Summer Bucket List

This year is seriously flying!  How is it June already?  Since Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer, I thought I'd put together a few things for the 2016 summer bucket list (here's my list from last year).  Besides one trip up to New England for my sister-in-law's wedding, we're looking forward to spending the summer in Charleston, moving into our new home (less than 3 weeks now!).  Here's what I've come up with:

- Start running again
- Finish visiting every brewery in Charleston: Freehouse, Tradesman, Oak Road, Frothy Beard, Cooper River Brewing Company, and Ghost Monkey-opening in July! (Here's my guide to the breweries we've already visited)

- Bike ride

- Meet our neighbors

- Throw a housewarming party
- Unpack all boxes by September 1st
- Play 3 new golf courses

- Try 5 more new restaurants in Charleston
- Expand my wardrobe: rompers, off-the-shoulder looks, distressed denim, stripes, and more white pieces
- Avoid tan lines at all cost through July 30th
- Plan 3 weekends to new cities to take with our companion pass
- Attend a free movie night or event in Charleston

Loaded M&M's® Cookie Bars

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CelebratewithM #CollectiveBias

I hope everyone had a fantastic Memorial Day Weekend!  I love seeing all the red, white, and blue around town, celebrating our amazing country and those brave men and women who gave their lives for us.  Today I'm really excited to share an opportunity for those in the American military today who are keeping us safe at home and abroad.  Earlier this month, MARS introduced the "1 For You, 1 For The Troops" campaign where for every bag of M&M's® and Skittles® purchased at Walmart, MARS will be donating one bag to the troops.  Did you know that M&M's® were actually created for the troops?  Let's keep that tradition going!

With the M&M's® I purchased, I made some delicious Loaded M&M's® Cookie Bars that were perfect to share for the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

Ingredients:
- 1 tube refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough
- 16 chocolate sandwich cookies
- 1 tube refrigerated sugar cookie dough
- M&M's® Red, White, & Blue Milk Chocolate
- M&M's® Red, White, & Blue Peanut

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Start your bars by lining a 9 by 9 inch pan with the chocolate chip cookie dough.
3. Place the whole sandwich cookies on top of the chocolate chip cookie dough.
4. Cover the top of the sandwich cookies with the sugar cookie dough.
5. Top the bars with M&M's® and bake in the oven for 40-45 minutes.

If you can't tell by the number of layers in these bars, chocolate is a favorite in our house, but if you're looking for something a little sweeter, MARS is also hosting this promotion with any purchase of Skittles® Red, White, & Blue.  I am obsessed with the yumberry flavor in this special variety!

If you'd like to give back to your local military even more, Walmart is hosting special events over the next month where representatives from military bases across the country will be at Walmart stores collecting donations.  If you don't live near a base or would like to donate online, you can click here to visit the NEW Walmart landing page.  All sales of your favorite M&M's® variety will be tracked, and you can even purchase printable gift cards for the troops.

Lastly, for even more delicious patriotic recipes, click here to visit the MARS Confection Corner!

A Guide To Charleston Breweries (Part 1)

Eating and drinking local in Charleston is one of my absolute favorite things.  I've shared a bunch about my favorite distilleries and cocktails throughout the city, but I've never devoted a post to my other favorite alcoholic beverages: beer!  Charleston has a whole lot of local breweries; they all have great settings with outdoor seating and usually some lawn games to play or a food truck (if they don't make their own delicious food).  Today, I'm reviewing 6 of the 12 breweries in the greater Charleston area, and by the end of the summer (since it will be on my bucket list coming next week) I hope to have part 2 with the other 6 to share with you!

Holy City Brewing (Dorchester Road, North Charleston): This was the first brewery I ever tried in Charleston.  I had seen their beer around in every bar and package store, and the photos of the brewery looked really cool.  Well, after you find it (hidden in a very industrial area), the atmosphere is great with seating both inside and out and huge garage doors that are open almost all year to separate the two.  This is more than just a brewery for us, it's a favorite dinner spot, too.

What to try: Pluff Mud Porter and the Fish and Chips (No, that's not a beer. The fish is battered in their Washout Wheat Beer, and the homemade fries are delicious!)

Palmetto Brewing Company (Huger Street, Charleston): I stumbled into Palmetto for the first time after a delicious happy hour down the street at Taco Boy.  This was another beer brand I had seen all over the city, so expectations were high.  My favorite part about Palmetto is the courtyard inside the main gate.  They have a few corn hole boards and it's a cool, shady spot to enjoy a beer during the summer.

What to try: Amber Ale or Espresso Porter

Revelry Brewing Co. (Conroy Street, Charleston): This is one of the smaller taprooms in Charleston, but the beer and brewers more than make up for it!  They brews fantastic (and some very unique) beers, and if the pork belly sliders are on the specials board when you're there - you need to give them a try!  I am also a huge fan of all the art on the walls both inside and out.
Summer 2017 update: They now also have a rooftop bar (pictured in the last Revelry photo below) as well as a sushi menu daily from Tobo Sushi.

What to try: Gullah Cream Ale, Oatmeal Stout, or Flaming Mallow

Coast Brewing (Second Street, North Charleston): Coast is first and foremost a functioning brewery with no separate taproom space.  That doesn't mean that it isn't hopping on the weekends!  They always bring in food trucks and set up more games than any other brewery.  They only have a few beers, but they are very good.

What to try: 32°/50° Kolsch or Blackbeerd

Westbrook Brewing (Ridge Road, Mount Pleasant): Westbrook has a wide variety of extremely unique beers.  Their tasting room is small, but the big bonus here is that they offer tours Tuesday through Saturday, unlike many other breweries in town.  They definitely have one of the biggest distributions in the area, and even our friends in New Jersey are able to buy their beers.  I also love how many collaborations they do with other craft breweries.  My favorite is absolutely anything they do with Eviltwin Brewing.

What to try: Gose or the current offering in the Rise and Repeat IPA series

Low Tide Brewing (Maybank Highway, Johns Island): The newest brewery in Charleston is quickly becoming one of my absolute favorites!  Besides their huge taproom and great outdoor seating, what I think is the coolest about their company is their philosophy to partner with local establishments.  They brew specialty beers that they only sell to one restaurant in town, but the great thing about going to the brewery is that you can taste them all in one place.

What to try: Mr. Sandman Saison, Coconut Pete's Nitro Milk Stout, and Sweet Caroline Kolsch

There you have it!  Do you have a favorite local brewery where you live?  Please share - I always love visiting new tap rooms when I travel!