I don’t know about you, but I’m silly with parties this time of year. Whether it’s a Christmas party, office get-together, book club, New Year’s Eve celebration, or a going-away party, it seems like there’s always something going on. Lately, I’ve been trying out new recipes for these things that are fairly easy to do, and I’ve found a lot of winners! Check out the list below for party-friendly recipes that are sure to please.

When thinking of the holiday season, one often conjures up images of snow-covered rooftops and gently smoking chimneys, of horse-drawn sleighs and delighted children opening gifts, of snowball fights and winter bathing suits…. Wait, what?

You heard right, folks. Christmas-themed swimsuits exist. JUST IN CASE.

Okay, maybe you’re celebrating the holidays somewhere warm (like Charleston...or anywhere close to the equator) but these holiday bathing suits still made me chuckle and I hope you will too.

Here are some of the best holiday swimsuits I found on Amazon today.

I’ve lived in Charleston for about six years now and up until the last two, I’ve lived in small apartment complexes. An apartment is great for a lot of reasons, but not ideal for an active dog. Now that I’m in a house, I can just open the door to our backyard and let my spaniel run to her heart’s content, but it wasn’t that easy in an apartment. Most, if not all, apartment complexes have accommodations for pets, like a small yard area or paths where you can take your dog for a walk, but when you’re living in an apartment, a condo, or a townhome, sometimes you have to make a special trip in order to let your dog really get the exercise it needs. Here are a few places that I’ve found in my time here so far that are super fun for dogs -- and their two-legged friends!

Choosing to go back to college and complete your bachelor’s degree is no small decision. It takes determination and commitment. Adult students face unique challenges when they decide to go back to college. Most students have careers and families to consider.

The College of Charleston’s School of Professional Studies designed its degree programs with the professionally oriented adult student in mind.

Greetings from all of us at Charleston Wedding Planner!

If you've spent even one second thinking about having a wedding, then your wallet probably already hurts. The rising cost of weddings is due to the fact that couples are increasingly interested in "wowing" their guests with unique experiences and adding personal touches to every facet of their big day. While they help make the wedding exceptionally memorable, these details can also add up. Weddings also include tons of moving parts. Between navigating familial tensions and deciding on a color scheme, it can be hard to know just how much a wedding will actually cost. What is clear is that expenses quickly add up.Though weddings these days are expensive -- sometimes wildly so -- you're in luck! We're here to help you with that budget.

Tis the season for family, friends, and celebrations. The perfect time for the ultimate gift ... a marriage proposal! Here in the popular wedding destination of Charleston, SC (where there are always quite a few holiday proposals), that means the race is on to find the perfect date, venue, and vendors, adding stress to the already stressful task of planning a wedding.

To help make this time a little less stressful, here are a few steps to get you off on the right foot!

Let’s be real… no one needs more stuff. Although the newest clothes, games, gadgets, or accessories seem exciting, these types of gifts will eventually end up at the bottom of a closet or drawer as clutter. So, don’t just buy your loved ones temporary happiness; Buy them the gift of everlasting memories, quality family time, and fun! What’s even better is that we have TWELVE different ideas below for you, so the only hassle you’ll have is choosing what gift to give with all of these great options.

Choosing to spend your holidays in a vacation home is a great idea. You’ll have a sparkling clean, neutral home base where family and friends can gather, and everyone can pitch in with the host- and hostessing duties.

Pick one with plenty of room so everyone can stretch out and have privacy, then come back together to enjoy meals in the gourmet kitchen and dining areas.

And choosing a vacation home in the Charleston area is an especially good idea. Charleston is charming at all times of the year, but it’s downright enchanting during the holidays!

There is such an abundance of festive merriment going on right now that’s guaranteed to get you in the holiday mood. From holiday markets to parades (including one with boats in Charleston Harbor), tree lightings and concerts galore, festivals of lights and Santa all over the place… the Lowcountry has a plethora of all things holiday....

{wbamp-meta name="image" url="images/site-design-images/blog/cold-outside-01.jpg" height="1000px" width="1500px"}

With miles of serene beaches and gently flowing tidal creeks, Charleston is a beautiful place to explore outdoors all year long. However, if the southern chill becomes a bit too much, there are a lot of great indoor options as well. And not all of them are museums and historic homes -- though we highly recommend those too! Here is a list of some of our favorite ways to stay inside when the weather drops below 60 degrees.

Finding the right gift can certainly be stressful. What if they already have it? What if they don't like it? What if it doesn't fit? One thing we've found that you can never have enough of is adventure -- and it almost always seems to fit. With so many things to do and explore in Charleston, finding a great experience gift for your adventure lover has never been easier. With a reasonable budget and getting the best value for your dollar in mind, here's a list of our favorite Charleston Gift Ideas for Adventure Lovers.