Young House Love

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Road Trip In Progress…

True to our 2011 resolution, which inspired us to sneak off to Maui last year, this year we’ve road tripped down to Destin, Florida so we can soak up some rays and recharge our drill DIY batteries.

Beach Pic Sand

Turns out even if you love painting and sanding and stripping wallpaper, it’s nice to step away from the primer and the sawdust to reboot for a week with your family. And since we had already driven down to Atlanta last week for the Haven Conference, we figured why stop there when the beautiful gulf coast was a half-day drive away…

Beach Pic1

Destin was our destination of choice because our good friends the Bowers have said such great things about it. Oh, and did I mention the Bowers came with us?

Panorama

We do plan to drop in a few times throughout the next five days with some posts that we wrote up before we left (we have an awesome $1,000+ international giveaway that we’ll share tomorrow morning along with some other things, like a sweet Reader Redesign). But our main goal is to recharge, put the laptops down, and show Clara a good time.

Beach Pic Clara

So we’ll just be stopping by every once in a while until next Monday (please forgive us if we’re not actively answering comments until then). We can’t wait to come back refreshed, inspired, and ready to tackle everything on our beefy to-do list. If only we could coerce our house sitters into painting some blue trim while they’re there (we have a few friends and family members who are taking turns moving in to stare at the wallpaper hang out while we’re gone).

Dining Room2

What do you think the odds are of them surprising us with some painted trim when we return? Methinks it’s zero point zero zero. So we’re grateful that this is the only blue that we’ll be staring at for the next few days:

Beach Pic Blue

Naaaature! (said in the voice of Robert Goulet, of course).

Comments

  1. Jennifer says

    I’m so jealous! Destin is my absolute favorite vacation spot. We were just there in March, but I’m ready to go back. Make sure you visit Seaside while you’re there!

    Reply

  2. Heather H. says

    OMGeeeeeeeeee we also vacationed to Destin this year about a month ago!!! It was our first year, at the rec of so many friends and it is our FAV place now!!! I couldnt believe the beauty right here in the US (we usually vacation to other islands each year) the water, the people were so nice, everything was BEAUTIFUL!!! I hope you went to McGuires Irish Pub, THEEEE best steak you will ever have!!! We also did the Zoo and the Maritime museum (our son is 23 months). Its perfect for a family vacation. Fudpuckers was also very fun for dinner!!!

    Reply

  3. K says

    Destin is my favorite vacay spot on Earth. We’re 9 hours away, but I always run into half the people I know from home when I’m there! Check out The Donut Hole – best key lime pies on the Coast!

    Reply

  6. LibraDesignEye says

    Nothing made me quite so happy as when i saw you guys abandon daily postings, albeit because I sometimes do check in with you every day. Your blog is this wonderful, concrete example of people setting goals and achieving them. A really important goal that you guys have stated is to have more balance and a real vacation from this is so important to that. Please abandon comments for the week – put an auto comment reply – my only hesitation about posting was that it would ring your buzzer to have to audit / accept / etc.

    This is also the point where things start to get sticky – newlywed and new babies and new books – well, the wonderful thing about life is that it can be wonderful in ways we never dreamed of, and then AT THE SAME TIME, there are the unexpected medical emergencies, miles of blue trim, unpacking those darn boxes and the demands of what we do to produce income – no matter how we love it.

    You need a break. We will still be here.

    Yeah, its personal the way we fix up our homes, and how we live day to day, so fans get attached and want you guys to succeed, they want you to be happy. They project their own wishes and desires and (shark) fears on you. You always keep it real, and you keep a zone of privacy. So I’m raising my glass to you.

    Soon, I hope you will set the example to let Clara have Nonna or cousin time and see the two of you get away alone together. That would be the secret to my long and very happy marriage. Another wish this fan has for you two.

    Splash around. Sleep in. Delight in this time. Finally, I’ll share what an acquaintance told me about her summers away at the shore. She taught at university, and wrote historically accurate fiction. When I inquired about the summers when she religiously returned with her kids to her parents home on the coast, she replied “I await further instruction.”

    And that receptive faith that inspiration will arrive is the blissful, be-ing not do-ing that I like to imagine for you during this week. This whole week. I’m happy to see you give yourself permission to do less here. Truly. Oh, perhaps another sip from that raised glass . . .

    Reply

    • Renee says

      hey!! so i have a creepy/ embarrassing confession. after i commented this, either that afternoon or the next, i think i saw you (john) at a coffee shop (bad ass coffee) in front of me in line! i’m so dorky that i decided not to say anything & then when my husband and i left, i told him & he was like “you should have totally said something!!! i bet they would have loved that!!!” lol. anyway, hope you had fun!!

  8. Deena says

    It’s about time you went on a vacation!!! I look at your website everyday thru my email and I just love it. It inspires me to do things at my home that we bought. The home was built in 1975.

    Reply

  9. Ashley [7th House on the Left] says

    I know you’ve probably heard this a million times already, but you should totally check out Seaside. It’s a really cute picturesque town with tons of colorful houses. The Post Office is as cute as a Polly Pocket, haha. Hope you guys have a fun and relaxing vacation!

    Reply

  15. Ter'e Crow Lindsay says

    Look up Harbor Docks. Best sushi in the world. (Lots of other great items as well, but killer sushi). Destin is a beautiful afea. This time, last year, we lived there. We are now south of Tampa. Hope your weather is perfect!

    Love all the beach pics. Awesome memories!!!!!!!

    Reply

  16. Destiny says

    Oh, have a wonderful time! The picture of Sherry and Clara would be awesome as a metallic print on bamboo. It’s just a memory too perfect not to capture forever…

    Reply

  19. Katie says

    We live in Niceville, just over the bridge. Love it here. Hope you enjoy it . I got excited when I saw you were here. The hubby is making fun of me, and said you act like you know them, like your friends. I do feel like I know your family from following the blog. We are hunting for our second home 2 kids and 2 bedroom home not quite big enough anymore. I can’t for another fixer upper project. You guys make it look so easy, and rewarding!!

    Reply

  22. Lindsey says

    I’m from a small town in Alabama, and we were only an hour & 1/2 away from Destin. We spent pretty much every Saturday there while I was growing up. Over the years we have watched it grow into a HUGE tourist destination. Destin has some of the most wonderful beaches, and some truly great restaurants & other attractions. Be sure to go to the Donut Hole before you leave! AWESOME breakfast and even better donuts!!! Hope you enjoy your stay!!! :)

    Reply

  25. LindsayH says

    I am SO jealous. I love Destin so much! I have been there twice and I dream about it every.single.day. Especially in the winter. In Iowa.

    Reply

  26. amanda says

    Ahh this is where I live!! PLEASE check out Seaside, Rosemary and Alys Beach before you leave. This are the real gems of our area! :) And if you want some family photos on the beach let me know :)

    Reply

  27. Rebecca says

    I’m in Destin on vaca too!!!! Have come here every year for 30 yrs. If you see me tomorrow, wave at me! lol

    Reply

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