In Serious Need of a Vacation

Last night I dreamed of this

But woke up to this

I'm in serious need of a tropical vacation. Last night I had the best dream that Tilley-Gray and I were playing in the sand somewhere tropical. I woke up this morning freezing, which has only motivated me to find a great vacation when Grayson can take some time off in July. Any suggestions for great resorts that are good for families? We have never been in that category before!

It needs to be a place with tropical drinks and an ocean. Those are my only requirements!

In the meantime, I'm stocking my closet with beach must haves. Big sunglasses, breezy kaftans, flat sandals, and one bag to put all of these in. What are your vacation must haves? 

Tortoise Sunglasses //  Weekend Bag // Round frame Sunglasses

One Shoulder Suit  //  Cotton Gauze Kaftan //  Bikini //  Cotton Anglaise Cover Up

Satin Bow Flat Espadrilles //  Panama Fedora // Tie-Up Leather Flower Sandals

Charleston Re-Cap

The husband and I just got back from a four night babymoon in Charleston, SC and it was beyond fabulous. We ate and walked our way around the city and then spent the afternoons sitting by the rooftop pool of our hotel, eating nachos and sipping on Perrier with mint and strawberries (me) and really good IPA beers (husband). Here are some the highlights from our trip:

If you ever make it to Charleston in the summer time, you have to stay at the Market Pavilion Hotel. It's just too hot in that city not to stay somewhere that has a pool. You can only walk around Charleston for so long until it becomes unbearable. 

This is the only hotel in Charleston that has a roof top pool with a bar and a really good place to eat. Believe me, that's at the top of my priority list these days.  We were able to swim and watch the women's World Cup at the same time while sipping cold drinks and eating nachos. Life just doesn't get too much better than that. 

We ate at some really, really good restaurants. We ate at 82 Queen and were able to sit in their courtyard outside. I had the best salad of my life. Grilled peaches with arugula and lavender balsamic. Seriously good.

We also ate at the new "IT" spot, Husk. We took at pedicab there because it was so hot and I was braving out a new pair of clogs. The pedicab form of transportation is the way to go. 

If you ever have a chance to go to Husk, you better go starving, because they give you a ton of food.  I think everything they serve is cooked with bacon and fat back and I'm not complaining one bit. 

 Our reservation wasn't until 9pm, so I was starving, and we ordered their bacon cornbread, heirloom tomato salad, fried catfish, and then really splurged on dessert. It was a chocolate peanut butter truffle something that was insane. Don't let the small size fool you, I was having a hard time breathing after I split this with the husband. He got the bourbon pairing and loved every ounce. 

Husk is proud of their southern ingredients and have where each of them are from displayed on a huge chalkboard at the entrance of the restaurant.  

Other than eating our way around the city, Charleston has a brewery that made the husband especially happy. He loves beer so this just made his day. 

A tasting that we could both enjoy was a honey tasting at the adorable Savannah Bee Company located on King Street. As soon as I walked by the store front, I instantly wanted to go in just because it was so beautiful! My background is in merchandising and I have to say that this may take the cake for the best way to display honey. They have all kinds of products made from bees and we were able to sample all of their honey. 

So, what else do you do in Charleston when you are there for 5 days? Well, we took a carriage tour around the city and we both enjoyed it so much than we thought we would. We were able to learn about the history of not only the city, but were also told details about a lot of the homes in the Battery. 100% touristy, but also a lot of fun. 

Back at the barn, they had baby mules and a feisty chicken that chased me and the husband. 

We also ventured out of Charleston into Mt. Pleasant and went paddle boarding on the Shem Creek. I'm not much of a creek girl, so I made sure not to fall off my paddle board. It was beautiful and we were able to see a lot of different wildlife including dolphins!

Charleston was the perfect get away but it's always great to come back home. We missed Polly Anna's birthday, so our friend/dog sitter made sure to send us pictures of her on her birthday with her birthday present. 

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I'm back... and not a bit more tan

The Bahamas was FREEZING. That's right. Bitter, freezing, cold. Seven days away from bone chilling North Carolina only to arrive in a "unseasonably" cold Bahamas. The bathing suit did not go on one time. Not only was it cold, the wind was blowing 40 miles an hour. Cold and windy....?

What's a family to do when snorkel gear and bathing suits aren't an option in the islands? 

Well.....

The Cheeks went to Senor Frogs our first day in the Bahamas. We were there at 10:45am and stayed for a good long time. Long enough for karaoke and this madness to happen. 

Grayson sang his beloved Digital Underground "Humpty Dance" before noon on a Monday morning. 

People ate it up. A white boy that can rap.

Clif, Baxter, and Gray at Senor Frogs

The Bahamas were crazy cold and the waters were super choppy from all of the wind. I was so close to loosing it on the boat but the husband told me his best advice which was to "just keep drinking." 

 After lunch and shopping, we went to the Atlantis and visited the aquariam. It was amazing and so serene! I could have spent all day there just watching the fish.

 We made a stop in Key West on the last day and finally ran in to some wamer weather.  Uncle Alan (the Cheek boys Uncle) was a Key West playboy for 30 or so years before moving to Costa Rica and taught them their way around Key West as a local would know. 

 I love the all of the art in Key West! 

Other than the obvious tourist jaunts in Key West, the architecture and colors are so incredible to look at. I especially love these shutters on the most Southern House in America.

I am both obsessed and terrified with all of the free roaming chickens and roosters in Key West. At lunch, a chicken was roosting right under my chair and could have cared less! 

Going on vacation is always such a treat, but I always love coming home.

Tomorrow we are one of five houses hosting our neighborhood's annual Christmas Crawl and Gray and I are busy prepping the house and catching up on emails and phone calls. 

Exciting things are happening around here this week, including a new and improved blog design by Fabulous K Creative! I can't wait to see what Kelly has come up with and how everything turns out!

Have a great weekend!

xoxo

Paris and the Parker Palms Springs

I'm really sorry I have not posted one time this week. It's been a whirlwind. In between jet lag naps, I made some major technology purchases (iMac, iPad, and replacing my lost camera)  and have also been working non stop catching up on work projects and emails. I promise lots of Paris details, minus photos. (I mentioned that we lost the camera on a train on the very last day didn't I? Total devastation.) Anyway, I thought that since I have not had an exactly relaxing weekend, I could at least research our next vacation spot. I'm thinking a road trip down the coast of California with a definite stop at the Parker Palms Spring. Who can resist a hotel that has such a fabulous mission statement?

We believe in the American country club experience: mixed doubles, a long steam, and a stiff cocktail.

We believe in inner beauty. But, do what you can on the outside.

We believe in old-world etiquette and new age simplicity.

We believe you can swim right after you eat.

We believe we should trust those seeking enlightenment and doubt those who claim to have found it.

We believe the earth is three-quarters water, and your body is three-quarters water, and... this is purely coincidence.

We believe in good sport as well as fitness: Pétanque and Pastis, Pimms Cup and Croquet, Snooker and single malt whiskey.

We believe you are only young once... but you can be immature forever.

Off to the Mountains

Tonight, my sweet husband of two years, Grayson, is whisking me away to Asheville, NC for a long weekend. Being a wedding planner, I don't have too many chances to have a weekend night with my husband, much less an entire weekend, so I am thrilled!

If you have never been to Asheville, NC, you should plan a trip immediately! It has so much to offer and is absolutely beautiful. We are staying at the Princess Ann Hotel and have planned to spend Friday hiking and exploring the hidden trails of Asheville and Brevard. Saturday we will be going to the Biltmore house with my brother, Josh, and his girlfriend, Cynthia. We are renting bikes from Biltmore to explore the grounds and will more than likely end our day spending the late afternoon at the winery. It's going to be a fabulous weekend!