Girls Weekend Catch Up

Has it really been a month since I posted? The last month has just flown by! I finished up year number four teaching first grade. (yay!) It was a great school year but I was also thrilled to see summer break come! I have about a week and a half break between the end of the school year and the start of teaching summer reading camp so I have been soaking up every minute of this little mini vacation). My past month involved visiting moms Holden Beach house, a girls weekend, a family reunion and celebrating Fathers day!

Even though we had girls weekend several weekends ago, it was so much fun I have to make sure to recap it! I spent the weekend at Holden beach with my mom and sister, best friend Ashley and moms best friend and daughter. Us six girls have been through it all together so it's always fun to have a little get away together! Friday night everyone arrived and we relaxed on the porch, opened some good wine and played a new game called The Game of Things (it was SO much fun!). Saturday we enjoyed a nice breakfast outside before heading to the beach for the day. 

Mom had no idea that we had a little surprise up our sleeve for Saturday night! She had just celebrated her birthday so we rented out a private pontoon boat to have  a sunset cruise. It was definitely the highlight of the weekend. We had absolutely perfect weather, a beautiful view, and plenty of delicious food and champagne. 

Of course the weekend wouldn't have been complete without some personalized cups and wine glasses! I'm already counting down the days until we can all get together again. Weekends like that are good for the soul! 

Weekending

I'll go ahead and warn you I took my fair share of pictures this weekend! When you have a gorgeous view that is just what you do!! Justin and I had such a nice and low key weekend. Friday when we got off work we were both ready for some mental relaxation. Justin LOVES doing yard work.. crazy right?! So he headed outdoors and I spent the evening trying out some calligraphy. I have always wanted to learn and even bought a book last year but was so busy wedding planning I never had the time to dig in. I pulled the book and tools out that have been sitting in the corner of our bedroom and got to work. It was so relaxing! I am going to continue practicing and trying to learn this new skill! Saturday I had a to babysit all morning and early afternoon. As soon as I finished up we headed to the Holden house for the night. We had another couple over Saturday night to grill out burgers and take in the view. We were so busy catching up I never got a picture after they arrived.

Sunday was spent relaxing in the morning- coffee, the news, cloudy skies and a nap before we finally ventured out of the house at noon. We tried out a {new to us} restaurant and took a walk at the far end of Holden beach. I have been to Holden beach many times but have never walked to the far east end. We walked as far as we could to the very end where at low tide you can see and almost walk right to Oak Island. It was breathtakingly beautiful yesterday. We had the BEST time taking in the view, snapping pictures and watching the boats. We even stumbled on this mailbox hidden in the dunes. It is called the Holden Golden Memories mailbox and inside are notebooks and a pen where people that pass by can jot down a thought, note, letter or whatever they please. I know there is a similar mailbox like this on Ocean Isle Beach but had no idea Holden had one. It was such a fun surprise! Justin and I both left a little note inside! Right after that the poor hubby had an accident cutting his foot on an oyster shell so we ended the walk to head home and doctor him up. We managed to still sneak in an ice-cream break before ending the day. Weekends truly are the best! I was super sad to see this one end. I don't want to wish time away but I'm already counting down to next weekend! 

isn't this how every 5:00 should be spent?!

Weekending

This past weekend was the perfect balance of relaxing and productive. The hubs I were so excited to head over to moms new house after work on Friday. We got there just in time to eat a sub, watch the sun set and poor a drink. My favorite part of the night was watching Henson check the place out. He absolutely LOVES it there. He did almost give himself a slight concussion running full speed into the sliding glass door and is going to have to get used to the floating dock that moves up and down with the tide. Ha, he is the funniest dog to watch. (; On Saturday I had no problem waking up early because I headed straight for the rocking chairs on the porch to sip my coffee and watch the sun come up. I want to spend as many mornings as I can like that. There is something so peaceful about water! Saturday was spent exploring Holden Beach, catching some sun and cocktails on the dock. Saturday evening we packed up meet family for dinner to celebrate Justin's cousin's birthday at our favorite restaurant. If you vacation near N Myrtle Beach I highly suggest doing dinner at Boardwalk Billy's one night. They have a huge outdoor patio, corn hole, good food and live music just about every night. We had a huge crowd at Carlee's birthday dinner. Isn't that the best though?! Thankful for a large family that keeps expanding! 

the shrimp burgers at Holden Beach are the BEST. They actually patty the shrimp together here

Sunday was low key and productive. Just what I needed before heading back to work on Monday.  I babysat most of the day on Sunday. When I got home I was able to cross some dreaded task off the todo list: clean the ceiling fans and move couches to retrieve lost dog bones and clean the floor. I was sad to see the weekend come to an end but I'm also ready to get the work week started. We are in the final countdown at school (16 more days!!) 

Weekending & Mothers Day

This past weekend was SUCH a good time. So much so that my mom stayed an extra night and I didn't have to say bye to her until 7 pm yesterday! We started off on Friday after work celebrating Cinco De Mayo a day late. My sister got into town right about dinner time. We had some celebratory drinks and chicken tacos that turned out so good. I always cook my chicken for tacos in the crock pot. It's so easy and smelled so good by the time I got home from work! My mom didn't get into town until late Friday night so dinner was just the hubs and my sister. 

On Saturday we all enjoyed a slow breakfast. I made my favorite buttermilk blueberry breakfast cake. I can't take credit for the recipe but I can express how delicious it is! There was plenty of food and coffee to go around until it was time to get ready and head out wedding dress shopping for my sister!! We started off at a bridal shop in Wilmington where Ginny found two dresses she liked but not enough to buy one right then. We took a break from dress shopping and had a mothers day lunch at The Pilot House on the Wilmington Waterfront. That is one of our favorite places to eat because you can sit outside overlooking the water. My mom and I had the shrimp and scallop scampi with a glass of white wine- oh my word. I can still taste it.. it was amazing. After another pit stop by World Market to get the most adorable flamingo dish towel we made our second stop to continue looking for a dress. After trying on just a few Ginny found HER DRESS! Y'all... I wish I could share a picture. It is absolutely stunning. She is going to be the most beautiful bride!! After the best day out shopping the fun continued at our house having dinner with my family and Justin's family. I made the comment that I was just so thankful we had our table filled to the max with family and good food. There is truly nothing better than that! All weekend long I was reminded  how fortunate and blessed I am to have such an amazing family (both sides!) and husband! Life is good.

On Sunday the fun continued with Mothers Day celebrations! We had another slow morning with banana bread and coffee. side note- I messed up the banana bread.. how is that possible? I need a new recipe!  Then, we headed to lunch at a local seafood restaurant in Calabash with Justin's whole side of the family. Everyone handed out mothers day gifts and chatted. After lunch, we all went to see my moms new house on the intracoastal waterway. She just closed on it- just in time for the summer! I cannot wait to make new memories in that house!!

Justin with his mom and brother

Mom's new house- can you spot Justin's mom and dad?

Emerald Isle Getaway

A few weekends ago my old college roommate invited Justin and I to come stay the weekend with her and her boyfriend at Emerald Isle. Kristi and I are such good friends but don't get to see each other nearly enough living in different cities. It was so nice to be able to relax and catch up! 

On Saturday we started the day popping champagne (an old tradition of ours) before heading out on the boat. The weather ended up being perfect- not too hot but not cold either. Boat rides and mimosas in mason jars go hand in hand right?  ;) 

             

The crew 

not a cloud in the sky.. seriously such a pretty day!

After the boat ride we headed back to the house for a quick nap and a little relaxing on the porch. That evening we cooked hamburgers and hotdogs and just hung out on the dock overlooking the water. The view was seriously breathtaking. I could have spent the whole day sitting right there. 

With all of my close friends spread out across NC weekends like this mean so much! I can't wait to visit Emerald Isle/Morehead city again.