We sadly flew back to NYC last night. It was so nice to be able to spend a week down south enjoying the warm weather. There’s one thing I used to take for granted and never do anymore: walking out the door without having to bundle up. It’s a dream! You can just leave your house. In under a minute, without thinking!!! Needless to say, walking off the plane was a huge dose of “welcome back to reality.”
About a week before leaving for Florida, I started to feel a little inkling of a stuffy nose. I blamed the cold weather for the constant sniffing. While in the sun, however, it developed into full blown cold. Blah! I mean, there are worst places to feel sick (the sun still felt amazing!), but being sick is just to that fun. I started feeling really bad yesterday, naturally just before the flight. It’s one thing to be sick in sunny Florida and it’s another to feel sick in 10 degree weather. So… let’s pretend we’re all enjoying an iced coffee, out by the pool, while wearing a little pom pom tunic.
And lots of Buddy Brew coffee. Whoa is it good. Garrett, my mom, and I had breakfast one morning. The toast is unreal. I got the salmon because I wanted a hearty little piece of toast. But, oh! The banana and peanut butter toast is LEGIT.
Speaking of food. A doughnut shop called Perk’s Donut Bar opened up across the street from the high school. Whoa baby. The doughnuts. The maple with bacon doughnut was amazing!
We double dated (with Stacy, too) at one of our favorite Mexican restaurant Miguel’s. We also played a hilarious round of Cards Against Humanity afterwards. Still laughing about that. The five of us also at dinner in downtown St. Pete one night and another night we had matzoh ball soup at home with my grandparents. All the food, please.
More Buddy Brew Coffee. If you go to Oxford Exchange, you have to get the vanilla iced coffee. (The actual Buddy Brew doesn’t have vanilla syrup, so you can only have it at Oxford Exchange.) The mocha is great and the caramel is okay, we taste tested both. The vanilla though? AMAZING.
You know who had the best time ever? Teddy. This little guy loves having space to play. Central Park is great for a handful of months out of the year, but there’s something about having a whole house for him to explore, a backyard to romp through, and freedom to have fun without being cooped up that turns him into a different dog. (This is definitely contributing to my time in NYC running out…)
In the picture above, we’re at the beach dog park at the tip of Davis Islands. He swam in the water in December and while he definitely was itching to get into the water, it was a bit too cold. Poor guy was shivering. Still lots of fun to have him running around the sand with some new dog friends.
The golf course is closed on Mondays which means he can run free. Look at that little guy! Does he look happy or what?!
Our neighbor has a pet pig. My sister met him when he was a tiny piglet and I knew I wanted to visit him. We brought Teddy over and the two of them together pretty much made my life. Hilarious!!! Arnold, the pig, is pretty much full grown (27 pounds) and honestly one of the cutest animals I’ve ever seen. I don’t think a pet pig is for me, but it was fun for a quick visit.
G convinced me to play lacrosse with him a little bit. I’ve never touched a lacrosse stick before and it was actually pretty fun. (Once I got the hang of it at least.) Let’s just say, I’m not terrible but definitely not good.
Such a fun trip. February is the slowest month for my business and I think we’re going to have to make this trip to Florida every February a tradition from now on! It was just what we both needed.
This is so sweet – and I definitely feel you on the joys of going outside sans laced up boots, parka, hats, gloves, coat for dog… etc! It's such a chore. Teddy looks so happy!
I was in Naples last week & was sick with a stomach bug. I was legit in bed the entire time, it was the worst! Glad you got to enjoy some of the Florida sun- I miss it!
Aww, sad that you weren't feeling good but it looks like such an amazing time! It's so cute that you and Garrett double-dated with Stacy, and Teddy and that piglet are TOO cute!! xx, Mikkaela The Southwestern Prepster
Looks like a relaxing trip and a much needed break from the cold of New York! I love the picture of you and Garrett with you in his letters, as a sig sweetheart it warms my heart that he still has the hoodie! Sweetheart love to him and I hope you feel better soon!!! XoXo L
LOVED this! I'm also from Florida but live in NYC. Reading this was like taking a tiny vacation! lol My best friend lives in Tampa, so think I'm going to send her some of those donuts for her birthday! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Looks like so much fun! I lived in St. Pete for 3 years and I still miss it – the weather but also the restaurants and people (& dog parks!). Feel better soon!
Thanks for sharing all of these hot spots! I look forward to trying them out for myself this year. I'm due to be in Tampa in March, and I'll definitely be in the area this summer.
Not really in the mood to be in photos right now, but I keep telling myself I’ll want to look back on these moments and remember them. (Right?!) when I look at these photos in 10, 20, 30 years…
I hope I remember Jack “rescuing” Rory from a windy tent, not how I stood in front of my closet with tears in my eyes.
I hope I remember watching Jack roll down hills and play hop scotch and scoot down the sidewalk with his besties, not that I caught a glimpse of my reflection and didn’t recognize myself.
I hope I remember sitting outside with my friend happily watching our kids play (while watching the minutes until bedtime tick by), and not that I spent too much time zooming in and examining every new wrinkle on my face.
I hope I remember the pure joy of these early warm days with my little family whom I love so much 🤍
The weather is warming up and I’m feeling slightly more comfortable in my skin every day ☀️ Here’s what I wore last week as a mom of two. I have a two and a half year old toddler and a two month old so I need outfits I feel good in, can chase a little guy around in, AND that I can breastfeed easily while wearing. 🔗 Leave a comment with “OUTFITS” to get links to every outfit I wore!
This room is so very special 🤍 The little cars sprinkled everywhere (watch your step!). A tiny sock, never two, peeled off and tucked somewhere hidden away. Piles of books that grow almost as quickly as the little boy who sleeps here. Outgrown pants and shoes to grow into mingling in the closet. Often messy, and a little cluttered, but a little boy lives here. 🚘☀️🐶📚🧸
(Rory is still in our room, but eventually the boys will share. I can picture their little twin beds already!)
About ten days ago, I noticed that today’s forecast was looking WARM. I told Mike, “We’re walking into town and sitting outside and I’m getting a beer. Put it on your calendar.” It ended up being warmer than forecasted (almost eighty degrees!) and let me tell you, it delivered. Today felt like the beginning of The Season™: dinners al fresco, beers/fries/ice creams, and late bedtimes. Indulging in it all because the kids are only getting older and we’re the grownups (somehow) and we get to make the rules ✌🏻
Dress is @tuckernuck & sweater is @kiltecollection
@pennylinndesigns and I hosted a “learn to needlepoint” class this past weekend and it was everything ✨ Needlepoint has been such a bright spot in my life over the past five years- and it’s gotten me through some difficult times. Because it’s helped me so much, sharing this hobby with others has turned into a mini life mission of mine. To sit in a room (my beautiful office space designed by @clare.sull!) with pro stitchers and needlepoint newbies alike was one of my dreams come true. I loved seeing women chatting, meeting, and bonding over this beautiful craft 🪡 Honestly, the needlepoint world is (sadly) filled with a lot of gatekeeping and competitiveness; this weekend proved that it doesn’t have to- and shouldn’t- be this way! It’s for EVERYONE. Whether you’ve never picked up a canvas in your life or you’re working on heirloom stockings for your family, there’s room for everyone at this table.
📍 Leave a comment saying “needlepoint” and I’ll send you my go-to resources for getting started with needlepoint!
Motherhood is pure JOY to me– nothing makes me happier than being with my boys! I wear my @haverhillcollection personalized jewelry every day as a symbol of my love for them– it’s a constant reminder for me of my greatest purpose. To celebrate my first Mother’s Day with TWO boys, I sent in my Haverhill necklace to add Rory’s birthstone and initial alongside Jack’s! I also got a second bracelet to stack with Jack’s. Love that this personalized jewelry can be altered as our family grows. Haverhill’s jewelry is designed to be lived in (perfect for busy moms!) made from solid 14k gold with high-quality birthstones so I never have to take it off to exercise, shower, or sleep. Use code MOTHERSDAY15 for 15% off!
We got a mama-approved family photo of the four of us 👏🏻 I wasn’t really paying attention to our calendar while in the end of pregnancy/newborn bubble and realized quite late that Jack had some time off from daycare and preschool this week. Mike and I quickly decided to book a last minute trip to Florida to visit my family and enjoy the warm weather ☀️
Too bad that you were sick, but it sounds like you still had a pretty great time regardless!
Sarah
Sweet Spontaneity
Hope that you had a great trip and that you start to feel better very soon! Love your photos 🙂
XX, SS || A Little Seersucker Sass
What a fun trip! Teddy is the absolute cutest! I miss having a puppy!
Her Heartland Soul
http://herheartlandsoul.com
This is so sweet – and I definitely feel you on the joys of going outside sans laced up boots, parka, hats, gloves, coat for dog… etc! It's such a chore. Teddy looks so happy!
Warm Regards,
Alexandra
http://www.littlewildheart.com
In love with your trip photos. Also, DYING over that trench coat!
Michaela || The Monogrammed Midwesterner
I was in Naples last week & was sick with a stomach bug. I was legit in bed the entire time, it was the worst! Glad you got to enjoy some of the Florida sun- I miss it!
It sounds and looks like you had a wonderful time! Hope you are feeling better!
Lauren,
http://www.atouchofsoutherngrace.com/
Aww, sad that you weren't feeling good but it looks like such an amazing time! It's so cute that you and Garrett double-dated with Stacy, and Teddy and that piglet are TOO cute!!
xx, Mikkaela
The Southwestern Prepster
Looks like you had a great time!
-Meg
http://www.smalltownsisters.blogspot.com
I want/need that scalloped coat!! Sounds like a fun trip!
Kristina does the Internets
Looks like a relaxing trip and a much needed break from the cold of New York! I love the picture of you and Garrett with you in his letters, as a sig sweetheart it warms my heart that he still has the hoodie! Sweetheart love to him and I hope you feel better soon!!! XoXo L
aww beautiful photos!
i'm also suffering a cold and it's summer here in australia 🙁
xx
http://anoddgirl.blogspot.com.au
Looks like you had an amazing time in Tampa! I wish I could have a vacation in some warmer weather!
Sarah Jessica
The Laws of Beauty
LOVED this! I'm also from Florida but live in NYC. Reading this was like taking a tiny vacation! lol My best friend lives in Tampa, so think I'm going to send her some of those donuts for her birthday! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Looks like such a fun time! I'm very jealous. I could really use a week in the sun! Hope you start feeling better soon! xoxo
http://yellowmondays.weebly.com/
Looks like such a fun trip! Love that Kate Spade coat!
Kari
http://www.sweetteasweetie.com
Looks like so much fun! I lived in St. Pete for 3 years and I still miss it – the weather but also the restaurants and people (& dog parks!). Feel better soon!
Thanks for sharing all of these hot spots! I look forward to trying them out for myself this year. I'm due to be in Tampa in March, and I'll definitely be in the area this summer.
It looks like you had an amazing time (& ate some amazing food!) on your trip 🙂
xoxo, SS
The Southern Stylista