I captured so many great photos from the Gasparilla Children’s Parade and I wanted to share some more, If you missed my previous Gasparilla post, gather ’round to hear the tale again, me hearties.
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Category Archives: travel
A Serendipity-Style Date
Last Sunday, Allan and I celebrated our 12th anniversary. Twelve years, really? Wow.
For our anniversary, I wanted to plan something different other than dinner and a movie. So when I stumbled upon this idea from The Dating Divas on Pinterest, I knew this was the date to plan for us.
Allan and I love the movie Serendipity. Since the way we met happened by chance or nearly met a few times before our first encounter, we love any and all romantic comedies that revolved that theme, however, Serendipity holds the number one spot. (You can watch the trailer here.)
Basically, the two main characters meet by chance in a department store when trying to purchase the same pair of gloves and then spend the rest of day together. At the end of the day, they try to exchange phone numbers but fate steps in so they decide to test fate by writing the numbers on a five dollar bill and in an old book. If either item crosses their paths again, then they’re meant to be together.
When Allan and I celebrated our tenth anniversary in New York City, we tried to replicate Serendipity movie moments, like ice skating in Central Park. Next to our wedding day and our honeymoon (and the birth of our children, of course) that weekend in NYC was the best time ever.
So for our Serendipity-style date, I recreated those special NYC moments with a Tampa flare. I started with an invitation hidden inside the Serendipity DVD case. With snowflakes embellishments and typewriter font, I created an invitation that cleverly outlined our date.
“The best time to ever be
Was our time spent in New York City
And how each moment
Was like a scene from Serendipity.
So let’s relive that date
With some ice and some skates
And lunch at Datz Deli.”
We began the date at Datz Deli. The restaurant was so busy that the only available seating was at the bar. We were all right with that.
To stick with the NYC motif, I ordered the Rockin’ Rueben, but Allan ordered a BBQ Brisket sandwich. I couldn’t eat the whole thing, but I knew I would be hungry again after ice skating.
For the past two holiday seasons, city of Tampa has erected an ice rink at Curtis Hixon Park in the middle of Downtown Tampa, appropriately named Tampa’s Downtown on Ice. Although the rink is small and on this particularly Sunday, very crowded, it filled the bill for the ice skating portion of our date.
Unfortunately, it was hard to hold hands as we skated as we had to swerve around small children. I even fell on my knees at one point, which made me laugh so hard. No matter how small the rink was, we still had huge fun and we left a Serendipity sign to let others know we were there.
Since Allan and I worked up quite a thirst ice skating, we popped over to Taps across the street from Tampa’s Downtown on Ice for a quick pint. We drank to a fun date and toasted twelve great years. Here’s to many more of them!
SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration 2011
To start the holiday season with a splash, my family and I set sail once again for SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration.
The evening’s Christmas festivities started with small reception to meet some new friends: a sloth, a sea lion and a macaw.
During the reception, we snacked on sugar cookies and sipped on hot cocoa while the Sea of Trees danced and sang. With 25 more trees this year and comprised of more than 200 thousand individually choreographed LED lights, the Sea of Trees truly brings the season to sea.
Once our senses were dazzled and our bellies were full, we made the long journey to the North Pole for The Polar Express Experience.
Liam and I traveled by foot through the Wild Arctic while the girls traveled by train with Daddy. Little Lion Man and I followed the frosty paths through the polar bears and beluga whales to find our way to Santa.
This year, SeaWorld added a new show, O Wondrous Night- The Greatest Story Never Told.
“O Wondrous Night tells the greatest story never told, with more than 30 carols, based upon the Christmas Story and told through the eyes of a variety of live animals. The 30-minute show features puppetry and dance against the backdrop of traditional Christmas music and a true living nativity including camels, goats, sheep, an alpaca, a zebu and a flock of white doves.” -SeaWorld
Unfortunately, my girls were more interested in rides without queues than shows depicting the real season for the season, so we spent the rest of the evening in Shamu’s Happy Harbor.
In between rides, we stumbled upon two lively elves playing a game of marshmallow toss and the girls joined in the fun.
Although the girls wanted to stay for s’more fun, it was time to end the evening on a high note by remembering the Frosty the Snowman philosophy. We’ll be back again someday.
Many other Orlando amusements parks charge an additional fee to participate in such extravagant holiday festivities, but all this magic and wonder is included with a SeaWorld admission every weekend night throughout December including Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
On Dec. 31, families can ring in the New Year SeaWorld style! On New Year’s Eve, SeaWorld offers a spectacular musical celebration with DJs and live bands plus a bold fireworks display to send a wave of welcome for the New Year ahead. With special show times for New Year’s Eve, the festivities continue until 1 a.m.
For more information about the last few days SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration or to purchase a Fun Card, visit SeaWorldOrlando.com.
But wait! There’s more!
Saturdays in January, SeaWorld kicks off a new program Just for Kids featuring special performances by LazyTown, Max and Ruby, the Doodlebops and Choo Choo Soul. Check SeaWorld.com for dates and show times.
SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular
SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular has become a Halloween tradition for my family. For this year’s visit, the girls wanted to wear the real costumes, like the ones they would wear trick-or-treating on Halloween night. Thankfully, I shopped early and bought their costumes. Otherwise, they would be wearing whatever dress-up clothes or pumpkin shirts I could find in their closets.
For this year’s Spooktacular event, SeaWorld added Penelope’s Party Zone, located at SeaWorld’s Bayside Stage. In this lively underwater environment, kids (and even big kids like me) can flap their flippers and shake their tails while immersed in the wonders of the sea with kid-friendly music, games and colorful characters.
Countless bubbles floated overhead and colorful pumpkin fish and other sea-themed characters glided around the party zone. Truly, this underwater Halloween dance party was non-stop fun for all ages.
Once inside Penelope’s Party Zone, we found fun new craft stations that offered something each of my girls could enjoy. At the Apple Decorating Post, kids and parents alike can dive into some sweet fun by creating their own tasty treats. Large tasty apples can be dipped into decadently flavored sauces, such as white chocolate, fudge, or caramel and then topped with sprinkles and other candies and sweets.
The Apple Decorating Post was certainly the apple of my candy apple lover’s eye.
My little artist, Allana, loved the Spooky Sand Art Station. Allana and Emmalynn worked together to create and decorate a sea glass and sand seahorse Plaster of Paris sculpture .
And of course, like previous years, there were lots of candy stations to visit for trick-or-treating.
As previous years, they healthy trick-or-treating stations as an alternative to all the candy, such as peanuts.
But Emmalynn was really happy to see that the baby bananas back this year.
Although my children absolute adore SeaWorld and all the fun SeaWorld’s Halloween Spootacular offers , I love that all the trick-or-treating stations, Halloween shows and character spots are included in a one-day admission to SeaWorld.
That definitely puts the happy in my Halloween.
About SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular:
“Create family memories during SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular, the ultimate family-friendly event featuring an ocean of Halloween fun where children can trick-or-treat, dance with whimsical sea creatures, catch silly and spooky shows and create sea-themed arts and crafts.
SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular takes place THIS WEEKEND, October 28-30 and the daytime event runs from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., leaving the littlest of trick-or-treaters wide-eyed for the fun-filled activities.
If you don’t already have a season pass or Fun Card, the best deal available right now is kids half off with a full-paid adult ticket.”
Get more information and the scoop on all of the “spooktacular” savings at SeaWorldOrlando.com.”
Sunrise, Sunset
Sunrise in Anna Maria Island, FL
Sunset in Anna Maria Island
*Photos taken with my Droid.*
Remembering 343 on 9-11
Three hundred forty three firefighters sacrificed their lives to help others at Ground Zero. A memorial stands in the sleepy town of Oldsmar, Florida to honor those heroes.
After watching the events unfold back in 2001, our own local hero, Capt. Jerry Garbardi, wrote and performed a song with his church band to remember the lives that perished on 9-11. The church band sold CDs of the tribute and raise over $5000 for the 911 Memorial Fund.
As a thank you, the foundation sent the firefighter a portion of a steel beam from the Twin Towers. With the help from community, he and his fire fighters at Fire Station #54 erected a memorial to always remember the 343 heroes. Each of the 343 heroes are etched in bricks around the monument.
Something in the Water
When news of this week’s Gallery theme “Water” trickled my way, I jumped in to share my water photos. You see, we’ve had gallons of splashy, splashy fun this summer by cooling off at the spraygrounds around town like the YMCA,
and Curtis Hixon Park,
and Highlander Spray Park,
and Busch Gardens,
and the Florida Aquarium.
Yep, we soaked up as much fun as we could this summer. There’s most certainly something in the water.
Visit Amanda, Xmas Dolly and Hairbows & Guitar Picks for more Music Monday fun.
How a Three Mile Run Became a Three Hour Tour
…a three hour tour…
While vacationing on the beach, I love to sneak away for some solitude with a run on the beach. Running along the shore as the waves run back and forth beside me is my ideal moment next to a good meal or watching the sunset. For my first morning in Sanibel, I felt like a short 3 mile run to seize some solitude and serenity.
Since Sanibel has a trail that runs the length of the island parallel to the preserve, I decided to take advantage of the trail for at least part of my run. I left my hotel and ran about half a mile when the trail bent and a scary sign emerged that read, “Alligator Habitat. Proceed with caution”. On an island that doesn’t permit firearms, I didn’t even want to find out how large the alligators could get. So, I proceeded with caution by turning back and running in the direction from which I came.
When I reached my hotel, I had only run a mile therefore I continued along the trail for another half mile until I reached the footpath for the public beach access. When I hit the beach, I already ran about a mile and a half. Now, I just needed to run another 1.5 mile back to my hotel and I felt confident that I would recognize my hotel by the bright yellow cabanas on the beach.
At three miles, I hadn’t spotted the yellow cabanas but it could have been that I was distracted by the turtle nests, piles of pen shells and egg casings on the beach.
So I ran further down the beach. At four miles, I still hadn’t spotted my hotel. “Well, it couldn’t be much farther?” I thought to myself at which I turned off the timer on my Garmin and walked a bit farther. As I walked on, nothing looked familiar. On this stretch of the beach, I noticed large beach houses that I hadn’t seen before. Now, I knew I needed to either turn back or cut through to the main road so I could get my bearings.
Tired and dehydrated, I finished the last of my water bottle as I cut through on a private beach path to a housing development. Overgrown trees and shrubs shaded the limestone roads that winded through the development. The tune of Dueling Banjos played in my head and hysteria began to set in. “If I am killed back here, no one will find my body because my killer will have fed me to the alligators and they’ll never recover my body. God, I just want to get back to my family. I was only going to be gone 30 minutes. They’ll be worried about me.”
As I kicked myself for not carrying a cell phone, I spotted a man on a recumbent bicycle and prayed he wasn’t stalking me like a shark circling its kill. There was no way I could out run a cyclist, even one who looks as though he’s lying down. As paranoid as I was about the cyclist, he somewhat led me into the direction of the main road, which is when I realized where I was and how far I had gone. I found myself on Sanibel-Captiva Road about 3 miles from my hotel. With no cell phone and no money, walking back was my only option. My serene moment had become a surreal moment.
I desperately tried to stay calm. “As soon as I see a public place, I’ll stop and ask to use their phone,” I told myself. About half a mile later, I spotted a walk-in clinic but I decided to keep walking for fear they would stick me with an IV in an attempt to rehydrate me. Another half mile, I spotted the Sanibel Recreation Center and Sanibel School, the destination from which I would call my family.
After several failed attempts to contact Allan at the hotel, the school’s secretary graciously offered to give me a lift back. “You know it’s only a couple mile from here. You could walk it,” she said. I explained to the sweet, kind secretary that if I wasn’t so tired and dehydrated, I would. (After all, I’ve completed three half marathons already this year!) Two miles and two minutes later, I was back in the comfort of my cool A/C hotel room with a fresh bottle of cold water in both hands.
4.92 Miles (clocked by Garmin, but really 8 miles)
54:41 (time clocked by Garmin but really 3 hours)
Ave Pace 11:06
Max Pace 8:03
I rested the next day after my long run. The day after that, I went for a real 3 mile run along this beach. Although I left with no money or cell phone again, I took a photo of my starting point so I wouldn’t lose my place or my mind again.
Octopus marks the spot.
3.1 Miles
34:44
Ave Pace 11:13
Max Pace 8:34
*Proudly submitted to*
This Little Light of Mine
When I learned this week’s Crazy Days of Summer theme was “light”, I knew exactly what photo to capture since Liam is obsessed with the red light that hangs over our kitchen table. He’ll point his little index finger at the light, stretch out his chubby cherub arm and squeal until you hold him close enough to touch the glowing lamp. With his index finger and high-pitched squeals, it’s as though E.T. and R2-D2 had a love child.
In the midst of this enlightening theme, we took a mini family vacation to Sanibel and I hoped to snap some great sunset photos for this week’s challenge.
I don’t know which glowed brighter: the sky or my girls’ beautiful faces.
More snapshots from Sanibel coming soon!
Summer Vacation 2011, Day 1
On Day 1 of summer vacation, the kids and I piled into the swagger wagon and headed to Honeymoon Island, which is one of our favorite local beaches. The girls and I love the beach so a day trip there seemed like the best way to start summer vacation.
Although Little Lion Man loves the water and the sand…
…he enjoys anything with wheels more.
After splashing in the sun, we visited the Nature Center for a scavenger hunt, which the girls love because park rangers always award them with a small bag of seashells. While the girls hunt through the center, I enjoy rereading the history of Honeymoon Island.
In the 1939, Life Magazine held a contest where couples could win a two week stay on the island. After which Hog Island became a popular destination for young couples, hence its name change to Honeymoon Island.
At today’s visit, the park ranger shared two treasures that another visitor recently found on the beach: a Lighting Whelk egg casing and a large sea sponge. The girls were very intrigued, especially when the park ranger said some tiny hidden eggs were still attached inside the casing.
Fun in the sun mixed with a little learning.
It seems we’re definitely off to a good start this summer!
