Christmas Rush

I am so ready for Christmas this year!  All of my shopping is complete as of today.  Jealous?

Since I'm finished, I thought maybe I'd help out some of you who may not be...some of my favorite last-minute gifts to be found in Columbia:

1) Go to the All Local Farmer's Holiday Market TODAY!  4-7 PM, 711 Whaley Street.  From the website: "It should be a delightful evening of local artisans, fresh local food, wine tastings and a delicious dinner from the always-wonderful Gervais & Vine!"   Find handmade items, flowers, wines, and fresh foods to make awesome gifts for anyone!

2)  Need something for mom, grandmother, sister, or best friend?  How about gorgeous, always stylish, (and on sale), suede gloves from 2 G's Clothing Company, 723 Saluda Ave in 5 Points?!  The staff is so friendly and helpful, and the prices are always affordable--everything is on sale right now!  (I just bought gloves in black there yesterday for my mom--they also had brown, camel and red--$30).  And they'll wrap your gift for free!

3) Just the Thing! is having a Buy Two Get One Free Sale on Wire Bangles and Stretchy Necklaces:

Wire bangles

4) My mom was headed to Tic Toc Candy Shop on Santee Ave. for some last minute stocking stuffers and gifts when I talked to her a bit ago--what a great idea!  (Hope she gets some things for the grown-up kids in her life).  (Images via Tic Toc's Facebook page)

 For the kids...

And the grown-ups.

These look ah-mazing--I have been craving Rice Krispy Treats!

Inspiration for me and Ben for tomorrow--these are for sale!

Having kids around, (and in my case, almost around), really does make Christmas seem so much more fun.  On Friday I am going to make a gingerbread house with my 3 1/2 year old nephew, Ben, (pics to come on the blog!)  I'm sure it will prove to be super-messy and fun.

Tonight the hubs and I are going to have a marathon-wrapping party until it is all done.  We have wrapped nothing yet, so we have piles of things to wrap.  I'm also going to make and ice gingerbread cookies tonight :)

Tomorrow night my family is going out to dinner with our close family friends, the Nunn's--it is a tradition of ours to eat with them on December 23rd every year.  Ruth's Chris, here we come--yum!

Friday night I will be at my sister's house for a Christmas Eve dinner, and then Christmas day we will make our rounds to all of our family's houses to share meals and open gifts. 
Whew--I am excited.

What are your holiday plans?  Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!
XO

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Columbia Cool This Week

There are lots of cool things going on in Columbia this week--and it seems the weather may be beginning to cooperate and stay warm!

Today- join tell them!, a grassroots e-advocacy network, in their "virtual march" to tell our SC legislators that the majority of South Carolinians support age-appropriate, medically accurate sexual health information and access to counseling and clinical services. Having been a public school teacher in SC, I know first-hand that our sex ed curriculum is seriously lacking. SC has the 8th highest AIDS case rate in the nation. 3 out of 10 women will become pregnant before the age of 20. Click here to join the virtual march--it is so easy and only takes a minute to sign up.


Free admission to the Columbia Museum of Art today, 10 am- 5 pm. To celebrate their 60th Birthday, the CMA is offering free admission all day, today only, as well as 10% off all items in the Museum Shop.

Wednesday, March 24th- Join the Columbia Museum of Art Contemporaries from 5:30- 7:30 pm for oysters and beer. Event will be held in Boyd Plaza, (in front of the CMA) and cost is $5 or Free to members. RSVP to Brittany Gridine bgridine@columbiamuseum.org.











Thursday, March 25th- Head to Westend, a new luxury home gallery. They, along with Just the Thing are hosting a FREE "Spring Ladies Night" at 830 Meeting Street, West Columbia from 6-8 pm. There will be special presentations to help you accessorize your home and yourself, as well as wine and cheese, door prizes, and 20% off any purchases!

image via here

Saturday, March 27th- There is LOADS to do in Columbia today! Pets Inc. has an Easter B'Egg Hunt for dogs, bake sale, Pictures with the Easter Bunny, low-cost vaccinations, games and food; 10 am- 4 pm. Pets, Inc. is located at 300 Orchard Drive West Columbia.

If you don't have dogs, but have kids--head to Finlay Park for Kid's Day. 11 am- 7 pm, there will be a petting zoo, rides, games, arts & crafts, stage entertainment, food & drinks and more! Admission is FREE.

Or, if you'd rather not be around dogs or kids...head to Riverbanks Zoo's Springtime at the Garden Festival from 9 am- 4 pm. Enjoy the Botanical Garden and get motivated for successful spring gardening with specialized demonstrations, live music, plant vendors, arts and activities for the kids and a variety of experts from local businesses. Participation is free with paid admission to Riverbanks Zoo and Garden.

Oh yeah, and there is this little thing called The Carolina Cup going on Saturday too...

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A Word (and 2 deals) for Wednesday

erspicacious: having keen mental perception and understanding; discerning

image via here

As in Mrs. Lillien's recent ode to Mrs. Pisces: "She's got a perspicacious imagination- one that butters up her every creation." Mrs. Lillien's Styling House blog is one of my daily reads, and a true piece of eye candy, you should check it out.

Definition via here.

Daily Drop Cap by Jessica Hische.

Snag these deals today:

image via here

*FREE Dubliner Irish Cheese with purchase at Earth Fare. Click here for the coupon, good through March 23rd.

image via here

*Go to Just the Thing wearing GREEN (TODAY only), and get 10% off your entire purchase!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

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Rainy Tuesday Relief

Here are a couple sales and things to do that will keep your mind off of how nasty it is outside:

image via here

Just the Thing! is having a ONE DAY ONLY 20% off everything in the store, (excluding clothing), SALE! Today, March 2nd only! Become a friend of theirs on Facebook to learn about all sales and new merchandise. My favorite new pretty things from Just the Thing! shown here.

image via here

Z Pizza on Gervais Street is celebrating their 1st birthday by giving 32% OFF anything on the menu, (excluding single slices and beverages). Today, March 2nd only! Become a friend of theirs on Facebook to get weekly specials. Z Pizza has the most amazing wheat crust, organic ingredients, and vegan/celiac-friendly ingredients.

image via here

All items on Solstice's dinner menu are now under $15! And they are now open for lunch, Monday-Friday 11:30-2:00. Today's lunch specials include a Brie and pesto burger and honey-thyme glazed salmon...omg. Become friends with them on Facebook to get daily menu special updates and specials on wine. Click here to see a post about my most recent meal at Solstice--so good.

This day is looking better already...

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Columbia Curling League (CCL) & Spring Pretties

image via here

OK, so there's no such thing as the Columbia Curling League--yet. If my husband could find a backer, he would take on the challenge of starting up this CCL for sure. He is obsessed with curling, and since the Winter Olympics ended last night, will no doubt be experiencing LOCS, or Lack of Curling Syndrome, as explained by local restaurant owner Kristian Niemi in his Monday e-mail.

Niemi, owner of awesome Columbia restaurants Rosso and Gervais & Vine, is offering a FREE glass of house white or red with any food purchase at either of his establishments tonight only if you mention the secret code words: "Curling Rules." So, cure your LOCS with some wine and good food tonight!

Also, just got an e-mail from Just the Thing advertising their new spring items and I LOVE these beaded bracelets...

image via Just the Thing e-mail

And these pillows:

image via here

Happy Monday!

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Pumpkins, chili, and pretty things

So, this past Saturday was one of my favorties on record...it was jam-packed with fun Columbia events as well as shopping, playing with my nephew and eating great food with a great friend...what else is there? Plus, the weather was rainy and chilly--perfect for fall events.

We started the day at the Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church on Heyward Street for their Fall Festival and Pumpkin Patch. (We had originally planned to go to a different pumpkin patch, but this one boasted a band and jump houses for the kids...who could resist?!)

Benjamin, my 2-year old nephew, loved every minute of it--he picked up every pumpkin he could muster, and some he couldn't--he danced all by himself to the music, (don't you just love the audacity of toddlers!), and he wooed the little old ladies selling baked goods.

Ben, channeling Michael Jackson here...

After picking out several fine pumpkins, my sister, Ben, James, my mom and I left the Fall Festival to do a little shopping of the Aunt Ba-Ba variety...Devine Street. I had to go to HandPicked, as they had pashminas on sale for $11 each! I am a complete sucker for a scarf/wrap and wear one almost every day during the fall and winter--I purchased 2 at HandPicked, royal blue and silver. Then we headed into Pupcakes to say hello to Blue and Prada and picked up some treats for our children, Peach and Abby. Ben loved playing with the dog toys!

Stopped in The Bohemian and snapped a pic of this amazing coat...I die...

Then stopped in Just the Thing and glimpsed this awesome turqouise bracelet...Christmas is coming...

After some shopping, the rest of the crew went home for toddler lunch and nap, and James and I headed to 5 Points for the 23rd Annual Group Therapy Chili Cook-off. Such a treat! Not only were there plenty of cheap and tasty chilis to try, but live music, beer, and people-watching too! And all the proceeds from this year's event went to Camp Kemo--I just love a fun event for a great cause!

As much as I wanted my favorite chili of the day to be made by a husband-wife team or the really-country-didn't-spend-money-on-a-frou-frou-sign-or-condiments team, my ultimate favorite chili ended up having been made by Pawley's Front Porch. It had black beans and pintos and a really nice and kind of different flavor...plus they had mini jalapeno corn muffins to go with it.

After we stuffed ourselves with chili, we went home for a lazy afternoon before I headed out for dinner at Granville's. I'll post my review of dinner later.

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