Sweet Trips & Engagement Pics

I promised a recap of our east coast journey, so here we are! A summary of our trip, complete with what I am calling our engagement pictures for now. (I write this from a cozy blanket fort, where I am currently fighting off a summer cold. Which is the worst.) 

Earlier this year, a precious friend of Andrew's got engaged, and asked him to be in the wedding. It was in June and in D.C., and the timing was perfect to spend a week with Andrew's family after the wedding was over, so we decided to drive. I'll come back to that decision later---

Literally the only picture on my phone.. Andrew, his best friend Pablo, and me waiting on our Uber!  

But first, the wedding in D.C.! We arrived in our nation's capitol three hours later than we planned on the day of the rehearsal dinner because of the AWFUL traffic. ***Lookin' at you Virginia... Thanks for extending the trip.*** Naturally, we were late to the rehearsal dinner. But we made it! And Andrew was reunited with his friends from home and we had a blast. The dinner was at a restaurant AND bowling alley, so we got to bowl and eat supper! The next day, we went to the reception at the gorgeous Mayflower hotel, took a ton of pictures, and danced quite a bit. It was a beautiful affair. 

Our AirBnB neighborhood---

The next day, we scooted over to an AirBnb in the Bloomingdale area, and spent a few days hanging out with friends from California. Activities included: brunch at Boundary Stone in our neighborhood (bottomless mimosas, hello!), exploring Roosevelt Island (a fun, outdoorsy place), the Smithsonian Natural History Museum, and  a trip to Shake Shack. Also, I taught a pop-up class, and it was wonderful! 

Huge thanks to everyone that came-- what a cute bunch.  

Then, we set out for NYC. What a drive. First and foremost, I love you northeast, but your tolls almost killed us! $40 altogether (literally) just to drive to New York. Call me crazy, but that seems excessive! Maybe. Maybe not.. either way, be prepared for it if you want to drive to New York from Washington, D.C.

We stayed in a great Airbnb in Chinatown- it was so cozy! (Never used AirBnB before? You definitely should! Use that link for a coupon on your first trip!) We were a quick walk to SoHo and a subway or Uber to anywhere else, including Brooklyn. What did we do in NYC? We ate and walked around, a lot. We also visited The Whitney, went to Jesse Tyler Ferguson's Broadway show, and shopped around in Chelsea and Little Italy. I'm just going to add words under pictures, because photos are more fun anyway! {Did I take a picture of all of our meals? No. But I did take a few... They're scattered throughout.}

Our first night: All of my fiancé's family- including his parents via FaceTime and Dick the dog! 

Ivan Ramen: This place was as cool as it was delicious. **Make a reservation, and if the weather is nice, ask for a courtyard table. This was the most pleasant meal we had in New York City- we had space, the weather was perfect, and the service and food were on point. I plan on going back every time I'm in NYC from now on!

KiKi's in Chinatown... Mediterranean food, adorable little space. By far, one of our favorite places in NYC. Pictured: one of our salads, roe dip, and a tzatziki dip! 

Lil Frankie's: Italian in the East Village- so, our group- and I- had some mixed reviews on this place. I'm not including the spots we tried and didn't love in this post, but since I have mixed feelings on this one, I'm including it. To start things off, the reservation was painful to make over the phone. But, we got it worked out! Another thing, which isn't uncommon but is annoying nonetheless, is that they won't seat a complete party: 2 of our 6 (and that 2 included me, whoopsies) were running late because of the broadway show, and they were literally threatening to take away our reservation with the other 4 already there ready to sit. Then, when we did arrive, we were seated at a table that was probably actually meant for 4, and the service was mediocre at best. HOWEVER, the heirloom tomato and burrata appetizer was amazing, as were the pasta dishes we ordered. So, I'm still deciding if I would go back. I think I would. {PS: it's also cash only!}

Cafe Petisco: They don't have a website, so I linked the google search for the restaurant. Great dinner and great brunch the next day! One thing to remember: they are cash only. Take cash. 

The view at sunset from the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

Speedy Romeo: Delicious pizza in Brooklyn! We at there after going to Fly By Night at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. (Cool light show with trained pigeons. If you're in the area, look into it!) We sampled a ton of different pizzas and every single one was awesome. Also, I think it may be on the HBO show Girls, but I only heard that... Who knows!

Jesse Tyler Ferguson's "Fully Committed": only on for a limited time, and so worth every penny. It is a one and a half hour one-man show, and I loved it. 

@the Whitney- this museum has art and views!

Most of these were taken in Freeman's ally. Unfortunately, someone tagged over the Love Wall before we got there, but we got some good photos anyway. 

As far as driving goes: I think we would do it again! The trip back was a little rough, but not having to deal with the airport was TOTALLY worth it. We're already planning our next trip! Any suggestions on what we should do next time? Leave them in the comments below!

xx

Whoopsies, I have a new stone!

So on every wedding planner checklist, wedding-related article, and really anywhere else, I was told to insure my ring. 

Let's be honest: it's one of those things that I just said, "oh yeah, I need to do that!", but I wasn't rushing out to do it. I wasn't planning any big trips, any huge activities, etc., so it could wait... Right?

WRONG!  

In April, (I know what you're thinking, "gees Megan, you got engaged in November! Where's the insurance?!") I was visiting a friend in Charlotte and delivering a painting. Apparently, I SNAGGED ONE OF THE PRONGS on my ring and the stone FELL OUT. Of course I didn't notice until at least an hour or two after it happened, and at that point we started all-out search. We went back to our brunch spot, wandered around the parking lot, searched all over the yard and home of my friend, and scoured the car. My sweet friend found it the next morning, but in between being lost and found, it encountered some serious scrapes. 

So I got a new stone. This time, we opted for a pink sapphire-- same setting, of course, because I am obsessed with it! I love it as much as I loved my other one, but it is definitely different. The good news is that sapphire is a little tougher than citrine, and as rough as I seem to be with jewelry (especially on my hands), that couldn't hurt. 

Moral of this story: check your ring, especially if you have an oval or cushion cut center stone (as I learned from the jeweler), every so often for movement; those two types are the easiest to loosen without even trying! Every six months, have it professionally checked for loose pieces and wiggling rocks. And do these things, because all of the sites with their silly lists and advice mean it this time..

**Oh, and insure your ring.**

Washington, D.C. Pop-Up Class: Woohoo!

Through the power of the internet, the Washington, D.C. class has come together! So excited to see everyone there and paint with you! The project will be 8x10" and the subject is a surprise- if you have any questions, please submit them via the form below or email (megancarn@gmail.com).

Where: ArtJamz Dupont (1728 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20009)

Date: Sunday, June 5

Time: 6:00 pm- 8:30 pm

Price: $50

Sign up below: Please indicate if you prefer to pay by PayPal invoice or cash/check under "Payment Method". For PayPal, I will send invoices after receiving your sign up! Please note- sign ups are a commitment to come to the class. Spaces are very limited, so be sure to sign up asap! 

Pop-Up Classes, Anyone?

I'm always getting emails about where else I'll be doing classes like the ones I do with Vino and Van Gogh of Greenville, and my response is always the same: "I don't know! If I can find the space, of course!"

Next week, I'll be traveling from Columbia to Washington, DC to New York City- by car- and so on the way home, on the way there, all of those times- I'll have a few spots open for some classes! (6.5.16-6.13.16)

Do you know of a place or a home where we can get a class together? Do you have some friends who would love to do it? Perfect! Email me! 

xx

Currently Loving...

I've recently discovered a ton of things that I love, and I really needed to share them so that you can check them out! It's a little scatter-brained. New apps, new restaurants, new things that I need everyone to know about-- Can't wait!

1. Rise Gourmet Foods and Bakeshop: A fairly new, fabulous bakeshop in Five Points (Columbia, SC). It's so quaint! You need it, you want it. We go for breakfast, lunch, general pastries, and we have even ordered the family meal for four that they have for preorder. Always delicious. Go there!

2. Shipt: A grocery delivery service that I still can't believe. Subscribe for a year for $99 and get unlimited deliveries! You can also subscribe monthly. Order the groceries online and then a few minutes later, you get the groceries! Delivered. #blessed (Use this link for $10 off your first order. Also, I'll get $10 off, so really go for it. Wink.) 

3. Splendies: Monthly subscription to panties. Again, let's mark another to-do off the list: buying undies! I'm excited to get my first box. (and literally to never have to buy undies again and guess what size and how they'll fit because can you really try them on? I don't know. but now I don't have to worry about it. phew.) It should be here soon! Here's another coupon link for you, girl-- I think it works if you click and subscribe through this link, but it may not. If not, google for some coupon codes! : MEGANLOVESSUBSCRIPTIONS

4: White Duck Taco Shop: (Columbia, SC) It's new and it's great. Relaxed, delicious tacos... even my fiance loves it, and he is so strange about what he likes. My favorites on the menu are the fish taco and the shrimp taco- get those! (I don't have a coupon or get a coupon. But you should still try it!)

5. Air plants: They are the future. At least they are the future of plants in household #carmitano. Soak them in water for an hour once a week and that's it! They can hang or sit in vases and they come in all shapes and sizes. The air plants even bloom! You may have already heard about them, but I wouldn't feel right if they weren't in this list. 

6. My dog: because who doesn't love her. Here are some of her recent pictures as we rapidly approach her first birthday!

Coming soon.. a little "how our house is coming along" tour and a few cool DIY's! Later dayz!

xx