Party like it's 2003!!!

O.k. so if you've read my last post then you know the whole history of Davis and I. About 6 months or so ago she moved down to Alabama. Her husband and his family will be moving their business from the Chicagoland area down to Alabama. They have family that lives down there and it will be much more cost effective to run a small business there. So Kati, Chicago girl through and through, has moved to the deep South! Quite a change. But she LOVES her man and is making many sacrifices so that they can start a new life for their family there. 

Currently, she is living in an apartment while they are building a house. Currently, she is also living ALONE! Bill is wrapping things up in Chicago and making countless arrangements to put things in place for their move, which should be finalized next fall. Wow! I can't even imagine moving across country ALONE! But she was offered a position at the one and only hospital in the area that hires her particular position. So she had to jump on the chance when it arose. 

 I thought this brave lady would enjoy some company! And this busy mama was in desperate need of a get away! So we started dreaming of our weekend together a couple of months ago. I am off track in April and the Springtime in Alabama is simply divine. So I booked my ticket! And Kati came up with the theme for our weekend, "Party like it's 2003!" So fitting! So fun! 

As the weekend approached, I busily prepared things around the house to make the weekend go a little smoother for Mr. Mom. I did laundry, laid out outfits, emptied the dishwasher, packed Nolan's school snack, prepared jerseys and water bottles for soccer...the list goes on and on. Mommy's- you know how it is...the hubbies don't even have a clue as to all the little details we get into place ahead of time to make the days run effectively. I knew Mark was totally capable, but I just thought I'd help him out a bit. 

And then the glorious day came...

I left little post it notes all over the house for the boys to read while I was away. They dropped me off at the airport last Friday afternoon. I kissed them goodbye and headed off for a weekend of freedom! 

I had a lay over in Atlanta and then flew from there to Gulf Port, Mississippi. To be at the airport BY MYSELF was so nice! I just brought a carry on and my purse, so it made traveling easy. It was quiet and calm and lovely reading magazines on the plane and eating dinner BY MYSELF! I didn't get in to Gulf Port until almost 10 p.m. Kati picked me up and we made the hour long drive to Spanish Fort, Alabama where her apartment is. It was so good to see her and so good to chat and catch up on our drive. Once we were back at her apartment we enjoyed a glass of wine and chatted for awhile longer too. 

The next morning we slept in. People, I did not get out of bed until 8:45 a.m.! Heavenly! We drank coffee, had breakfast, and then headed to the beach! Her family has a house in Orange Beach, but it was being rented out, so we booked a room for the night at a hotel right on the beach. 

It was about 80 degrees and sunny and absolutely perfect! For being a Saturday, it really wasn't that busy either. 

Kati don't kill me for posting this picture, but you just look so cute! We layed out, listened to some music, and took naps. Oh, and we got a little fried too. We applied sunscreen, but apparently, not very thoroughly. With the breeze and some clouds, we didn't even feel it until we got back to the hotel later. 

We took a walk on the beach and I had to check out the water and waves a bit too. 

Don't mind the pasty white Winter skin, but we also indulged in a couple of yummy beers on the beach. Ibita Strawberry...I had never heard of them but they were so good and refreshing! And everyone uses Koozies there too. It's so strange, you really never drink a beer without one. People even bring them to bars- another Southern thing. 

Kati and I ended up having very similar hats! We snapped this "selfie" right before we left. 

We went back to the hotel, showered, and got all dolled up for a fun dinner. 

This was the view from the restaurant. Amazing! We went to Cobalt. Delicious seafood! 

We had fun cocktails, the best Firecracker Shrimp I have ever had, Grouper and Fried Catfish. I definitely ate as much seafood as I could on this trip. So fresh! 

After dinner we hopped on a shuttle from our hotel to a VERY fun bar called the Flora-Bama. It was right on the border of Florida and Alabama, hence the name. And it was totally Southern and totally amazing! We had the best time! 

We listened to fun bands! 

And drank their famous Bushwhacker! Basically an iced, creamy, Kahlua drink, with some other alcohol mixed in. Delish! 

Had to pose with the bras of course! Ours stayed on...don't worry! 

We sang and danced and had a few more drinks and definitely partied like it was 2003! 

This was the lead singer of the band we listened to for most of the night. They were really good. They sang mostly fun country songs...here's a little peek...

We had a grand ol' time and didn't leave until 2 a.m.! What?!!! It was so fun! 

After a late night out we slept in until 10 a.m.!!! It was awesome! We rolled out of bed and were starving so we went to Ducks for a good, hearty Southern Breakfast. It was raining, so we decided that a lazy day sounded great! After breakfast we went to a model house to look at all of the fun choices that Kati has made in designing her new home. We looked at tile, shingles, brick, and more. It was cool to "see" what her house will look like. But boy, is it overwhelming. So many decisions. But she is doing a great job. I can't even imagine. 

We also went to a little outdoor mall in her area. We popped into little Southern boutiques and shops. I just love the way they dress in the South. So cute. 

At the mall I spotted this cat statue. I knew my boys would have loved it, so I had to snap a picture with it to send to them. They are so weird, but they loved it! Ha! 

Then we went to check out Kati's lot. It's perfect. Wooded and green and their neighborhood will be so nice for raising kids. 

We spent the rest of the day relaxing. We watched "Pitch Perfect" {great movie by the way!}, went out to dinner {more fish for me! Tilapia this time}, and even watched another movie, "21 Jump Street" {funny at times, but kinda dumb at other points}. It was a chill day and so nice to just do normal things. Things we would do together if we actually lived by each other. 

I think that I must have been really relaxed because the next morning I couldn't sleep in. I must have been all caught up on sleep. But I made myself stay in bed until 8! I was leaving later that day, so we planned on just taking it easy that morning and stopping to check out a few Alabama sights on our way to the airport. 

I had to snap my picture with a Palm Tree. They are everywhere. Kati and Bill will even have Palm Trees planted in their landscaping. Cool. 

I liked this little sculpture thingy that we saw at a little gift shop we stopped at. It has the Alabama state flag, flower, and more painted on it. 

In the gift shop there was a tank with this alligator and a turtle in it. Both native to this area. I knew my boys would have liked seeing it! So I sent them a post card with alligators on it. 

Our next stop was the USS Alabama battleship. It was pretty impressive. We didn't go on it, but we walked out onto a pier to get a better look. 

It was gloomy this day as well. It misted off and on, but no rain. BUT it was still warm! 

Due to the humidity Kati and I both had what they like to call, "Hurricane Hair". It was frizzy and poofy and was in immediate need of a pony tail at this point. Ha! 

After checking out the war Memorial, we headed into Mobile to have our last lunch together at this cute restaurant- Spot of Tea. 

We ate outside and I had Sweet Tea and Seafood Bisque. So good. When in the South do as the Southerners do.

After lunch Kati dropped me off at the airport. There were tears, not knowing when we would see each other next. But we did discuss a couples weekend at the beach for our next trip down to Alabama! Or possibly, when their house is down, we'll haul the kids with us. 

But it was so nice to have this special time with my dear friend.  Thank you Kati for your wonderful hospitality. Thank you for sharing your new state with me! I am SO proud of you! It was so good to reconnect, to laugh, to talk, to share our hearts. I can't wait to see you again! Love you girl! War Eagle! 

I left temps in the 70's and landed back in Colorado in a blizzard. Crazy April weather! I loved my time away, but there really was nothing like seeing the smiling faces of my boys when I hopped back in the car. They were so cute and so happy to see me! Thanks Mark for being super Daddy this weekend. 

Every Mommy should take time to get away! This week at home has been so much more manageable after a couple days of rest, coffee, wine, sun, good food, laughs, and girl time!