What's In My Beach Bag

Packing a beach bag is simple, but there are a few items I cannot live without for the day. Living in Florida allows us to enjoy summer just about all year long, so I've really honed my beach bag packing skills since moving here. Sometimes we take a car full of stuff to the beach for long days, but I do have a few essential items that are must haves no matter what.

... my must have beach bag items ...

1. gold sandals  2. cat eye sunglasses  3. iphone case

4. sunscreen  5. spf lip balm  6. baseball cap

7. straw bag  8. striped beach towel

I spent my summers swimming and playing in the lake where I grew up in northern Michigan. Over the years, I experienced my fair share of bad sunburns. Today, I'm aware of my increased risk of skin cancer due to those sunburns. That scares the heck out of me, so I rarely (almost never) set foot outside in the sun without skin protection these days. Sunscreen, sunglasses, and lip balm with sun protection are all non-negotiable items when it comes to packing my beach bag. A hat helps keep the sun from my already prematurely aged skin. Even though I've had a lot of bad sunburns, today I'm much more proactive when it comes to my skin.

walking along the shore of the Atlantic on South Beach in Miami

Oh, and I always bring along my iPhone for impromptu pictures on the beautiful beach!

I just know that Tory Burch flamingo case would look perfect in my hand

while enjoying the sound of crashing waves. :)

. . : . : . What's in your beach bag? . : . : . .

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Willow Tree Cafe

As I mentioned yesterday, back in February we spent a day in downtown Sanford, Florida. A visit to Willow Tree Cafe was actually the main reason for our trip to Sanford, and it did not disappoint.

{ German beer and potato pancakes }

We had heard from multiple people that Hollerbach's Willow Tree Cafe was one of the best restaurants around, so of course we had to give it a try. My German heritage was just one more reason to give Willow Tree Cafe a shot. Oh, and a nice selection of German beer offerings didn't hurt either. We had the perfect storm of reasons to make a drive to Sanford for the day.

We started our meal with a couple of German beers and an appetizer of potato pancakes. I could have eaten multiple plates of them and been perfectly happy. The apple sauce and sour cream were the perfect complement to the warm potato pancakes.

Both my husband and I opted for the sausage platter. We each chose two different types of sausage and two sides. We had sauerkraut, noodles with gravy, and German potato salad. My only complaint about the food is I wish there had been more of it. We thoroughly enjoyed everything. Although I think my family's German potato salad was a little bit better. I may be biased though.

Live entertainment was the perfect way to enjoy our German beer and food. Nash Rambler played original acoustic guitar music while we worked our way out of a food coma. It was a perfect way to spend our first day in Sanford, Florida.

If you're planning to visit Sanford, then you might give Willow Tree Cafe a try. German fare isn't your thing? Then surely you can enjoy the beer and music. Sit outside for a nice view of the cobblestone downtown streets and a little people watching.

Willow Tree Cafe

Sanford Welcome Center

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Sanford, FL | Small Town Travels

While browsing through my photos in Lightroom, I realized that I haven't shared much of what we've been doing on my blog lately. I had quite a few pictures from February that never even made it on this blog, and I think some of them are worth sharing. Especially some of the pictures from downtown Sanford, Florida.

{ cute little cattle egret on a car }

This past February we spent a whole day wandering around downtown Sanford, Florida. We visited an art gallery that inspired me to do some of the painting I've been doing. We also enjoyed a delicious German meal at Hollerbach's Willow Tree Cafe. (more on that later) I took some pictures down by Sanford's waterfront too. It's such a quaint little downtown with cobblestone streets and local shops.

{ we need one of these for cruising }

The cooler February weather made our time in Sanford even more enjoyable, because we could bundle up and slowly take in the sights. Sometimes the heat makes you hurry on to the indoors. Winter is the perfect time for taking in everything a new place has to offer.

During our short visit to Sanford, we noticed a few different historical markers. One of them mentioned the history of riverboats that traveled from the east coast and down the St. John's River and on to Lake Monroe in Sanford. The town served as a major gateway to Central Florida for some time.

We found Sanford to be a charming small town, and its local shops, art galleries, and restaurants made it that much more endearing. The town possesses hope for life outside of the ever expanding and generic suburbs of many American cities. Sanford has an identity, sometimes imperfect, that's all its own. Visiting this small town is a refreshing break from everyday monotony.

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During My Break From Blogging...

I realize it's been about a week and a half (except for yesterday) since I last published a blog post. My sweet blog friend, Michelle, even checked in on me via email. My intention was not to stop blogging, but it just sort of happened. There's been plenty to blog about, but I haven't felt like spending much time on the computer lately. You know what? It's been sort of nice.

My husband hates the mall with a passion, but I managed to get him there to buy me a belated 30th birthday gift. I'd been dreaming of owning Flowerbomb for quite some time, and now it's finally mine. Yum. I want to bathe in that delicious scent, but it's a little pricey for that. I suppose I'll spritz it on my wrists and neck instead. It lasts longer that way.

While we enjoyed some coffee and The New York Times, my husband almost forgot we were at the mall. The Florida Mall has a two story Starbucks, so you can perch yourself near a second floor balcony and escape the crowds for a little while.

yes, he hates the mall

While at the mall I even managed to squeeze in visits to a few other stores, including Lush. Walking into that store you're overwhelmed with so many great scents. After buying an incredible smelling bath bomb, I've never been so excited to take a bath since Mr. Bubble. Lush makes bath time fun for adults. My Twilight bath bomb is supposed to help you relax, so I'm trying to save it for a 'rough' day. More than likely I'll just cave and use it to help me sleep better.

We ate at a new (to us) restaurant on our way home from the mall. Unfortunately, the food and drinks weren't the greatest at Rocco's Tacos. The interior design and restaurant location were awesome though. I think if we went back, I'd only eat the guacamole and drink beer. The food prices were rather overpriced for the quality and taste, so I think next time we'll save a little extra money and eat somewhere that's supposed to have great food... like The Ravenous Pig, Luma, The Rusty Spoon, or Prato. Has anyone reading this eaten at any of these places in Orlando?

the bar at Rocco's Tacos

I told my husband that we've been spoiled by eating at too many good restaurants over the years. Florida restaurants have a lot to live up to, so we're hoping to find some favorites soon.

The weather this past weekend was perfect! We enjoyed the pool at our apartment for the first time since we moved here in January. It was sunny with the perfect breeze to keep you cool. We loved it. The temperatures were great for walking outside too. We know this isn't going to last for long before it's sweltering!

enjoying the Florida sunshine

If you're still here, thanks for reading through all of that! Maybe next time I won't wait ten days to share, but maybe I will. There are times when you just need to step away from technology and spend more time with people. The last week and a half has been that kind of time for me, and it was good.

I hope you all have a wonderful week!

The Magical Boardwalk

Maybe it's just the small town girl in me, but there's something energizing about carnival rides. I suppose it mostly reminds me of warm summer nights spent in a funnel cake stupor at the county fair. Those nights marked the end of each summer in my small northern Michigan hometown. The sounds, sights, and smells take me to a carefree world. They still do.

After our relaxing day spent hanging out on Daytona Beach, the guys were just about ready to leave. I had only one thing I wanted to do before leaving though. It involved lights and a ferris wheel. Thankfully we lingered until dusk, so I captured a few rushed shots of the colorful lights. The sight was glorious. I could almost hear the sounds of a lively fair midway playing in my mind. If only I would have eaten that funnel cake we spotted earlier in the night.

The sights, sounds, and smells of the boardwalk captivated me. I could sit and watch the ferris wheel lights all night long. Call me easily amused, but I sometimes live on the border between real life and a world of enchantment. I have a hard time walking away from beauty. Whatever that beauty may be.

Central Florida Bucket List

You mention Florida, and I imagine most people instantly picture Disney World. However, Florida is much more than just amusement parks. My husband and I moved to the Sunshine State from Colorado in June 2011. We suffered a bit of culture shock at first, but we are slowly learning to embrace all that Florida has to offer. That doesn't mean we're not terrified of the upcoming summer and its heat though.

The lack of winter still has us confused, but that only means we get to enjoy things that most people miss out on during certain months of the year. (I would know. I grew up in northern Michigan.) Sometimes we really miss the mountains, dry air, snow, and skiing. Those things have made way for charming small towns, palm trees, beaches, endless entertainment, and a large selection of state parks.

My husband and I put together a Florida bucket list last year, but we need to amend it since we live in a different part of the state now. We did cross a few things off of our last list. It may be easier to start over instead of changing the last list, so here we go.

.: our new central Florida bucket list 2013 :.

visit St. Augustine and see the Castillo de San Marcos

experience a sunrise on the Atlantic coast

spend a day at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

see Cirque du Soleil's La Nouba at Downtown Disney

kayak the intracoastal or Wekiwa Springs or both

drive to Key West and spend at least one night there

visit the antique markets in Mount Dora

go deep sea fishing

take part in an art deco architecture tour of Miami

eat our weight in food at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival

see an Orlando Magic or Solar Bears game

I'm sure my husband would still like to kite surf (not me)

visit downtown Orlando

eat at as many local restaurants as we can (a post in itself)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Some things in our list are not found in central Florida,

but that doesn't mean we can't take a two-day trip eventually.

We obviously have lists of restaurants we'd like to eat at, music venues for a night out, and various other little things. This list is really just the tip of the iceberg, but I think it's a decent start. It's fun having goals. I'd hate to move away and wish we had done more Florida things, because there are still things I wish we had done while living in Colorado. For instance, we never made it up the Pike's Peak cog railway. Major regret! We don't want to miss out on any special Florida experiences.

Anyone out there have suggestions

of places to eat, things to do, etc..?

Holiday Decorations at Disney { part 2 }

If you missed yesterday's Disney holiday decoration extravaganza, you should go check out those photos first. { part 1 here } Today I'm sharing photos from our visit to Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. The name of the place alone sounds regal, and then you approach the front doors and find yourself transported to another time and place. Vintage Cadillacs and hotel workers dressed to impress. Walking through the front doors into such a spacious lobby was breathtaking, and then you spot the magnificent tree. Turning the corner you find yourself standing next to a life-size gingerbread house. The whole experience at the Grand Floridian just oozes historic luxury. It's luxurious but welcoming all at the same time. See for yourself.

... nothing says welcome like a beautiful vintage car ...

... pass under the garland ...

... behold the tree ...

... and its twinkling lights and sparkly bows ...

... a life-size gingerbread house that smelled amazing ...

... a grand space for a beautiful tree ...

... there was never a shortage of people admiring the beauty ...

... wandering around the upstairs shops, taking in the sights ...

... quick self-portrait with a tree in the background ...

... browsing the lovely, and rather expensive, clothes ...

... so many details to catch ...

... a friendly stranger snapped this one ...

If you ever get a chance to visit any of the Disney parks, try your best not to rush. It will be tough, because you'll want to see every bit of the place. Take it all in though; there are so many details that will go unnoticed if you're simply hurrying off to your next destination. Sometimes the finest details exist in the journey... the little things.

We took time during our visit to just sit and gaze at all amazing ideas that have been brought to life. I am telling you, Disney is a place of the tiniest details. I wish I could have met that Walt Disney guy. I think we would have gotten along just fine.

I don't know about you, but I'm trying my hardest not to rush through this month. Is it just me, or is it seriously flying by so far?! Sorry I have over 30 emails I hope to respond to this week, and I hate sending one liners back to you all. I'll try to get back to you soon!

Happy Tuesday

Holiday Decorations at Disney { part 1 }

Last week my husband and I drove over to Walt Disney World and took in some of the holiday displays. We saved major cash by avoiding the theme parks, and we spent the entire day touring a handful of the resort hotels. Each one of them had beautiful holiday decorations themed perfectly to match each resort's unique theme. Disney does details perfectly, and every direction you look holds something interesting just waiting to be noticed.

Since we visited so many resorts in one day, I have a rather large assortment of photos. I have far too many photos for one post, so today you'll see photos from only Disney's Wilderness Lodge. It was hands down mine and my husband's favorite resort. I hope you like pictures of Christmas decorations, because you're about to be bombarded by pictures.

Disney's Wilderness Lodge was the perfect way to begin our Disney holiday decoration tour! Every last detail made us feel like we were in Colorado. I mean, they even had antlers in the tree. How perfect is that? We had fun eating breakfast at Whispering Canyon Cafe, wandering the resort looking for hidden Mickeys, snapping photos all over the place, and dreaming about taking a vacation there with the children we hope to have some day. I hate to sound cheesy, but it was pretty magical.

Have you ever visited Disney during the holidays?

{ come back tomorrow for more pictures of the pretty decorations }

P.S. The Christmas ornament swap is closed for sign-ups, so if you've signed up keep an eye out for an email with your swap partners name and address!