This time last year, I was gearing up to graduate from Nursing School. As a graduation present, my mama treated me to a Girly Getaway to Charleston, South Carolina, which was a new destination for me. I did a ton of research deciding where we should eat, what we should see, and must-have items that I just had to buy while I was in the low country! The hotel where we stayed had a fabulous rooftop bar where we'd enjoy cocktails and snacks each evening. On our second night there, Mama suggested we try the mussels, but then, worried that I wouldn't like them at all, she changed her mind. I looked at the menu, and with an adventurous sparkle in my eye, told my mom, "Yes, let's try the mussels!" Well, I was hooked and loved them. When I returned home to Northern Virginia, I couldn't wait to make them for my husband as a special treat. Fearing he wouldn't like them (guess I really am like my mama!) I saved the meal for when we had guests so he wouldn't be able to complain. Turns out I was worried over nothing; he loved the meal and couldn't wait to have them again!
The first summer my husband and I were married, we road-tripped to Key West on vacation, celebrating the end of my time of active duty service in the Navy. We stayed in a fabulous place that recommended the Tuesday Night Sunset Shrimp Spectacular. For $5, you were served steamed shrimp, corn-on-the-cob, and cole slaw, and ate standing up. But the sunset from the pier, steel drum bands, and street performers made the ambiance priceless. We "splurged" and bought a couple of $5 margaritas and later a $10 bucket of Corona long-necks. When my husband teased me about having champagne taste, I remind him that that $30 meal is in my top five best dinner dates! In fact, it was such a memorable time, that when we later had another couple over for dinner, I recreated the experience at home. The evening was a huge success and I even pulled it off for under $100 total!
