4 years + a beach trip to celebrate

Posted on June 11, 2013 by mhayes24

As I’ve mentioned in a couple of my last posts, we took a vacation to St. Augustine, FL last weekend in celebration of our 4th anniversary. St. Augustine is one of my most favorite places in the world. My mom’s family has had a beach house there for over 30 years, and I grew up going there every year. We have so many cherished memories of spending time there with our family and friends. And one of the very best memories is having gotten married there on 6.6.09! I love the historic downtown and cobblestone streets, great seafood restaurants and funny biker bars, private beach and orange sand covered in colorful tiny shells, and really just everything about the area. So what better way to celebrate than bring 8 friends and a baby with us for the long weekend?

The trip started off a little rocky with crazy rain all the way to FL from the impending tropical storm Andrea. When we got to the beach house, the waves were some of the craziest I’ve ever seen there, and the tide was almost up to the walkway. I was more than nervous that we’d all be spending our trip cooped up inside, but the sun miraculously came out on Friday morning and saved the trip. So we stocked up on lots of food and drinks to entertain ourselves with for a few days of uninterrupted beach time bliss.

Craig and I arrived earlier than everyone else on Thursday so that we could celebrate with dinner at The Columbia, our favorite spot downtown. There are several locations throughout Florida, but we’ve made a tradition of eating there every time we visit. Their white sangria made tableside, cuban bread, and Chicken Salteado dish are my absolute favorites.

Our morning view from the back deck. Doesn’t get much better than this.

Our baby friend LOVED his first beach trip!

I think the guys really wanted to hang out in his pool with him.

The family beach house.

The boys found the toys.

Such a beautiful little face!

Dining on the deck at Cap’s on the Water. Oysters, fried gator tail, tasty cocktails, fantastic weather, sunset watching, and swordfish that wasn’t on the menu. Such a fun night.

Neon!

The last night called for a homecooked seafood feast — sausage/shrimp app,
grouper, mahi, swordfish, grilled corn, and salad — all prepared by the guys.
Best meal of the trip!

Last weekend flew by way too quickly, but I guess that’s what happens when you’re having a great time, right? We couldn’t have asked for better weather, more laughs from playing late night games, better food, or more fun. I’m so happy we got to spend our anniversary weekend with some of our favorite friends. Till next time!

a seaside affair, part II::

Posted on May 2, 2013 by mhayes24

Travis + Anna’s wedding day in Seaside!
4.27.13

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I loved the font and slanted text on their invitations and programs.
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Such a gorgeous setting for a ceremony.
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Here comes the beautiful bride!
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Anna’s wedding colors were coral and turquoise – the bridesmaids matched the ocean perfectly.

Our very own starfish! I took mine home.

Reception at Bud and Alley’s

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Mr. and Mrs. Bussey!

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They had some of the most delicious food I’ve ever eaten at a wedding.
Tenderloin, scallops, GIANT crab cakes, cheese grits, collards… mmm.
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Somehow, we ended up across the street at the BBQ food trailer with the bride and groom after the after-party.
I love this photo of them dressed to the nines…. eating half-frozen corn dogs while the rest of us chowed down on some late-night BBQ.
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Anna + Travis, thank you for including us in your special weekend! It was a trip I’ll always remember. Cheers to you!

a seaside affair, part I::

Posted on April 30, 2013 by mhayes24

Last weekend, we took a trip to Seaside, FL for two friends’ wedding. We and our friends rented 3 cottages right in the middle of “town,” if you can call it that because it’s so small. We had the most amazing time — gorgeous weather, pretty houses, great seafood (and food trailers), a beautiful wedding, and the best group of friends. I did come to the realization that I have a problem, though. I officially take an obscene amount of photos, especially when weddings and vacations are involved. I took 200 pictures last weekend, for crying out loud! There are far too many favorites to share, but here’s a glimpse at Travis + Anna’s wedding weekend!

Our pretty yellow cottage with bright blue doors and 4 balconies and porches.
With views of the ocean and only a 1-minute walk to everything in town.

The Meltdown…. I had the exact same thing for lunch 2 days in a row, and I contemplated getting it on the 3rd day.
I love a good grilled cheese — and add bacon to that, and you have my heart!

Beautiful, beautiful beach. Our playground for 3 days.

Shameless plug…. the La Totale Bag from Stella & Dot is the perfect beach bag.
Water bottle holder, lots of pockets, wipeable lining, and waterproof on the outside.

View from the top!

Craig got his oysters at the Great Southern.

Hanging out with the bride at Bud and Alley’s.

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Why can’t we do this every weekend? I need to win the lottery.

Because there were far too many photos from the actual wedding, stay tuned for part 2 this week!

beach essentials

Posted on April 9, 2013 by mhayes24

Who is ready for the first beach vacay of the season? I am really wishing I was a teacher or a student right about now so I’d get to enjoy a week-long spring break like so many people on facebook seem to be doing. I do take some solace in the fact that we’ll be heading to Seaside, FL for the wedding of two friends at the end of the month, and we have a couple other really fun beach trips to look forward to throughout the summer. So I guess I can’t complain. Being the planner that I am, I have of course already been putting together a list of items to pack for our beach trip. Here are some of my favorite beach essentials for the summer!

beach essentials 2013

sunscreen // swimsuit // flip flops // sunnies // beach towel // tote bag // scarf (sarong)

Sunscreen: I was reading through the March issue of Lucky Magazine this weekend, and came across this powdered sunscreen called Tickle Time. It was created by Anne Heche for her kids and is made from 100% all-natural minerals. I know most people despise putting on suntan lotion (me included), so I’m very intrigued. It’s $35 per tube and says it lasts for more than 300 applications. I think Ima’ have to get some.

Swimsuit: Everyone needs a cute swimsuit for their beach getaway. I prefer to get a few new ones each year, so I usually shop at Target and mix & match my suits for more versatility throughout the season. I actually got the top shown above (just $14!) and picked up some pink bottoms to match the ties. I’m really enjoying the separated from Victoria’s Secret as well — they’re just a little more pricey.

Flip flips: I’ve been eyeing TB’s fun, patterned flip flops for a couple years now, and I just might have to break down and get myself a pair before our beach trip. They’re $50, which seems a little steep for plastic shoes to wear with your swimsuit, but they’re just so cute. And if they’re anything like the TB flats, they’re well-made.

Sunnies: I love a good pair of sunglasses, but these are fun for summertime and definitely won’t break the bank. I love the mint green accent, and I love the price, too — they’re just $12.99 at Target.

Beach towel: I recently stumbled upon Haymarket Designs when looking for custom koozies I wanted to have made for my SIL’s bachelorette party (seen in the post from last week). Their website is sort of cuteness overload with all the different options for customizable gifts. The $55 beach towels are so preppy and fun — they kinda make me want to drive straight to the beach right now just so I can use one of them. And with your name on your towel, you’ll be sure nobody steals your pool chair!

Tote bag: You’ll need something to carry all your beach supplies and goodies, and what better than a fun summer tote? This “How Does She Do It” tote just debuted this week with Stella & Dot’s Summer Collection. It comes in several patterns, but the bold blue ikat pattern is sure to turn heads. The bag has a top-zip, snaps on the sides to make the bag smaller, the lining is a gorgeous green with several pockets (even one for a water bottle!), and it’s a steal at only $89.

Scarf: Why would you need a scarf on your beach vacay? To use as a sarong, of course! I LOVE this new Stella & Dot turquoise ikat summer scarf! It’s just $59 and can be worn several ways as a stylish swimsuit coverup during the day, and then you can wrap up in it at night if the weather turns breezy!

a beachelorette weekend in VA Beach

Posted on August 21, 2012 by mhayes24

I spent last weekend celebrating one of my dear college friends, Meg, and her upcoming wedding. I met Meg on Bid Day for our sorority, Tri Delta, and we became fast friends. I didn’t know anyone going to UGA other than my older cousin Stuart, so it was really comforting to make those first few friends right away. Meg is from New Orleans and after moving around the country for work, she’s been in Washington, DC for several years with her fiance, Jason.

To celebrate Meg’s last big outing as a single girl, she invited all of her bridesmaids on a “beachelorette” weekend in VA Beach. Since I grew up in FL, we didn’t really go on vacations to beaches like VA Beach, Panama City and Destin… so the touristy/crowded factor of this beach was shocking! I have never seen so many…. interesting people on a beach in my life. But it made for GREAT people watching!

A couple of us arrived several hours before anyone else on Friday, so we entertained ourselves with lunch and mimosas, wandering the strip of Atlantic Ave, buying salt water taffy, and people watching on the boardwalk by the beach.

The “beachelorette” doing a victory dance — finally at the beach after a way-too-long car ride from DC, thanks to so much weekend traffic::

Our hotel was right on the beach and we had this view from our balconies::

Champagne toast to kick off the weekend! We ran out of glasses, so I used Meg’s boot glass, which I brought back for her when I studied abroad in Austria… in 2004. I’m impressed that the boot has made it safely around the country with all of Meg’s moves.

I’m not sure what VA Beach likes so much about Poseidon, but there is a GIANT statue of him outside the hotel on the beach, and we got a teeny version of him made out of chocolate in our rooms.

Salty Chihuahuas::

This weekend was the first time I’ve seen the bride-to-be in 2 years::

Meg with all of her bridesmaids (minus 1) at Catch 31 for dinner — such yummy seafood, a funny waiter with a big dream, and the largest lazy susan I’ve ever seen::

Beach day — we loved the giant, cushy chairs::

Sarah’s homemade champagne cupcakes::

Meggy and her sweet sisters, Kay and Sarah, at Fire & Vine for dinner on our last night::

Luna Sea, complete with volleyball and bocce ball courts::

Farewell send-off with Poseidon, in honor of our Tri Delta roots::

I love a good excuse to get together with some of my favorite girls and to make some new friends, too. It’s hard to believe that the 4 of us (in the pic above) have been friends for over a decade now. And even though some have moved back home or to another state and we may not see each other as often as we like (but 2 years is FAR too long!!), we always manage to pick up just where we left off. I wouldn’t have missed this weekend for the world, and I can not wait to spend the weekend in New Orleans celebrating Meg and Jason in October!

beach vacay in the old city

Posted on July 25, 2012 by mhayes24

Last week, we took a much-needed vacation with my parents to one of my most favorite places in the world — St. Augustine, FL. My mom’s family is from Jacksonville (Andrew and I were also born there) and we grew up visiting mom’s family’s beach house. I have so many fond memories of summers spent at the beach house with cousins and friends. We have photos of me as a baby crawling along the beach EATING sand. Maybe that’s why I love the beach so much now.

We are lucky if we can make it once a year now with jobs and busy schedules, but when we do, it’s like Heaven. You can walk out of the house and right onto the almost completely empty beach. You can hear the waves crashing on the shore from the front 2 bedrooms. I always try to stay in one of those rooms because of that and the front row view of the beach. This house burned to the ground when I was very small, and my dad (along with a team of other people) re-built it — it’s now aptly named “The Phoenix.”

We brought Coco this time, and it was her very first trip to the beach. While at the lake last month, we found out the Coco does not under any circumstances like moving bodies of water. So walks on the beach near those big, crashing waves were not her idea of a good time. Any time we’d go near them, she’d pull as hard as she could (and she’s quite strong at 90lbs.) and sit down so she couldn’t be pulled near the water. We finally convinced her to check out the water when the tide went out in the afternoon. Then she was all about splashing and biting the water… until tiny little waves rolled in, and she wanted nothing to do with them again. Who would think that such a big, “scary” looking dog would be terrified of moving water?

We took the opportunity to drive into Jax to visit my cousin Alli and her 3 kids, as well as my grandmother, Nana, for lunch one day. We haven’t seen them in 2 years since we last came down for our 1st wedding anniversary. It’s amazing how time goes by so quickly. I love getting to visit with Alli — I always thought she was so cool growing up, and she’s still pretty awesome now. 🙂 The kids were in full-on playtime mode when we got there, so Craig and I took turns admiring all of their toys and reading some books with them — Craig also got the brunt of some of Tripp’s karate moves. He’s such a good sport!