near future since you all expressed interest!).
On our long walk home we stopped at FreshBerry, which seemed to be like the ever popular PinkBerry, and I got a small vanilla yogurt with gummi bears, blackberries and raspberries—
Delicious but I didn’t finish it because I really wasn’t that hungry anyway (need to work on intuitive eating, Jenna!) and wanted to be hungry for dinner!
When we got home, we were super girly and applied Christie’s new tea tree oil face mask from The Body Shop to start getting ready for our big night on the town.
For dinner instead of the original place I had picked out, we decided to just go to one of my favorite little hole-in-the-walls here, Fast & French. This tiny French cafe was near my old house when I lived here and I’ve spent many an evening and morning eating fondue, drinking their $3.75 glasses of French wine (best deal in town) or having a cup of authentic French press coffee.
Its a small place that most tourists would look over but if you are in Charleston and want a great, authentic French meal that is very affordable, look here! All entrees are less that $20 and, like I said, wine is less that $4 a glass. For lunch, I love their open faced sandwiches (the goat cheese tartine was my personal fave) and a cup of their house-made ginger punch. Actually, one time when I had a horrible case of the flu while living here I ordered their ginger punch by the gallon and now I can’t really even smell the stuff but its good!
Christie and I each started out with a Kir, my favorite apertif. A Kir is just a mix of house white wine with a splash of cassis but it always tastes like France to me!
And then we split our favorite, escargots!!!!! 🙂
Ah yes, I know what you are thinking. Snails!! But these little critters are marvelous drenched in garlic butter. What isn’t marvelous drenched in garlic butter though? I fell in love with these when Christie and I were on a cruise a few years ago and then my mom and I would order then at Parisian bistros. You just have to get over the fact that they are snails and admit they are luscious.
As for my dinner, I ordered a bowl of the soup du jour, which was spicy tomato, and an open faced vegetarian sandwich provencal
This sandwich was wonderful! It was a toasty French baguette with one half smeared with black olive tapenade and the other with goat cheese. Topped with a tomato and fresh torn basil leaves. This might be my perfect sandwich!
I also had a glass of house red with dinner (love that $3.50 wine!)
After dinner we weighed our options. Dessert or drinks. Obviously we picked dessert. Our initial plan WAS to go out to a bar but we both were really tired from walking literally all day long (and me from my yoga!) and just decided to call it a night. Clearly we aren’t 18 anymore 🙁
I had the most divine dark chocolate bear claw, which was pecans and caramel drizzled in dark chocolate!
And then on our six block walk home we got a little silly.
Clearly we don’t need alcohol to have a good time! 😉
As I said before, its only 10:30 and we are getting ready for lights out. Tomorrow we are getting up by 8 though and heading across the street to the famous Saturday morning Farmer’s Market to have breakfast and mill around. Midmorning our friend, Alissa, from high school is driving over from Charlotte to spend the day with us at the beach! I haven’t seen Alissa in about five years so I can’t wait to catch up. And then tomorrow afternoon we are meeting up with one of my friends from college for a glass of wine. Busy, busy, busy! But lots of fun—the weekend is flying by!
And finally: GOOD LUCK MEGHANN!!!!!!!!!!!! I can’t even express in words how proud I am of this girl! She is going to totally rock her marathon tomorrow! Love you, girl!
Mara @ What's For Dinner?
May 29, 2009 at 9:05 pmWhat an absolutely fun day!! I haven’t been able to “go out” like I used to for YEARS now! 10:30 is a late night 🙂
Kristin @ Iowa Girl Eats
May 29, 2009 at 9:16 pmWhat an AWESOME day Jenna! Love that dress by the way 🙂 I definitely cannot go out like I used to, it’s like a light switch has been flipped or something…I don’t mind too much though, because I definitely don’t miss the headaches in the morning! Have a fabulous day tomorrow!
Alison
May 29, 2009 at 9:22 pmI love escargot too- divine!
Courtney (The Hungry Yogini
May 29, 2009 at 9:23 pmHOW MUCH FUN!!! I hear ya, I have more fun without the alcohol too =) What can I say, I have an old soul!
You look so happy in all your pics. I’m glad you are having such a great time. All of the food looks wonderful too!
Enjoy your “big night in!”
*Andrea*
May 29, 2009 at 9:24 pmyou and christie are so pretty! sounds like a lovely weekend. i’m glad you’re enjoying it so much 🙂
Hangry Pants
May 29, 2009 at 9:26 pmI am glad you are having such a great time with your best friend. Definitely necessary. Love your dress!
Oh and I think meghann is running sunday. 😀
Michelle Hisae
May 29, 2009 at 9:27 pmYou guys are so cute together! Dynamic duo, it looks like. Where in the world did you get that dress? It’s FABULOUS!
Suzanne
May 29, 2009 at 9:27 pmI’m totally the same way. It’s not that I don’t want to drink anymore, I just can’t stay up late! I think once you get into a strict sleep schedule it’s hard to break it, even for one night. Charleston seems like such a great city! My best friend’s little brother goes to CofC and loves it!
Amanda
May 29, 2009 at 9:34 pmSounds like another absolutely awesome day! Yoga, walking shopping, wine/good food, and your bff!!
Help Meghan Run
May 29, 2009 at 9:40 pmThat looks awesome! 🙂 And the dress is super cute, have fun tomorrow.
www. HelpMeghanRun .com
Jocelyn
May 29, 2009 at 10:02 pmooo that bearclaw looks so good lol
This place looks so cute..I would really love to visit a few places like this during a good old fashioned usa tour 😛
The french restaurant looks cute too!
Angelea (Cabin Fever Feast)
May 29, 2009 at 10:15 pmWhat a lovely day!
French Press Coffee…$3.50 wine…love it!
Rebecca
May 29, 2009 at 10:38 pmI love your blog. It’s very inspiring. I am trying to lose weight and lead a healthy lifestyle. Yours and a few other blogs have motivated me to start my own! Just wanted to say thanks!! 🙂
Caroline
May 29, 2009 at 10:39 pmI’ve never been to Charleston, but you’re making me want to visit! Looks like you had a blast today.
Sarah (LovIN My Tummy)
May 29, 2009 at 11:49 pmI’ve heard all the girls in Charleston are super cute…you went and proved it. Gosh, I sound like a dirty old man.
Meghann
May 29, 2009 at 11:51 pmThanks Jenna!! 🙂 The marathon is actually on Sunday 🙂 Glad you are having a grat time on you spur of the moment vacay!
Run Sarah
May 29, 2009 at 11:53 pmLove the photos! The face masks look like fun too 🙂
Liza
May 30, 2009 at 12:11 amYum, je t’aime escargot aussi. 😀 Is that a tattoo I see?!
bobbi
May 30, 2009 at 1:33 amyou ladied are too cute!!! I love all the fun pics, I love girls nights 🙂
Lola
May 30, 2009 at 3:10 amI love your dress, Jenna!!
Annie D.
May 30, 2009 at 5:05 amYou’ve really made me want to go to Charleston!!! I’ve never been there before but it looks lovely!!!
polly
May 30, 2009 at 5:49 amLOVE all the pics, Jenna! You and your bff are so cute, especially that last pic… a framer for sure. 😉 So glad you are having fun and getting some room to breathe this weekend. Sometimes that is just what we need. Blessing to you, cute Charleston girl! Have a fun weekend and know that Pol is always praying and sending massive hugs. 🙂 XOXO
Gina
May 30, 2009 at 6:09 amI love spicy tomato, it’s one of my favorite soups. Your ice cream with gummy bears gave me a flash back of my childhood. I used to gummy bears as my topping at a nearby frozen yogurt shop….yum!
Coco Knudson
May 30, 2009 at 6:17 ammmm that chocolate macaroon reminds me of the one I had in paris. I went to the macaroon shop that used to make the same macaroons for queen elizabeth. Your skin is so clear and fresh!!! I would love to know your skin care routine!!!
Sarah
May 30, 2009 at 6:21 amDon’t worry, I’m becoming an old person too! I stayed up until 11 last night and I felt like a rebel, haha. Love the pics, glad you are enjoying yourself 😉
Caitlin
May 30, 2009 at 6:48 amJenna, where did you get the pink and white bag you are carrying? I LOVE it!
Recipes for Creativity
May 30, 2009 at 7:16 amThat looks like so much fun! You are making me want to go visit Charleston so badly! It’s only 4.5 hours from my house, I can’t believe I’ve only been once. Sigh.
K
May 30, 2009 at 7:20 amLooks like you girls had a great day! That sandwich sounds incredible!! Hey, I’m tired by 10:30 too so it’s okay that you guys came in early 😉
Nicole
May 30, 2009 at 7:24 amYou are making want to pack up and go to Chareston right this second! It looks like you girls are having a great time.
emily
May 30, 2009 at 7:36 amI have always wanted to visit Charleston and this post made me even more frantic to get there! The little spots all look amazing. I can stay out late still but if I drink it pretty much puts me to bed!
spicygranola
May 30, 2009 at 7:57 amBeautiful post. I want to try a kir so bad. I love cassis! Do you know how much is added to the wine? I might give it a whirl and whip up some french food sometime (while listening to Yelle, have you heard their song Ce Jeu? It is awesome!)
katie s
May 30, 2009 at 8:05 amI totally want to go to Charlestown now, Jenna! It looks like a fantastic city!! Looks like you’re having a great time too!
Jess
May 30, 2009 at 8:21 amWhat great fun! I adore escargot. When you get back to Tampa you have to try it at Ceviche, so yum. Enjoy the rest of your trip and travel home safe!
Emily L.
May 30, 2009 at 8:37 amGrowl, now i miss my college besties more than ever! Enjoy.
Caitlin
May 30, 2009 at 8:45 amlooking forward to your skincare post!
Ashbee
May 30, 2009 at 11:03 amI love Charleston… it’s such a cute place!
I love the penguin on your ice-tea 🙂
Sarah
June 1, 2009 at 7:54 amI wear So Pink, too! Love it. It smells wonderful.
Sounds like such a fun trip!
jperonto
June 2, 2009 at 6:57 amOMG I live downtown and I dance with Charleston Ballet Theatre here! I soooo wanted to leave a comment and somehow meet you hehe but my internet wasn’t working. I would’ve loved for you to come to one of our shows! So great to see a blogger with pictures of places you see everyday. Awesome posts!