One Epic Blog Post

Okay, I know I've claimed this before...BUT I promise to start blogging more.
I need some sort of distraction while studying for the Bar (besides wedding planning, job searching, packing to move, enjoying my last days with my law school friends, etc.).  I mean who wouldn't want MORE to do? :)

This is a REALLY long post.  So I want to warn you in advance.  I don't expect anyone to read this whole thing, but I've put it off for so long that I have SO much to share!  It took me days to write because I only write at night when I'm not studying for the Bar.

So here's what we've been up to the last few months:

1.  Change for Change

Darryl, as most of you know, has a sweet job at South Carolina Federal Credit Union.  They recently finished up with their second annual fundraiser.  They held awesome trivia nights at Perfectly Franks in Summerville, collected change at all the branches, held a Zumba event, participated in the Walk for Water, and had an awesome art show out at the Mixon Barn in North Charleston.  Some of the biggest names in the Charleston art world sold and displayed their work, live music was played, and food trucks served up tasty treats.  Overall, they raised $19,500 for the Kimi Island Trade Water Project that will provide clean drinking water for over 3,000 people.  Let's just say that I'm more than a little proud.  I tell you what world, Darryl is just getting started.  His passion for this work is truly admirable, and I'm so lucky to have him.

2012 Change for Change

Amell/Brunt/LaPlante families at the 2012 Walk for Water

Darryl & I with our favorite art purchase of the night - Patch Whisky Original

It was a 10 hour day for us - excuse the tired eyes 

 My future sister-in-law and mother-in-law

The man, the myth, the legend

Our photos from the photo booth at the Art Show taken by JWN Photo.

I should also mention that I was able to see the Waltrips and the Jenkins at the Art Show and it make my entire month of May.  Love these two new families!

2.  Law Prom

Yeah. You read that right.  I went to Law Prom.  It's actually called Esquire's Evening, but we aren't esquires yet so we call it law prom (prom for law school, which is fitting because it feels a bit like high school).  Let's just say there were a lot of sequins (it was Vegas themed), and it was SUCH a fun night!

My sweet Anna

Some law ladies at the pre-party

Cricket - my girl since House Hunt

Kelly, Katie, Anna - just missing our Tara

3.  Trip to Boonetown

If you're looking for a great getaway, choose Boone, NC. Anna (our coupon queen) found a great Groupon offer for a weekend trip to a Mountain Spa in this area.  Our buddy, Brodie, went to Appalachian State so he was able to make some great suggestions for our weekend.  We had a great time in this city shopping for antiques, visiting the local general store, eating great food (specifically Black Cat Burrito), mingling with the townies at some of the local bars, and chatting in the saunas.  It was a great girls' weekend complete with pictures of us at the entry of our resort on an elk.

I love that Tara was rocking her NY Giants gear 

all weekend to prep for the Super Bowl

4.  Wedding Suit Shopping

Darryl's groomsmen were (almost) all in town at the same time!  So we took advantage.  We've finally ordered everyone's suits and we took them out for some fun too!  We went with an amazing grey suit from Jos. A Banks, and we even let Josh get pleats.

 The boys clowning around in Jos. A Banks

The ladies - well, half of Adele

Love Lauren SO much!

Logan was finally home from Northwestern. Couldn't be more proud of him!  And Jackie and Adele came back from the bathroom holding this sign. Silly gals!

Darryl and two of his fraternity brothers.  One likes pleats, the other one doesn't.  I'll leave that for you to determine who is who.

Groomsmen!

5.  Theatre 99 Comedy Shows

One of our absolute favorite things to do in Charleston is to head over to Theatre 99 on Meeting Street (above the Bicycle Shoppe) for one of their improv comedy shows. If you are from Charleston and you've never been, then shame on you. Run, don't walk, to a show immediately!  Recently, Darryl has befriended the owners of the theater so our attendance has increased.  Here's some pictures from one of the shows we attended.

6.  Darryl's Play Weekends

Darryl was recently in The Bible: The Complete Word of God Abridged at The Footlight Players Theatre on Queen Street.  It was his Charleston debut and he (in my humble opinion and the Charleston City Paper) stole the show!  Here's some pictures from the weekends.

Moses

Cast

My love

It was Jackie's Birthday Weekend! Love these girls!

Post-show outing

Alex came to visit!

7.  Easter

The Amell family does Easter right.  I'm talking a huge spread, lots of people, and an Easter egg hunt (when we're in the right mood).  I grew up loving this holiday, because my big sister would dye easter eggs with me.  Then my grandmothers would help hide the eggs.  After my Grandma died a few years back, the holiday became a little lackluster but I'm trying to bring it back now that we have little ones in the house.  I'm not entirely sure how Darryl got out of pictures for this one?  Let's say he is the greatest Easter egg dyer though.

Sums up our family so well

A Pinterest Centerpiece Project

Puppy Love

Easter Egg dying time

Momma Janice's Dining Table

Cousins!

My sweet, sweet niece.

My attempt at Pinterest deviled eggs!

8.  The Twins' Birthday

For those of you who don't know, Darryl has a twin (and a pretty awesome one at that).  I think growing up sharing your birthday has been hard, but now the boys are really close so it only makes sense to do that.  This year we celebrated with friends and family (mine, theirs, and Brent's in-laws) at Buffalo Wild Wings.  They're officially a quarter century, and just getting better with age!

Favorite man in all the world

The Twins

Brent & his new Clay jersey

Almost family

Darryl's Pinterest Gifts

Mom LaPlante and her three boys

Awesome bearded cake I made Darryl
(complete with Young & Free sunglasses)

9.  Flowertown Festival

One Charleston event that I look forward to EVERY year is the Flowertown Festival. For the past few years I have been out of town for this awesome event, so I was stoked to finally be able to attend.  We've been going for what seems like my entire life.  There's so much to love about it:  live, local entertainment, lots of unique craft and trade booths, running in to people you haven't seen in years, and the best part is THE FOOD.  I went with my Mom this year, and here's a few pictures:

Shrimp Mac & Cheese vs. Shrimp & Grits

My mother made me

My fabulous Mom

Some of the sea of people

10.  Condoleezza Rice

Since I've attended Wake, they have brought some pretty great speakers on campus (John Grisham, Justice Thomas). But, I was honored to have the opportunity to see Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice speak at Wait Chapel.  I had hoped that I would feel highly motivated when I left, and that wasn't really what happened.  Nonetheless, I was so happy to have the opportunity.

11.  Enjoying Our Last Days as 3Ls

3L - means third year law student in law school lingo.  One of our favorite law school past times in our bi-annual trip to Tee Time in Winston-Salem, NC.  It's just a cheap, townie bar...but law students love to go to karaoke here at the end of the semester.  It had everything I love about it: townies, cheap drinks, lots of dancing, Katie Morton belting some tunes, and a group rendition of Garth Brooks' "Friends in Low Places."  We decided to commemorate our last night at Tee Time by making Tie-dyed tees and wearing glow necklaces and shutter shades.  Yeah, we do what we want and people don't hate it.  They were a huge hit, and the shutter shades ended up on a ton of different faces.

I LOVE MARTHA!  This is my Boo.

Legal Ladies aka Future Lady Lawyers

Law school bestie, Aisha

T-shirt backs

 ADORE these girls

Glenn & Martha getting in on the action! :)

12.  Trip to Clemson

Now most of you should know that I am a hardcore, true blue Gamecock fan.  By association, so is my Darryl.  Which is why my friendship with Katie Morton is so hard.  She and her family are some of the biggest Clemson fans I have ever met.  Now if you aren't from South Carolina, you may not understand this rivalry.  But suffice to say that I do not eat orange foods, was not allowed to orange clothing growing up, and would have been disowned had I even applied to Clemson University.

But, when Katie offered up her family's cabin for the week I more than jumped at the offer.  I have met some really amazing people during my law school career, and to have the opportunity to go celebrate the last three years with them was a real treat.  I love these folks SO much, and I'm truly going to miss them.

We spent our days: lounging in the lake, sharing cocktails, eating great food, enjoying some serious bonding time, karaoking, taking dangerous golf cart rides, and enjoying Tiger Town and the University's campus.  It started with a pretty entertaining car ride, and was completed with lots of dancing to "Call Me Maybe."

Family dinner!

Tim breaking in the Lake

Visit to the Field

Tiger Town Tavern

Take two

Celebratory cigar!

"Call Me Maybe" Karaoke

(Timmy - I'm only kind of sorry for posting this)

#friendship

Friends in front of the stadium

Family Photo

13.  Trip to Atlantic Beach

To celebrate the last three years, I absolutely begged my parents to take me on a vacation before I holed up in the library for 8 weeks.  So, the week before graduation I convinced them to go to the beach (in NC so we could easily get back to Winston for Graduation).  We headed to Atlantic Beach.  I have a couple of friends whose families vacation there, but I didn't really know what to expect.  It wasn't like Myrtle or Charleston.  It's just a small beach town with good food, and little to no shopping (which my Dad was relieved about).  So we spent our days lounging around and enjoying each other's company in our itty bitty condo.  It forced us to relax when we normally are on the go constantly.  We got some sun, saw a couple of movies, ate great, local food, and overall had some down time.  It was a really happy way to start my graduation celebration.

I'm in the turtle family

Ft. Macon

Macho Man in the Clam

Our favorite vacation tradition - a puzzle (and the hardest puzzle ever because it was a map of Charleston with our Goose Creek home right in the center of it)

This is a test to see if D reads this blog.  This is him getting a pedicure.  Something he did not enjoy and will kill me for posting.

Local drive in

Shrimp Burger - local delicacy

AND NOW THE BIG FINALE....

14.  Law School Graduation

After three, long years of studying I have finally graduated from law school.  Some of you don't realize that you cannot call me a lawyer yet, so just know that I am officially a JD.  We had two events:  the big hooding ceremony and the actual graduation.  The hooding ceremony was my favorite.  It was just for law students where we had our graduate hoods placed over our shoulders.  Here, I received the Laura J. Gendy Award.  It was SUCH an amazing experience.  You can see the video for this presentation here:

Graduation Video

We spent the weekend eating good food, enjoying each other and our families, and fighting back tears.  This has been an incredible ride, with incredible people, and I am actually really sad that it is over.  Here's some pictures from the weekend:

My sweet niece. SO excited for Hooding.

Family on the Quad.

I haven't uploaded all the pictures with my family!  So I'll put those up soon!

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So this ends the epic blog post.  I appreciate you hanging around to the end.  I promise to never have a blog post this long again.  HOPEFULLY!

A month later, but we've been having fun

Wow. A month later and I'm writing another blog. I promise to get better at this.

Here's some of the fun things we've been up to:

1.  Sweet Crooning by Austin Chiasson:  We spent the night out at the Music Initiative watching our very talented friend (Darryl's Best Man) Austin Chiasson do his thing.  And by doing his thing I mean singing some of  his original songs and covers for friends and family (and fans).  This place is really cool. It features up and coming artists.  Musicians sing, artwork is featured, and a live mural is done in the background while the set is being played.

2.  Charleston's Brewvival:  We were so pumped to have so many of Darryl's college friends in town one weekend.  We all headed out to Coast Brewery for a day long beer festival featuring a ton of great beers, pretzel necklaces, food trucks, live music, etc. Darryl was beside himself to have so many of his Kappa Sigma brothers in town (Josh, Gio, Carlos, and Matt)...and I was of course so pumped to see the girls (Audrey, Becka, Whipple).  But even better was that we got to spend some time with some friends that went to high school with us (Justin, Tanner, & Tanner's awesome girlfriend Ashley).  We're so lucky to have such great people in our lives.

Darryl & the boys (Josh, Gio, Carlos, Corleon, Darryl)

The gals (Kelly, Audrey, Whipple, Ashley)

Food trucks!  That I spent over an hour in line to get doughnuts from...

The doughnuts (chocolate potato chip and peanut butter Siracha)

Carlos & our prized pretzel necklace

Hitting up the Tattooed Moose later that night

Tanner & Justin (Tanner's eyes are closed in sheer delight)

Kelly & Audrey (LOVE this girl)

3.  Avenue Q:  Darryl and I got tickets for this show that was being put on at Dockstreet Theatre.  This was one of Darryl's dreams to see this show (it's probably the only musical I'll not have to bribe him to go to).  It's a show...with puppets.  Yeah you read that right.  But, it's for grown ups & it's wildly inappropriate.  Therefore, we LOVED it.  If it's being done near you I highly suggest going to see it!

4.  Second Sunday:  This has quickly become one of our favorite monthly activities.  Charleston shuts down King Street for one day.  People (and their dogs) come out in droves to enjoy good food and live street music.  If you haven't been yet, you must go!  It's every Second Sunday of the month.  Get it?

Our popsicles from The King of Pops (honey lavender milk & cookies & creme)

I promise to blog more often!  Have a great week, y'all!

25 Random Acts of Kindness

...also read as "The Best Birthday Ever"

I found a blog through Pinterest.com that talked about a woman who spent her 35th Birthday doing 35 Random Acts of Kindness.  As soon as I read about this woman's fantastic idea, I just knew I had to steal it.  So, this my friends...is how I spent my 25th Birthday.

I spent three days (one day would have been really hard) doing random acts of kindness for other people.


1) Returned carts from the parking lot back into the store.

2) Left a wonderful waiter a 75% tip.

3) Sent a dessert (the torte of course!) to a stranger's table at a restaurant. (a cute pregnant gal and her husband)

4) Bought a round of drinks for some of my favorite people.

5) Paid for the person's Starbucks in the drive thru behind you.

6) Sent your best friends a card just because.

7) Donated coloring books and crayons to the pediatric wing of a hospital.

8)Hid dollar bills in the toy aisle at the dollar store.

9) Donated food to the local animal shelter.

10) Donated canned goods to the local soup kitchen.

11) Bought a homeless man a meal. (This is actually a pretty good story. He approached me at a gas station and asked for money. Instead I drove across the street and bought him Bojangles. Then we talked about his life and how he got where he was. He ended up giving me his grandmother's phone number, and told me to check in on him every once in a while)

12) Took cookies to local firemen.

13) Left a special treat for the mail lady (cookies).

14) Left a surprise for the law students I mentor in their mailboxes at the school.

15) Left a dollar on a drink machine. (this was gone in about 2 minutes)

16) Donated school supplies to a local after school tutoring program for children from low income families.

17) Put money in an expired parking meter.

18) Made team posters for a youth basketball league.

19) Put positive sticky notes on mirrors wherever I went. Notes that said things like 
"Your are important" and "You are beautiful."

20) Left wipes and disposable diaper bags on a public baby changing table.

21) Put inspirational post-it notes in books at a bookstore. Notes that said "Do what make YOU happy" and "Love IS possible."

22) Placed flowers on graves that don't have any at a cemetery.

23) Donated 10 jackets to a coat drive.

24) Bought my pals a traditional southern party favor for coming to my birthday dinner.

25) Delivered sunflowers to the beautiful ladies in the Alzheimer's ward of an assisted living home (Southfork Assisted Living in Winston-Salem, NC).

This was truly the best birthday I have ever had.  I feel so incredibly blessed and grateful for all that I have been given in my 25 years.  This felt like the perfect way to show exactly how thankful I am.  I highly suggest that you consider doing something like this for your birthday!  Darryl and I even decided to incorporate this into our anniversary every year.  

Here's to the next quarter century!