charleston recap + LEONA Says

there is just something magical about charleston. i can't quite describe it. this past weekend i journeyed to the lowcountry to celebrate my best friend's 21st birthday. except for my 3 hour flight delay and a few other speed bumps, the weekend could not have been more perfect. her mom literally rolled out the red carpet for us, even decorating the condo for our arrival! it was the best quick vacation and i was so glad i could be there to celebrate! known for its restaurants, we dined in true charleston style. for the birthday dinner, we went to magnolia's downtown and i'm not sure i've ever had a better meal. i ordered the grilled chicken creole with grits and it was heaven. we also ate with the sun dipping into the marsh at RB's on shem creek which was yummy as well. for breakfast before we went our separate ways, kaitlin took us to one of her favorites, charleston cafe. my cold yogurt oatmeal with peanut butter was delish! i also got many new restaurant recommendations from true locals that i am dying to try! i can't thank kaitlin and her mom enough for including me and doing so much for us! 

now that i am home, i am afraid to step on the scale after eating such amazing food! i did allow myself to let go some and took three days off from working out and tried to relax about my diet some.  still, this morning i was on the spin bike ready to work! my muscles did feel nice and loose after taking some time off. my goal this week is to work hard at the gym to work off my vacation-indulgences! i am happy with where my weight is now. i know i look better than i did a year ago and honestly, i feel much better too. 

on a totally other note, have you seen the new LEONA says tees? graphic tees are a major trend in the fashion world right now and LEONA has some fabulous new ones! i like to pair my designer graphic tee's with a skirt and heels to make it a bit more casual or sometimes i throw one on with a pair of jeans and a great statement necklace. they are also great under a stylish jacket come cooler temperatures! i had a hard time choosing which shirt i wanted to order from LEONA, but i finally decided on "parlez vous du sud?" meaning "do you speak southern?" in french. i particularly loved this one because sometimes i feel like i am speaking my own language when i leave the south! i think the other one i may get is going to be "hello darlin'", written in lauren's handwriting. i love that she is still staying true to her southern roots despite the brand's exponential growth across the country! check out all the tee's online and preorder yours today - i have a feeling they will be gone in the blink of an eye! 

LEONA SAYS tee

that's all for monday y'all! this week is going to be a bit hectic so i am gearing up for the rest of it! have a happy last week of july (where did summer go?!)! 

xoxo,

clp