Thank you SO much for leaving such kind and caring comments on my last post. That stuff is so tough, and my heart goes out to those who are dealing with, or have dealt with, the loss of a furbaby. I swear I can still hear Bean walking from room to room sometimes, but somebody told me that’s normal. ???
And I was surprised how many safe TV watchers there are out there! I think we should start a club…and I think I should design a t-shirt…or a tote bag, or something.
In rocker boy news, Kev finally made it back home safe and sound! His tour was a success, and he said he’s ready to get back to fixin’ up this fixer again real soon.
I actually surprised him with a quick getaway to the Gulf this week. I thought it would be a nice way for him to unwind and I really needed to get out of the house. I tend to become a bit of a hermit when he’s gone for long periods of time and he’s been cooped up in a van with a buncha’ band boys for the past couple of months, so we were both feeling pretty antsy to go somewhere a little more….wide open…
(Pensacola Beach, Florida)
It’s a three hour drive from our house to Pensacola Beach. I booked the cheapest room I could find, because when you’re looking at the sand, the sea and your sweetie, who cares what the room looks like, right?
Well, apparently an angel at the Holiday Inn Express cared what our room looked like this week, because she called me a few hours before we checked in and told me she was going to upgrade us to one of the penthouse suite’s at no additional charge. I could not believe it! I wanted to tell Kev, but I decided to keep it a secret until we got there. He was so surprised when we got up to the ginormous room and he saw floor-to-ceiling glass, and nothin’ but ocean!
The suite had a nice big living room, a bedroom of equal size, a kitchen, and 2-1/2 baths- one of which had a whirlpool tub that was as big as both of our bath tubs put together!
The private rooftop deck was my favorite part though. It was physically impossible for me to stop smiling on that thing…
And after a hard couple of months missing Kev, and then mourning the loss of Mr. Bean, I gotta tell ya, that was just what this old gal needed.
Because our room was on the west end of the hotel, (and near the end of the beach) we had a view of both the Gulf and the bay that surrounded us…
The sun sets below the bay, over there on the right, and it was such a treat to watch it slide beneath the horizon line each night while we were there.
The water was still a bit too cold to wade in, so we did a bunch of wave-watching instead…
And, of course, we couldn’t resist doing this once before we left too…
It was a refreshing little trip, and we still can’t believe we got to stay in that room!
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In bloggy news, we’re excited to announce that we’re going to team up with our pals Rhoda, Sarah and Kate for another link party series in May.
We had a ball throwing the Holiday Home link parties, so we thought we’d try it again and put a Spring/Summer spin on things this time!
The festivities will kick off on Tuesday, May 17th with Sarah’s spray paint project link party. Then on Thursday, May 19th, Kate will host an outdoor ideas link party. On Tuesday, May 24th, Rhoda’s going to host a Summer recipe link party, and on Thursday, May 26th, I’m going to blog about our Summer mantel and host a Spring/Summer mantel link party.
I had fun putting this one together last Summer…
…and I can’t wait to play around with another one this year.
Hope you can make it to the Home May’d parties and that you’re having a awesome April!
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What a wonderful way to reconnect with your soul mate and your best friend. The ocean has a way of renewing the spirit and heals the heart as nothing else can. So happy for the two of you!!
Wowie wow wow! That is a super room. So glad you got away for a little while. A perfect choice! I giggled out loud over the jumping on the bed. Ya’ll are so cute.
SUPER excited about the linky parties in May! I am going to learn so much! thanks!
Smart of you to arrange that time away for you and your hubby. You both definitely needed it. Glad you were able to get a sweet surprise too!
Layla, Thanks for sharing your vacation photo’s, they put a smile on my face as well:)
OH MY GOSH!! It is a sign.. and I believe in signs.. well, I do now, anyway…I just posted how I can’t decorate at all and needed some help on ideas for my almost two-year old boy for his new big boy room… I asked for some tips, suggestions… I love pottery barn kids shark/nautical room.. but didn’t know if it was too mature for a toddler… then I got bored at work and found my way over to the Pioneer Woman to catch up on some reading and saw you guys on her other links page.. and you guys specialize in nautical decorating it seems!! If you ever need a charity case to promote nautical toddler rooms, please, please, use me! 🙂 3 hours of P’Cola Beach.. can’t be too far from me..
anyway, even if you guys never read my comment and someone else does on here that knows a thing or two about decorating, please contact me, I’m helpless… and maybe if I throw out that I’m a poor social worker I”ll gain some sympathy?? ha-ha… I”ll do anything to get some decorating advice, tips, and not ashamed to beg… Thanks for any tips suggestions in advance!!!
here is my post I literally just blogged about not even an hour ago before finding you…
http://brokenresolutions.wordpress.com/2011/04/22/moving-on-up%e2%80%a6-and-resolutions-update/
Boy toddler room decor ideas…
What a fun little get away 🙂 Can’t wait for the Home May’d link party, I always get so much inspiration from these!
NO WAYSIES!!!!! That is so awesome. And you guys are probably the best-looking couple on the planet. 🙂
Such an awesome blessing!! Yay for the times we can see that the Lord knows us personally. So happy for you two!
wow! who doesnt LOVE a free upgrade! such a great view! what a beauitful place to spend with your honey:)
Lisa
http://www.pickfair.etsy.com
You gave me the best idea! I am taking my baby (OK…soon to be Senior in High School) to visit the University of West Florida in the fall and I am totally choosing this hotel! After an 8 hour drive from Naples, it will be nice to be on the beach 🙂
I am so glad that you had this nice surprise when you went away. I just love your blog, your ideas, and wish I had some of that creative ability when it comes to decorating. However, learning lots from you!! Continued success!
All I can say its that was one heck of an upgrade! Never have we been that lucky! Love the photos from the trip!!
Y’all deserve it! So glad you enjoyed yourselves. Blessings.
I am SO glad that your man is home and that you guys got away and were blessed with that upgrade!!!!
The pictures of you two on the beach are keepers…hopefully, they’re framed somewhere for you to enjoy this summer.
Reunions after time away from one another are SO GOOD. :)))
Can’t wait to join some of your linky parties with your friends!
Well deserved break. Your photos are beautiful!
Looking forward to the parties!
Happy Easter, Kevin and Layla!
Love your photos sitting on the sand – so adorable. Thanks for the joy your provide to us throughout the year!
Happy Easter to you, Kevin & your families.
I am so glad you were able to get away! looks like heaven! Happy Easter sweet friend.
makes me feel good that you received an upgrade and got to feed your well deserved soul. good people receiving good things. quite a concept for life huh?
So happy you two got to get away together! How lucky you were to get that room. I’ve never known a hotel to call and offer an upgrade! Usually I have to beg and they make me feel like the poor scoundrel that I am! 🙂
Hey, if you get a minute, could you give me the color of that blue painted on your adorable starfish wood-flag? I’ve been searching for a blue like that and boy, not easy.
Thanks dahling.
What an Awesome couple…love your blog 🙂
How wonderful!! It looks totally amazing.
It is normal that you still hear Bean everywhere. It takes a long time to get used to them not being around. I lost my cat three and a half month ago, and there are still some moments when I turn around and expect him to be there only to realize he is not. Losing a beloved pet like that it is terrible, but unfortunately not all people understand how much a pet can mean. Take your time.
Looks like God knew you needed a special treat after your tough couple of months! What a sweet little love letter from Him!
I am completely addicted to your blog btw!!!!
So inspired by your work! Looking forward to you cool parties! Monica
I am happy you had a great trip, and the linky party sounds like so much fun!
Happy Easter!
(((hugs))),
Ricki Jill
For whatever reason I missed the previous post. SO sorry for your loss. :o( I lost my childhood dog my sophomore year of college. I was so heartbroken– my boyfriend drove me home so our family could be together. My prayers are with you. Mr. Bean suffers no more. :o)
I’m glad your and your love got a beautiful beach break!
Way to go on the upgrade!!!! We went to europe with a group of friends a few years back. We let two folks cut in front of us and they were chosen to sit in first class….man did that sting, lol!!!!
You’ll mourn Mr. Bean, then your heart will heal a bit and you’ll find yourself yearining for another furr baby. Sigh, pets just make our lives more special.
Glad your fella is home and enjoyed your weekend!
I haven’t jumped on a bed since I bought one!
I live in Pensacola and we have gone out and stayed at the Holiday Inn Express….we did not have a suite but even the regular rooms are great and they have the most comfortable beds! I hope you enjoyed your visit.
Benita
I’m from Pensacola Beach! 🙂 So glad you guys enjoyed your little vacation. Hope you went to Peg Leg Pete’s, or Flounders for some good food too.
Can’t wait for the link party. And I’m so glad that you two got to relax. What a beautiful hotel! The beach always soothes my soul (:
My kids and I just spent the week after Easter at the Mayo Clinic. We had several appointments over the week, but had two days with NOTHING to do. On one of those days, we drove to the Wisconsin Dells. They had upgraded us to a suite too. Wonderful. Restful… so much fun! A perfect break from doctors, pokes and getting lost in the subway that connects all the building in downtown Rochester.
I’ve added the Home May’d badge to my blog post. I hope that is OK?? If not just let me know and I’ll just use a link!!
BTW you two look so great up there!!!
OH and I had a blast joining all the Holiday Home parties!!! 🙂
We live in Pensacola and love that new hotel!! 🙂 And the beach has been PERFECT lately!! We went out last weekend! It’s such a blessing to live to close to our beautiful beaches!! 🙂
Beth
Oh my gosh! Layla & Kevin I just stumbled on this post (not sure this thing will let me leave a comment, now that it’s 2014 but I’m going to try!). I like to randomly look through your old posts some days, and I came across this one.
What a gift!!!!! (to stumble across it I mean)
I LOVE the photos of you and Kevin on the beach! Oh my gosh! I hope one day I can take photos like that! They are GORGEOUS! I hope you frame them and have them hanging in your home somewhere. How lovely! And how loving!
Without wanting to sound creepy, I’m almost inspired to hang them in my home as inspiration! You guys are so eye catching. I believe it’s because your beauty (both of you) starts on the inside. I am in complete awe and oozing gratitude for this moment.
I also totally love the bed jumping moment!!!! That’s awesome!! You guys are wonderful. I’m SO honoured that you shared that with all of us (me later than everyone else but hey!) 🙂 You two are so inspiring.
I hope you are STILL having that much fun. Perhaps you two need another little get away to refresh yourselves, given your challenging delays with Sweet P’s adoption. Maybe you need to go jump on a bed and sit on the shore again.
So much fondness coming your way!
Maryjane
from Manitoba, Canada.