Weekend Adventures // Girls Trip to PCB!

For the long Labor Day weekend, my mom, sister and I packed up our kiddos and headed south to a friend's condo on the Gulf of Mexico. Growing up, my family always went to Panama City Beach for summer vacation, so it still has a soft spot in my heart, despite some of its less desirable qualities {read: obnoxious high school/college partiers}. Since we went at the end of the season and since our condo was verrry far from the strip, it was a great place to hang out in the white sand, play in the waves and soak up some vitamin D by the pool. I really enjoyed hanging out with my nephews and chatting about their interests. My sister's oldest boy is a budding artist and told me all about the different types of pencils, coals and chalks he likes to sketch with. Her youngest told me all about what he was learning in school and about football. It was just great to be with them!

Elliot and I camped out under the umbrella on the beach and enjoyed the breeze. He also loved splashing around in the pool and dunking his older cousins. My nephews love hanging out with baby Elliot, as they call him. And they are so helpful! More than once they entertained E while I got dressed or put on makeup. It was so sweet to see the three on them playing on the floor. 

And just being with my mom and sister is restorative to my soul. I am so blessed to have them as family and to also call them my friends. It's been such a wonderful thing to share this new adventure of motherhood with both of them, but especially my sister. Talk about having a wealth of knowledge at hand - the two of them are priceless to me. 

{I am oh so smitten with this little boy, and moments such as these are priceless to me. Motherhood is a difficult journey, but one I am grateful to be on every single day.}

xoxo

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Jekyll Island 01

Our little family spent a long weekend at Jekyll Island last weekend to celebrate K's little sister's wedding, and let me tell you it was so lovely! We left on Thursday and came home on Sunday, so it was a slight whirlwind of a trip, but it was great nonetheless. 

Elliot loved splashing in the salt water pool and walking on the eerily lovely driftwood beaches. We explored the historic district on Saturday, and I fell completely in love with the big, sprawling trees covered in Spanish moss. We took our Stokke Scoot that the folks at Stokke so graciously gifted us, and it was perfect for strolling along the old streets. I love how E can see everything and still face me! I would really like to make a return trip in the fall or winter when the heat isn't quite so overbearing. 

The wedding itself was perfection, and we are so incredibly happy for the newlyweds. Weddings make me all sentimental about the day I tied my life to that amazing man of mine. I love being a part of that day in other people's lives. I think it is so very romantic to promise eternal companionship, to say 'I will daily choose you above all others for the rest of my life.'

 More pictures to come!

xoxo

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Girlfriends

A couple weeks ago two of my girlfriends and I took a long weekend trip to Florida. After so many years of being in school and being unable to have girls trips, this was definitely a treat. My girl Kindredly and my college bestie Erin hung out for basically the first time on this trip, and it was so fun to have the two of them together. 

It's funny how much the three of us have in common, from superficial interests to deeply rooted character traits. We talked about fashion and style {naturally}, recipes and favorite foods, marriage and relationships, religion and family. We shared our favorite blogs, books and bands, and spent the majority of our time sunning and sipping from bubba kegs on the beach {when in Rome...}. It was a perfect girl's getaway, and I think it's safe to say we are all looking forward to next year's trip, {especially since this lady will be joining us!}.

xoxo

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Summer Holiday(s)

Two of my favorite things - and mostly because it means time with husband, family, and friends.

A couple weeks ago we spent four blissful days in Gulf Shores, AL with husband's sister and her family. He spent the morning fishing out on the sea, and I passed the time devouring the 'Hunger Games' series leisurely reading on the porch or at the pool.

The week after we returned home, Kindredly and her husband JG came over for a mid-week July Fourth celebration. We had a pretty low-key evening, but managed a few all-American hamburgers, strawberry basil sangria, and a blueberry-blackberry crisp. The evening came to an early close with sparklers in the twilight.

Hope you had a very happy Independence Day.

xoxo

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Seaside

This past week husband and I spent some time with my family in Seaside, Florida, and after ten weeks of non-stop work, projects, and ten plus hour days, it was definitely a welcomed change of pace. A few days of sunshine, turquoise waves and lounging on the beach was good for my soul, and I wish desperately that I had another week to spend there.

Until next year,
xoxo

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Oceanfront

Although it's never ideal to have stormy weather on vacation, I often welcome one day of overcast skies during a beach trip. I love spending the day in local coffee shops reading magazines, trying out local cuisine, and meandering through book stores and record stores. And that's exactly what we did on vacation last week when we woke up to gray skies. Because really, rainy beach days are best spent wandering around seaside towns beside the one person you can always have fun with.

Crewcuts blouse, Target tank, bandeau & wedges, J. Crew shorts, UO & J.Crew jewelry, vintage rings & sunnies, Charming Charlie's bag

xoxo

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Weekend Adventure No. 2: Gulf Shores, AL

About a week and a half ago, husband and I took a quick trip to Gulf Shores, AL for a whirlwind getaway before rotations began. While the trip was primarily devoted to fishing, I managed to weasel my way onto the beach a time or two. In fact, my days consisted of sunning, reading, and napping as I alternated between the beach, pool, and enormous bay-side porch.

The remote location of our condo was just what I needed for a couple days of rejuvenation, but I look forward to returning to Gulf Shores to explore the lively little city even more.

xoxo

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Sand, Sun, and Satisfaction

This past weekend husband and I took a trip to Amelia Island, Florida to see two of our favorite friends get married. It was also a great excuse to spend some time on the beach and get away from the hubbub of our daily routines.

Like little children afraid of missing a single moment of adventure, we were up alarmingly early each morning to take in the calm quietness of the ocean sunrise.

Our afternoons consisted of nothing more than swimming in the ocean, lounging in the sun, and watching as many World Cup games as we could find. I spent a vast majority of our vacation lying in the sand while wearing my favorite bikini. So much so that I didn't wear a single "nice" outfit that I had packed.... and it was wonderful.

My long, curly hair stayed wet and slightly tangled from sand, salt, and ocean water, but I honeslty didn't care. As much as I love to dress up and be fancy, I simply thrive at the beach. There is just something about the ocean that soothes my soul.

{F21 earrings, UO sunnies, Essie Mod Squad polish}

Our meals were spent beach side or pool side, totally casual and laid back, which was absolutely perfect. The constant breeze that follows the coastline made the days bearable and the evenings quite lovely.
{H&M scarf, Target earrings, UO sunnies, AA tank}

After dinner each night we took a blanket and camera to the beach and enjoyed the sunset and the vast array of stars that came out as the night grew darker.

I think the best part of our trip was finally having time together without schedules, responsibilities, and social commitments. Our decisions revolved solely around what we wanted to do. It was really nice to just be for a little while... to have time to relax, catch up, and just be silly together.

Here's wishing that you find some time this summer to do exactly the same thing with someone that you love.
xoxo


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Ten Signs of a Great Vacation...

1. The daily agenda revolved around sand, sun, World Cup games, and food.
2. I didn't need to charge my phone... because I didn't use it for five days.
3. Over 90% of my time was spent wearing my favorite bikini and no shoes.
4. The most difficult decision I had to make was blackened or grilled chicken. {I went with blackened.}
5. I didn't make the bed a single time during our stay.
6. The fact that the wireless internet wasn't working didn't phase me in the least.
7. Sunrises and sunsets were spent in the company of the ocean.
8. Stars and constellations were viewed in the company of some really great friends.
9. I finished the book I was reading and made it half way through a new one.
10. We still had an incredible time even though the {expensive} new camera face-planted into the sand.


But now I am home and ready to catch up on reading your lovely blogs.
Pictures and more of the trip to come soon.
xoxo


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