Mommy Island 2011

This is a little late, but I definitely couldn't leave it out of my blog since it was such an AMAZING weekend! Over the weekend of April 29-May 2nd...my girlfriends from college and I got together for a WONDERFUL, RELAXING, FUN, AMAZING, CHILD-FREE, MARVELOUS (how many other adjectives can I throw in here) weekend in Rosemary Beach, FL! I had been planning this event for a while and I was SOOOO happy for it to finally be here! I had never been to Rosemary before but always heard wonderful things about it. In the past, we've mostly done trips to Gatlinburg for our girl's weekends and this year, we decided we would go somewhere different...and boy did we hit the JACKPOT with this place. We have committed to going back every year now...we loved it THAT MUCH!
Thursday night, Bethany and Chris Anne drove down to our house and spent the night with us. We got up REALLY REALLY early (like 5am) so we could get to the beach ASAP! We were sleepy, but it was a great decision! We were there by lunchtime. The only thing about that day was that it was the ROYAL WEDDING...so Bethany kept us informed via her phone...so we didn't get to watch the wedding live, but we managed to fit it in later!
Once we got to Rosemary...and picked our mouths up off of the ground (b/c of how gorgeous it was there), we met up with Jillina and Andrea for lunch. Those crazy girls drove all night so they could be on the beach first thing that morning. These girls don't fool around...we are serious about our weekend getaways! Maximizing every possible minute! Jillina had coordinated our beach chairs to be set up every day in the same spot...with specific instruction not to sit us around a bunch of kids...or anyone really. We just wanted our own little beach world sanctuary! And of course, they delivered...hence the name "MOMMY ISLAND"!
I found the condo we stayed at on http://www.homeaway.com/. It was AMAZING (it was called "Seacrest A La Paix" if anyone is looking for a great place to stay there....highly recomend...it was perfect (slept 6)! Thankfully, we picked a great time (after spring break and before summer), so we got a great rate and the place was beautiful! Each morning, we walked over to this really cute this breakfast place/"sundries" store. And we spent all day long on the beach! We talked, told stories, laughed (REALLY hard), had serious discussions, read magazines, people watched, took naps, some times we didn't talk at all and enjoyed the silence...it was JUST PERFECT! Those of you mommies know that it's pretty stressful sometimes...and we kind of forget how much we need a little break every now and again. It is so good...and makes us all better mommies for it. So thankful that we all have such supportive husbands/families/grandparents that are all for us getting away. Originally, we were thinking we would do this trip every other year, but once we got back and the girls were talking to our husbands...several of the guys suggested..."why every other year...yall should go every year"...so there you go. That's all we needed to hear...so it's official...each year...same time...same place! :)

Sorry to go on and on, but we really had such an amazing and relaxing weekend...that I had to share! Love my girls...we missed those of you that couldn't make it! Maybe next year! I'll let the pictures tell the rest of the story (thanks Lindasy for the pics)!

This view is looking back towards the Rosemary town center...gorgeous. It reminded me of a town that would be in Europe...cobblestone streets, little shops, restaurants, etc...SOOOO CUTE!

This is from that building in the photo above looking towards the beach...GORGEOUS!

Lindsay arrived on Friday evening...we took a group pic before going to pick her up at the airport...we were so excited to get the whole group together! We went in to Panama City that night for a late supper...and had a great time!

BEAUTIFUL...so relaxing!

Mommy Island...pretty sure I'll never carry another beach chair again...this was definitely the way to go!

Jillina supervised the chair placement! :)

Beautiful friends at lunch one day (Jillina, Lindsay and Chris)!

Kate, Andrea and Bethany...loved this little lunch place we went back the next day.

Our FAVORITE little breakfast shop...so cute. It was a store on one side and then a little sitting area where they made breakfast and had coffee...YUM!

Not sure why this picture is so small, but this was my FABULOUS meal at Cafe 30A! Several people recommended this place to us as a "must-go"...and we were SOOOO GLAD we did. It was amazing. We were all giddy when we left there it was so good. If you are anywhere on 30A on your vacation...you MUST go there.

Dessert...creme brulee...my favorite...AMAZING!

These pictures are out of order, but this was our last dinner at La Crema Tapas & Chocolate in Rosemary! Such a fun meal...

At Cafe30A (http://www.cafethirtya.com/) to have one of the best meals EVER!

Being silly trying to attempt a group picture.

Again...out of order, but we finally got a group picture!

More silliness! Love these ladies. We laughed so hard this weekend!

Living room of our gorgeous condo!

Balcony...beautiful!

UNBELIEVABLE kitchen! Oh how I would LOVE to cook in this kitchen...however...any cooking was forbidden from this trip! This kitchen was truly fabulous!

downtown Rosemary!