Holden Beach

This weekend I had the privilege of celebrating my sorority sister's upcoming nuptials by spending a lovely weekend at Holden Beach.  I love any chance I get to travel to the beach - I'm a true beach girl at heart - and there were a couple of particularly wonderful moments when I was able to experience the beauty of the coast... here are two of my favorites:

On Saturday, my friend and I woke up at 6 am to watch the sun rise over the ocean.  I've always loved the peaceful beauty of sunrise at the beach:  soft waves lapping on the shore, swaying sea grass, lazy clouds, sleepy sand pipers, and a spectacular display of pinks, reds, and oranges that paint across the morning sky as the sun awakens from her slumber.  Take a look at the pictures below - pretty beautiful, huh?

On Sunday morning I woke up at 7 am to a thunderstorm rolling in from the west.  I jumped out of bed, brewed  a cup of coffee, and headed for the deck overlooking the saltwater marsh of the Intercoastal Waterway.  I love, love, love thunderstorms at the beach.  Protected by the porch, I watched the heavy clouds roll past with their booms of thunder and strikes of lightening.  Grays and greens mixed with the sounds of a summer storm - beauty beyond words.  I sipped my hot coffee as a flock of egrets took flight, moving to a safer ground from which they could ride out the storm.  As other birds and creatures hunkered down, I marveled at the beauty of the scene as the rain drops began to fall all around me.

Join Me in Supporting Ovarian Cancer Research!

Dear Friends,

I recently signed up to participate in the Gail Parkins Memorial Ovarian Cancer Walk & 5K Run. My sorority sister, Kimberly, and I created Team HOOT (Hating On Ovarian Cancer Together) to celebrate our Moms who are both Ovarian Cancer survivors.  You can register for the 5K as a part of Team HOOT or make a tax deductible donation online that will support my personal fundraising efforts.    


As you know, my Mom was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer in November 2011.  By the grace of God, the doctors quickly detected her aggressive tumors and proceeded with surgery and chemotherapy.  My Mom is my hero because she fought her battle with courage, perseverance, and hope, and I am so happy to say that she is on the road to recovery today!  I’ve never been much of a runner, but this 5K gives me the chance to demonstrate my love and support for my Mom while raising money and awareness for a disease that so often goes unnoticed.  Will you join me in celebrating my Mom and other brave women? 

Race Details:
Saturday September 8, 2012
7:00 am – registration opens
8:00 am – run starts 
Sanderson High School 
5500 Dixon Drive
Raleigh, North Carolina

Thanks so much for your support!  It’s meant the world to me over the last few months.  

Sincerely,
Morgan 

Key Lime Pie: A Review

Good morning friends! It's Friday!!

Since this happy day is upon us, I thought I'd share a song with you that I'm pretty sure should be titled "Ode to Morgan" rather than "Key Lime Pie," although that is probably the second best title Kenny Chesney could have chosen.  Now, for those of you who don't know, I am a self-proclaimed key lime pie connoisseur.  Really.  I've tried the best of the best from all over the Caribbean and I can tell you that the winner issssss (insert drum roll).... "Key Lime Mouse" from a little restaurant on Grand Cayman called the Crow's Nest.  This delicious desesrt is proudly proclaimed by the maitre d' to be the absolute best - he's right - but his Caribbean accent makes mousse sound like mouse, and that's funny to me.  The Crow's Nest is a little hideaway outside of Georgetown (downtown) where you are served your lobster tail and coconut water (from the tree in the yard) on the back porch of a little Caribbean shack that sits right along the edge of the bay.  That is my happy place... with the moon shining down, the stars twinkling above, azure waves lapping the sand... Paradise. Perfection. And Key Lime Mouse.

So, now that you know where you're taking your next vacation, I can tell you why this tune should be called "Ode to Morgan."  In this song, Kenny (we're on a first name basis, didn't you know?) talks about big straw hats, the ocean breeze, a tire swing, coconuts, palm trees, yellow birds, bathing suits and t-shirts, full moons shining down on blue lagoons, big white sail boats, red sunsets, lobster tail....  and don't forget my, my, my - my key lime pie!  My favorite things all in one song!  I'm a beach girl at heart :)

So, kick your feet up on your desk, put on your sunglasses, lean back in your office chair, and enjoy this song that will surely transport you straight to the beaches of the Caymans.

Sunset in the Cayman Islands

Allyson and me with Guy Harvey in his studio in Georgetown. Just thought I'd post that one for fun!

Update:  I've found out via The Google that the Crown's Nest was destroyed by Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and the owners chose not to rebuild it...I'm SO SAD!