What I'm Loving Wednesday -- Birthday Edition

Well, tomorrow I turn 24. For some reason, 24 feels quite a bit older than 23. Perhaps that's because I'm just so much more wise and experienced now. (Do you hear that Mom?) Anyway, here's what I'm loving today. 

1. My awesome boyfriend.  Goose Creek was up for restaurant review last night in my Patch.com rounds. No one wanted to drive to try this cute little Cuban place with me. For awhile, it looked like I'd be dining solo. My boyfriend volunteered to be my date as well as my passenger seat navigator. Unfortunately, the restaurant was closed when we got there. Closed for business permanently, in fact, but the fact that he, a non-foodie, volunteered to try something that wasn't exactly within his comfort zone earned him major brownie points.

The candy bar is actually called "Annabelle's Big Hunk" 

2. Trader Joe's. Currently can't get enough of:

Barbeque Popped Potato Chips: not baked or fried these babies are the perfect substitute for BBQ potato chips!

I'm a sucker for Indian food. This curried eggplant is very flavorful, addictive and totally vegetarian.

Chile and Garlic Edamame are little healthy flavor bombs. A nice break from the normal sea salt edamame pods.

3. This photograph was taken during my roommate's birthday. I'm being fed a baked yam. Who knew an iPhone camera could make this happen? (We're thinking it was the simultaneous taking of two photos-- one with a flash and one without that caused this.)

4. Emma, who has become more and more like my own dog. She spent Thanksgiving with me and my family this year. She's so sweet and a total ham-- what's not to love?

What I'm Loving Wednesday

I found this video courtesy of stumbleupon. If this doesn't inspire you to taste new things, try new restaurants and expand your understanding of the world with your palate, then I don't know what's wrong with you!


EAT from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

What I'm Loving Wednesday

This week is going by quickly, which is both good and bad. I'm supposed to be packing up my apartment little by little this week (and next) because I'm moving in less than 2 weeks! I haven't started packing yet. I hate moving.


On a happier note, here's what I'm loving this Wednesday.


1. I'm trying out a new acupuncture place, Charleston Community Acupuncture, in West Ashley this morning. I fully believe in and have experienced the benefits of acupuncture. It helps me manage stress and work out injuries. This place is great for people who don't have a lot of extra cash (me). They've got a sliding payment scale. You pay what you can afford, an indicator that the practitioners actually care that you get better. 






2. Sunday late afternoon the bf and I decided to kick the soccer ball around, neither of us being very good. Out of nowhere two latino teenagers appeared and so a pick up game of soccer began. I, proudly, ran circles around all of them (and secretly thought I might be sick). It was so much honest fun we're doing it again this Sunday.


3. My Nuun water bottle! It's the perfect size! It's squeezable! Great for when you've been working out hard and don't want to, well, suck? 

What I'm Loving Wednesday

I’m doing another ‘What I’m Loving Wednesday’ post because today hasn’t been the best day—I woke up feeling nauseous, my ex-boyfriend called me before my first cup of coffee (weird) and I had a mind numbing grueling project to finish at work. I’m choosing to highlight the good things and ignore the weird and not-so-good.

1. Matt Nathanson's newest euphonic creation, Modern Love. Songs "Run" and "Faster" are on repeat (especially today). His soothing voice and relatable and occasionally blush-worthy honest lyrics smooth over even the grayest of days.

2. My soon-to-be-roommate (again) Alex. She and I lived together for one glorious year (my junior, her senior) in college. We have more hilarious stories from that one year than many have in their entire lifetimes. 

This afternoon she shared with me the one story that made me laugh all day:

Alex: "So, last weekend I was out having had a few drinks. This man approaches me and asks, 'What's your name?!' I respond with, 'Beyoncé!'"

Clearly.

3. President Obama's Effective Use of Social Media. As a public relations and social media professional it's always encouraging to witness when social media platforms, like Twitter and Facebook, are put to use beyond alerting users what you ate for lunch. Though I didn't vote for him, Obama did what I wish so many businesses, representatives, politicians and professionals would: engage with followers about meaningful issues, concerns and topics.

What I'm Loving Wednesday

Yep, I'm giving in and doing one of these "What I'm Loving Wednesday" posts.


1. Tonight my boyfriend and I went to the Bar Jam at Awendaw Green to see our friend, George, play. He was great-- as much as he doesn't like to hear it he really does sound like John Mayer! I suggest anyone in the Charleston, S.C. take a trip to this fantastic, laid-back and nostalgic venue for a visit. As soon as I sat down, I realized how perfect a sweet iced tea would be sitting beneath the old oaks listening to the singers and songwriters soundtrack the twilight. The boyfriend left "to use the restroom" but came back instead with two of my favorite things: peanut M&Ms and, yes, a sweet iced tea. 


2. I had Kraft macaroni and cheese for dinner. It was a throwback to my college days and, man, was it gooooooood.


3. I wish you all could have seen the face my boyfriend made when he saw that I was reading the following article. (FYI: It's not what you think.)

That's all for tonight, folks! What are you loving this Wednesday?