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Scenic 30-A: Cottage Charm Giveaway

in Create, Dwell on

While I was in college, I was very fortunate to spend two summers working in Destin, Florida.

These were very formative summers for me, not the least because they served as a proving ground for a budding romance with the man who eventually became my husband.

I worked at the Customer Service counter of a grocery store — which is quite the place to be in the middle of tourist season, I can tell you. Among some of my more momentous life lessons and experiences:

  • I met Amy Grant.
  • I learned to distinguish at least three distinct variations of Mississippi Southern accent.
  • I rode out two major tropical storms.
  • I had a pregnant woman go into labor while I was ringing up her groceries — and then refuse my offer of help to load her car.
  • I learned to intuit with astonishing accuracy the type of cigarettes preferred by almost any given customer. It’s amazing how certain types of people gravitate to certain brands.
  • I sold liquor illegally. (I had to relieve the liquor store clerk for her break one day. The store manager apparently didn’t realize I wasn’t 21 at the time.)
  • I learned that the thrill of a four-hour, deep sea fishing cruise is greatly diminished by the sensation — not to mention odor — of baiting your hook with squid. Like neoprene rubber covered in snot. Gross.
  • It was the general consensus of the locals that Roy Scheider is a creep. I’m just telling you what I heard.

Nevertheless, I have a very soft place in my heart for the Redneck Riviera.

If you share my admiration for white, sugar sand beaches and blue waters, I hope you’ll enjoy this contribution to Kim’s Fourth Annual Cottage Charm Giveaway.

Included in this giveaway is “Beaches of Scenic 30-A,” an original, destination blind-style painting featuring twelve of South Walton’s most beautiful beaches, painted on 12″ x 24″ canvas in a beautiful gray-green acrylic and then distressed for that beachy appeal.

(Sorry about the crummy photos. This is the best I could do on a rainy day…)

Villages listed include: Dune Allen, Santa Rosa Beach, Blue Mountain Beach, Grayton Beach, WaterColor, Seaside, Seagrove Beach, WaterSound, Seacrest, Alys Beach, Rosemary Beach and Inlet Beach.

TO ENTER:

Leave a comment to this post, including your email AND answering the following question:

“If you could have a destination blind from any city/area in the world, what city/area would you choose?”

TO ENTER A SECOND TIME:

Click here and become a Facebook Fan — or “Liker,” or whatever they’re calling it these days.  Every Facebook Fan/Liker will receive an additional entry in the giveaway.

Winner will be announced on May 29th. Don’t forget to include a way to contact you in case you win!

RULES:

  1. I will ship within the contiguous United States only.
  2. Ummmmm … can’t think of any other rules at the moment. But I reserve the right to add or amend them at any time if it suits me.

Thanks and good luck!

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Comments

  2. Too funny! I grew up vacationing in Destin and Seaside! If I could choose any place it would have to be Asheville NC-I just love that town! Thanks for a great giveaway!
    leslic(at)chandlerconsulting(dot)com

  4. What a list of beaches! I would go to Bonaire, the clearest water in the world. And wonderful people. Have a great summer!

  6. I would love to win this…we go every summer to Cape San Blas/ Mexico Beach Florida….we found this area (about 2 hours? maybe east of Destin…stilll white sand beaches, no crowds, no condos ..or at least very few under 4 stories…)….this area is simply beautiful. We have always wanted to make our way to Destin to check it out but would miss our very slow paced …..uncrowded beaches at the Cape…..Thanks for the lovely give a way…Andrea

  7. I’d pick a white sand island beach with clear water way out in the ocean with no one else there….. =)

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    sweetwillowcottage (at) gmail (dot) com

  10. I think I would choose the Bay Area or the Oregon coast. Thanks for the giveaway!

  11. hmmmm… so many wonderful places.. one place i would like to ** escape ** to is
    the fun, relaxing quaint lil cities of Door County, Wisconsin.. Fun shops.. Fun people
    Fun places to see.. its just FUN…lol thanks for the opportunity…

  12. Aimee, you’re cracking me up! Not all my memories were fond… To this the day the smell of steamed seafood or “Cajun roast beef” makes me gag. And you’re thinking of the Donut Hole. Mmmm-mmm-good.

  13. love it! i think maybe the cotswalds…kind of a jane austen tribute to the lovely villages.

    as an aside, your memories of kaleo are much more positive than mine. that summer was the first time i’d seen the ocean and the beginning of a pure hatred of sand and the smell of fish. i do miss that doughnut place…can’t remember the name.

    oh, and you were fortunate to get customer service. i was a cashier and though there were many nice, pleasant customers there were also a lot of really rude women. i had never seen half the fruits since arkansas isn’t really a tropical produce mecca. i politely asked one woman what a certain fruit was so i could get the code. she glanced at me sideways and with a voice tinged with disdain said “it’s a mango.” except it came out like, “it’s a maaaaaangoooooo.”

  14. That is such an awesome board and I have a beach bathroom it’d look lovely in! Thanks for the giveaway! I became a fan on Facebook too! Suzie

  16. What a great idea…the town I would choose is Logan Utah where I was born and raised. ‘
    Thanks for the chance to win.

  18. Please enter me in your giveaway. While I dont quite understand the term ‘blind style’ I favor the entire coast of California and all of the wine districts.

    Candee

  19. I would pick South Carolina. I love it! Side note we live in the Destin area for 2 and half years and loved it there also. The beaches are awesome!

  20. What a hard question! My mom came from London, so that would be cool. I’ve always dreamed of heading to Paris, so that would be awesome! I also think it would be fun to have one for Detroit/Michigan since that is where I have lived all my life.

    I love the beach, you have a great print!

  22. Great Sign,we lived in PC for 7 years,30a was great to drive down.
    WE would love to spend time in Hawaii

  23. oh my gosh, i love it! the colors are my fave and what i am changing my living room too;}{a beach theme}
    i would love to go to spain or russia- the arcitecture i find in these places is stunning!
    i would just love to sit and stare and find something new or old that i have never seen before{in pictures of course}
    chacoyaguayo{at}yahoo{dot}com
    thank you for such a great opprotunity!

  24. Ireland! I love the idea of the country, culture and staying in a castle!
    Many thanks, Cindi

  27. I would have to pick as my destination blind from any city/area in the world as Ireland….the countryside, of course. That’s where my husband and I would love to move to.

    Donna

  29. Great giveaway! I’m not on Facebook. I don’t live under a rock, just don’t have the time! LOL! Blind destination – Italy.

  30. Love your blind-style painting. I have wanted one of these blinds. I would choose Paris, Laguna Beach, New York. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity

  31. i grew up between the states of Missouri and California… Mainly in California,if i were to choose it would be two places either one would make me happy. I went to Jacksonville Fld.,last year and i loved the area,so anywhere in florida,or the other would be cordoba,italy[spelling on the city may be wrong]. it’s in the tuscany area. i saw it in a movie and ever since i have wanted to go. thanks…

  34. i LOVE this sign and i would have to pick rosemary beach as my spot. my husband and i would drive up and down hwy 30-A everytime we visit our parents beach home in panama city beach. we just LOVE 30-A, it has a soft spot in our heart!