Each year, for seven days in mid-April, here's what we don't do: listen to NPR, open our computers, look at our blackberries, talk on the phone, drive, brush our hair (frequently at least), wear proper footwear, eschew ice cream as a viable lunch option, make any solid plans, rush...
What pretty much goes down during that early spring week is such prosaic (and highly essential activities) as cruising around on our bikes, pondering the merits of shrimp tacos over pulled pork sandwiches, deciding between spf 30 and spf 50, and digging holes in the sand (maybe one of the most underrated activities of all time -- highly satisfying...who knew?)
Here's the thing about our annual beach vacation. It's just that, a vacation. It's easy in all the right ways. We go to the same place, with the same people (who we love dearly) at roughly the same time of year. And this familiarity coupled with the novelty of how different the rhythm of our days and the landscape are from that of our day-to-day existence is somehow the perfect recipe for relaxation. It is by far one of the best weeks of our entire year, prompting us to start counting the days until we can return the minute we set-out for home at the end of the week.
For some reason, I'm especially melancholy this year since getting home. Maybe it's because the girls were older making the trip easier (despite sweet hubby's cast-bound arm, Millie tumbling off our friend's shoulders into the ocean and Audrey getting stung by a jellyfish and attended to by a screaming firetruck toting seven strapping firemen...good times!), maybe it was how badly we all needed a vacation going into it...who knows. All I know is I'm not ready to be back yet.
But I keep telling myself that part of being sad that vacation is over is what makes vacation special... Right?
Ok and now for the "Beach Week Giveaway" winners...the Wolfum napkins go to Megan Taylor, and the winner of the f. is for frank necklace is Kristin Orser. Congrats ladies!
I should also acknowledge that I totally flaked on posting my third giveaway last week due to the altogether slakerish mindset I adopted while basking in sun and sand. So I'll post it later this week -- a little "home from vacation" giveaway if you will. Stay tuned.
Hope you all had a fantastic week!
18 comments:
where did you go? - i LOVE this tradition!!!!
So cute! I love all the photos, makes me want to go on a vacation of my own. Great seaweed necklaces by the way!
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this looks amazing joslyn. no wonder you didn't want to come home!
Looks like a beautiful way to unwind. Glad it was wonderful!
Oh my gosh! What total gorgeousness.
The necklaces are stunning, I agree. Also love that dress your daughter is wearing in the top phone.
Adorable photos, you seem to be having the greatest time! Your smile makes me smile, so beautiful!
xx
wow, beautiful pictures. I want to go!!
Oh hooray! I'm so excited to have won the necklace...that necklace in the photo is something to be swooning over as well!
Glad to hear you're having a good time with your family.
But Millie saved the crab from Andy's foot so all was good. Miss you! 363 days to go!
Oh my goodness, that looks like an amazing vacation. Could that water be any more blue?
Sounds like you and the family had a lovely week by the shore! Cherish those precious memories.
xx
Just beautiful. Every single photo. Is that Millie with the seaweed halo? That's my favorite. I'm trying to plan a vacation right now and am getting cranky about it all. Your perfect vacation has inspired me.
A real vacation! I really, really need one and yours looks wonderful!
It's good to see Fruit Cocktail is still there. Counting the days until our two weeks in July. I gotta say I'm not happy to see the seaweed though. :( I like my SS beaches/ocean to be clear and clean.
How was the new toy store? I think it's owned by the family that used to own Pizza by the Sea. Which is now owned by a Dallas family maybe?
Totally with you on the post-vacation melancholy! Sun, sand and surf are an awesome combo, but the clencher may be simply being unplugged. I have been trying to unplug each weekend - and it helps - a lot - when I do. Just a thought.
loved this post. beautiful writing. sent me right to the beach, relaxing. pondering over shrimp tacos or pulled pork, yes this is hard stuff in deed. I'm feeling inspired to have such an amazing ritual and rhythm to a vacation. It can certainly make it even more special. What a great time of year for it too! Also, I'm always a little sad when I get back from vacation as well... so glad you and your clan had such a good time!
what a wonderful week!! there is nothing better then the beach with kiddos... I still have sand on my feet from our day today... heaven!
such a Beautiful post.
always such pretty pictures and that one of you and the girls is stunning. you are amazing :)
happy you were able to disconnect and hope your hubby is on the mend.
Erika -- we went to Seaside in the panhandle of Florida...it's really lovely!
Kate -- actually Fruit Cocktail is gone ;-( the frozen drinks are at the bbq trailer.. And yes, there was an awful lot of seaweed on the beach this year. no fun!
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