This is Why I LOVE the Off-Season

Had a dreamy weekend with the one I love. There were pancakes. There was reading on the beach (in February!). There was Texas barbecue with cinnamony honey butter. There was a safari through the Congo River. There was pro football viewing and cheering. There was a killer sweater sale. There were lots of snuggles.

You just don't know how much fun it is spending time with my sweets when there isn't an expiration stamp on our date. LOVE having him back for our weekends and I'm trying to soak it up while I've got it. Can you tell? ;)

J definitely thought the Old Spanish Sugar Mill lived up to it's hype. We went a little crazy with the pancake mix-ins, but I think that's how they getcha. You drive forever, pay for entrance to a state park, add your name to a waiting list and by the time you're seated you order one of everything on the menu. It was delicious though. The gal at the table behind us had two small kids and an infant and she made them all pancakes and kept their little hands off the hot hot griddle all by herself. Shout out to single moms making it look easy!





Yes, its February and yes it was about 78 out; perfect day at the beach! After breakfast we drove East to New Smyrna Beach (which is precious), walked around on Flagler Ave, NSB's cute downtown with little beach bungalow surf shops and cafes, then found ourselves a spot of sand to call our own. This is truly my idea of heaven.



Somehow the day was still young, so we decided to try our hand at the great Congo River miniature golf challenge. While we didn't exactly earn the day's highest (lowest?) putting scores, the CR crew does give you a scavenger hunt to conduct along your path and we kicked that hunt's butt twice to Tuesday. Guess what we won? $1 off our next visit ;)



Oh hi, I live in Florida and we have a LOT of gators. You could feed these at the CR if you were so inclined. We were not.


We certainly built up an appetite of Texas sized proportions with our day of fun. Anyone in the mood for Texas Roadhouse? Yes, two of us. It's worth the drive up north just for the rolls.


Nothing I love more than this face:

Nostalgia Monday

Oh, facebook... What a love/hate relationship we have. I think you are more trouble than you're worth and then I raid my aunt's photos and stumble on these beauties.

My pops and auntie as youngins. This picture freaks me out, I feel like I looked just like my dad here (but with longer, girlier hair) when I was a kid:


My Grandpa Red, a true man's man:


Grandma Pat looking flossy:


Yes, these are really my awesome grandparents. Don't they look like a retro magazine cover? Classy runs in my family!


Thanks for sharing Auntie. ;)

Weekend Warriors

You can find me blissfully spending time doing NOT MUCH with my sweets this weekend. Here's hoping it looks a lot like this, only with a beach backdrop:


Living in Florida truly has some perks, especially in the months of January through April. It's all down hill from there, though. Got any fun plans this weekend???

Write It On Your Heart

Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words, sure. But sometimes words say it so much sweeter, especially when chosen carefully. With Valentine's Day right around the corner, I've compiled for you wordsmiths, a mini emo-valentine's gift list, all from Etsy.

A poster-print in subtle grey for you and him/her will go with any decor and any dog:


What sweetheart doesn't love a good mixed tape?


A frame-able 8x10 print for your honey bee:


Just come out and tell your sweetie how you feel:


If you want her to carry your eager heart in her heart with wild abandon...


And sometimes, depending on just HOW emo your sweetums is, a picture is really worth a thousand words:

Baby G Turns One

Can you believe it? It really was a whole year ago that my bff Lindz popped out the world's biggest baby (all 10 pounds 13 ounces of him). I guess I must have blinked because here we are celebrating his first birthday. He's walking, eating cake, getting haircuts! Slow down little dude, you were just a tiny (ish) baby a minute ago!

I was happy to get to help Lindz make little man's birthday special with a carnival themed backyard party, complete with candy and cupcakes galore! Grant got his first haircut at Disney World on his birthday, complete with his first ever Mickey ears. What is cuter than that?


The man of the hour. He didn't know what to make of all of our cameras and stares and he definitely wasn't sure what he was supposed to do with that cupcake! Good thing mom and dad were around to help.




Oh ps: someone's got a bun in the oven! Two baby's in 19 months, she must be a crazy woman.


Baby G loves his grandpa and grandma:



Look whose standing and toddling around all on his own!


Woopdie we popped a birthday balloon!


My bestie :)


This doesn't even begin to show the absolute mayhem that occurred once the gifts got opened:



Love this little bundle of giggleys.


Happy birthday baby G! Love you little buddy.

Abby's 30th Bday Surprise

Happy February!

We made it through January guys, are we pumped? This past weekend was a birthday extravaganza with not one but two parties for my friend Abby's 30th birthday and little Grant's 1st birthday. It was a weekend of growing up. :)

We surprised Abby with a "Choose Your Own Adventure" 30th birthday surprise. We wrote her a book entitled "Princess Abby's Flirty Thirty," then she chose some adventures. Abby picked dinner at Tommy Bahamas, a Rock Band Adventure and Cheesecake for dessert. Well chosen friend!


None of us had been to Tommy Bahamas before and it was DELICIOUS and very laid back. Everyday is a long weekend at TB's! We had a few drinks, a lot of laughs and some tasty seafood.




Later, our band Big Jack and Blondie went on the road for a Rock Tour with special guests Abby and Stuart and we enjoyed some delicious cheesecake to boot.



I would say it was a very successful birthday surprise. Abby bought herself a house for her 30th birthday so I think hers was the best gift. Next up, Little Grant turns 1.