So…the big Westin Resort Wedding Weekend was not a complete success. The Shop Tart had a lovely time Friday at the post-rehearsal party in Bluffton. At 4 am, she woke to a loud shrieking noise. Her throat felt like it was on fire. Back in the day, she would have downed a few ibuprofen after recalling that, yes, she had had about four too many drinks and, yes, too many cigarettes will make one’s throat sore. But that was then. She had, in fact, behaved perfectly decently. Really. No cigarettes and only one too many glasses of bubbly. The loud shrieking noise was a fire alarm. Luckily, there was no fire. Not so luckily, the faulty alarm continued for thirty minutes. Although she has never been to medical school and isn’t even particularly bright in the science department, she knew immediately that the sore throat was a case of strep. How did she make this brilliant diagnosis? Well…the toddler had been diagnosed with strep on Friday and given that the weekend babysitter was a bona fide trusted adult and loving family member*, she and Mr. Shop Tart decided to head to the beach anyway. Karma in action, kids. True story. She secured a prescription for an antibiotic from a dear doctor friend in Columbia and sent poor Mr. Shop Tart out for the dope.

She rallied for breakfast (love a fancy hotel buffet!) Afterward, because it was pouring rain and they were unable to swim or enjoy the beach, she and Mr. Shop Tart spent some time wandering the hotel. He exercised and she sat in the sauna and felt the delicious heat permeating her rapidly-healing body. Antibiotics work really fast when you only take them once every ten years or so. She drank myriad cups of herbal tea and even enjoyed a little shoe-browsing in the lobby on her brand-new MacBook Pro (SQUEEE!) The couple tried in vain to book pre-wedding massages. Apparently, they were not the only ones wandering around with nothing to do. The rain cleared in the afternoon and, along with some other guests, they secured taxi transportation to the wedding, which was absolutely stunning. Although the Shop Tart doesn’t usually gush about such things, the church was one of the most beautiful she has ever seen. The bride was gorgeous, the groom suitably nervous and thrilled, and the reception, at her family’s home on the river, was dreamy. The Shop Tart was exhausted, which is the only disadvantage of not being used to taking antibiotics. After the reception, she and Mr. Shop Tart retired to the hotel, where she passed out in the bed, sober. Sunday morning, she made it down for a walk on the beach and a quick nap by the pool. Although the resort was lovely for a couple, she would highly recommend it for a long weekend with children. There were three pools, one indoors for rain, and the hotel is right on the beach. There were a couple of restaurants and a bar, but casual meals could also be enjoyed al fresco. The children’s program looked like a lot of fun, even in the rain.

After checkout, they went to the Boathouse for brunch, which the Shop Tart recommends. Maybe it was just because she was feeling better, but her crab cakes and eggs were delicious. The restaurant’s wine list was more than decent and, given the virtuous weekend she had, the Shop Tart is not ashamed to admit she enjoyed a glass of Principessa di Gavia, which she knew from Baan Sawan. Dry, white wine: It’s what’s for breakfast, y’all. She and her husband also enjoyed quietly mocking some guy at the next table who must have seen Sideways one too many times. Quietly mocking people without needing to say the words is one of the great joys of marriage.

When they arrived home, they took the whole family, intrepid babysitters included, out for dinner at the Cock n Bull. Oh, the lovely shrimp burger…

Here you go…

• KD’s Treehouse has the new Kate Quinn organic tops for grown-ups. Yay! Now adults can have the same soft, cotton next to their skin that the kids have been enjoying.
• Pink Sorbet is offering 25 to 65% off, through today. Lilly is the perfect antidote to the rainy day blues, n’est-ce pas?
• Kicks is still offering 25% off the entire store. Hooray!
• In Charleston for the weekend? Don’t forget to take a look at the groundbreaking pop up shop at 501 King Street. The concept and the locally designed fashions are mad hot.
• Lots of places are closed today, so call before you go. And expect more updates tomorrow. Mwah!

Happy Shopping and don’t forget to tell them you read it on the Shop Tart!

* Thank you, Aunt Molly! And thank you, Aunt Molly’s helpers, Uncles Nick and Barkley!

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