For the link-up today I’m recapping some of my fall adventures! I didn’t share about my trip to Daufuskie Island in October or our Halloween party at the start of November or our most recent trip to Colonial Williamsburg. So today I am 🙂
This is gonna be a long one…
Daufuskie Island, SC
Aubrey wanted to vacation with Kayla & me at the end of October, but her girlfriend Megan was offered a free stay at an island condo that same week. We urged Aub to GO on that vacation and take advantage of the opportunity. And then Megan invited us to secretly come along!
The island was small & adorable. It was too cold to swim in late October, but we spent lots of time outside in shorts and sweatshirts. We stayed from Thursday morning to Sunday morning.
You access the island by boat. There’s a slow moving ferry (runs on a schedule/takes an hour to cross) and then there are water taxis. Megan kindly arranged for our crossing on a taxi. The ride was cold and awesome and quick- about 25 minutes- and the two different captains we had both had dogs onboard.
The island had a very small general store (a few necessities but mostly souvenir-like items), a school, a fire station, and some small businesses. We visited the rum distillery, the two little wineries, the wood shop, & Lucy Bell’s Cafe. There was also a golf course and coffee shop on the island but we never found them.
We used a golf cart to get around the island. Might I recommend a gas powered cart over an electric one? Ours died twice. We charged it at the fire station and bummed a ride home from a fireman the first time. The second time it happened we left it at the station and walked the 2+ miles home.
Aubrey is a chef & she cooked for us most of the week. (She relaxes by cooking- no one forced her.) Our food was SO GOOD all weekend. Aub even sent us home with breakfast sandwiches when we left on Sunday morning.
It was a really nice trip. Almost everyone was friendly and helpful, we got to explore and nap, and I only came home with 56 mosquito bites. (I think I got them on the last night while collecting firewood.) I’m so glad Megan invited us along!
2018 Annual Halloween Party
I know everyone is in Christmas World and long past Halloween, but I wanted to share pictures of the party. 🎃 We throw one every year, and I love seeing the costumes and visiting with our friends and family!
I sucked at taking pictures this year. Food included the puking pumpkin, a veggie tray, dead man’s toes (smokies wrapped in bacon baked with brown sugar), buffalo chicken dip, & pizza.
Those dragon toes (the grapes) were a new addition. SUPER easy and a huge hit.
Soak a whole bunch of grapes in vodka for at least an hour (in the fridge).
Remove grapes and dry them. Prick them with the toothpick and partially dip them in heated caramel and roll them in crushed peanuts. Refrigerate so they firm up & serve ’em.
I made some mummy & witch cupcakes, too.
The guests that came in costume were ah.may.zing. Our friends did a duo lamp theme- she was the leg lamp (above) and he was the PIXAR lamp. We also had a bearded friend come as Paul Bunyan, complete with Babe the blue ox. We had a Bob Ross (plus his wife as a tree and newborn daughter as a happy little cloud) and a kitty and a butterfly. These were our costumes:
(HINT: )
I won’t lie. My absolutely favorite costumes were my brother-in-law and his wife. I freakin’ screamed when they walked in the door…
(You can check out our past years here: 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014..)
*In between the Halloween party & Williamsburg we threw my mother-in-law a surprise birthday party. We also traveled to Indianapolis for five days on business. And I was also sick- BLEH.*
Williamsburg
My brother lives two hours south of us so my mom LIVES for holidays and family vacations. This year she combined the two and whisked us all away to Virginia.
This was my second trip to Colonial Williamsburg. Back in April K and I visited Gettysburg for our anniversary. I really love historical sites- there’s something eerie and whimsical and humbling about them.
We split our time between Williamsburg (Th/F) and Jamestown (Sat). It was in the 40s and awfully chilly, but the holiday cheer kept us warm.
My favorite building in Williamsburg is the Governor’s Palace. I feel instantly transported back in time when I walk through that structure (above). Both Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry called the palace their home post-colonial era. And the gardens out back freakin’ give me life. I love walking through them (below).
We arrived on Thursday and explored a little, then had our Thanksgiving dinner at Christiana Campbell’s Tavern. We spent Friday morning touring the (colonial) public hospital, which specialized in mental health and chronic illness- the first of its kind in North America-, and The Art Museum of Colonial Williamsburg.
We had the pleasure of listening to a crazed right-wing “christian” shout about how we’re all sinners while we waited for lunch. I honestly though my dad (a republican), my brother (a devout Christian), and K (just a take-no-sh*t kind of guy) were going to drag his ass behind ye old courthouse and beat some sense into him… LOL. We took a selfie instead.
Then we were off to explore the book bindery and the printing house.
On Saturday we ventured to Jamestown but it was p.o.u.r.i.n.g. They had a really really nice museum with a special exhibit on the women of Colonial Jamestown, though. We probably spent almost 3 hours in the museum. We skipped the outside village, though 😦 Cold and wet would NOT have been a good look on any of us.
We ended Saturday with some outlet mall shopping and an evening screening of The Grinch (which was SO cute). Then we hit the road Sunday morning and headed home.
And with that I can now officially close the door on fall.
I’m sooo looking forward to this month. It’s a somewhat lazy month with lots of holiday parties. We’ve got no travel planned (so far… that can always change). It’s the calm before the 2019 storm. I’m very excited about it and ready for it 🎄
Tell me about your fall adventures! Is December a slow or crazy month for you?
Linking up with Kristen!
Life as Louise 
What an absolutely amazing, busy and memory filled Fall. Your Halloween party is epic- the grapes sound and look so good and omg you’re so talented with those cupcakes. Your costumes were on point- love the lamp too lol. It’s been such a long time since I visited Williamsburg- still looks so interesting and I’d love to visit as an adult. Hope you’re having a great week!
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Oh man… SO busy. Haha. And being sick in the midst of it all was exhausting. I was close to cancelling the party!! I’m so glad I didn’t, though 🙂
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Oh I like that Megan, inviting you on the sly for a freaking awesome weekend in a remote beach town. Fabulous. LOVE that photo of you facing the sea too. Use it for everything, always.
Why is it always the people who say they are for the good of all that do things like tell perfect strangers they are sinners? Get over yourself. What a great family weekend though aside from that. I haven’t been to Williamsburg for YEARS.
And I always love your Halloween party.
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Megan is such a breath of fresh air! She’s a newish addition to the “group” and she fits like a glove! We love her and her love for Aub! Aubrey got that photo on the beach. #forevergrateful
Ughhhh- people who shout controversial opinions to be nothing more than controversial are the WORST. Honestly, I considered walking up to the guy and calmly asking why he felt the need to express himself like that but I knew one of the men in my life would insist on going with me… and it was smarter to keep some distance there. Lol
Thank you!
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Looks like you had a great Fall. That’s so awesome you got to surprise your friend on the trip and that you all had a nice time, minus your golf cart dying and all the bug bites! Your Halloween party looks like tons of fun. I used to host themed Halloween parties every year and I loved it, but it’s hard to get people together these days so now my sister and I just do a night where people come over and watch Halloween movies with us. LOL I DO have a cookie exchange party this Saturday though, so hopefully that will be a good turnout. I have a mix of things going on this month…the holidays, I’m in a wedding…so yeah, it’ll be a bit busy.
-Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.net
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I still can’t believe we pulled off that surprise 😉 Getting people to the party is always a challenge. My two bffs weren’t able to show up this year. My brother and his wife were out of the state, too. The mix of people we end up hosting is always different- but I kinda like that!
Hope the cookie exchange was a good time!!
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Those Halloween costumes are phenomenal. Also, I’ve been to Colonial Williamsburg many many times over the years, but I still love going back. There’s always something new to discover and beloved favorites to visit.
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Ha, thank you! We giggled every time we saw our reflection.
Williamsburg has such a cozy feel to it! I’m glad you enjoy it there, too!
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You guys had the best Fall. Those costumes were amazing!!
And that trip look so great. Thanks for sharing these memories
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Thank you!! We had some really fun & memorable trips 🙂
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I love your Halloween costumes (and the dogs too!)! Your cupcakes look fantastic. I’m a decent baker but I am no decorator and you got talent, girl! What a great birthday surprise that must have been for your friend. And I love a great bonfire by water. It’s just the perfect blend of cold/hot and all-around cozy and fun!
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Thank you!! I can’t make cookies to save my life. I know that’s so weird. I can do cakes and cupcakes, but I flop at all other desserts! Ha!
It was my first beach bonfire!! I’ll definitely be doing that again!
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oh my goodness, the golf cart. how annoying. that rundown hotel looks super cool. i’m glad you gave the hint for your costumes because i didn’t know what they were from lol – i’ve seen gifs of that guy but never watched the show. the creepy dead pigeon baby painting is SO weird. and that person yelling at you guys at lunch? gosh i hate people like that, i don’t care what you’re yelling about, leave me alone. december is normally a mix of slow and busy for us, we do nothing except things we ‘have’ to do, and there is a lot of those, what with family, friends & work dinners and parties.. it seems like every weekend and some weeknights are taken and it’s very stressful. i love a very quiet january 🙂
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The golf cart dying was THE WORST. I love that we explored the hotel. I wanted to go at night but they wouldn’t. Hahahaha. I also forced them to go upstairs- they were hesitant. Ha.
I figured non-Office watcher wouldn’t get us. I needed Kyle next to me that night to make my costume work, too. Lol. He was perfect, though.
The museum had some super weird paintings and art. HAHAHA. It makes it fun to be snarky about it, though. The guy in the square was the woooorst. I felt bad for the families that had kids that just stared and asked their parents questions. Like, go away, dude. We’re celebrating Christmas/Thanksgiving. Someone didn’t love you enough. GET OUT.
We have family get together but I feel comfortable enough around all family now that I don’t feel rude when I just zone out. HAHAHAHA. Sometimes ya gotta do what you gotta do, though. LOL
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That looks like an awesome Halloween party!
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Thank you! We had fun!
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I love posts like this!!! That trip sounds amazing, and I love that you & your friend were secretly invited along by the gf! That is adorable and the greatest vacay surprise. ALSO THE GUAC COMING OUT OF THE JACKOLANTERNS MOUTH. SO SO CREATIVE!!!!
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It was such a nice break! It was quite the drive but it was sooo necessary. I needed the vaca and a road trip with your bff isn’t really all that daunting or long 🙂
I love making my puking pumpkin! HAHAHA! So disturbing and gross 😀
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What an amazing fall!! That island trip sounds like an absolute dream!
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We had so much fun! Very busy, but very worth it!
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So much fun in one post!
I would just love to do a girls trip like that-especially if I had a friend who was a chef! Yum!
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Visiting Aubrey is the best 🙂 Her parties and get togethers always have the BEST food!! Vacation with her is a true vacation!
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Looks like a great fall! Those costumes are awesome. Looks look like some fun trips. Hope you have a great December!
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It was so busy but so fun 🙂 I’m very pleased with how slow and “free” our December has been so far!
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