O Christmas Tree

I know I'm super duper late, but merry Christmas, everyone! I hope you all had a lovely holiday with family and friends. I know I did! How did you spend the twenty-fifth? 

I really can't believe that I was in Charleston, SC just two weeks ago. Time is flying!

Before we left Charleston, my parents and I visited Patriot's Point, where we toured the USS Yorktown battleship and the USS Clamagore, a retired naval submarine. It was really cool to walk around and see what a battle ship looks like from the inside! 

After Patriot's Point, we hit the road again: this time for home (New Jersey). A few days after we got home my dad and I took a trip to a local farm to cut down a Christmas tree. We always get a blue spruce, because my mom thinks they smell the best! We picked out the perfect tree and cut it down ourselves, which was super fun.

On the twenty-first I celebrated my friend Marie's twenty-first birthday with a few other friends. We went to City Tap House in Philadelphia to celebrate, which was a total blast! 

Over the past few weeks, my mom and I have done a ton of baking! There are way too many cookies in our house right now. I also made gum drops (pictured below) to give my dad for Christmas. I used this Bakerella recipe, and they turned out wonderfully! 

I've been non-stop packing these past few days! I can't believe I'll be in London is less than a week; eeek!! Speaking of which, any packing suggestions? Hopefully I'll be able to sneak in another post about my Christmas adventures before I leave!

Charleston SC II

Here's the rest of my pictures from my visit to Charleston, SC, with my parents. Are you guys getting excited for Christmas (or Hanukkah!)? I can't believe it's a week away! And I'm still totally stumped on what to get my mom... suggestions?

Last Monday was super cold and rainy, so my parents and I went to The South Carolina Aquarium on Charleston Harbor. We got to see otters, a ton of fish, sharks, and an albino alligator!

We grabbed lunch at Burger Babies in Charleston. They had all of these tiny, adorable burgers! I had a baby portabella caps, pesto, mozzarella, and roasted red pepper burger, along with a tofu, chili mango chutney, radish and sesame burger. 

That afternoon we headed to see the Angel Oak on Saint John's Island. It's over 400 years old, and absolutely massive!

We finished up the day walking around some of the historic neighborhoods, looking at all of the lovely houses. It was so fun to see everything decorated for Christmas!

Charleston SC

I'm officially back home for winter break! Last Saturday, my parents and I started our 13.5 hour car journey from Georgia to New Jersey. Along the way, we made a few fun stops: one in Augusta, GA, and another in Charleston, SC! 

Last Friday night my parents arrived in Atlanta, Georgia, and we ate a wonderful vegetarian dinner at Cafe Sunflower in Atlanta, complete with delicious vegan chocolate cake! I can't get over how much amazing food Atlanta has.

Saturday morning we packed my mom's minivan with all my stuff and hit the road for Augusta, Georgia, where we saw my cousin Anna and her husband Spencer. We visited the Morris Museum of Art, walked along the Savannah River, and finished the night with an awesome dinner at The Rooster's Beak.

On Sunday we headed to Charleston, South Carolina! We arrived in the afternoon and walked around the beautiful downtown and toured the historic Aiken Rhett House. 

It amazes me how many adorable little houses and gardens there are in Charleston! It's one of the things I sometimes miss about the south when I come back home to New Jersey!

Saturday night we had a wonderful dinner at Magnolias Restaurant. I got a veggie plate (with fried green tomatoes, veggies, and a tasty potato cake), and my parents and I shared a slice of pecan pie for dessert.  Yum!!

That night I also got to see my friend Laura. We interned together in Savannah in the summer. It was so wonderful to catch up with her!

More Charleston pictures to come soon!