After years of talking about it, we finally made it to Saskatoon for Chris’s birthday. The name says it all. Think hunting lodge with lofty ceilings and wood as far as the eye can see. There was even a wooden grizzly bear at the entrance and a fireplace in the foyer. This place is the…
Papi’s Tacos
After checking out this small restaurant, I now think of the Saturday Night Live sketch with Chris Farley shouting about “living in a van down by the river” when it comes to mind but I digress this is a food blog. I heard of Papi’s a few years ago when it was mentioned in an…
Burgers and Bakery (Spartanburg, SC)
Chris was chomping at the bit to try out Burgers & Bakery. He heard about it from a co-worker and thought it sounded like our kind of place. One Saturday, we started off towards Spartanburg. The restaurant is located very close to the Spartanburg city limits. If you aren’t looking for the turn, you’ll miss…
St. Elmo Steak House (Indianapolis, IN)
During Thanksmas (Thanksgiving + Christmas) in Indiana, we decided to check out the famed St. Elmo Steak House in downtown Indianapolis. Chris made reservations. He found a tip about buying a gift card and then using it to pay to get a discount (20% off) that did save us money but be prepared to spend…
The Lazy Goat
Now that we are in our eighth year of marriage, we are running out of new spots to try for major holidays. There is a good bit of turnover in the #yeahTHATgreeenville restaurant scene so there are always new places to try but not places on the anniversary/birthday/Valentine’s Day level. In 2022, Valentine’s Day was…
CAMP (Downtown Greenville)
For my birthday this summer, I wanted to try a new eatery in the Camperdown development in the heart of downtown Greenville. My husband and I had been watching the construction for the past couple of years. I read about CAMP, a modern American eatery, in a GVL Today newsletter. Its claim to fame is…
Sopapilla’s (Franklin, TN)
On our annual Thanksmas (Thanksgiving + Christmas) trek to Indiana and Illinois, we decided to check out Franklin, Tennessee. According to Chris’s research, the downtown was worth visiting. After striking out on the AirBnB front, he booked the Hilton Franklin Cool Springs. We have had good experiences with AirBnB’s in the past but the fees…
Merridee’s Breadbasket (Franklin, TN)
After strolling through downtown Franklin, Tennessee, we made our way to Merridee’s. It was on all the lists for the top breakfast places and has been featured in Southern Living. Thankfully, we went at a good time and the line wasn’t too long. The Setting It had a warm, Grandma’s house vibe. Tons of brown…
Christmas 2021: Victorian Cranberry Boho Vibes
I put way too much thought into my theme each Christmas. I settled on cranberry as the primary color after last Christmas and I actually bought decorations at after Christmas sales in anticipation. Of course, Chris wants to know why it can’t be traditional colors every year. As if! Cranberry is closer to cherry red…
Review: Greenville Soy Candle Co.
I have been looking into what it would take to start a candle making company. The easy part is the names for the hypothetical scents. The harder part is the actual making of the candles. After talking to someone already in the business, the next step was to take a class to get a better…
Warehouse at Vaughns (Simpsonville, SC)
Mall food courts are dying out but the food hall concept is on the rise. There are several new developments in the works in the Upstate. Gather GVL in downtown Greenville is already a popular spot. Both Easley and Greer have food halls, The Silos and Cartwright Food Hall, coming soon.
Fall in the Courtyard: 2021 Edition
Decorating doesn’t have to break the bank. I probably should invite someone over to enjoy all this decorating but until then I’ll just be over here planning my Christmas decor.
Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken (Memphis, TN)
We ended the first day of our cross country trip with dinner at Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken in Memphis, Tennessee. Since we were arriving at our friend’s house in Little Rock, Arkansas, fairly late we thought it best to make a pit stop before and see whether fried the chicken was worth the hype….
Hillcrest Little Bakery (Little Rock, AR)
After an hour-long tour of the Little Rock Nine National Historic Site, we were famished. A quick Yelp scan later, we decided to check out HLB. We are a Little Rock based bakery set out to create quality pastries and meals that are as unique as our customers. We are proud to be a part…
Rocky’s Hot Chicken
This popular spot opened in Greenville, South Carolina, within the last year or so. When it first opened the lines were incredibly long and out of the building. One Friday, we decided we had plenty of time to wait so we made our way to Rocky’s. It has a decent-sized parking lot across the street…
Legends on the Lake
As is our custom, we jumped in the car and headed to the mountains for a weekend ride. Chris is always scanning the web for the best places to go. I had no idea where we were headed. We ended up at a resort in North Carolina near Lake Lure. I wasn’t sure what to…
Home Team BBQ
Y’all know how we are about our barbecue. Chris lived in Kansas City for a few years. We traveled all over Texas just to eat barbecue one summer vacation. Try Lockhart’s in Dallas. Anyway, our favorite local place is SBH BBQ. Of course, Henry’s is a respectable option. There are a few hipster BBQ places…
The Smith House (Dahlonega, GA)
The Smith House, located in the quaint Appalachian town of Dahlonega, Georgia, has had its doors opened to visitors since 1899. One things for sure, there’s no shortage of Southern Hospitality around here. Come sit back and enjoy our home-cooked country cooking in the family-style dining area and you’ll see what we’re talking about. Or…
Southern Grit (Knoxville,TN)
The Story We were traveling through Knoxville, Tennessee, on the way to Indiana when we decided to stay in the city for the night. The restaurant had a dark, stripped down aesthetic and was conveniently located on a corner spot lined with huge windows. There was a short wait but it wasn’t too bad. The…
Clare’s Creamery
As we were taking our usual shortcut through #YeahThatGreenville, I saw this cute frozen treat spot among the trendy storefronts next to Fork and Plough. I mentally added it to our list of new places to try. The exterior looked promising. I confess I’m all about aesthetics…and good eats. I assumed it would be like…
The Dive on Augusta Street
This eatery is located next to Two Rooms, a home decor shop I occasionally like to peruse on the weekends. We were starving so we decided to take a chance since it was close. It lives up to its characterization as a dive. The interior is fairly small though there are a few full-size wooden…
Two-Tone Cabinet Adventures
Subconsciously I was influenced by Instagram posts highlighting two-tone cabinets. (I guess that is the point, though.) One weekend, I suggested to my husband we try the two-tone kitchen cabinet trend. It was time for a change but I wasn’t trying to spend a lot of money or effort. Painting seemed to fit the bill….
Rick Erwin’s Nantucket
It was Valentine’s Day and Chris had made reservations at the last Rick Erwin’s restaurant we had not tried. I loved Rick Erwin’s Level 10 in Spartanburg. Anyway, back to Nantucket…The upscale seafood restaurant is located on the first floor of a hotel overlooking the area where a temporary ice skating rink is set up…
Weekend Travels: North Carolina Arboretum
This arboretum and botanical garden is southwest of Asheville, North Carolina, within the Bent Creek Experimental Forest of the Pisgah National Forest. Admission is free but there is a nominal parking fee. In retrospect, we should have gone here in the spring. It was blazing hot but the gardens were worth it. There is a…
Eating Our Way Through Greenville: White Duck Taco
Taco shops are popping up all over Greenville. Over the holidays, my sisters were visiting from Arizona and brought us a few tacos from this spot. We immediately added it to our “must try” list. White Duck Taco Shop has two locations-one in Hampton Station and one near Haywood Mall. We decided to check out…
Valentine’s Day Recommendations
It’s Valentine’s Day weekend and you are just now trying to find someplace to eat. Since eating is kind of our thing, here are a few recommendations. Every couple is different so think about whether you’re more of a table cloth person or a portion size person. Do you favor ambiance or good food? You…
Fleet Landing (Charleston, SC)
Setting Charleston’s Best Waterfront Restaurant has a view that is a distinctive destination unto itself. Housed in a 1940s retired naval building on the east side of the Charleston peninsula, Fleet Landing Restaurant features classic and contemporary Southern seafood fare in a setting that celebrates the area’s waterfront heritage. The restaurant’s “maritime chic interior” caught…
Rodney Scott’s BBQ (Charleston, SC)
After a day of touring Charleston and walking way too much and taking way too many pictures, we decided to swing by Rodney Scott’s on the way out of town. The setting was newish with a white subway tile lined, brightly lit interior punctuated by a silver, disco ball in the center. A promising smoky…
Leon’s Poultry & Oyster Shop (Charleston, SC)
Who knew some of the best fried chicken I’ve ever tasted would come out of a renovated garage in Charleston, SC? Let me start at the beginning. (I dare you not to hum the song!) One Friday morning, my husband suggested we go to Charleston for the weekend. We needed to get out of town….
Husk: BBQ
The Story It was a rainy, cold New Year’s Day and the family was out of town. Obviously, I wasn’t cooking anything (holiday = break) so Chris suggested we check out Husk: Smokin BBQ. It was previously a regular Husk eatery based off of the original Husk venture in Charleston, South Carolina. We’ve had great…
Old Ebbitt Grill (Washington, DC)
If you know anything about me you know I enjoy beautiful aesthetics, great food and people watching. The ability to spot VIP’s in Washington, DC, is one of my superpowers. It’s a gift. Old Ebbitt Grill, located down the street from the White House, fits the bill. When I lived in the city back in…
Weekend Travels: White House Christmas Tour 2020
I’ve always had a fondness for Washington, D.C. ever since I lived there from 2010 – 2014. With history, shopping and a great culinary scene, what’s not to love? It’s a transient place but I still have a few friends in the area. When one of my friends told me she had tickets to the…
Christmas 2020: Year of the Leopard
It’s that time of year. Time to scour the garage for all the Rubbermaid totes containing Christmas decorations from previous years and hunt for the perfectly priced (affordable + appropriately full) live Christmas tree. We always had a real tree growing up. Nothing says Christmas like the smell of a Douglas fir tree! I decided…
Review: Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant (Sevierville, TN)
Hearty Southern comfort food in a casual environment with signature apple fritters. We decided to take a fall weekend trip to Tennessee. As everyone can attest, this year has been one of the worst in recent memory which prompted the need to escape to the mountains for a couple of days. We aren’t major nature…
Kiki’s Chicken and Waffles
Everyone has that one friend whose word is unassailable when it comes to food recommendations. My cousin, DJ, swore by Kiki’s Chicken and Waffles in Columbia, SC, near Columbiana Centre Mall. That was good enough for me. The Service We had a large party so it took awhile but the server methodically worked her way…
Fall in the Courtyard
While my indoor fall decor has been up since September 1, we just got around to buying ornamental pumpkins for the outside. We decorate more in the back courtyard area because our porch is tiny and we never enter through the front door anyway. Judging by my Instagram feed, it’s almost mandatory now to strategically…
Todaro’s Pizza
My husband and some of his work buddies occasional frequent this hipster pizzeria joint for lunch so I wanted to check it out. It’s located off of Main Street in downtown #YeahThatGreenville near Urban Wren. It has a nice astroturf area to hang out and play cornhole while you wait on your pizza to cook…
Husk: Charleston
The Story During one of our trips to the South Carolina coast, the wait was too long at Poogan’s Porch so we decided to try the original Husk restaurant. The light yellow facade exterior of the restaurant paired with the haint blue porch ceiling is quintessential Charleston. We got reservations on Resy to avoid a…
Myles Pizza Pub
The Story This new to Greenville but four decades old pizzeria was highly recommended by my brother. It was covered a few times in The Greenville News so we added it to our list of eateries to check out. It’s located next to Eastlan Baptist Church (now Eastlan Newspring) near Greenville Tech. Although the space…
Restaurant 17 at Hotel Domestique
The Story I discovered this spot after following the Urban Petals (Greer, SC) Instagram account. Anna Stouffer, the lifestyle boutique owner and floral designer, has provided floral installations and arrangements for upscale weddings at Hotel Domestique. After seeing multiple weddings she designed at the hotel, I discovered it was located in nearby Travelers Rest. It…
Review: Twin Creeks Lavender U-Pick
Sometimes Facebook suggestions can lead to opportunities one might have missed otherwise. A local lavender grower offered free entry to their U-Pick fields for essential workers. Last year, we went to Southern Hills Lavender Farm in the Greer area that was small but nicely done. First Impression U – Pick Pics Thankfully, it was overcast…
Rick Erwin’s Level 10
The Story It was a cold and rainy night…just kidding. It was a beautiful and balmy southern afternoon when we went out to celebrate my birthday in August. I tried to guess where we were going but definitely wasn’t thinking about going to Spartanburg, SC. It is actually starting to a be really cool little…
Weekend Travels: Athens and Madison, Georgia
In the COVID-19 era, options are limited when it comes to travel. One tries to avoid public transit which results in day trips by car. We are currently avoiding major cities due to the ongoing protests. Over the past few years, we have been to most of the noteworthy small towns in the region (GA,…
Eating Our Way Through Greenville: Flying Biscuit Cafe
The Story This relatively new eatery is near the iconic Army Navy Store and Rick Erwin’s West End. It is a popular spot on Saturday mornings but the wait wasn’t too long. Due to social distancing, the wait may vary. They had a pretty expansive menu. So many choices… The Service The relatively young staff…
Eating Our Way Through Greenville: Limoncello
The Story This establishment, part of the Larkin’s Restaurants group, has been on our list of places to try for awhile. It’s located in downtown Greenville, S.C. close to the picturesque Falls Park on the Reedy. One Sunday night, we decided to forego our usual ice cream or pizza routine and see if the hype…
Tablescape Roundup
I entertain once a year outside of random family drop ins but I still like to style my dining room table. Maybe it’s the influence of my Great Aunt Wilhelmina who was known for her gleaming gold flatware or renting from an octogenarian when I lived in Washington, D.C. for a few years but I…
Eating Our Way Through Greenville: SBH BBQ Co.
IThis is our current favorite barbecue spot in the Greenville area. It’s best to call ahead to see if they have run out of meat (especially ribs) but the food is the best we have had locally.
Eating Our Way Through Greenville: Gather GVL
I have been looking forward to the opening of Gather GVL, an outdoor food court area comprised of restaurants housed in brightly colored, retired, metal shipping containers, located on the edge of downtown Greenville, South Carolina.
Places to Eat in Savannah, Georgia
My husband and I love Savannah. We honeymooned there in 2014 and try to make it back once a year at least. When we head off on our trips, my modus operandi is to hop on Facebook for restaurant suggestions en route to the city. We like to live on the edge! While unorthodox, it…
DIY: Flower Box Arrangement
Do you ever have the urge to make something? Every now and then, I get the itch to create. Usually, flowers are involved. My latest project was a small wooden crate I picked up at Hobby Lobby a while back. I didn’t have anything particular in mind when I bought it. It was in the…
Yeah That Courtney 