I sit here in my nice warm SU snuggie because it is so freaking cold outside.  But these pictures make me a lot warmer.  🙂  We (Matt and me only, no kids!) spent five glorious days in Key West, Florida for vacation last week.  We stayed at the Southernmost on the Beach Resort, seen here, but we were the building on the other side of this one:

We had an oceanfront balcony room  HEAVEN.  It was just gorgeous and huge and peaceful and beautiful.  Not to mention we had this view whenever we opened our doors, except obviously when it was night – then it was pitch black sky and tons of stars:

The hotel beach was a place we only spent one day at.  Unfortunately, Key West was experiencing some cool weather when we were there.  “Only” 65-70 degrees.  So it wasn’t really laying out weather, even for this New England girl!  But it sure was still beautiful  🙂

The only semi-frustrating thing about the trip (except for our flights down) was that every time we set foot on a boat for an event it would cloud over and rain.  Even then, however, it was still gorgeous.  Rain in 70 degree weather is a lot different than the freezing rain we’ve been getting here!!!  And heck, it made for dramatic, pretty skies.  And the water.  Ahhhhh.  The water.  Under the cloudy skies, It was this unreal stunning blue-green aqua color.  It actually matched my branding perfectly  😉  We did a wind and wine sail the first night – sunset, sailboat and 8 wines to try with appetizers. Yes, please.  And then the third day we snorkeled.  Well, I stayed on the boat.  But Matt snorkeled.  I tried really hard to pump myself up the entire way out there that I was GOING to get in the water and I was GOING to snorkel.  My last attempt was on our honeymoon and I panicked because the breathing through a tube thing really freaked me out.  I got the snorkel set and my fins.  We got all the way out there.  And I stayed right on the boat.  It occurred to me that I was going to be in the middle of the ocean and I couldn’t see what was coming and the water was 35 feet deep and and and.  Plus the whole tube breathing thing.  GAH.  But again, let’s concentrate on how pretty the water was.  Even if it was rocking the boat a good part of the time…

These horrid things beauties were everywhere to be found.  Meet a Portuguese Man O’War.  Yup.  Jellyfish.  All over.  In the ocean, on the beaches.  Apparently along with the cooler wind, Key West was also experiencing strong winds from the South which were blowing the jellyfish up from the gulf sooner than normal.  I took the first shot while we were out on the snorkel tour and the second on our hotel beach.  Yeahhhh….I SO did not get into the ocean at all.  These things terrified me even more than the prospect of breathing through a tube!

One thing we did get to see in some way, shape or form every day was a beautiful sunset.  🙂  The first shot was taken from the hotel hallway our first night and was definitely the most beautiful of all of the evenings we were there.  The second shot is from our last night on the pier near the hotel and the last was taken at the famous Mallory Square where they have a sunset festival every evening.  It was funny because when we went there

And finally, a shot of the happy, rested couple.  And why yes, I may have perhaps, possibly, maybe liquified myself.  Um I mean no, I TOTALLY look like that.

Now we are back to our three feet of snow and freezing temperatures, with more snow and ice expected the next two days.  JOY.  Let’s just say we are already planning our next vacation – but this time I think we’ll bring the kids along.  😀