Days by the Sea

It's still fairly cold in North Carolina during March. Today it was only 33 degrees when I left for work this morning, so a week in sunny Florida spoiled me!  I'm so ready to feel 70 degrees again I can barely stand it!  While it wasn't quite warm enough to spend everyday beachside, it still was nice enough to go one day and just feel the sand between my toes!  We spent an afternoon lounging in the sunshine and another one walking up to the lighthouse and seeing it all from above so here are my photos from my days by the sea.

We went to the historic Cape Florida lighthouse that's located in Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park in Key Biscayne.  It was original built in 1825 and reconstructed in 1846 and is actually the oldest standing structure in Miami-Dade county.  The view from the top was breathtaking with the stunning teal ocean and brilliant green palm trees in every direction!  If you haven't gotten ready for spring yet, these photos will surely make you want to start!  Happy Wednesday everyone!

Formalities

This weekend was all about formalities, 

the procession of time, 

and the way we celebrate it...

          The boys had their formal at the beach, which is always a weekend of endless festivities.  There's no better way for us all to celebrate the ending of another year and the beginning of a new season, than beach football and laying around in the sand!  The ocean has a cleansing nature and while we get a chance to play, we always get a chance to reflect…

          Sunday was Ellie and Taylor's engagement party, due to the rain and sudden drop in temperature, we had to move the party indoors instead of the park shelter cookout we had originally planned.  With my array of yellow and white flowers the whole kitchen dazzled in navy and gold.  It was a perfect time for her family and friends to kick off the upcoming wedding events!

Place 3: Garden City, South Carolina

         As my 3rd place for 2012,  Garden City was the perfect escape for a relaxing, girls weekend.  Still in the off season, the quiet beach and blue grey waves were just what I was in desperate need of.  Driving down after work to meet up with my lovely ladies Jessi and Erin, I could already feel the sand in my hair and a cool glass of wine in my hands.  We spent the weekend doing things that you never seem to have time for once you start growing up, like playing board games, napping during the day on the beach, making homemade tacos, going for a walk to enjoy the wildlife, playing on the rocks, and watching the sun set over the indigo Murrells Inlet.  Enjoying a cup of coffee and playing with a piece of seaglass I found amongst the shards of shells, I watched the palm trees sway from side to side to a melody only the wind could play.  We took the opportunity on Friday night to dress up and go to a nice seafood restaurant, as is precedent during any beach getaway.  It was a perfect weekend to settle the mind and soothe the soul as only girls weekends can do...