Category Archives: Outdoor Activities and Aging

The BEST Harbor town in the South? Yep, Chucktown!

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If you’ve never been the Charleston, this town really should be on your list.  Charleston, South Carolina is a port city which was founded in 1670.   It is a city known for its history, well-preserved architecture, distinguished restaurants and southern hospitality!

There are so many unbelievable restaurants.  Even the “bad” restaurants are better than the good ones in other towns. 

This is, by no means, an exhaustive list!  But here are some of my favorite restaurants you have to hit are:

The Ordinary for fantastic seafood and for oysters, make sure you hit either The Darling Oyster Bar .  

Leon’s has great oysters too but they really have the best fried chicken in the south!

Make sure you grab a drink in one of the cool rooftop bars in town.  You absolutely can NOT beat these views.  A couple of my favorites are:

The Vendue and Market Pavilion Hotel Rooftop Pavilion Bar

Also grab a drink at The Griffon and Blind Tiger.  

 

Again, so many very cool bars to choose from, just have a drink and walk to the next.  You can’t go wrong!

Here is a very cool Charleston Guide if you are headed that way.  Gal Meets Glam will never steer you wrong!  She’ll even make sure you wear Charleston appropriate attire while taking a leisurely stroll down East Bay.

Bottom line, the streets, the buildings, the history and the people are all so full of southern charm that you will undoubtedly, go home feeling friendlier.  Their kindness is infectious.

Add Charleston to your list of places to visit and you will not be disappointed. 

I LOVE TO FEEL THE WIND IN MY HAIR! 

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So, what is it about open air that we love?  I’m not sure but the idea of a convertible, a motorcycle or a boat takes us away to that place of freedom, regardless of the cost.

HOWEVER, if you are like me and have long hair, one of the biggest costs is actually our hair!  We get home from a day of boating on the Intercoastal Waterway, taking our 1988 Mercedes 560SL (yep!  That’s right!) downtown, or a motorcycle out on a country road or better yet, on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  And if you’re really brave…  Tail of the Dragon (look it up).

Well, as much as we love that feeling of the wind blowing through our hair, at the end of the day, our hair is a total wreck!!! And once we put a brush through it, we’ve done permanent damage.  It makes me so sad…

So, here’s my best advice.  Don’t give up doing what you love.  After all, a part of my Blog is about “Living Life”.  So here are a couple of tips and tricks to continue doing what we love but saving our hair at the same time.

When I’m in my convertible, I NEVER drive anywhere, even a few blocks down the road to drop my daughter off at school, without grabbing an old-school Scrungee and quickly twisting my hair up into a tight bun.  Regardless of the amount of wind, this will keep it all nice and tight so the ends will not get tiny little knots all over.  Once I get to my destination, I take the bun out, fluff it out and I’m good to go!

If you read my last blog, you know that I also LOVE LOVE the beach.  The same goes for boating.  I keep my hair up in a tight knot.  When I let it down, it’s very easy to brush out.

Now, I have to admit, I don’t have a motorcycle.  My husband used to have bike but gave it up before we met for reasons that I will not go into here.  But the concept is still the same.  Long periods of time with the wind whipping our hair to its potential demise.  Unfortunately, a bun doesn’t work great if you’re a biker because you really should be wearing a helmet (mama bear coming out now).  Wear your helmet!  A good way to protect your long hair while biking is two long, tight braids.  That will keep all of those layers and ends tucked nice and tight so they aren’t whipping in the wind.  Plus, it looks really cute!

IF, you come in after a long day of enjoying your boat, convertible, Hog, …whatever, and you still have little tangles everywhere.  Please do not try to just brush or comb through.  This is will either pull your hair out at the root, break it off half-way down, or at the very least, create micro-damage.  Micro-damage occurs when you brush your hair and you hear those tiny little pop sounds.  NOT GOOD!  Your hair is stretching and almost breaking part-way through making that hair strand weak and damaged.

So, before you brush, find a really good detangler and spray all over before you brush.  I actually have a couple FAVEs, one is my daughter’s children’s detangling spray.  The other is technically not a detangler but a split end mender.  It’s cream and it doesn’t take much.  But I use that when my hair feels tangly.  I rub in one tiny pump (about a pea amount) and it combs right out.  AMAZING!  And my hair still looks healthy and beautiful when it’s not flying in the wind!

Take care of your hair!  After all, it’s the crown you never take off!

Life’s a Beach!!!!! (I know, that phrase was used up in the 80’s)

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So, one of my most favorite places in the world to unwind and relax is the beach.  If you have felt the sun and tasted the salt on your lips, then you don’t need to ask why.  

 My main goal at the beach is truly relax.  As much as I love all beaches (doesn’t matter which state or even continent), there are many where you do anything and everything BUT relax.  I love a weekend trip to those places but they are not my regular go-to places.

My favorite…. Bald Head Island, North Carolina. 

No cars, no street lights, porch lights are frowned upon because we don’t want to disturb the sea turtles… and no bridge to the island.  You start off by taking a passenger ferry over to the island.  Take a look at my featured photo on my homepage.  That is a glorious picture of the harbor at BHI.  Just gorgeous!!!

There are a couple great restaurants, a great outdoor wine bar, a golf club and a beach club, a super relaxing spa, several great boutiques and miles of beaches with very few people on them. So don’t think you won’t have fun!  There is mucho fun to be had!

Just make sure you wear your sunscreen and wear a hat!!!  We don’t want the sun damaging your gorgeous skin and hair!!!  I love the beach but, as you know, I’m all about anti-aging, looking beautiful and feeling confident!! 

 OH!! And watch out for those gators!!!

Here’s a list of my faves on the island!!!!

Drop me a note if you want to hear more about BHI!!!  I can’t talk about it enough!