weekend in seabrook

There are certain places (here and here, for example) that make me forget where I am. They feel far away and magical - but not foreign or distant. They feel soothing and exciting all at once. They give me pause; make my shoulders drop.

This weekend I had the privilege of heading to Seabrook, SC, which is exactly this sort of place. It's quiet and exciting all at once. 

I went with Chris and his friends from college for a fraternity brother's wedding. 

As for the wedding? It was beautiful. One of those weddings that makes you say: oh, I'm going to do that. And makes you think: I've never wanted a beach wedding - but should I? The kind of wedding that is elegant, but not pretentious, and honest and true to the bride and groom's style.

And the weekend? It was more than a wedding. A true vacation, in fact. When I unpacked, I laughed at all of the real clothes I brought. It turned out my pack list would have been complete with: swim suit, cover up, dress for rehearsal, dress for wedding and pajamas. Our days were on the beach and our nights were dressed up and there was no need for anything more. 

The company? Was ideal. I felt honored to be Chris' date. It was so much fun to meet his friends and see the way they love and care about one another. They made me feel welcomed immediately. They told me stories about college Chris and grilled me on "how much I really know about him." I felt so fortunate to be part of such an important weekend to all of them.

The postpartum? Very real. I'm still reminiscing from the weekend - dreaming of the beach, laughing at everything that happened and hoping that I find myself on Seabrook Island someday soon.

I hope your weekend (and week so far) have been wonderful!

hello :)

 

Hi, from the beach! I'm in St. Simons soaking up the sun! I hope you have a happy looong weekend!

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r&r at its finest

Life is a funny thing and it seems the minute I found myself at my breaking point - setting rules and taking names - is just when my problem solved itself. Thursday, I scheduled this post, then hit the road for vacation. Just as it posted itself Friday morning, I hopped in the car for the last hour of my drive. I talked to Court and she asked me what I planned to do all day, since no one in our family was coming in until around 5 p.m.

And then it hit me.

I'd been so busy trying to figure out when I was going to finally learn to have some alone time - finally get my head on straight, ducks in row - that I didn't even realize I'd have all day Friday at the beach, by myself. I'd be homeless, since check-in wasn't until 3, wifiless, computerless, companionless. I could do exactly what I'd been saying I wanted to do for the last 3 months. Hang out with myself.

And then I laughed out loud at my own lack of foresight.

And then I got to chilling.

I sat by the ocean and read Love Does for hours. I ate lunch alone outside at a cafe - drinking Chai, people watching and enjoying the ocean breeze. I went on a walk and a run and then another walk, because why not? I read some more and ignored my phone and felt the kind of peaceful rechargedness that I felt when I broke my foot and was house-bound. But this time it was voluntarily, which has a much more peaceful and less anxious prisoner kind of vibe.

By the end of the day, I was, of course, itching like a fool for my family to arrive, because, let's be honest. I don't really love being alone that much. I'd much prefer company and chaos over solitude any day of the week. But sometimes, when you stumble upon a sleepy beach town and are alone without any distractions, you're reminded just how great it is to have a little solo time.

Looks like I don't need handcuffs, after all. Just unlimited time off and a sea breeze. Is that so much to ask!?

Happy Friday, guys!

{sweet spring break}

I got back from the beach Tuesday night and felt a kind of refreshed and recharged that I haven't felt in a long time. It was the perfect kind of slow vacation where your main concerns are getting iced coffee, getting in a workout, not waking up to an alarm, and what book you should read next because 7+ hours by the pool or ocean add up in the best way possible.

I talked to Courtney on the phone Saturday night and at the end of the conversation, she said, "Are you OK?" because my response rate was so slow and I think I had the kind of relaxed intonation that made her wonder if maybe I was on drugs.

For the first time ever, we decided to venture to Georgia's south beaches. I know, I just told you  that we're Emerald Coast do or diers, but we planned the trip last minute, so 30A was all booked up, and we couldn't let that stop us from getting our R&R. We're Rosemary-lovers but we're not crazy. We need the beach, people!

We went to St. Simon's and were charmed and dazzled by its quaintness. If you're familiar with the 30A area, you know that the panhandle is a manicured vacation mecca. Everything is perfect and tended to a T. St. Simon's is a departure from this - it natural and untouched. It's a quintessential Southern beach town, where everyone moves slowly and eats their food fried and has signs out front that read, "Add a bottle of wine to any meal for $10."

It's sweet and slow and exactly what we needed for a our spring break. We got up early and went to bed early and read books and laid by the pool and ocean and lost track of time. We ignored our phones and constantly found ourselves asking what day it was. We did family boot camp (led by Duke) and went on runs and walks and got iced coffee until we didn't even want it anymore. I went blow dryer, straightener and make up free - running in from the beach 20 minutes before we planned to leave for dinner just to hop in the shower. We did things we never make time to do - even on vacation - that only a Southern town can slow you down enough to make happen.

The ONLY problem with the trip is that not everyone could come. We were missing the rest of our family greatly. Before I left Tuesday, I made sure to send everyone in my family an email to get plans in motion for our next vacation. A trip like this is too good to let end without another one on the horizon. Sandestin for Labor Day, anyone?

See you at the beach!

YOLO

Never one to turn down the opportunity to try a new workout, I've been semi-stalking, mainly just dreaming, about Stand Up Paddleboarding (Sup) ever since my aunt, Mit, emailed me that she'd tried it and it was the best core workout she'd ever experienced.

The ocean? Plus a core workout? She needed not say more. I was hooked.

When we went to the beach last weekend Sup boards were everywhere and I decided I was going to have to try it. Less interested in renting one and more determined to borrow someone else's, Emily and I set our sights on making a Sup boarding buddy. Sunday night, with only a few short hours until sunset to go, we find ourself one kind sir with two YOLO boards.

We spent our last few hours on the beach balancing on the water and I can safely say that if I had the opportunity to do so, I could become pretty obsessed with it. We attempted yoga on them, which was definitely more successful for Emily than it was for me, but I did manage a backbend. Good enough, right!?

I'm currently trying to decide if using one on the Chattahoochee would work. I mean, you can Shoot it, so why not Sup it?

Photos by Emily McNider

beachtime and the living is easy

Summer is the best.season.ever. The heat. The humidity. The constant outsideness. The carefree attitude that comes with it...

I could go on for hours.

But instead, I'll jump to the finale: the fact that you get three happy holidays in a row: Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day. Beginning, middle, end: boom, boom, boom - long weekend sandwiches.

How could it not be the happiest season ever!?

And this year, we kick-started our summer with a trip to Santa Rosa, Florida. Nestled between Seaside and Sandestin, the Emerald Coast did not do us wrong. In fact, it did us just right...

images by me& Emily McNider

sweet love

The post-vacation dust has settled and I'm officially missing the beach! We had such a great time in OBX celebrating Chris and Sam's wedding and, while she's felt like part of our family for a long time, I'm so excited we made it official. They offer so much good&love to one another, and I've never seen Chris so happy.

And it was absolutely wonderful to have our family together again. I always walk away from time with them wondering how the heck we survive miles apart, because really nothing makes me happier than being together. From bocce and runs on the beach to dancing (and dancing and dancing) to four square to oversized family dinners, I just adore them all so much.

PS: Court has lots of amazing pics too.

it was a good night, indeed

I'm back :)

I've been rilly busy since returning, so I haven't quite had time to blog about the trip.

However, here's a quick teaser of the greatness that was the wedding...

(first song of the night, of course)

PS Sorry for it being on its side part of the time. I'm not exactly a videographer...

le plage!

Off to the beach I go! My cousin Chris is getting married and my whole family is headed to the Outer Banks. I haven't seen them all since my Dad's birthday party and to say I am ready would be a vast understatement.

We've been to OBX quite a few times but a few key memories stand out, such as when we were playing Prokadima after dinner and I fell into the ocean in my dress (also the time I learned that it was not Cheer Up Sweet Bujean), or when my mom took us all by surprise when she randomly decided to go off roading on the beach, or even our super competitive(ish) all-family olympics, which included four square and a mile run, among other activities...

OBX holds so many memories, and I can't wait to make more this weekend. There's never been an unepic Howden wedding, and if it's the Chris I know, I'm sure this will be one for the books.

Until Wednesday!

PS Just a preview of the goodness you can expect, some throwbacks circa 2006: