Wedding Weekend

  I had a wonderful weekend in Nags Head for my cousin's wedding.  She planned the entire thing from Colorado and enlisted the help of family and friends to help her pull it all off.  It was a beautiful ceremony on the beach with musicians and all.  The reception was held at the newly rebuilt Jennette's Pier with the most amazing view of the sun setting.

 The happy couple.

The view from the beach ceremony.

The pretty Bride after we played with makeup.

I loved the cake!! 

View from the pier. 

My cousin makes the most amazing jewelry.  So talented!! 

The morning after the wedding, my sister and I sat with our coffee, 

watching the dolphins swim by. 

  I wanted to get my children something from my trip, since they stayed home with their Daddy.  I walked through the Wings store looking through toys and clothes and then I saw the hermit crabs.  I couldn't think of a better way to bring the beach to them.  We named him Herman (my name), Mr.Pickles (husband and daughter's name), Jet (son's name)... then the next day, my daughter said "Why don't we just call him Mr. Crabs?".  So I guess he's going through a little bit of an identity crisis with his name but he's a cute little thing.  We let him walk around the other day and he raced all around giving my daughter a total fit, she thought he would fall off the table.

  

  

  My Grandmother was unable to attend the wedding due to her poor health.  Sadly yesterday I learned that she passed away in the early morning hours.  She and my Grandpa built a cottage in Duck, and that is where I began my love affair with the beach.  We spent so much time at their cottage with all the cousins and family.  My favorite memory is driving on the beach at Corolla and playing with the small jellyfish in the ocean, where my sister and I would sit for hours playing in the shallow pools.  She joins my Dad and Grandpa in death, I know she is at peace.  She will be dearly missed.

My Grandma with my son 2 years ago.

~  Kim

Favorite Souvenirs Link Party

  Today I am linking up to a party at Centsational Girl to show off your favorite travel souvenirs.  I have never traveled off the east coast past the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee.  Most of my vacations when I was a child were to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, where my grandparents built a cottage in Duck.  I have found memories of my family fishing off the shore and playing with the small jellyfish at Corolla Beach.  As an adult I have traveled to Florida many times and even spent my honeymoon in Key West.

  In the last few years, I have made a point to bring home souvenirs that I could enjoy throughout the year and could incorporate in my home.  As I have said before, I decorate with the feeling of a vacation in mind.  Light, laid back, and reminding me of the water.  We live in a resort city in Virginia Beach, but there is something special about the Florida beaches that keep us wanting to go back.

These earrings were purchased in Key West on our 2010 trip.  I love them and they remind me of 

our trip every time I wear them.  

 This wood carved sea horse was purchased in New Smyrna Beach.

 Japanese floating ball, I wish I had purchased more of these.  Especially the large clear ones.

Always have to come home with shells and coral.

Is there any other way???

 Lemon soy petal pot candle purchased in the same shop as the earrings above.  It smells delicious and brings me back to the little shop on Duval Street when I smell it.

Capiz chandelier purchased at my all time favorite shop in Key Largo called Shell World.  I could spend hours just looking at everything!!  This hangs over our bed and it is so peaceful to hear when you are drifting off to sleep.

A fantastic little beach with a rock path that created a cove in the ocean and was a perfect spot for the kids to play in the water.  We found it by total accident and it was one of my all time favorite spots!

My daughter and I playing with the dauphins.

Sunset in Key West.

If you could go anywhere right this second to vacation, where would you go?

~  Kim :)