Girls GLAMPING Trip!

Yesterday I got back from a weekend that 50 years from now will stand out in my mind. Friday morning my alarm went off at 3:15 am (yes it did) to make my 5 something flight to Atlanta, Ga. My connecting flight in Houston was great because I met up with one of my college roomies, Crystal. We had a great time chattin' it up the last 2 hour leg of our flight. We met our 2 other college girlfriends Ellen and Tara and drove on to Ellijay, Georgia to go glamping (glamorous camping) at the The Martyn House. We have been so excited about this because we try and get together yearly. We planned this trip back in the late fall and were like "how about the first weekend of April??" (little did we know it was Easter weekend). The 4 of us all were great friends from the time we were little 18 year old fishies at ACU. It's hard to believe it's been over 10 years....WOW~

So glamping....what is it??? It was one of the the BEST weekends I have ever had. One that you could live over and over. JoAnn and Rick are the couple that run the Martyn house and are FABULOUS! So fabulous that we were hugging them at the end, and I plan on sending them a Christmas card...we just adored them.

The property is beautiful. We really felt like we were away from everything. It was so peaceful. We never left the property once we arrived. The tents are dispersed throughout and you get to them by following a little painted sign on a gravel road. There is a main tent up by their house where a few meals were served, and the others were served on their huge wrap around porch on their house. Rick, JoAnn, and their daughter cooked all of our meals. They were so fresh and soooo amazing. The vegetables were straight from their garden. Each day we told them what time we wanted our meals, and they were prepared for us. They truly catered to our every need. There was always music playing, and each meal was over candlelit. Each day around 5 they had hor d'oeuvre and wine waiting for us. Sitting on a porch with old friends, good music, good food, good wine, and laughing until you think you will either throw up or need to run to the potty is plain perfection.

We slept SO GOOD. It is like camping, but not. The word 'glamping' describes the experience to a -t-. It is sooo glamorous, but you are camping. The beds are soooo soft and cozy. We woke up to birds chirping...ahhh! We sat on our little porches and had coffee and then went to have breakfast at the main tent. OH MY can Rick cook a MEAN breakfast. HEAVEN! Afterwards we toured the property. What was so cute was JoAnn asked us if we wanted the girls to go with us (her 2 dogs)...of COURSE we did!! So we went on a walk (that we got lost twice), but had so much fun in the meantime. When we got back JoAnn's friend was waiting on us to give us massages. It was so wonderful. No words. Sooo needed too. We were all so relaxed and just peaceful. I really can't describe the way we felt there. It's like a retreat. You are completely away from the hustle and bustle of life and the schedule of most normal vacations. Now each tent does have electricity, running water, and a shower so you are not 'roughing it' by any means. The potty situation....there is a potty, but it is a compost potty. That was interesting, but just part of the experience.

Our last night there was spent outside under the stars laughing until we were in tears. It was food for the soul. I wish I could share all the funny things that were so hilarious. I stayed up late last night telling Matt all the funny stories and even he was rolling. Reliving them in my mind brought me to tears all over again in laughter.

I left the weekend so thankful to God for all the friendships He has blessed me with over the years. All so special and all so dear. I did not know how much I needed that weekend until I had it. It was so great that we left with the first weekend of April of 2011 booked again. (NOT Easter weekend). We can hardly wait to return!!

Ohhh and I COULD NOT have done it without my ROCKSTAR husband who never complains when I get away, and wants me to have these girly weekends...words cannot say how thankful I am for my Matt Mullins Super Dad & Hub. I never worried once about him or the kids. I knew they were having a blast. I missed them like crazy, but I sure did have fun! And get this....I even came home to a clean house. That man has my heart!!

Now to the best part of ANY blog post....PICTURES!!!

RIDGE ROOST....That is where Crystal and I stayed.

Our tent.

Tara and I...we had just arrived and were were PUMPED.

Views from around the property. So rustic and so pretty.

Crystal on Ellen and Tara's deck.

Tara and Ellen's tent: Nightingale Nest

Me and my roomie. We loved our tent.

The other tent on the property. (there are only 3) This one is Hummingbird Haven.

At the main tent on our first night. I was feeling my 3 am wake up call at this point. Crystal and I both had to get up super early to make our flights, so we were in bed by 10 that night (9 pm Texas time...shhh!) Sadly, that is exactly how we were in college too.

I LOVED this tree.

Our table before dinner. I loved the colors in here.

Our guide dogs Gracie and Maya on our morning hike.

Isn't this just beautiful????

There was a creek we walked by and the dogs would just hop in. It was so peaceful.

Our tent.

Me and the scarecrow.

My tree. Ya, I claimed it. It was so beautiful.

The main tent.

Crystal, Ellen, Tara, and myself.

Us with the FABULOUS JoAnn! She walks barefoot everywhere and bedazzles her face! We LOVED her!!

JoAnn said we had to have a crazy pic. Love this woman!!!

Our last supper. Isn't is just gorgeous???

I got home yesterday afternoon when the kids were napping. The Easter Bunny came during the kid's naps. It was so good to see those sweet faces and wake them up. I got some of the best hugs and kisses from all 3. :)

It's always good to be home. Those 3 are my heart and I always long to be with them.

The kids got the hook up from the Easter Bunny. The EB has made it a tradition to hook up the kids with new crocs each year.

New books, DVDs, and animals for Harper.

Huddy got some books, DVDs, and a leapfrog thing for letters.

Do any of you remember this book "There's a Monster at the End of the Book?" I loved it when I was little. The kids loved it too. It was so good to be back home and reading to my little luvs!