Birthday on Hilton Head Island

As you obviously know by now (since I just HAD to share the amazing sunrise I witnessed), my fabulous hubby and I celebrated our birthdays (his birthday weekend) on Hilton Head Island!!!  We had a marvelous time!!!!

We went walking on the beach (which makes me all giddy to start with), and then . . . we found this!!!  A super fabulous sand dollar!!!  This was the first of several we found, and I unsuccessfully attempted to throw them back into the ocean, but they just washed back onshore, much to my dismay.  However, my dear husband was THRILLED because it inspired me to walk up and down the beach singing gleefully:  I've got a dollar!  I've got a dollar!  I've got a dollar - hey hey hey hey!!!! 

I was a little less excited about running (almost literally) into these little creatures . . . I stopped counting after seven, and almost stepped on one . . .

After the beautiful sunrise and walk on the beach, we had brunch at my new most favorite restaurant on the island -- their dinner is amazing, but their brunch was to die for!!!!  If you're in the area, you  must check out The Black Marlin!! 

I had the Bananas Foster French Toast with Fruit and Bacon!!!!  Oh my goodness!!!  I LOVED it!!!  The only other place I've ever had that was at the Papermoon in Baltimore with our friends Shawn & Monica -- it is simply amazing!!!

We went to Harbor Town on Sea Pines Plantation . . . I LOVE it there!!!  It was the first lighthouse I ever remember seeing when I was little, and I love lighthouses!!! 

I was facinated by the storks (ok, let's be honest, I have no clue what they are, but they look like storks to me, so storks they are - haha) . . . they would not acknowledge me or pose for me, so we decided they were on strike!!!  And he is their leader . . .

We had lunch at Salty Dog Cafe!!!  I can't say I eat much sea food, so I really couldn't comment on the food, but the virgin strawberry pina colada was fabulous!!!!

Then we met the cutest set of birds!!!  I won't pretend to know what they actually are . . . parrots . . . macaws . . . I get them all confused, but they were too funny!!!!  They were the only creatures on the island that liked having me take their pictures, although I imagine the two blue ones were talking about me being some wacky lady with a camera . . .

We spent some more time on the beach . . . It was beautiful!!!  And I love people watching . . . I couldn't help myself . . . I just thought these two were sooo sweet!!!!

I just have to point out a couple of things . . .

First -- did this seagull really just cock his head at me!?!?  Seriously all the other photos I have of him flying over me he was looking straight ahead, and then he just looked down at me and cocked his head like he thought I was weird!!!!  How rude!!! 

Second, I just have to prove I'm not totally crazy . . . I was lying on the beach and looked over and saw double!!!  Kind of freaked me out . . . there were all these people farther down the beach, and they looked like they were standing on a mirror . . . except they were just standing on the sand.  Then, I discovered that this even showed up in my photos, sooo I can prove that I saw this, but now my question is . . . why / how??  I realize glass is made of sand, but is sand reflective!?!?



And last but not least . . . the amazing Super Moon!!!!  It was gorgeous!!!  I missed the moon-rise due to some dinner complications, but the moon was amazing all the same!!!  Sooo thankful I got to experience such an amazing sunrise followed by such a magnificent moon!!!!