I grew up without social media.

I consider myself blessed for being able to say that.

While every generation has their “thing” - I firmly believe my generation's thing is the fact that we grew up entirely without social media, but we are now living our adult lives with social media present in the world. And because of those circumstances, we have a great ability to easily and fluidly shift between old-world applications, and the more new-age digital apps - making us uniquely qualified for certain tasks in this world. We shift seamlessly and adapt easily. I call us the Floating Generation.

And regardless if we partake in this modern day medium, or not, it’s there. It has an extremely large presence in the world. For better and for worse. An all almost too-powerful of a presence.

And, sadly, in my opinion, many people revolve nearly their entire lives around this medium.

I graduated college in 2003. I survived four years of college entirely without social media. The only “Facebook” we had was the literal and actual paper face-book that was distributed each year on campus. All incoming students were given a light and thin paperback book with the names, faces, and phone numbers of each of their classmates.

That was our official Facebook at the time. And we used it - religiously. That book was part of our daily life. We would scroll through it to find somebody’s name, browsed to see what everyone looked like, searched to find out where a person was from, and scan to find their four digit campus extension to call them on the phone… a phone with a cord - that was plugged into the wall.

But in 2004, and after I was done with school, Mark Zuckerburg went ahead and invented Facebook. And the world has never been the same since.

It was my first full year after school. I was living in the real world. I didn’t need Facebook, and nor did I want it. Besides, at the time, Zuckerberg’s Facebook was geared more toward being a digital supplement to that old-fashioned face book I described above. Still utilized, on college campuses, to connect with one another.

But over the years, Facebook grew. It grew fast. And it grew big. It grew to be something that is now an integral part of most people's lives.

I personally think Facebook is too big. And too powerful. I think it is hovering on the verge of being a monopoly and in dire need of being broken up. And I’ve never, ever, had a desire to be a part of it. Even still.

But then, after many, many years of living and going through life, without Facebook, and still not wanting any part of it, I was on the verge of making a big change in my personal life.

It was 2016, and I was planning my big move from the state of Illinois, on down to Florida. That move would eventually occur in early 2017.

Every single person I knew, and loved, lived in Illinois - or a variety of other states throughout the country. But I knew ZERO people in The Sunshine State at the time.

I wanted a way to stay connected to all those I knew I would be missing… a thousand miles away from everything I knew.

I deliberated long and hard with myself about potentially signing up for a Facebook account. And eventually, at the end of 2016, I went ahead and registered - for the first time in my life. Knowing that I would be easily connected in a free and easy and modern manner.

I immediately discovered that “the whole world” is on Facebook. I found all my old classmates, neighbors, relatives who live near and far, friends from grade school, people I haven't seen in 20 years, and all my current friends. And I even made new friends. All through Facebook.

But, I did all this right before the 2016 Presidential Election.

And unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past many years, and haven’t paid attention to the news, you know very well that the political side of Facebook, and all social media, is NASTY.

No other way to put it.

It was through Facebook that I discovered people I know and love say things online that I never heard them say in person.

When people are behind a digital screen, they have a lot to say, and they say it loud and proud. Fine. Whatever. Everyone in America deserves their free speech.

I can very easily block out mentally and physically that which I do not want to hear.

But it does get a little old.

I came for social connectivity. I didn’t come for the constant electioneering, and to learn who voted for who - all day long.

So I tried to ignore the politics, and zone in on the photos.

And it turns out my absolute favorite part of Facebook was, and is still, those photos.

I also realized that social media is the single best way to find out all the latest social news, gossip, and any and all information about life changes involving people you know. The stuff I was looking for all along.

I found myself completely up to date on the latest pregnancy announcements, gender reveals, baby showers, births, deaths, obituaries, accidents, injuries, illnesses, new home purchases, engagements, Say-Yes-To-The-Dress days, wedding showers, marriages, anniversaries, birthdays, pet adoption days, Gotcha Days, National Cheesecake Day, International MisMatching Sock Day, Taco Tuesday, Touch-A-Truck Days, Nurses Day, Teacher Appreciation Day, Star Wars Day, Bird Day, Hoagie Day, National Roast Leg Of Lamb Day - May 7th, in case you were wondering.

The list is endless.

May 8th - National Coconut Cream Pie Day.

June 26th - National Take Your Dog To Work Day.

And, just so they can give themselves yet another plug, while you’re already on their applications all day long... We have June 30th - National Social Media Day.

Every day is something.

And guess what else?

EVERY PERSON IS OFFENDED BY SOMETHING ELSE.

That’s one of the most valuable things l learned by joining social media.

Why don’t we have:
International-World-Renowned-I-Take-Offense-To-That-Statement Day?

I learned that everyone cares what everyone else thinks. I learned that people are very sensitive. I learned that when people write something online - they think it is pure gold. And I learned that if any single person disagrees with another, in any way - it’s the actual end of the world for that relationship.

DISAGREEMENT = NUCLEAR BOMBS GOING OFF EVERYWHERE.

Hence all the hate, the back-and-forth, the petty comments, the blocking, the unblocking, the following, the unfollowing. That all - also - never ends.

And since I really don’t care what other people think, I am, once again, able to function with or without social media in my life, just fine.

I joined to see photos of my friends and family and their babies and their wedding showers. But instead, it’s more about why this person hates whoever the current president happens to be.

So, after about a year and a half of being digitally social, and being sick of it all, I gave it all up.

When I left Facebook, I also gave up my Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. I had initially joined the mothership, but I had then joined the other big three soon after.

And while I nearly despise and almost hate Facebook, I absolutely LOVE Instagram. I am a very visual person though, and as I said before, I enjoy the photos. Instagram is all imagery. A great place to post all my travel photos and latest artwork, and to see those actual photos that I was seeking out when I joined Facebook initially.

I had used Pinterest just for fun.

And I found that the best benefit of Twitter was for hurricanes.

Yes, you read me right - hurricanes.

No sooner than I moved down to Florida, Hurricane Irma blew through later that year. She was a big one. And caused the whole state to be in an uproar. We were evacuated. Twitter was VITAL to me during the hurricane.

And while lots of apps and websites didn’t work under bad internet service at the time, Twitter stayed on strong. So did Facebook. You’ve heard about how if you have bad cell service during an emergency - when all the lines are tied up - that it may be easier to send a text for help instead of trying to get through on the phone, right? Think that for Twitter in this modern day... I found that utilizing social media during the worst of the hurricane, to get my news, was the very best way, to get the actual news.

We live on an island, with not even a handful of bridges to cross over during a hurricane evacuation. The bridges do close down when the winds reach a certain mile per hour - sustained.

I quickly started “following” the local news channels plus the three local beach towns, their mayors, the City of Jacksonville, and the Jax mayor, all on Twitter. They all provided a wealth of factual information to me all throughout the duration of the storm. It brought some level of certainty - communication - to me, during a time of great uncertainty.

I also followed the American Red Cross, the National Weather Service, Publix, Winn Dixie, our governor and two senators, Beaches Energy Services, Jacksonville Electric Authority - JEA, all the local area fire and police departments, JSO - Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the St. Johns River Ferry, the National Hurricane Center, JaxReady, the Jacksonville Public Library, oh yeah, and Dunkin Donuts… Because you can’t survive a hurricane without donuts, right?

But after I went ahead and quit social media, I then went through the following storm seasons entirely without social media. Which led to a much more “manual” and old-fashioned form of finding out the news, when the internet was overloaded and the next storms were nearing us.

When the next hurricanes blew through and around us, and I was on my zero social media experiment of 69 weeks, I literally dug through the closet and pulled out an old-fashioned radio. I was ready, just in case the power went out, to listen to the news that way. But nothing I did was in any way a comparison to Twitter. And social media would have been almost priceless to me during those next storms.

But willing to stick it out, I made it through alive and well. No social media. No damage.

Ultimately, I quit all social media after about a year and a half of being on. I did NOT miss it. I was focused solely on my own personal well being and sanity. I left for my own mental health. A completely selfish decision. But very grateful that I did.

When I signed back up after 69 weeks of being away from The Zuck, I had to start my accounts from scratch. I had completely deleted all of them. So it was an official starting over process. Sort of like being a toddler and learning to walk again. I had to re-find all of my friends and family there. It took a while, but I found most of them.

During those 69 weeks without social media, I focused strictly and selfishly on my own well being and daily productivity. And now that I have social media back in my life, after that extended absence, I am able to have a fabulous life balance of living with social media applications in complete confidence. And today, having Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest, back in my life, I am even more productive than I ever have been.

I run my life. I don’t let social media run my life. I never did. But some people do.

I think if people can find that balance, they will feel a lot better and at peace with the existence of social media in their worlds.

No, I don’t think social media is going anywhere. I think and see it remaining a huge part of people’s lives into the future.

And that’s also one of the reasons I came back.

In that time away, I set up my own website, a lifestyle blog, an Etsy shop, a place to showcase all my art and writing. But if I want to actually reach people with the things I write and show my paintings to the world, social media remains one of the best ways to do it.

I might write a blog twice a week, but my utilization of social media to help it get out there and maybe reach that one, singular person who may benefit from a specific article in some way, is the point of me sharing it all, on social media.

So while I do despise Facebook, and did have a near love/hate relationship with it in the past… I have now turned that relationship into merely a like/dislike relationship. I can live peacefully with Zuckerberg in my life now, and I know the exact purposes of my visits to each of the other mediums as well.

I still go back to Pinterest simply as a brain teaser, for creative solutions to new ideas.

I go to Twitter for hurricane and rough surf and coastal storm news. Or in today’s new world, pandemic and apocalyptic plague news… charts and graphs and statistics that change by the day. Announcements, once again, by our leaders and representatives on important matters.

I go to Instagram to share all my favorite photos. And see everyone else’s.

And I go back to the now old and trusty and reliable Facebook for those wedding announcements. Babies being born. And yes, in my 69 weeks away, I had friends who had babies, that I never even knew about because I was away from Facebook. When I joined back up I discovered that an old friend endured an entire pregnancy, birth, and had a new baby in her life. Her second child, I never even knew about, in this world. So yeah - Facebook is THE way to communicate with friends and family in this digital era.

And, since I’ve been back, I haven’t missed out on one birth announcement, I know who is pregnant, who is getting married, who died, and I read all the obituaries shared that way. I see in real time who made a roast in their crock pot for dinner, plus which sides they cooked with it. Then, I get the recipe.

I get to see friends travel to Hawaii, and Iceland, and Costa Rica. I see family travel to Disney. I see Dollywood and weekends at a cabin in Michigan. I see special Friday night date nights and fancy dinners out. I see birthday parties and special cakes. I see first haircuts, first baby steps, and first days of school.

I see my nephews' latest milestones as they age from infants, to toddlers, to little boys. School age children who make their first communions and have their grade school graduations. Those pictures, to me, a thousand miles away from all my relatives, are priceless. And all free to share back and forth with these social mediums.

And - I see politics. Yes, politics is still there. And as you may guess, it’s worse than ever. I see Civil War. I call it Civil War 2.0. I see and know who hates President Trump, and I know who loves President Trump. I know who is conservative and who is liberal. And I mostly try to ignore it all - and just laugh at it.

I am glad I left social media for 69 weeks. I am extremely happy with and 100% confident in my decision to ultimately come back to social media. Especially considering how very far away I live from all my family and most of my friends. And I am still, and forever grateful, that I grew up in a world without social media in it.
​#BLESSED ~

P.S. - No, I am NOT on TikTok. ~~

Fast forward to today, in 2020, and Peterbrooke STILL has the best chocolate I ever ate. I’m just grateful I live so close to their shop so that I can visit whenever I want.

And recently, with all this stay-at-home madness upending civil society… and with World War 19 causing Civil War 2.0 - chocolate was subtly calling my name. It may have been just a whisper, but it was calling, nonetheless.

Then, with all restaurants still being closed - and take-out, curbside, and delivery being the only way to dine “out” - a chocolatier, to-go sort of shop was out loud screaming my name.

So after work the other day, I decided it was time to take action on the chocolate front of this global war… I’ll call it - Bean’s Battle For Best @ The Beaches.

Either that, or… The Battle Of The Bulge.

Stepping back into this heavenly chocolate shop after a long parting of at least a year or so, I was simply excited that the OPEN sign flashing in the upper right corner window, actually meant that they were really open. Because as more businesses close by the day, that sign doesn’t usually mean much any more.

Walking in, we were met with another sign - the power was out. But, yes, they were open. Come on in.

We were then met with another sign, and a basket of gloves for us to use, per their request. We both put on the gloves.

I spoke with the cashier as we paid. I had just missed Peterbrooke’s biggest holiday of the year: Easter. Because chocolate and bunnies go together perfectly, of course.

I mentioned how glad I was that they were open. She mentioned that they were not even certain how much longer they would be.

I hoped to see them again.

‘Tis the way of today. I suppose.

I would not be telling you the truth if I said there was a better chocolate shop in Jax. They absolutely are the winner. Peterbrooke is more than deserving of Bean’s Battle For Best @ The Beaches - Chocolate - 2020.

The cost is high. And I’m not gonna lie about that either. But there’s a reason. You just can’t buy the best chocolate of your life and not pay the most you’ve ever spent on chocolate.

So, while $27.02 looks high, sounds high, and is - very - high, it was all worth it, my dear friends. And if you go, you’ll probably agree. You’ll take one bite of the best of the best, and the next thought out of your brain will be - When are we coming back for more?

As we said goodbye, we sat in the little blue chairs and table set up outside the front door, for a mere moment. Our last stop and duty before heading home for the night.

It was Saturday night at the beach. The traditional “Opening Of The Beaches” Weekend in Jacksonville. A yearly celebration, a weekend parade - a tradition in town going back 73 years.

Even though normally, the beaches are open year round here in Jax, the town comes together each spring to officiate a ceremonial opening of the beaches. Think - Gilmore Girls - town square style event - only a bit more wild. And more ceremonial in nature than anything else, the Beaches opening parade is as much of a party here in Jax as Pete’s Bar is on Thanksgiving morning. Just another reason to party. To celebrate life. Life at the beach. On an island. Living next to the sea.

And 2020 would have been year 74 of the parade - before it was canceled due to the coronavirus.

Yes, we were sitting outside, and it was Saturday night at the beach. 2020.

Hubby picking me up from work. Off early on a Saturday. The sun still out. A normal Saturday night in town would have meant the entire area would be hopping. Endless parties. Endless fun. Bike riders everywhere. Music. Talking. Laughter.

But instead, we sat down in front of the chocolatier, and stared at a visibly and noticeably vacant parking lot. A lot that is usually never empty. Diners from Poe’s. From other restaurants. Shops. And on a Saturday, the lot would be even more packed. Cars waiting for spots to open up.

But not on this Saturday night. Empty. Looking around. Soaking in the quiet surroundings.

It was just sooo sad.

When will Poe’s open back up? When will the other restaurants open for dine in? Shops? When will people not be scared to leave their houses? When will life return to this little corner of Beaches Town Center?

I don’t know. And I do care.

In the interim, however, there is always chocolate.

And the world still keeps on turning. And awards still must be handed out.

So, plague or no plague… civil war or no civil war, life as we know it, or life as we know it not, the chocolate must be eaten.

And Peterbrooke Chocolatier is hereby officially awarded Bean’s Battle For Best @ The Beaches 2020.

Congratulations, my dear and chocolatey friends. You’ve won The Battle Of The Bulge.

Thank you for the sunshine you add to the sky.

*Have you been to Peterbrooke Chocolatier? Where did you eat the best chocolate you ever had? I’d so love to know. Drop me a comment down below:

Also, for Bean’s Best Award Winner of 2019, be sure to check out V Pizza, below:
15] V Pizza ~ The Very Best Pizza In Jax Beach!

Plus - for some further fun in the Florida sun, and lots of sweet treats in Jax and beyond, check out the links below:
52] Keeping Cool - And Creamy - In Key West
45] Dessert First, My Friends ~ Cantina Louie
40] Visiting The Florida Cracker Kitchen ~ Jacksonville
39] The Very Official & Quite Serious Donut Debate Of 2020
31] Tuesday’s On First Street ~ The Jax Beach Art Walk ~
21] Cinotti’s ~ And Why Life Is Too Short To Not Eat Donuts
14] Finding Trinkets & Treasures @ The Jax Beach Vintage Flea Market
11] Eleven South Bistro & Bar ~~ Supper Club Of The South
3] The Dog Days Of Endless Summer
2] 3 Wows Plus 1 Piece Of Magic I Experienced At Jacksonville, Florida’s Cummer Museum Of Art & Gardens
1] Happy Birthday America ~ 4 Simple Steps To Help You Have An Easy Americana 4th:

*Part of - Bean’s Coffee Shop Challenge - series

​Holy cow folks! Here’s my first dining review since the world went ahead and changed on us all… Today, I’ll be visiting an adorable local cafe in Jax Beach. And the only difference between this visit and any other dining review I present you with… is the fact that this is my first review since life as we all knew it imploded before all our very eyes.

Yep, we’ve all been thrown for a total loop these last many weeks. And things are only getting stranger and stranger each and every day. And hour by hour. I’m thinking to myself… Maybe we’ve finally gone through the other side of that Black Hole I constantly theorize about. Or - a wormhole?

Or maybe we’ve even been teleported to the edge of the universe.

And then jumped right over into our real and true multiverse?

Either that, or it’s just another day on this - our good buddy - Earth. Yes, Mother Nature is challenging us. And we are at war - with a virus. Either way, as I’ve said since the very beginning and even before that. I’m still going to live my life. I’m going to be alive - when I’m alive. I’m not going to be afraid. And I’m not going to cower.

Don’t get me wrong - I’m still going to be safe. I’m still going to follow the guidelines set forth by our leaders. I’m simply not going to panic…. And I will keep living my life.

Thus, what I mean is - I’m still going to go about my day. My job outside the home is still open. I work at what the government is now deeming an essential business during this crazy crisis. So I HAVE to leave the home. But I’m extremely happy to do it, and I would be doing it anyway. So in a way, I’m still technically living my “normal” life - while surrounded by much un-normalness. And I’m extremely grateful for my job. Even as things change now by the week, by the day, by the hour, and by the minute. Literally.

And during my shift, I am also grateful now more than ever for my lunch break. And each day on my break, I’ve been trying to support an area business to grab some quick food.

I have one hour to patronize a local drive-thru. I have one hour to get a drink of coffee or iced tea or some drive-thru food or take out, or drop-in-your-trunk food. And then get myself back to work, and back to sweating my behind off.

But like I said - I’m still living. So Sunday Morning in America… I start my day. And I checked my social media as I usually do. I happened to see today's muffin specials at The Ugly Cupcake & Muffinry, located @ 115 5th Street South in Jacksonville Beach, Florida.

A funny thing happened last Saturday night. The Earth went through a black hole, and came out the other side, roughly an hour into the future.

Either that, or we all jumped at once, head first, into Daylight Savings Time.

Ahhh - the time change.

Spring ahead. Bleh Bleh Bleh.

Fall behind. Blah Blah Blah.

And spring ahead, once again... Is it all God’s way of laughing at us? Is he in charge? Or are we? After all, us humans are the silly ones who invented the logistics of changing the clock.

Sometimes I think the whole time change thing is the universe's way of treating the Earth like a snowglobe. Or God - he picks up the Earth, with both his large hands, and gives it a big shake, jostling everything and everybody around. And just to really mess around with us, he does it not only once, but freaking TWICE a year. Then laughs at us. All while watching the snow fall.

Personally, I think the time change is a whole buncha silly nonsense… an outdated notion - and way past its time - no puns intended - sorta concept. In this era of sheer technological innovation, and where lights can remain on all evening and then late into the morning if one wants, do we really need this twice a year time warp? To save light?

Of course some say yes. But more and more people, and many governments included, are stepping onto the #freezetheclock bandwagon. Also - are bandwagons outdated as well?

So…. yeahhhhhh. The time changed. And with that the whole world was thrown for a little loop. Household pets and animals were confused. Babies and children’s routines were abruptly interrupted. Everything changed - once again.

But I can tell you one, little, minor, insignificant detail that for sure did NOT change because of Daylight Savings Time… and that’s food.

Cause every BODY has to eat.

So, we awoke Sunday morning. To greet the new day.

The sun rose at a different time. We watched the shiny and happy orb situate itself in the sky amongst the clouds at a different angle at a different time. We adjusted the digital clock above the microwave to the new, correct time - cause, if you can’t beat em, join em, right?

And, also with that act of stepping into the kitchen… and just like every other morning on the face of this planet, our tummies got hungry. Nope - the time change did not mess with our stomachs, at least. It was then decided that going out to breakfast was going to be a fabulous way to start our new day.

We made the executive decision to finally try First Watch. A daytime, breakfast cafe, headquartered in the Sunshine State. And with locations in 26 states and still growing, we were excited to finally give it a whirl.

So our tummies lead the way.
To the Cafe.

Metro Diner has grown significantly in recent years. And on our busy, yet lovely and leisurely Sunday, hubby and I dined at the Ponte Vedra Beach Metro Diner location. However, there are many locations throughout Jacksonville.

And we’ve been to most of them. Metro Diner is a regular part of our “dining out” experience.

The one and only original Metro Diner, located in San Marco, is the perfect and very quintessential diner. And this diner became so popular that others were built around and throughout Jacksonville. And now, very recently, Metro Diner has spread throughout the entire SouthEast and is growing at a fairly rapid pace.

But San Marco is and remains probably my favorite of their locations. Old trees. Historic neighborhood. Directly next to the gateway to Downtown Jax. Yet, this past Sunday, we stayed on the island, not venturing over the bridge, for anything.

So we chose a Beaches location to dine at. Still the same food. Still the same atmosphere, service, and friendliness. Just a different area of town, very and much closer to home.

The Jacksonville area Metro Diners are so popular, that Guy Fieri found himself making a stop to Jax, FL. He featured Metro Diner on the popular cable series Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. And that stop in by Guy has only made Metro Diner even more famous.

And while it started out and is known as the place “where the locals eat” - Metro Diner has grown to be a must-visit stop on the list of business travelers, tourists, and spring-breakers, and families young and old, while they are visiting the greater Jacksonville area.

I know that I am always recommending Metro Diner to lots of out-of-town visitors. And I’ve had many a wonderful meal there myself, whether it is just with the hubby, or with lots of friends and family too.

So while I had a leisurely Sunday yesterday, it was also filled with busy and errand-filled tasks that needed to get done.

But, you know what? Life, every day, isn’t just about “getting stuff done.” Running around: doing tasks, and chores, and a list of never-ending errands…. Even if you have an errand-filled day, there’s always room for good food.

And Metro Diner was a no-brainer choice for us. We were in the Ponte Vedra Beach area, and planned lunch out at the Diner while doing my long check-list of things I knew I wanted to get done that day.

I simply added Metro Diner onto that to-do list. And it became a must-do.

And there we went.

And, in about two seconds, I chose the French Toast with a side of Bacon.

When my meal was served to me, our lovely server put it down in front of me, and before the plate even hit the table, I already smelled cinnamony goodness. My meal had the scent of a bakery. It was heavenly.

The bacon at Metro Diner is perfect, so I always recommend ordering a side if your meal doesn’t come with it.

Check out these other delicious and diner-filled stories below, why don’t ya?
16) Beach Diner ~ If You Feed Them They Will Come
19) Another Broken Egg Cafe ~ A Taste Of NOLA @ The Beach
22) Saturday On San Pablo Island

Y’all may also enjoy:
9) Sago Coffee: A Cup Of Friendly & Flavorful Florida
*Part of ~ Bean’s Coffee Shop Challenge ~
11) Eleven South Bistro & Bar ~~ Supper Club Of The South
39) The Very Official & Quite Serious Donut Debate Of 2020
40) Visiting The Florida Cracker Kitchen ~ Jacksonville
48) Love & Donuts In The Air @ Beaches For Australia

Have you been to Jacksonville’s Metro Diner? What’s your favorite Metro Diner location? I’d love to know! Let me know with a comment down below.

Howdy, folks!

Are you looking for some real, Southern, down-home cookin’?
Well, then look no further than the Florida Cracker Kitchen.

I had an absolutely Fabulous outing there, and I Must tell you about it!

I’ve driven past the Florida Cracker Kitchen many a time these past few years. Probably hundreds of times in fact. And always wanting to stop in, and always on my way somewhere else. Well, finally, that somewhere else turned into my somewhere to be.

As we finally made our way to this lovely little destination, we pulled into the Cracker Kitchen lot and curved right on past the cow statue which stands guard out front of the building. I’ve glanced at this cow many times as we passed on by traveling Beach Boulevard. And he always looks back at me and waves hello.

Stepping out of the car there was someone playing the guitar on the front porch. I was immediately reminiscent toward the Cracker Barrel, of which I am a fan. With their rocking chairs out front, and gift shop in the entryway, this place made me think of many meals out on the road.

The Florida Cracker Kitchen has a bags game outside for those who want to play while waiting for their table. They also have an outdoor bar where patrons are served their drinks out of an old truck. And yet another neat sight was an antique fire truck sitting out back. They even have their own Little Free Library, next to a lounging horse statue. It seems the cow was on his shift, while the horse was on his break.

The potatoes reminded me of my grandfather’s fried potatoes, with tiny sprinkle of seasoned salt mixed within. I can picture him cooking them in their small kitchen on a skillet; these had onions slighting caramelizing a bit inside as well.

And all of those doughy breads are made daily in house. That’s all their white breads, french toast, biscuits, and especially their cinnamon rolls.

If you are wondering how I am maintaining massive weight loss being served such a tasty platter of this size and full of all temptation, the answer is quite simple. I merely ate half of what I was served. I took the other half home with me, and ate it for dinner that evening. If you want to start halving your portions for weight loss while dining out, I highly recommend giving it a go.

When you start the habit you may be quite discouraged, as the meal sitting in front of you will be very tempting. And once you eat half you will think you are still hungry. Your brain will tell you to give it all up and just eat the whole darn platter already why don’t ya. But never fear, it gets much easier over time to tell your brain to just shut the heck up! Believe it or not, you know better than your brain does. And repetition of this practice will lead you to be an expert plate-halver just like myself. So all you have to do is practice.

Easy, right - so just keep on keepin’ on, and keep going out to eat. The more you halve your plate, the easier it will be on you. You will resist temptation and cravings and you will be able to tell your brain exactly what Kevin McCallister tells his basement furnace, just like a pro in no time flat. I promise.

Hubby ordered the Cracker Omelette priced at $9.99. This consisted of eggs, sausage, bacon, onion, bell peppers, and both jack and cheddar cheese; and comes with a side of the fried potatoes and a biscuit.

And the very best part of the meal was what we ordered to take home with us for our dessert that evening.

Before our visit to the restaurant, I had signed up online to become a Grits Club Member. This entitled me to one of MeMa’s Giant Cinnamon Rolls for free during our meal. I would highly recommend signing up, if merely to get an amazing free roll. It’s valued at $3.99, and when the server places the order it will come up as a $1.00 charge on your receipt. When you pay at the front counter (inside the gift shop on the way out), you can then show the cashier your email coupon again on your phone and the $1.00 charge is taken off your total bill.

We took our cinnamon roll from MeMa on home with us to split as a treat that evening. I heated it in the microwave for thirty seconds and then spread all the frosting on top. It was one of the best nightly treats I’ve had in ages. And yes, even though I lost weight, I am sure to allot myself calories for a treat each and every evening, no exceptions to that. Because I’m not living if dessert isn’t allowed in my life.

Overall, I’d say to get your cute little behinds on down to the Florida Cracker Kitchen forthwith. You will not be sorry you went. And if you’re watching your calories, just plan for your other two meals that day to be lighter and you’ll be fine. And if you’re not watching your calories, you’ll enjoy it just the same or more so.

The meal was very inexpensive, and it ended up being significantly less than our meal of the same type at Another Broken Egg Cafe - of which I like and am a repeat customer. But just saying so that you know it’s not pricey at all.

Definitely give the Florida Cracker Kitchen a go, and get a nice and hot, real southern meal. When we got in the car to leave, I said, “I haven’t had so much fun, since the last time we had so much fun.” And that’s the gosh darn truth. ~

For more of my Floridian Fun - feel free to check these links out why don’t ya:
7) My ‘Before & After’ ~~ How A Single Act Of Kindness, Lime Bubly, And MyFitnessPal Helped Me Lose 77 Pounds In One Year
16) Beach Diner ~ If You Feed Them They Will Come
17) Fall Flavors ~ Six Simple Steps I’m Taking This Fall To Maintain My Massive Weight Loss
19) Another Broken Egg Cafe ~ A Taste Of NOLA @ The Beach
39) The Very Official & Quite Serious Donut Debate of 2020

*Part of - Bean’s Coffee Shop Challenge - series

Is it me, or does everyone debate EVERYTHING nowadays?

We have:
Flip or Flop
Who wore it better?
Kate vs. Meghan
Netflix vs. Hulu
Disney vs. Universal
Coke vs. Pepsi
What came first… the chicken or the egg?
Who played the best James Bond ever?
Jelly vs. Jam
Is breakfast the most important meal of the day?
Paleo vs. Keto
Do plants have feelings?
Blake or Miranda?
N’SYNC v. NKOTB (wow, that’s a tough one)....
Oh wait, I think I’m starting to date myself over here… Moving onwards… pay no attention to me sitting in front of a square box tv watching NKOTB. Wait, they are still really together!

Yes, the list could go on forever… Because, guess what? Everyone does seem to debate everything nowadays. Ha, would who have thought?

We even debate on Twitter if an award show was totally awesome? Or was it horrible and the worst award show that ever aired on network television? In fact, now we debate not only who the host of the award show should or should not be, but if there should be a host at all? Huh?

And we have all this before even mentioning politics. The dreaded word. Lest we all forget the upcoming presidential debates ahead of us this year - yes, an official presidential election year. It looms ahead of us, taunting us all. Ahhhmmm… whether we like it or not, it’s all coming, and it’s all coming for us.

Yes, we are alive during a very interesting time… Or wait, is this time period actually interesting? Maybe we’re not even really alive? Maybe we live in a simulation. You’ve heard about that one, right? Or maybe we’re living and breathing inside an alternative universe - right now. And yep, you can easily fall into a YouTube rabbit hole on that one… Do we live in a UNIverse or do we live in a MULTIverse? THAT - is the question. Or do I have too much time on my hands? That - might be the question also.

But any way you shake it, if you are in need of a debate topic for a school project, the list is nearly endless. NO ONE should fail debate class nowadays. It should be a minute and mere impossibility.

Or should it?

So with most everything and anything up for debate today, I’m throwing my hat in the ring.

With all the seriousness going on everywhere, how’s about a good old-fashioned and silly and completely useless and utter waste of time and ridiculous debate. A debate that no matter who wins and who loses, the world won’t end. The loser won’t cry. And the winner didn’t actually even win anything? Cause, guess what else? I Don’t even have a trophy to present.

So to the loser, I say here and now: No hard feelings. It’s all just for laughs… Well - and to give me something to do...

So earlier this week I decided to go on a couple of outings, all involving donuts... I wanted to conduct a taste test and experiment of my very own. So, my husband and I played out my first ridiculous challenge of 2020. And I am hereby calling it:

“The Very Official And Quite Serious Donut Debate of 2020”

Nope, I’m not here to talk politics. Nor the Golden Globes. Nor the Oscars. Nor the Twitterverse. Nor even the Universe V. Multiverse theory. I’m simply here to talk about donuts.

Got it?
And to make matters even more nonsensical and useless and to waste even more of everybody's time and efforts - I was completely biased going in, and I had many preconceived notions... How dare I?

I thought I knew who was gonna win, and I was overly confident in who I thought would lose. Yes, I was completely biased. And bias is allowed. Cause guess what? It’s all for F.U.N.

I mention my bias, my preconceived notions, etc. because at the end of the day the winner actually surprised me. Honestly. Yes, I was wowed by one, and I was under-wowed by the other. And the winner was NOT at all who I thought it was going to be.

Here’s my bias:
First of all, I LOVE donuts. Yes, I love donuts so much that people have made fun of me about it many times in the past. I am the donut girl. Long story. Not relevant. No big deal.

But, anyways, I love donuts. So, naturally, I love Dunkin Donuts. Or, ‘Dunkin’ as they are calling themselves nowadays. I know and love their coffee, and I know and love their donuts. I know how many calories are in their donuts and how to plan their donuts into my day no problem without gaining a bit of weight. Cause since we’re talking scientific theories today, weight maintenance is all about the Calories IN V. Calories OUT theory.

And, here’s my preconceived notions:
I always assumed Krispy Kreme was THE BEST. And I have NEVER ever, once ever, been to a Krispy Kreme. Did I mention never?

I know, I know…. How does someone who loves donuts not once have stepped their feet inside a Krispy Kreme?

It’s possible. Because I have never been to a Krispy Kreme until this week, for this challenge.

And, again, I just assumed through my preconceived notions and probably through their very good marketing strategy throughout the years that reflected upon me a highly sought-after and nothing-like-it-on-this-Earth quality donut.

So, I decided that I wanted to finally try Krispy Kreme, and see if they measured up to my beloved Dunkin. My forever faithful, my forever reliable, my delicious, and my heavenly, Dunkin.

So, naturally, step one of my challenge meant that I needed to go to Dunkin. Because it all starts at Dunkin. I needed to purchase their plain original glazed Dunkin Donut to try before trying the exact same at Krispy Kreme.

And yes, we ate a lot of donuts this week, and all for the sake of the written word, or for science. My tummy thanks you for the opportunity to present this completely educational and very scientific information to you.

So off we went to Dunkin. One large hot latte for myself at 130 calories (my favorite drink of the moment), and one large iced latte for the hubby - who doesn’t need to count a single calorie... so none will be listed here.

We each tried one original glazed, which clock in at 260 calories per donut. Good. Great. The best ever. According to me.

Hubby thinks they are just fine - he is not at all passionate about donuts like I am, so this answer was exactly what I expected from him.

Dunkin is busy. Always. Very busy. We always wait in a line - during the morning commuter rush. No complaints, just mentioning because they seem to have a large fan base. There are always customers. And, most all of the tables are taken inside the small shop on Beach Boulevard in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. As just as many people sit and linger, and talk, or work on the WiFi, as they do take their orders and run out the door with them. After all, American Runs On Dunkin, right?

Up next - Krispy Kreme. The next morning - same time of day. To finally try my first original glazed, fresh out of the fryer. The original. The classic. Since 1937.

So there we off and went, and actually left the island… “Over the Ditch” as the locals say.

So over the river and through the woods we went. Or over the Intracoastal and through the swamps. Same thing. Until I had finally arrived for the first time in my entire life at a Krispy Kreme. Specifically, the Krispy Kreme in the city of Jacksonville, Florida - the one on Atlantic Boulevard.

While Thanksgiving is just around the corner, Christmas can never really come too early for me. Lights and trees, garlands and bows, ribbons and wreaths galore, popping up in every town along the coast… and it's all beyond beautiful to me.

And throughout all of Jacksonville there is an endless list of holiday adventures for both young and old alike, and all are starting right now.

We have Jacksonville’s Light Boat Parade, the San Marco Festival of Lights, Zoo Lights, lots of turkey trots, and Santa and reindeer runs aplenty. We also have St. Augustine’s 26th Annual Nights Of Lights which began this weekend as well; and it runs all the way through February 2, 2020! And of course much, much more. There’s way too much to ever take it all in - inside of one holiday season alone.

That’s why I’ll try to aim to attend at least roughly one or two new things each Christmas, and I then have some must-do holiday traditions as well. And Jax Beach’s Deck The Chairs is one of those such traditions.

It’s my HOLIDAY MUST DO.

It’s my CAN’T MISS.

And I think most other folks in town feel the same way. Besides all of our local area town tree lightings, if you live in Jax Beach, or close by in one of the other area island communities, Deck The Chairs is THE event of the season… here at the beach.

As an artist who paints every day, I can’t help but think I would have quite a lot of fun decking out a chair myself. Each year I go to the event, I contemplate about how I would come up with a theme and design???

Paint onto canvas = holiday decor onto orange chair!

And this year, it is my opinion that Deck The Chairs brought their A Game to The Beach. I’ve attended 2017 and 2018’s events, and this year by far was the most impressive. They’ve definitely stepped it up a notch or two, and I believe we need to give credit where credit is due. The sponsors and volunteers make this event possible, and you could see the dedication toward community spirit in this year’s chairs.

In both previous year’s attendance of the event I saw some plain chairs and chairs with just a sign of sponsor, and lots of lights not working or even connected. I remember last year a whole section was completely unplugged for a very long time so my hubby tried to plug it in and fix it. But this year, each chair was super! Each chair has a theme, and a theme dedicated to their cause.

In fact, Beaches Go Green was in a league all their own this year. I would guesstimate their massive display took about one quarter of the town square’s entire display space. In coordination with local area schools, they presented an informative walk-through experience, utilizing all recycled materials or garbage re-purposed as art and holiday decor. While also bringing awareness to how all that trash affects the coastal communities and creatures who inhabit them; it was very educational for the public too.

They had displays and posters made entirely of bottle caps, egg cartons, tooth brushes, and seemingly countless single-use plastic water bottles. And the classic jellyfish was back and still alive… thank goodness! The jellyfish is always my favorite part of Deck The Chairs and is also made entirely of trash and repurposed materials. Thank you to Beaches Go Green for the time and dedication it must have taken to put on such a splendid display.

So many people came to The Beaches community to see all the sights that there was off-site parking, and lots of shuttles moving people all around. In fact, even the off-site parking and shuttle service reached their capacity on Saturday. Everyone had to see this event - and it was definitely worth the trek for those who came from far away.

I have never seen the local community or the beach itself this populated, and that includes on various 4th of July festivities. And Jax, Neptune, and Atlantic Beach sure know how to pull off a festive 4th! 1st Street is always closed off on Independence Day, with an unofficial/official bike parade, and various bounce houses, hoses and sprinklers running, coolers full of fun and cold drinks that everyone shares with their neighbors, and front yard parties, galore. And this weekend definitely made me think of the 4th in Jax.

It was the event of events here at the beach, and I’m extremely grateful to have had my very own front seat to all the action - never even having to get in the car once to witness all the excitement. Living in downtown Jax Beach offers many perks, and this was definitely one of the best. And while the show took place both on Saturday and Sunday - living right in the midst of it all offered me a unique perspective.

On Thursday and Friday of this past week, all the various styles of airplanes took many practice runs of the Sky portion of the show. And I must admit that this part of the entire experience was somewhat even more exciting to me than the actual show. I got to see it all, before all the massive crowds of people did… And not knowing what the practice schedule consisted of, I really had no idea what was coming next through the Sky.

Another individual who, for certain, had no idea what was going to happen next, was my dog - Madeline. To her, I think she must have thought that World War III had started and that the literal end of life on Earth had arrived in Jacksonville, Florida. She was absolutely and utterly terrified, and I made the smart decision of keeping her home and inside all weekend. I know we could have had a lost dog if I didn’t do just that.

A mix of some Florida afternoon rain, and then pops of Florida sun - the Blue Angels took to the skies about a half hour late for Saturday’s show. They flew through a massive rainbow shining above the Sea. It was breathtaking to witness, and my iPhone camera would not capture the scene at all, and what it did attempt to capture did not do the rainbow any justice whatsoever. The light and bright and delicate colors floating over the salty water were merely a mirage, and if you blinked, you might miss it.

I’ve never seen more rainbows in my life than I have in the few years I’ve lived here in the land of endless summer - the Sunshine State. And each one is as special as the next; but this rainbow was most stunning and breathtaking with the Blue Angels flying above and through it and coming right at me.

The only thing I know and understand about these planes for certain is that they are awesome. Pure and simple. The entire experience - of witnessing the massive beast of its engine roar, in all its power, flying overhead, in coordination, and so close together it appears from the ground that a mere piece of string could connect the planes quite easily. The dedication, teamwork, the best technology on the planet, all in coordination. All of that at its absolute best, on display for all to see. And it was a free show!

At one point, while my husband was out shooting these photos, he was interviewed by a Youtuber; I found this hilarious. If only we knew, as my hubby of course failed to inquire, which channel interviewed him, I could watch what he said to the internet vlog world about his personal experience with Sea & Sky Jax.

Sadly, Sea & Sky weekend is now over, and won’t be back in Jax Beach for a few more years. The location of this show rotates, and goes to NAS Jax as well.

And now that things are calming down in our household and returning to normal for Madeline and all her fellow dogs in town - she doesn’t quite know or realize that Halloween is next on the agenda this week. It’s a big and chaotic week indeed in the life and mind of a small and sensitive little pooch. But it was a most exciting weekend of weekends for us spectating humans… looking up to the Sky, and out toward the Sea - with our feet in the Sand. ~

*Winner: Bean’s Best Award*
[The 2019 Annual Bean’s Best Pizza in Jax Beach Award]

If you want to sit only mere steps from the oceanfront, and engage in some good quality people watching, lots of dogs included, when in Jax Beach - all you have to do is grab a slice and sit in the window at V Pizza. I’ve never seen so many people, skateboarding with their dogs leading them rolling down the street, than I can see during even just one meal alone, while sitting at the wooden bar-top tables in the large picture windows at V Pizza’s counter service.

I've been coming to V Pizza since I moved to Jax Beach. I’ve ordered to-go, I’ve ordered on the quick service side, and I’ve had dinner in the full-service dining area with the bar and televisions. I’ve brought my family here who live out of state up in the Chicago area. Plus, V Pizza is the regular dining establishment of choice by my husband and I whenever we simply need a quick and easy, guaranteed delicious meal. We’ve tried many of the surrounding other local pizza joints. And I firmly believe V Pizza is the best in town.

And here’s why:

I grew up in the Chicago area - THE FOOD CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.

I was surrounded by good food… ALL. THE. TIME. And I mean some really, darn, good food. Nothing - at all - compares, on the face of this planet, to food in Chicago. And specifically… Chicago pizza.

My whole life I heard people talk about food in Chicago, as if it were special? I always wondered, why does everyone talk about how special the food is? The implication and emphasis not about the type of food being served, the meal, the location, the neighborhood, what kind of restaurant...but just simply that it was “Chicago” food. That’s all that mattered. If it was from Chicago, it was some real good food.

But Chicago’s food was all I ever knew. So when something is so perfect, consistently, all the time, over and over, that’s what one gets used to. Taste buds acclimate to what is familiar to them. And since it was all I knew, I literally thought that all food, everywhere, was just that good. I expected all food to be great. That’s just what food tastes like right?

Well, it took me moving out of state, and eating hundreds upon hundreds of meals outside of Chicago to fully appreciate in all honesty and sincerity how good Chicago food really is. And my life has basically become just as the saying goes…

“You don’t know what you got till it’s gone…” Right?

Yep.

And gosh, I really didn't know until I left.

When you part ways with Chicago, you part ways with a foodie life that will never again be the same.

As soon as we moved away from that delicious food capital of the world, suddenly, good food was harder to come by. Much harder. Most everywhere we went food was just OK. And after leaving literal perfect food behind - PERFECTION and OK - are really far apart from one another. And very noticeable… immediately noticeable. And that’s not just me talking... it’s my taste buds. They just can’t help it. They been acclimated. All my taste buds ever knew was perfect food. So anything but perfect was now…

Bleh….

Everyone asks me what do I miss about leaving home… my answer is the Chicago food… the pizza.

THE. PIZZA. PERIOD.

Whenever I come back to Illinois for a visit, whether it’s a few days, a week, or a two week visit or longer, every day I need pizza. I can’t get enough of it. And I’ll try as many places as I can. And my mom asks me if I’m sure that I want pizza? She asks - Again???

Yes… of course.

I can go through my entire visit in Illinois and only eat pizza, and I will never tire of it. Because, I know, but most importantly my taste buds know that I will not have that food again for potentially a year. A YEAR? That’s literally like going through food withdrawal; I have to prepare myself for the reality that awaits me. My body, mind, and soul. Yes...I’ll eat again, but it will never be quite the same… as Chicago pizza.

And thus, with every meal in life I now eat, to this day - food is different. Food is not what it once was. I didn’t know what I had until it was gone. And as soon as it went missing, I noticed, fast, and I’ve been mourning my loss ever since.

When we left Illinois, we left the food capital of the world behind, we said goodbye to amazing Chicago pizza; only I didn’t know we were saying goodbye, so I never kissed it on my way out the door. I didn’t know to say goodbye.

A simple head’s up would have been nice. Some forewarning, from anyone, anywhere??? How come no one told me? Are you sure you want to move to Florida and leave all this perfect food? They didn’t tell me because I wouldn’t have believed them. I needed to experience it for myself to believe it, and I would have just laughed.

And I’m still laughing at myself now.

Each pizza restaurant in Chicago has its own ‘specialty’ - what they are known for. You can go to any pizza place in Chicago and the surrounding area suburbs, have the best pizza of your life, and each pizza establishment will taste completely different from one another. Palermo’s has heavenly red sauce, and the best dough you will ever eat, anywhere. Rosati’s has great sausage. Gino’s East has phenomenal deep dish. Lou Malnati’s has the best deep dish buttered crust, worth the wait for the crust alone. And Pizza Lia has the best fresh-frozen pizza on Earth (the handmade dough cannot be replicated by anyone but the owner, my uncle).

Those are only a tiny fraction of pizza establishments in the Chicago area. And most importantly, NOT ONE of them is the same as the other in any way. They are all distinctly different from one another. And that’s what makes each one special.

Chicago pizza is at the top of the pyramid, placed high on a pedestal, deserving of the crown of crowns. When something is rated that high, how can anything match up. It sort of doesn’t. You just can’t beat Chicago pizza. No matter where you go. In my travels and adventures I have learned that much. But if you can’t beat em, join em.

And, I’ll be clear here, it’s not that the food elsewhere is bad… it’s literally just that Chicago has the best food.

Yes, I like the other local surrounding pizza place here. And to be fair, I have not tried every place in town - I don’t believe anyway - but I have tried many, and many much more than once. I love Milano’s, I love Biggie’s, I love D&LP, Al’s, etc.etc.etc. But I REALLY love V Pizza. And, naturally, I have a theory as to why.

V Pizza doesn’t pretend to be something they are not. Their pizza knows exactly who it is and is not ashamed of itself. Their pizza is a proud and unique and distinctly different individual. That individuality and uniqueness is what makes it special. And as a bonus, they offer a variety of other specialty and Italian menu items as well.

I want to first start off by saying that while I am going to be discussing Intuition Ale Works in Jacksonville, FL, I do not drink any alcohol so I cannot review the beer for you here. I can, however, explain in detail my experience visiting Intuition, to attend a workshop, and I brought my husband along as well so he could enjoy the local beers offered.

I had wanted to visit Intuition Ale Works for some time. Actually, I had heard about the rooftop bar area, with views overlooking downtown Jax, and that was the main reason for my wanting to visit... I never want to miss out on a view if I can help it. And then I happened to come across a painting workshop involving painting an elephant, taking place on a Tuesday evening, and thought, that’s definitely when I’m going to plan my visit to Intuition. Painting, plus views, would be a fabulous night, I thought.

Plus, I love elephants. I firmly believe elephants are the Earth’s Gentle Giants, and very misunderstood creatures. They are family-oriented, have a heart and soul as wild and original as any human soul, and they want to be as free as we are. Any excuse to paint my beloved elephants works for me. So I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to attend a local ‘Paint N’ Pints, even if I wasn’t going to be having the pints part of the experience myself.

And, I thought I’d bring the hubby along… he could sample the local beers, while I paint. And then, I thought, afterward we can sit outside on the rooftop lounge area together and enjoy the lovely evening that consisted of perfect Florida weather. Well, things didn’t work out exactly as planned, but we did make the most of it ourselves.

After registering for the workshop, I thought I’d look up Intuition’s website ahead of time to check out what type of food and drink was available. The painting workshop began at 6:30pm, running through 8:30pm, and I thought maybe we should plan to eat dinner while there. I wanted to see the menu ahead of time and figure out what type of meal to plan for into my day. Well, the website listed beer only. No mention of any food whatsoever.

​So we ended up eating at home ahead of time, then headed out to Intuition. We parked in the free parking lot, which is located in a very industrial area, with views of the Maxwell House headquarters factory just across the way. (I do love coffee and hope to visit the headquarters for a tour someday.) Going inside I noticed the brewery had lots of massive windows open to it and I was hoping to take a tour while we were there. I then discovered tours were not available at the time. That section of the facility was closed off for the evening.

Named for its address within Jax Beach, just East of A1A, and situated only a couple blocks from the ocean, Eleven South Bistro & Bar is nestled within the coastal neighborhood community. Surrounded by beach cottages, it blends right in to its surroundings. A quick drive by or glance, especially when the restaurant is not open, and it could definitely be mistaken for a home if not paying attention to it.

I had always heard that Eleven South was a locals place, with consistently regular and repeat diners who also bring in their out-of-town guests for a great meal while they are visiting Jax. And after hearing this information through word-of-mouth, and then seeing the quaint little building that houses Eleven South, I immediately thought that it reminded me of a perfect little Supper Club.

When I lived up north in Illinois, I traveled in and through the state of Wisconsin a lot. And my favorite places to dine in the entire state were all the many and countless local Supper Clubs my husband and I would just stumble across during our travels. We could never go wrong with choosing a Supper Club for dinner. We could be anywhere in the entire state of Wisconsin, and as long as we could find a Supper Club, we knew the food would be good.

And these Wisconsin Supper Clubs always gave me the impression they were a very local establishment. Wherever we were the vibe was local and friendly. These were places buried into a community, sitting off on a side road somewhere, most often well off the beaten path, and hard to find. I ate at these places long before GPS on my smartphone could take me there. We had to find them on our own. We would come across them at the end of a long street, buried amongst evergreen trees. And they were the only place around. I remember getting excited when we found one. It was like being a kid playing the license plate bingo game and the excitement of whenever I’d find the state I’d been searching for so long and so hard to find. The needle in the haystack. These were not places along highway rest stops with tired and weary travelers looking for a quick meal and then rush back onto the road. They were places far away from any interstate and filled with locals where everyone knew everyone.

These travels in Wisconsin feel like a very long time ago now, and sometimes I tend to wonder if places like this still exist? And was I really alive ‘so long ago’ that I actually lived without GPS on my phone? Or did technology just advance that quickly? Is there any place left where everyone knows everyone when you walk in? Life is so very fast-paced now, with people always rushing and not taking that extra moment to slow down and talk to each other, in person, as much anymore.

When I went into Eleven South, it was just as had been described and as I imagined. It is a locals place - that welcomes everyone. It was a warm and inviting atmosphere. It is a not-very-noticeable, off-the-beaten-path, not-near-any-highways type of place. And walking in, it definitely made me think that the old-fashioned Supper Clubs of the world still exist.

I had been wanting to try Eleven South since I first noticed it. The only thing that had consistently kept me from going sooner is the parking situation. After my visit there though, I would say do not let the parking situation deter you from enjoying a great meal and a most lovely evening out.

Just a quick glance at the property made me note that there are only a tiny amount of parking spaces. And the tiny parking lot had valet staff and many coned off spaces. That was always the issue that had deterred me from visiting, and the situation that evening was no different than what I had witnessed prior. Not being a fan of paying for parking if I can help it, I had just assumed not to go and choose a different restaurant. But that Friday night was different… we were celebrating a special occasion and I knew I wanted to go somewhere we normally wouldn’t choose. So Eleven South it was for us; and parking would just have to solve itself. We saw the full lot and valet and lots of orange cones and took ourselves out to 3rd Street, parked in the siding, and walked over.

While walking in we spoke with a very friendly and definitely busy valet staff member. He was running back and forth parking cars and talking to us at the same time. He parked a car, and ran, and spoke to us. We walked - he ran - he talked. If my doubts about the parking made me stay away in the past, this very kind human being made me want to walk in. Only since I lived down in the South have I met such friendly people. He was happy and friendly and literally running around doing his job… and did I mention friendly? He explained that they have an agreement with the dentist office close by for the valet to use their parking lot in the evenings. We went on a Friday evening, right when they opened for dinner. And the lots were already full… I was right about the parking, there’s just not a lot of spots at all.

After walking in and toward the hostess stand to the right of me was the bar. It was packed. And they had only opened moments ago at 5pm - we had a 5pm reservation. Everyone was talking and laughing with each other.

*Part of - Bean’s Coffee Shop Challenge - series
​
Just opened this week!

Yay! I absolutely love trying new coffee shops! There is definitely something exciting and intriguing to me when I hear news that a new coffee shop is opening up in the neighborhood. What’s on the menu? How’s the variety and selection? What’s the vibe like inside? Do they keep good and flexible hours of operation? And most importantly, are the drinks delicious enough for me to come back?

The answer is yes. On a hot Florida afternoon, my iced latte was cool and delicious; and yes, I will be planning a return visit quite soon. Sago Coffee is simply a fun, upbeat, and modern coffee house instilled with local charm.

A few years back when friends found out I was moving to Florida, specifically to the greater Jacksonville area, it was immediately suggested to me that I visit the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens. Finally, after a few years of living here, I made it there. With soooo many positive reviews online (it was actually very hard to find anything negative said AT ALL) and many recommendations from others to go for a visit, I can definitely see why people love and rave about the place.

This Cafe rocks! I know, I know, you’re saying what in the heck? She just mentioned how awkward and strange the Cafe is set up, and yes, all of that is so true. But the Cafe was also very, very enjoyable, and I absolutely loved my delicious and flavor-filled lunch. It’s so, so true that good food can make up for bad atmosphere. And while like I said, there was no real decor to the Cafe, there was a vase of fresh flowers on the table we were seated at. Adorable. I so love fresh flowers on a table, it brings immediate joy and delight into any day.

​I sat down and ordered an iced tea. Well, when iced tea is served to me in a mason jar, I’ll be happy for the rest of the day. Add a delicious and delicately fruity taste to the cold, refreshing tea, and I declare it the best tea I ever drank in my life any day of the week and twice on Sunday. And this tea was just that and more. I ordered the breakfast quiche as my dish, which was served with a light and fresh seasonal greens with strawberry salad including a vinaigrette dressing on the side. Wow. I so thoroughly enjoyed my meal that I wanted the chef to come home with me and make this meal for me every day for lunch for the rest of my life. Hence the wow factor here. Loved the Cummer Cafe, yes, would go again.

There’s a reason it’s called The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens. & Gardens was not an afterthought. The Gardens at the Cummer deserve their own Wow and you should include time during your visit there for sure. I thought ahead and tried to time my visit around the afternoon Florida summer thunderstorms, so we experienced the gardens before visiting the special Impressionism exhibit later into our afternoon. Walking out back of the main museum building to the Gardens grants you a breathtakingly scenic view of the St. Johns River. So with the flowing river water as a backdrop, and flowers, trees, quaint little pathways and vines, trellis’ and canopy’s and quaint seating, and let’s not forget ponds and fountains, the Gardens are certain to impress. I was right in my element walking around all the natural Floridian beauty before me, so many future scenes I dreamt of painting from that single experience. Visit this Garden... and soak all of it in to take home with you.

I immediately thought of Disney’s classic film ‘Pollyanna’ when my eyes first gazed upon this Live Oak. Trees are and really can be gifts from God to this Earth. Breathing life into anyone who is willing to accept the gift. In the film, Pollyanna’s friend Jimmy Bean (played by Kevin Cochoran - otherwise known as Moochie if you are a classic Disney film fan), always wants to climb trees with Pollyanna, and she basically is like, now why would I ever want to do that?... not understanding the appeal). Well, Mocchie says, God put them there so I could climb them. Simple as that - matter of fact. I have always loved that part of the film for some reason and apply it to many aspects of my life. And while there are clearly represented signs everywhere at the Cummer Gardens informing you NOT to climb the tree, and rightfully so considering its age, history, and safety issues, if Moochie was around to see this tree today, I’m not sure if there would be anyone who could stop him from climbing it. After all, isn’t that why God put it there?

The 4th of July can be an easy holiday to celebrate, or a hard one, just like any other holiday. It’s you and your mindset that make all the difference. You could work all day in the kitchen, serve a bbq to a hundred people in your backyard, and never sit down once all day. Which is great! - - If that’s your cup of tea. Or you can do a slightly different version, which I’m calling the Easy Americana 4th. Don’t get me wrong, I’m calling it easy, but I don’t necessarily want it too easy... or lazy. I like a challenge, I like to be busy, and I like constant improvement. But after so many very busy and chaotic holidays celebrated in the past traveling to multiple locations in a single day, I found that it’s the simplicity of a holiday that will make it the best one ever. Living in Florida has done that for me. And every single holiday I spend in this great state is my best holiday ever.
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Yes, I did wake up at my usual five am before sunrise hour. I got a great workout in by running a race, I walked the dog, got ready, made coffee, and l wore my favorite new spirit wear from Old Navy’s 2019 Americana clothing line. As well as going out to lunch and work in my studio. We also ate my completely fabulous dinner, all Americana food themed, yet utterly simplified. I can accomplish all that while at the same time absolutely NOTHING about the day is chaotic, and nothing about the day is anything but celebrating the reason for the day and chilling out of course.​

​2) Make Time For Yourself:
Then, make some down time. Holiday or no holiday, it’s really important to have time to focus on what you love to do. The remainder of the afternoon I worked in my art studio. I finished off an 8x10 red, white, and blue themed piece while my puppy sat right next to me. She was terrified of the brief afternoon lighting and thunder that came through as usual on a steamy hot Florida summer afternoon. And whenever it storms she becomes my shadow and looks up at me and says with those precious eyes, ‘Is everything going to be ok?” Yes, I say. We’re all good here, no worries. Eventually, even she settles in, falling asleep by my feet, and took a long nap... Dogs are natural pros at making time for themselves.