Independence Day

Happy July Fourth, everyone! I hope all of my American readers enjoyed fireworks, family, and barbeque. For everyone else; I hope you enjoyed a wonderfully relaxing weekend!

The last week of June was my last week in Savannah. I spent it eating lots of amazing green curry from Ruan Thai, doing a last walk down River Street in the pouring rain, having a flower made for my mom and I (above), eating Leopold’s ice cream, presenting my research, eating cupcakes from Just Desserts Savannah, and having a blast getting sushi with the kids in the REU program.

 

My internship was awesome, and I feel so blessed to have so many amazing memories from the experience! 

Friday, July first, I returned home to New Jersey for the rest of the summer. Saturday, my mom and I visited a local farmer’s market and I took a walk through the park with one of my best friends, Amanda, as we caught up on our summer adventures.

I spent July third/fourth in Avalon, New Jersey, swimming and tanning (er, burning?) at a friend’s beach house. We drove home the night of the Fourth of July and made it just in time for more fireworks with my dad; we watched them from the green of a golf course!

How did you spend your Fourth of July (or weekend!)?

An Athens Wedding

Thursday morning my parents came to Savannah to pick me up for my cousin Anna's wedding in Athens, Georgia! I spent Thursday catching up with my parents and celebrating my mom's birthday, and Friday toasting the bride at the rehearsal dinner and bridal luncheon. 

On Thursday my parents and I ate lunch in Savannah at Goose Feathers Café, where I got an amazing tomato, onion, basil, and avocado quiche, and my parents got "the telfair" sandwich (Havarti cheese with cucumbers, sprouts, tomatoes and avocado on multigrain bread). For dessert we went to Leopold’s Ice Cream, where my mom got the lemon custard and I got the rum bisque; creamy rum ice cream with marzipan macaroon chunks!

After driving all day to get to Athens (and passing a million cows!), my family went to The National restaurant to celebrate my mom’s fifty-forth birthday. My parents, sister, and I were joined by my aunt, uncle, and grandmother. The food was fantastic, and it was so nice to spend time with family. I got a kale salad (parmesan, onions, pecans, crispy capers, and tomato-sumac vinaigrette) and a veggie plate. For dessert, my sister and I shared a brownie with chocolaye ice cream and pomegranate chcolate scause (goodness; all I do is eat!).

We stayed at the Foundry Park Inn http://www.foundryparkinn.com/, where the wedding took place. Friday morning, my family and I went to the bridal luncheon at the Hoyt House.

Friday night  headed into downtown Athens for the rehearsal dinner. There was a ton of amazing food and entertaining toasts! Afterwards, we headed to AthFest, an awesome week long music festival in Athens. We listened to music on the street and at Farm 255, and then headed to The Grill for some amazing vanilla milkshakes before bed. Whew!   

I’ll have another post for the Saturday wedding and Sunday festivities; check back soon!

Savannah State REU: Week Five

I spent most of this week in the lab doing research for the Savannah State REU program (10 and 11 hour work days; eeep!). However, I did get the chance to go out and visit the Oatland Island Wildlife Center and the super delicious Lulu’s Chocolate Bar!

On Thursday night my friends Taryn, Eli, and Laura and I headed into downtown Savannah to visit Lulu’s Chocolate Bar. It’s a super cute dessert bar, decked out with funky art, chandeliers, and hipsters. I got the flourless chocolate cake, Eli got the double chocolate peanut butter pie, Laura got the triple chocolate raspberry cake, and Taryn got the strawberry suspension cake. I swear, it was some of the best darn chocolate ever.

On Sunday, Laura, Taryn, Mike, Carmren and I headed to the Oatland Island WildlifeCenter of Savannah, where we spent the day. The wildlife center has a ton of animal exhibits, including grey wolves, armadillos, alligators, a garden, birds of prey, and bison. It was so neat to see all of the animals, and the enclosures are located along beautiful, winding paths through the woods and along the salt marsh!

Next weekend, I’ll be attending my beautiful cousin Anna’s wedding to her sweet husband-to-be, Spencer (pictured below with their dog Henry and Spencer’s brother, Clancy). It’ll be in Athens, Georgia, and I can’t wait to see my whole family and watch Anna walk down the aisle. I’ll be sure to take a ton of pictures for y’all! Do y'all have any fun plans for the upcoming weekend? 

Special thanks to Lulu Letty's post for the tip off about the awesome chocolate bar!