Corolla & "my" Beach House


We're finishing up our week here in Corolla, North Carolina and I DO NOT WANT TO LEAVE.  I love this place.  we've been coming here for summer vacations ever since I was a kid and I even spent a summer working here with one of my best friends, Alissa, at the local sports bar, Sundogs.   

Here's a picture of Sundogs and its appearance is deceiving.  It's so much fun!!!  (If you ever come here, it's in the front of the Food Lion Shopping Center and gets going late night.  There's a huge tiki bar inside.)



During the 4 months that I worked at Sundogs (a college summer) I made some amazing friends who we get to come back & see every year...



It was a late night...  Nat Hall (on my left) & Jerry Cooper (on my right) used to bartend at Sundogs and play music all over the Outer Banks.  (Jerry's since moved & is now living with his wife in SC)...  I worked there 8 years ago and I've never looked at Corolla the same since.  It was interesting to get the "local" perspective after vacationing there for so long.  Honestly, I'd recommend having kids work at least a summer at their vacation spot because you really just do get a whole different flavor for it.  You respect it in a different way.  You see all that goes on behind the scenes and you appreciate it more.  (And, you always having friends to come back to!)

...The only types of pics Dave & I usually get together are the hand-holding the camera kind:


So, as I was saying, I do not want to leave this place:


Here's our beach house this year:



I'm not going to show you the inside BUT I'll show you what I wish it was:
Check out the lower level entry:

{Image via House of Turquoise)

And the dining area:

{Image via Head over Heels}

And the living room- oh my goodness!!!

{Design by SR Gambrel}

And "my" bathroom:


I LOVE this hammock which sits on the deck:  (really)



The bunk room:


{image unknown}

And my bedroom:


{Design by SR Gambrel}

Here's the walk up to the beach:  (Now back to reality ;)


Christian's having the best time.  He & my grandmother built this fortress:


Dave & my little sister Morgan (13 years old) enjoying the surf:



And Justin relaxing in his stroller:


I could literally dedicate an entire post to my son's thighs.  I CANNOT get over them.  They are so insanely squeezable and kissable and...  I'm going to spare you but it's hard for me to stop ;)

So anyway, have an amazing weekend and we will be enjoying the rest of ours right here:




xoxo, Lauren

42 comments:

Visual Vamp said...

Ah the last sweet days of Summer....
Divine.
xo xo

judi said...

k...i am so jealous! friends are heading that way today to spend a week and i so want to go...but life dictates not at this time. ;/
enjoy the family time and the beach!

judi ;)

Cristin // Simplified Bee said...

I can see why you wouldn't want to leave!!!

xo,
cristin

Kathysue said...

Lauren Omg You beach house looks just like my beach house inside. Only in my dreams.hehe I spent a week at Emerald Isle this summer with some blogging friends and I know how you feel. It was perfection. I hope to be able to do it again. Being from Calif it was fun to be in a Southern beach town. Oh and by the way sweetie, You are just so beautiful and so are your babie's. Love those little chunky thighs, My boys had those too. In fact I use to say one of them had one big thigh for his whole leg, no ankles. Enjoy your last days at the beach house,Kathysue

Karen said...

I love it---both the dream and the reality. What a great vacation, wish I was there instead of work! :-)

Karen @ Garden, Home and Party

D.B. said...

Kudos to you for posting while on vacation! I love the Carolina's! Baby thighs, baby feet, baby fingers.......just the best!

Gretchen O. said...

We love the Outer Banks too! We always went to Hatteras. We spent many a summer there...so relaxing. Enjoy the rest of your time...and I do love chunky baby thighs...so squeezable! And I LOVE the "tour" of the house. Inspirational!
--Gretchen O.

SpryOnTheWall said...

Lovely! Nothing better than the Outer Banks of NC, I spent many a summer in Nags Head - some of my best childhood memories! Have fun!!!

Acquired Objects said...

What a tough life you have while I slave bent over a sewing machine but what a nice dream you gave me....the beach! I hope you enjoy the last bits of summer!

Acquired Objects said...

What a tough life you have while I slave bent over a sewing machine but what a nice dream you gave me....the beach! I hope you enjoy the last bits of summer!

Acquired Objects said...

What a tough life you have while I slave bent over a sewing machine but what a nice dream you gave me....the beach! I hope you enjoy the last bits of summer!

TheVirginiaHouse said...

That looks like so much fun and makes me so homesick! I was born and raised in VA and we would vacation in Nags Head often. We still go back sometimes for our whole family vacation. But with six of us kids all married with kids, it's getting harder and harder. I love your pictures, both real and imaginary!

Unknown said...

Looks like a lovely vacation spot! Too bad the house doesn't actually look like that! I totally understand your adoration of your son's thighs--my 15-month-old son has the same delicious chubby rolls. My older son, sadly, was much thinner and it just wasn't the same! Thanks for sharing your vacation with us!

Carol@6WilsonBlog.com said...

Could your family be any more gorgeous? I think not! :) Thanks for the dream home visions. Oh to have a house at the shore....

Peggy and Fritz said...

I was giggling when you said I'm not going to show you the inside. I know most beach houses on the East Coast are second homes and typically are a hodgepodge of whatever is left over in your house. I came to LA and everyone lives in the their's. I absolutely love love love all the rooms you selected for your "wish it looked like" my taste is very similar. Looks like your enjoying time with family and old friends and what beautiful thighs your little boy has...he's just going to die over your post when he's older LOL!.

Cyndia said...

I'm totally digging your vision of your vacation house; isn't it sad that so many of the real ones don't quite live up to our aesthetics? My special place is Tybee Island, near Savannah, Georgia. I think I need to branch out though. As for your son's thighs... I felt the same way about my babies. And that tummy! How can you do anything but kiss it all day? You have a lovely family!

Life in Rehab said...

Please feel free to do an entire post on those delectable thighs, but then you owe us one on the tubbulence of that belly!

I miss plump baby parts *sigh*

Quilting Grannie said...

We are at Manteo, NC this week and revisiting the main attractions on OBX. Were up at Corolla for just a few minutes Wed. night. Wow, has it grown up in the last 15 years. No space hardly without a house on it. And the traffic must be horrendous on weekends! Love it here anyway. Have a safe trip home!

Holly Irwin Fine Art said...

Hi Lauren, That was the sweetest blog post. I felt like I was there! Also love the make believe interiors......

Teresa Hatfield ~ Splendid Sass said...

Such a lovely post. I know that you are not looking forward to leaving, but you get to go home with the beautiful family! Have a great rest of your vacation.
Teresa (Splendid Sass)

mimi said...

What great memories in the making. We used to go to Carolina Beach with extended family every year and I just loved it.

I know what you mean about baby's thighs. The little chubbers! I obsessed like that over my son's roly-poly apple cheeks long after he thought it was cool. I called him my little pork chop. Enjoy!!

debra @ 5th and state said...

hey lauren
loved "joining you" on the island and crazy for your room choices.
my sister just moved to virginia...chincoteage, so i may be getting out your way in the future!
xoxo
debra

pixelimpress said...

lauren, my family vacationed in corolla every summer for several years until hubby and i moved to the west coast. loved it! miss it. this is the time of year we would go. i'm sure you've eaten at red skye cafe in duck? awesome food. pam

Devon said...

Have fun! Great pics of your boys. Love that Gambrel photo too.

Dreamy Whites said...

Hello Lauren,
Have fun!
Thank you for sharing!
You have such a beautiful family!
xoxox
Maria

Christine said...

I work PT in Restoration Hardware and a tiny beefy gent in a stroller came in (courtesy of his mom of course) and I had the same reaction to his thighs. I wanted to squeeze them so much it was all I could do to control myself :). Ahhh, chubby baby thighs...nothing quite so yummy is there?

Jen@TheOldBlueChair said...

Hi Lauren! Just found your blog and I am in luuuurve with your pictures of your beach home away from home:) I love the Outer Banks and am, in fact, a little sad that this is the first summer in years that I haven't gone (new baby). We've never stayed in Corolla, but maybe next time. Can't wait to read more!

Lynn said...

Lauren,
I vacationed every summer in the Outer Banks as a kid, so I get it! Love your beach house fantasy pics. Now my beach home is in Montauk NY but we have built such sweet family memories like yours there too. I am sure you will savor your last few days. And go ahead, kiss those baby's thighs! They grow up so fast! ( my 3 boys are 17 and14(twins).
All the best,
Lynn

Anonymous said...

So fun! Love that last picture. And I agree working at a vacation spot... it makes you feel like you're "IN". Have a great rest of your vacation! xoRH

Sarah said...

Looks like a very pretty place to stay! enjoy the end of the summer! I worked at a ranch in Montana and have VERY fond memories and still keep in touch with my best friends from there...thanks for sharing!
x

Allison Shops said...

Looks like everyone has been enjoying themselves. Beautiful location.


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Teresa Meyer said...

What a lovely post! There is nothing better than summer days by the water!! Well, ok maybe chunky baby dilly thighs at the beach. I feel the exact same way about my 17 month old. That last photo is nothing short of amazing. I would so frame it!

Linda@ Lime in the Coconut said...

Just loverly...and your plugged in taboot! Sweet!

La Petite Gallery said...

That is a great area. I've been to Hilton Head. I have friends that rent a place around there.

The baby looks sooo happy.

yvonne

Donna Lynne Cox said...

I want stay at your virtual beach house it was beautiful! We had a wonderful week too!
Luv ya,

Ma

Pemberley said...

I have sat at that very same bar. Love Carolla.

Anonymous said...

What a great summer escape! Lucky you!

xo
E+J

Fargerike Dagny said...

Looks fabulous!! Now I want to go too! Can totally relate to you loving C's thighs, I'm the same way with Stella's butt, lol :) :)

Unknown said...

Oh, I love the Outer Banks, one of my favorite places for a vacay! You guys look like you're having a ball! So, the inside of the beach house wasn't all that, eh? That always happens, I'm like, you know, seashells CAN be chic (they just never are in a beach rental!). XX!

Anonymous said...

Love that bunk room Lauren! I feel your pain in leaving the beach. We just left Ocean Isle, NC after 2 weeks and it was painful!

Suzanne Anas Jurich said...

This post just brought back so many memories!! We used to go every single summer and also stayed in Corolla! It is so beautiful there! I am dying to get back to vacationing with my whole crazy family!! You have no idea how happy this post made me! :)

Gina M. said...

I love the pic of you and your husband. You two look beautiful!