Did you all catch the Glitter Guide feature on Nicolette Mason? Oh, my love for this gal is monumental.  I love her fashion philosophy ( deliberately feminine), her curves, her devotion to pink and glitter.  She is well versed in culture and fashion and such an inspiration to me. Nicolette is definitely a girl after my own heart. As I poured over her blog archives last night, I had to agree with her on designer Chris Benz. I know these photos aren’t that recent and you savvy people have probably known about Chris and Nicolette for a while now, but I can’t get these images out of my brain.

I took approximately one million pictures in Charleston. Today I am presenting the first batch- Lissy and I, having fun and bein’ silly.

These photos might not be professional grade, but they were fun to take. Above, some rad couple with attitude from the Fort Sumter museum. We started with lovely brunch almost every day. Hominy Grill was a definite favorite. If you are in Charleston, go there. I recommend the biscuits and home fries. Yeah, carb it up. Ah, you noticed the diet coke?  There really is no better way to start the day.

No sightseeing opportunity was complete until we had carried out an artistic photo-shoot.  Acting tough at Fort Sumter, jumping on Rainbow Row.

We ate what was definitely one of the best dinners of my life at FIG and were so stuffed afterwards we collapsed in our hotel room and attempted to document the full feeling.  This progressed into a full on adventure in loopy photography.

Silly is a specialty of mine, and indulging with Lissy was so fun.  Friends since high school, I will keep telling you that this trip was such a treat.  Next up, picturesque Charleston moments.

While in Charleston I spent a day exploring this city while Lissy wrapped up her conference.  It was gorgeous, I loved being outside, but about two hours before I was supposed to meet Liss I was walking with a particularly disturbing gait because my feet hurt so badly.  The sandals I was sporting seemed to rub wrong everywhere and had no support.  I decided to head back to King Street and buy a pair of shoes I could walk in.  The first store I hit was J.Crew and I bought the first shoe I saw in the store.  This glorious shoe was the Cece ballet flat.  I bought it in Sienna.  Oh, I walked out of the store with my new shoes on.  They were a little pricey, but the quality is so good and they were such a welcome relief. I am very satisfied with my purchase and am now on the hunt for some seriously walkable sandals.  Suggestions my friends?  Which pair of shoes do you have that you can log some serious mileage in?

Charleston was an absolute delight. The city, quaint and sweet, provided Lissy and I with endless amounts of biscuits and fun. It was so nice to have a girl’s trip and I can’t wait to share the rest of the trip.

Psychedelic for sure… I am digging these funky prints by Manchester-based artist Kris Tate.  They are just fun, and available printed on iPhone covers, t-shirts, and more.  Geometric, tribal, and whimsical. Yup, I like ‘em.

So, the posts are going to continue to be Buckets and Bunches Lite until next Wednesday.  Hang in there with me.  I will be posting, they are just going to be simple/pretty.  I will be back in FULL SWING next week.  I am so excited to put energy back in the blog after wedding/surgery/slump/travel.  Thank you all for sticking by me and I can’t wait to share some fun things that will be coming soon.  I never quit posting, but my heart hasn’t been in all of the posts, and I love turning things around.Anyways, today I am getting things done around the house, and I wish I could be doing it in these awesome fluorescent pants from Madewell.  I LOVE the pink, obvi.

Um, so this makes me smile.  I love how bright and clever these are.  They are by French food blogger Emilie Griottes.  I hope these make you smile today.  I know this post is short and sweet, but I am not only trying to get things in order for my trip later this week, but also for my little relo to Dallas for the summer.

So, these links were meant for Friday, whoops.  I am getting excited about going to Charleston later this week with Lissy.  We haven’t lived in the same city since we graduated from high school, so this trip is a real treat in terms of spending time together, and also visiting a place we have always wanted to go.  Better late than never.  Last weeks lovely links:

• I never fail to find something I love on Joslyn’s blog.  This week is was Solange’s Damn Blog.  Love!
• So, I am also obsessed with Joslyn’s beach vacation photos.
• I love this paper suite! I discovered this site through the amazing Lena.
• Anyone who knows me can vouch for my sunscreen addiction.  Thanks to this article, I feel a little more informed and might be making a sunscreen change.
• AMAZING mint round up.

I told you earlier this week that I will be traveling a little in May and spending some quality time with David in Chicago.  This is all leading up to a summer where I will be making some changes.  I am headed to Dallas at the end of May to return to my old nanny job.  It is just for the summer, and David will be traveling still, so we might be apart a little more than usual, but it shouldn’t be that different.  I excited to spend the summer in the same city as my family and a few dear friends.  Last, but not least, oh how I missed the kiddos! Ruby and Tripp are delightful little individuals and honestly I love the entire family.  Their mom, Yolanda, is incredibly fabulous and so dear to me.  We love vampires, fashion, sarcasm and all things girly.  I am also hoping their dad, David, can teach me some of the moves he busted out at our wedding.  He pretty much rocked Footloose.  So, here’s to a little bit of a different summer plan.  A slightly non-traditional plan for newlyweds, but I think it is for the best.  I am seriously excited.

One gorgeous family, right? The photography is by Skylar Reeves.  I love that they had to bribe Ruby to participate with lip gloss.

Ugh. I want these so bad.  These orchid earrings by LuLu Frost are absolutely stunning.  They are just so cool.

(Header Image via, graphics Buckets and Bunches)