How to De-Stress During Midterms

Midterms are coming up soon, and as most of you know (or can imagine), they can put a lot of stress on us poor college students. But, my experiences from last semester have taught me several things that truly can help you de-stress. So, I really hope this post is helpful for some of you!

1. Exercise! Take a break from studying to go to the gym. I’ve found that it really clears my head and leaves me feeling more confident and positive. Must have to do with all of those endorphins Elle Woods talks about in Legally Blonde. (;
2. Take a nice, long shower. Nothing beats coming back from the library after staring and books and notes for hours and taking a long, hot shower. Wash the day away and pamper yourself. Stay in the shower for an extra few minutes and just let the water wash away your stress – it works wonders.
3. Color! Coloring is a great way to let your creativity out and relax your mind. And, since adult coloring books are everywhere now, you can definitely find one you’ll enjoy! My personal favorites are Lost Ocean, Secret New York, and Beauty in the Bible.
4. Take a 10 minute break. One of the best ways I’ve found to held keep the stress at bay while studying is to give myself a 10 minute break every hour. It’s not so long that my mind can’t return to studying, but just long enough to give myself a chance to breathe and collect myself.
5. Treat yo self. My favorite thing about midterms is the treat that I give myself at the end. Last semester, it was a shopping day at Urban Outfitters. But this semester, it’s simply the knowledge that spring break is right around the corner! A full week of no homework and the chance to sleep in a non-lofted, non-extra-long twin bed.

I hope that these tips were helpful to some of you, and I’m sorry for being away for so long. Writer’s block is a hard thing to overcome sometimes. Hopefully, there will be more fun Charleston/travel posts sometime in the near future!

Much love,

Suzi

Twitter: @exploringchuck / @suzi_davenport

Instragram: @exploringchuck / @suzidavenport

Monthly Moments: January 2016

As one month ends and another begins, I always find myself reflecting over the memories made in the previous four weeks. And since I want to document my life online, I thought this new series would be fun: Monthly Moments. In this series, I’ll share my top three experiences of the month, as well as some pictures and possibly things I’m looking forward to in the next month. So without further ado, here are my monthly moments for January.

1. The Day I Rang In The New Year: A few days before New Year’s, my friends at the University of Georgia told me about this really awesome party that Phi Slam (a group at UGA that throws alcohol-free events) was hosting in Atlanta. So I bought a ticket and a new outfit, and made plans to stay overnight at my friend’s dorm at Georgia Tech. The party was amazing, and it was such a great way to welcome 2016. I’m really glad that I spontaneously decided to buy that ticket.
2. The Day I Walked To The Battery: A few weeks ago, I went on a “friend date” with Caroline, starting with brunch at Caviar and Bananas, and ending with us having life talks at The Battery, one of my favorite spots in Charleston. It was such a beautiful day, and it’s just such a happy memory. These kinds of days, the ones where we just explore our city and take it all in, are my favorites. 
3. The Day I “Explored Chuck”: Several days ago, several of my friends and I decided to go to a cemetery off of King Street. Unfortunately, it was closed, but fortunately, my friends are adventurous and decided to just walk around streets we hadn’t explored before. Before we knew it, we were watching the sunset from the top of a parking lot, and our feet were throbbing from walking for hours on end. My incredibly talented friend made a beautiful video of the day, which you should all check out! Give it some love, and tell her that Suzi sent you. 🙂

Well, that’s all I have for you today! I’m on a bit of a blog kick right now, so enjoy it while it lasts! (Hopefully it will continue for a while – I have so many ideas!)

Much love,

Suzi

Twitter: @exploringchuck

Instagram: @exploringchuck

 

 

Chucktown Chomps: Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit

Welcome to the first of many posts in my new blog series, Chucktown Chomps! For posts in this series, you can expect a review of the atmosphere, the food, and a recommendation of how to include it in your next visit to the beautiful city of Charleston! For this first post, I’ll be writing about one of my favorite breakfast places, Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit.

The Atmosphere:

Callie’s is tucked away on Upper King Street, and is so inconspicuous that even I still have trouble finding it. It’s a narrow little shop, which most of the time feels cozy, but can get a little cramped if you come at the wrong time. The inside is light and airy, and smells of the heavenly biscuits being made in the kitchen.

The Food:

Guys, I’m not exaggerating when I say that these biscuits are consistently the best biscuits I’ve ever tasted. They are warm, and fluffy, and doughy, and flavorful. There are a variety of options, from the always classic buttermilk, to blackberry, to country ham (my personal favorite). And my favorite part, being a college student on a budget, is that you can get three biscuits for five dollars. FIVE DOLLARS, Y’ALL. Normally, I eat two for my meal, and take the other back to my dorm to save for later.

The Plan:

If you’re planning on visiting Charleston, definitely add Callie’s to your list of restaurants. This would be a perfect breakfast option! Just don’t plan on dining in – there’s only a few seats at the bar and they’re generally all taken. My recommendation? Get the biscuits to go and meander down to Marion Square and find a park bench! The weather in Charleston is pretty much always lovely, so this is a pretty safe option. Unless, of course, it’s hurricane season, in which case you should probably find somewhere indoors. That might be a little drier.

I hope you all enjoyed this first food post – this was a lot of fun to write, so expect more soon!

Much love,

Suzi

Twitter: @exploringchuck

Instagram: @exploringchuck

Five Places I Want to Visit in 2016

Hello, lovely readers!

Something you should know about me is that I LOVE to travel. It’s one of my favorite things in the world, and if I could travel for a living, I would do it in a heartbeat. The other day I saw a post by Emma Chapman over at A Beautiful Mess (one of my all-time favorite blogs) about the top 5 places she wants to visit this year. I thought that was a brilliant idea, so without further ado, here are the top 5 places I would like to visit in 2016 (within reason)!

Savannah, Georgia

As a Georgian myself, I couldn’t help but include this beautiful, historic city. When I was about 13, I was convinced that interior design was my calling, and I wanted to go to SCAD in Savannah. I soon realized that I wasn’t nearly artistic enough for SCAD, but my love for the city has stayed. Since it’s only two hours away from Charleston, this is a very feasible option for me, and I would love to go for the St. Patrick’s Day celebration! In case you didn’t know about this, here’s a little history: Savannah has had one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day parades in the United States for around 200 years. In the early 1800s, the city had a pretty large Irish population, so it was truly a celebration of Irish heritage.

Source: Georgia Followers

Nashville, Tennessee

I’ve been to Nashville once before, but I was really little and I don’t remember much. I have a lot of friends and family in the area, and I’m always seeing amazing pictures of this gorgeous city! Plus, Nashville is one of the biggest music cities in the nation, which is definitely something I appreciate.

Source: LA Times

Washington D.C.

I’ve been to D.C. twice before, but can you ever really visit the capital of the U.S. too many times? As a major history nerd (I’m minoring in it) and an extremely patriotic person, Washington D.C. is one of my favorite cities ever. I never tire of visiting all of the classic monuments or going to the amazing museums. Plus, I have some pretty awesome friends in the area, and who doesn’t love a good 10 hour road trip?!

Source: AirBnB

New Orleans, Louisiana

I’m ashamed to say that I have not yet visited NOLA. This city has been on my list of travel destinations for years. The history, the architecture, the food, all of it just seems so amazing. Also, I’m a huge fan of The Originals, and I would love to see how the New Orleans set in Conyers, Georgia compares to real thing. (I’m sure it pales in comparison.) Spring break trip, anyone?

Source: Translate

Los Angeles, California

I visited this lovely, sunshine-y city two years ago for my 16th birthday, and I’ve been yearning to go back ever since! I may have an opportunity to go in April (I’ll let you know why when I find out if it’s actually happening), and I’m so excited to go back! I love the beachy vibe and the juice bars and perfect weather. One thing I didn’t do last time that I would really like to do if I get to go again is to explore Venice. It seems like a really cool area, and it’s the home of my favorite restaurant…Lemonade. *heart-eyes emoji*

Source: Myself

So, these are the five places I want to visit in 2016! I would LOVE to know what places you would like to visit, so let me know in a comment, or tweet me! I hope you’re all having a wonderful 2016 so far, and I will write again soon!

Much love,

Suzi

Twitter: @exploringchuck

Instagram: @exploringchuck

It’s Been A While

Hello, blog world! Do you remember me? I understand if you don’t – it’s been a while. I got so caught up in the whirlwind adventure that is college that I forgot all about my little corner of the internet! Shame on me, I know.

This past semester has been so amazing – I joined a sorority, I’m training to become a YoungLife leader, and I managed to avoid gaining the freshman 15 – I may have gained the freshman 7-10, though. I blame it on all of the amazing dining choices in Charleston – there are so many amazing places, and they’re pretty much all within walking distance from campus!

Now that my first semester is behind me, I REALLY hope that I can start blogging more – or, that I’ll remember to start blogging more. There are so many things I want to share! Restaurants and shops, fashion and advice, and maybe a little sprinkle of my past travels here and there. If there’s anything you would really like to hear about, let me know in a comment below!

I’m currently on winter break, and it’s been so nice to be back with my family. One downside to living 6 hours away is that weekend trips home aren’t really worth it, so I didn’t really get to come home at all this fall – the longest I was in Atlanta before this break was three days. Next semester, I’ll be coming home a lot more frequently – I’m a bridesmaid in my “big sister”/best friend/lifelong neighbor’s wedding this spring, so I have lots of showers and a bachelorette weekend to attend!

Hopefully, it won’t be months before my next blog post – I promise I will try to work on a schedule for this blog. Once a week, maybe? We’ll see.

Much love,

Suzi

Twitter: @exploringchuck

Instagram: @exploringchuck

Home

I’ve been living in Charleston for just around three weeks now, and yesterday I found myself calling it home. I don’t know what changed – maybe it’s the fact that I can finally find my way around the city and give directions to random people on the street with confidence. Or maybe it’s the fact that I’ve found family in my sorority, in my classes, in YoungLife. Or maybe it’s both of those things, combined. Obviously, Atlanta will always hold a special place in my heart. It’s where I was born and raised, it’s why I can tolerate rap music, and it’s why I always look for peaches at the Farmer’s Market in Marion Square on Saturdays. But Charleston, this coastal city with cobblestone streets, Charleston has my heart and soul. I walk down the streets to my classes in utter amazement at the fact that this is where I live! I get to call this city my home.

Now that I feel comfortable and adjusted and have figured out my schedule (well, kinda…my life is hectic okay), hopefully I’ll be able to blog more! I so badly want to share pictures of this city – its buildings, history, fashion and food – with y’all! I also want to share pictures of my dorm room, but it’s not done yet. If anyone knows of a really amazing grey futon that pull out into a twin-sized bed, please leave a comment below! I’m begging you.

I hope that you all have a wonderful weekend, and I will hopefully be back soon!

Much love,

Suzi

Twitter: @exploringchuck

Instagram: @exploringchuck

Introduction

Hi! My name is Suzi Davenport, I’m eighteen, and today I moved six hours away from my hometown of Atlanta, Georgia to my new home, the College of Charleston in South Carolina. I’m not going to lie to you and say that today was an amazing day and it was all butterflies and rainbows and happy things, because it wasn’t. Today was HARD. I had to say goodbye to my family, which I don’t think anyone is ever truly ready for. I moved to a city in which I currently have three friends – all of them extended family members. And I moved to a city that, though I love dearly, I do not know very well.

That last point is the reason I’m writing this blog post, the reason that I made this blog in the first place. I want to take you along with me as I explore Charleston (or, as it is so lovingly called by the locals, Chuck). I want to tell you all about the restaurants I love and the gorgeous houses I obsess over and the beaches I visit. But I also want to show you other sides of my life – my past travels around the world (side note – I LOVE traveling. LOVE it.), my outfits on certain days (because sometimes an Instagram post just isn’t enough), and the bumps in the road that I’m sure will pop up, because no one and nothing is perfect and I think my life on the internet should reflect that.

SO, I hope that you’ll follow along as I explore Chuck! I’ll have all of my social media linked at the end of this post. Let me know if you have any recommendations, or if there is anything you would like to see on my blog!

Much love,

Suzi

Twitter: @exploringchuck

Instagram: @exploringchuck