Beach walks on a seasonally quiet Sullivan’s Island, early evening kayak adventures in Hobcaw Creek, or exploring the marsh trails in our neighborhood with the dogs all offer up the cheery yet wild magnifcence of this area from our doorstep. The spectacular sights of ospreys, manatees, bald eagles, and dolphins can all be seen if you are lucky. Our biggest discovery was once fnding bobcat tracks during a winter family walk. The unexpected wonder of our discovery was a thrill for all of us and we all began to see the marsh as a much wilder ecosystem.
We have a Greenway in W. Ashley that is fun for biking and getting some after Christmas exercise. It starts on the other side of town so it allows a change of scenery and you can reward yourself with a little detour to some of the boutiques or eateries on that side of town. Hampton Park is located close to the Citadel and is also a great walk after lunch on Upper King or Wagener Terrace. The Shem Creek Boardwalk is a shorter trip but crammed with much to see. The shrimping boats still dock next to the causeway so the creek is always buzzing with wildlife eager for a snack off of one of the boats. The sunsets can be spectacular.
During days where the weather is not cooperating, I’ve got a collection of books I want to read this winter. I’m also catching up on some movies I didn’t have time to see this year. Over Christmas we watched the Holdovers which we loved, and Harry and I just finished Slow Horses on Apple TV. Next week I’m taking the girls and their friends to see Mean Girls the musical. i showed it to them before they went to summer camp to prepare them for the kind of girl drama they might observe while away from home. So it will be a fun girl-bonding evening to see the newest version.
Life is short and we owe it to ourselves and our loved ones to do what we can to lift ourselves up. After Christmas, the winter can be a bleak contrast to all the socializing and holiday spirit in the prior months. It requires some intentional planning and willpower to commit to being active and involved. At the end of last year, one of my neighbors asked me to take over organizing our neighborhood women’s coffee. I corralled my mother who is recently retired and a new friend that has just relocated to Charleston and we are going to spearhead this community event. It’s a beautiful way for the women in our neighborhood to find community and socialize with one another. There are always new faces and it’s so wonderful to have neighbors who are friends. I’d love to hear what you’re doing this winter to keep yourself engaged and how you’re finding a spark of joy in these winter months. Here is my list of five favorite things bringing me joy this month.
If you need a little retail therapy to help you through January, I’m always happy to oblige.
The ALO hoodie is my favorite to throw on for carpool or walking the dogs on a frosty morning. The Santa Maria Novella bath salts are something I adore. The fragrance is so beautiful; it fills up the bathroom and makes you feel like you’re at a spa. These Tasmin Uggs are what I gave my daughters for Christmas and I find myself “borrowing” them more often than I would like to admit.
The Dyson hair dryer is a life saver. I hesitated for two years before buying one because it was a splurge purchase. But I’m saving 20 minutes a day with my blowout and it looks sneaker than my usual.
This candle is everything I love about winter. It’s luxurious and cozy at the same time and doesn’t have a synthetic smell. It’s called winter frost and blends white birch and winter greens with key notes of sage, clementine, and amber.
