Day 31: Wine Thirstday

Every Thursday, my friend Lauren and I like to gather for the not-so-typical 'Wine Thursday'; way better than 'Wine Wednesday'. This Thursday was no different than others, complete with watching 'American Horror Story' and 'Glee'. Yes, we are slightly obsessed with the mastermind shows created by Ryan Murphy. This week I was in charge of finding us some new wine, and I must admit that neither of these bottles were disappointing. And, they were only $4 each! You can't beat cheap, good wine. The bandaid...well, that would be the result of pitifully attempting to open a bottle of wine. I'll leave the task to Lauren from now on.

Day 30: Heavy Reading

Every time that I go back to my hometown to visit, my Grandmother (I call her Mama) LOVES to give me her awesome collection of magazines. And I'm not talking about old magazines, I'm talking about hip, up on the times kinda magazines. Yes, she's that cool. I have collected quite a few, which you can see, but I haven't taken the time to actually sit down and read them. So, that's what I'm doing tonight! I realize that a few of these are dated back a few months, so I may JUST be catching up on some not-so-new gossip! Also, I've never read 'Redbook' before, which is what this collection is. Have any of you read it? Do you like it?! I guess I can give you my own opinion once I leisurely browse through them!

Day 29: Way Up There

It was a great day in the city of Sarasota! My Dad and I got to witness SUCH a breathtaking, nerve-wracking (for me) event at the Bayfront, about 7 miles from our home. After eagerly driving around Downtown Sarasota, impatiently looking for a parking spot, my father and I just stopped the car in a turn lane, hopped out and witnessed this daredevil stunt.

Nik Wallenda, a famous high wire artist, who happens to be from this beautiful city, performed a no nets, no harness walk, high in the sky above one of Sarasota's busiest roads. After being hoisted up by a crane, he proceeded to walk the 600 foot long high wire, that measures no more than a nickel in width. Oh, and did I mention he was 180 feet in the air!? This whole event began at 11:00AM this morning, and I was for sure this was going to take at least 30-40 minutes to complete. Much to my dismay, he completed this walk in 15 minutes! I can't speak for him, but I can say that it was the longest 15 minutes of MY life. Local news stations reported that AT LEAST 10,000 people showed up to witness this act. I'm SO excited that my Dad and I were 2 people that can say we finally saw him...LIVE!

I realize that it is so difficult to see him in the pictures that I have, but that just means you'll have to look extra hard to find him!


This stunt was a plain Jane kind of act for Nik, being that last year he completed a walk across Niagara Falls. Click here to read more about Nik and find out about the WILD things he has planned for later this year.

Day 28: Poolside

I know it's January, so this might seem strange. Wait, no, it's Florida so nothing is strange. I laid out by the pool today for the first time in awhile! It was such a beautiful, hot 80 degrees outside which I know I shouldn't complain about. So instead of complaining, I embraced it. I will admit that I enjoyed the sun time and will be taking in as much sun as I can get while we have these scorching temperatures.

Day 27: Delayed Presents

So, I got this AWESOME bottle opener from my Brother and Sister-in-Law before I left for vacation two weeks ago, but I never got to brag about it! I love, love , love (obsessed with) Fleur De Lis's! This has a huge tie-in with my love for the city of New Orleans. Being that my family knows me so well, they knew I would put this to good use. Lets just say, I'm keeping it in my purse because you never know when you might need one.

Day 26: Paid Advertising

When I discover something new, or have a liking for something, I don't just like it. Most of the time, I become obsessed with it. Just like the first time we all tried Starbucks. You don't just like it, but you want a personal barista at your house to home brew you coffee that is ready when you wake up. Okay, maybe that's just me? Anyways, when it comes to "likes", Coca Cola tops my list. I have a legitimate obsession with Coke Zero (insert fancy trademark logo here). I love it in a can, in a bottle, in a cup, from the fountain (Oh my gosh, I just envisioned a large Coke Zero fountain...), etc. You get the point. This brings to me to the reason that I bought this shirt in the first place. Although I bought this over a year ago, I still wear it with the same excitement as if it JUST came off of the shelf at Target (another unhealthy addiction of mine). So today is dedicated to just one of my many addictions, the type in the liquid form. I may have to frequent these types of posts, because I surely have enough obsessions to take up a good months worth of posts. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Day 25: Pro Painter

When I got up this morning, my father had already started this project, but I had to document that I helped! A few days before my father had a stroke, he had started building a fence in his yard. Now that he is well enough to finish it, he jumped right on the opportunity to do so. These are just a small portion of the pieces of wood that I painted for this fence! After many hours of painting and nailing, we realized that we are short a few boards, but the fence WILL get finished this weekend. I'm so proud of the work Dad is doing and I couldn't be happier to see him returning back to his old, handyman self!

Day 24: Shore Thing

I decided to take a random trip to the coast today. Which is all of 5 miles from my house, which I couldn't be more thankful for. We all know that Florida in January is hardly winter-ish, and today was no different. Being in a place where it's a comfortable 72 degrees throughout most of the day is hardly anything to complain about. I feel like I've said this before, but I'll say it again: this city takes my breath away every time I venture to its shores.

Day 23: A Few of My Favorite Things

I went to go grab my wallet earlier and I witnessed this picture perfect opportunity. In one picture, I captured the simple, materialistic items that I can't leave my house without. Actually, I would need to add a ponytail holder to this image to make it complete. No matter where I go, I never leave without putting on my watch. It's a habit that I got from my father, who has that hilarious wrist imprint because he has the same tendencies. My sunglasses seem to ALWAYS be on the top of my head, regardless of the weather. I've grown into an addiction of my Pandora bracelet that I got for my Bachelors Graduation. When I first got it, I wore it all the time and was terrified of losing it. So I gave it a break and now I'm right back into my old habit. My orange bracelet was a gift from 'My Favorite', which happens to be exactly what is etched into it. My best friend and I have always called each other 'My Favorite' so of course we had to have our own bracelets made! And my wallet, well...that's self explanatory; IT SPARKLES!

Day 22: Night Drive

I will admit that I was a bit lost about what to post for today. But, after driving home with the sunset as my backdrop, I knew that's what I needed to document. I forget to appreciate the little things, like the beauty of a night sky. As I made the drive from my Mothers house to my Fathers house, where I'm currently living, I get to enjoy some back roads and I feel like it looks different every time I drive it. This picture describes what I was able to stare at for a good 30 minutes. Thanks, Mother Nature!

Day 21: With Departures Come Snow

Well, my wintery vacation is officially over. As much as I hate leaving my family back in Ohio, I have to admit that I am a bit excited about putting on shorts tomorrow, and the next day, and the following 11 months thereafter. That cold weather stuff if fun, but only for so long. As we were departing to the airport, I got the ONLY thing I was wishing for while I was there; SNOW! Not only was I able to enjoy standing outside with all of the little flurries, I got to see a landscape of white the entire hour ride to the airport. I will admit, the white stuff is probably best observed from inside, with a warm coffee in hand. Although the snow greeted us on our way out, I was just glad to be able to see it before our flight back down South. Also, America had it's own excitement today as we practiced events of a free country with Inauguration Day. Although I may differ in opinion from the current politics, it was still such a warming feeling to be able to watch the events that happened today. It reminds me why I love living in this free country, where we have the freedom to vote for our leaders and our voices are heard by those in charge. Happy Monday!


Baby Snowflakes!

Snow on the car!

Runway full of flurries!

A clip of the Inauguration that I was watching on my phone!

Day 20: I Baked? I BAKED!

If you knew my baking track record, you would understand why I emphasized my excitement about the fact that I SUCCESSFULLY baked something today. It was not only edible, but delicious (And I'm not just talking about my opinion. I have other credible sources, I swear.) For whatever reason, I thought I would take the reigns and pull some baking experience out of my you-know-where. When I saw the recipe for "Bite Sized Apple Pies", my first thought was, "These have to be somewhat healthy! They have apples in them." Well, as I was brushing melted butter on crescent rolls, then sprinkling them with brown sugar and cinnamon sugar, before even adding the apple, I thought that these probably weren't the healthiest things I've ever discovered. Matter of fact, I don't even think they touch anywhere near the bottom of the 'healthy' list. Once I started assembling these, I couldn't stop. I disregarded all of the suggested amounts of every ingredient and just went with it. Again, they turned out amazing and I was a bit (a lot) proud of the job I did, hence why I HAD to document it.

Day 19: Wine Tasting

Another fun filled day in Cincinnati! After having lunch with my madre, we decided to prank one of my madre's best friends from high school. Being that they are huge Ohio State fans (I can't believe I just mentioned that University in my writing...), we HAD to add come spice to their lawn decor. Of course, we did that with orange and blue...lots of orange and blue. Following this quick stop, we headed over to another one of her friends houses to meet up with a bunch of her best friends. Of course, we had to make it a wine-infused gathering. After tasting 4 different kinds of wines, we were supposed to guess which country we thought they were from. Nope, I didn't get one single answer correct. But, I did get 4 different glasses of wine. Okay, maybe a few more than 4, but that's besides the point. Again, I've realized that I probably post a lot about alcoholic beverages, but I'll continue to use the "I'm on vacation" excuse.

Day 18: Sunshine

I can't even begin to explain how excited I was that the sun came out in Cincinnati today. I know I often complain about the horrid, still, dry Florida sunshine, but I won't do that anymore (well, not until the next time I complain about it). As much as I have loved the cool weather up here, I praised the weather gods when I was able to put on sunglasses this afternoon.

Day 17: Another Night Out

After a jam session with some 90's tunes, we arrived in Downtown Cincinnati for some family time. We all met at a Lager House for drinks and dinner, and I can't even begin to describe how impressed I was with this place. From the beer to the appetizers to the dessert--all of it was top notch. Highly recommended for those looking for a fun atmosphere and a full belly.

Day 16: Winter Sport

Disclaimer: I use the term 'sport' lightly when referencing what I participated in today.

Anywho, I have had a pretty action-packed day of what I would refer to as a sport; snow tubing. Now, even though I am a Florida baby, I can say that this isn't my first time snow tubing. This month, last year, I ventured to Perfect North for some tubing. Perfect North is just over the Ohio state line, in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. The only difference this time was the lack of people, which I'm not complaining about at all. The weather was a perfect 37 degrees, with white as can be snow! The climb up to the top of the hill provides for SO much anticipation. But, as fast as my brother and I were down the "Super Lanes", we were right back up at the top of the hill, attempting to go even faster than the previous turn. After 2 freezing, then sweating, then freezing again hours, we took some time to take pictures. Enjoy the scenery. I will tell you that these pictures hardly do this location justice, but they are beautiful nonetheless.

Day 15: Too Much Food!

Today began with a bit of a slow start. Mainly because I was way too snug in my warm blankets, avoiding the walk outside into freezing weather. After a strategic layering event, my brother and I ventured out to grab some dinner at Champps. Why we thought these MASSIVE nachos would be a good idea is beyond me. We didn't even make a dent in them. Then, we thought ice cream would be a great way to top off the night. Let me tell you, I have NEVER had Mocha ice cream as delicious as Graeters, which is made right here in Cincinnati! Now, as I write this, I'm anxiously awaiting some snow fall. Is this how northerners feel on Christmas?!

Day 14: Dinner and Beverages

Had such a great night out in Cincinnati! This was the first time we were able to get out and be social this vacation and it couldn't have been better! After eating THE BEST fish tacos and sipping on some delicious White Wine Sangria at 'Nada', we all shared some adult beverages at 'Igby's'; this huge three story bar smack in the heart of Downtown Cincinnati. So glad we were finally able to get out of the house!

Day 13: Warm and Sweet

While my family and I enjoyed a day in the house, I couldn't help my indulge in some classic Cincinnati favorites. The pizza from LaRosas and the Mocha ice cream from Graeters were at the very top of my list! As I type this, I'm currently enjoying a nice, warm fire. Something is FLA girl isn't used to. Happy Sunday!

Day 12: Family Time

So glad I was able to spend this day with my Ohio family! After a Saturday morning of shopping, we finished it off with football, snacks, and 'Cards Against Humanity'! If you have never heard of 'Cards Against Humanity', look it up. You won't be disappointed.

Day 11: Travel Time

Vacation has started! My mother and I made it safely to Ohio! As much as I'm already missing my Dad, I am so stoked to be here with tons of family and friends. As you would imagine, I demanded to be taken to the airport waaaay before departure time so that my mother and I could sneak in some quality bonding time...at the bar. I would imagine by now that you probably think I may have some sort of obsession with adult beverages. You're probably right. But, I like to think of it was 'having a good time'. There's no shame in that. Anywho, I will admit that it may be a bit chilly here in Cincinnati, but I'll soak up this break from the sweat-dripping 80 degree weather that I left back in FLA.

Day 10: Old Stomping Grounds

It never fails that every time I come back to my hometown, I HAVE to meet up with anyone and everyone that I can. Not because I have to, but because I want to. Tonight was nothing short of that. It was so great to come to town and see everyone that I have been missing so much...starting with my cat. Don't judge. He's cute and furry. That wins every single time. I followed that up with a couple adult beverages with some wonderful people. All in all, great night. Can't wait to start vacation tomorrow!