My not-so-little brother just got married! He and his wife chose Charleston as the destination for their destination wedding, and we all traveled south excited for a little vacation in May. The wedding was literally picture perfect in so many ways. Perfect weather. Perfect setting. Perfect details. Perfect couple. Just…perfect.

The wedding kept us busy for two days with my extended family, but we spent the other three days exploring the city as a family of six. The kids (most especially Mack) LOVED checking out the USS Yorktown, a retired aircraft carrier:

And I was so happy to return to Folly Beach – the last time Chris and I were there was 11 years ago – long before kids!

Walking around the city, we were captivated by the charm. Everything is so…old. One of my favorite spots was a tiny cemetery we stumbled upon. There, Spanish moss barely rustled in the breeze, bumble bees scurried about, and fragrant flowers opened in the hazy sunlight.

While we were in Charleston we took advantage of the awesome restaurant scene. One of my favorite spots was The Daily, mostly because they sold fresh homemade almond milk, a delicacy I enjoy everyday at home. While on vacation it is easy for us to indulge in rich foods that aren’t a normal part of our diet, so I was happy to find The Daily’s menu was full of the fresh and healthy fare my body craves. As soon as I saw a smoothie with fresh mint (yum), almond milk (double yum) and matcha tea (triple yum) I knew it would be a favorite! I was so happy to re-create it at home, so I am sharing my version here:

Mint Matcha Smoothie

1 cup almond milk (I only use homemade almond milk)

1-2 chopped frozen bananas

1 teaspoon organic matcha (I use Kiss Me Organics brand)

7 mint leaves

a spoonful (or two) of honey

Combine all ingredients in a blender and whir until smooth. Enjoy!