Welcome to:
~ Christine’s Floridian Dreams ~
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HANDPAINTED ART -
INSPIRED BY FLORIDA’S NATURAL BEAUTY. |
CREATOR ~ CHRISTINE PIEPER
Nickname ~ Bean (Christine the Bean)
“March Before You Feel Like It”
Nickname ~ Bean (Christine the Bean)
“March Before You Feel Like It”
CURATOR ~ MADELINE PIEPER:
Welcome!
Every Body Welcome!
I’m so glad you’re here!
WHO:
I am here to present you with MY unique perspective of Florida. My name is Christine Pieper. I’m a Lifestyle Blogger and Artist - living, writing, and painting, in Jacksonville Beach, Florida.
Every Body Welcome!
I’m so glad you’re here!
WHO:
I am here to present you with MY unique perspective of Florida. My name is Christine Pieper. I’m a Lifestyle Blogger and Artist - living, writing, and painting, in Jacksonville Beach, Florida.
I’ve been in love with the state of Florida my whole life. Growing up in the Midwest, my family often made the thousand-plus mile road trip to Florida, usually to visit one or more of the many world-class theme parks. We rarely ventured off of the interstate to explore the many unique and intriguing sites, instead just "driving through" to get to our destination a couple of hours sooner. Even missing out on seeing much of the 'real' Florida, I quickly fell in love with the state, its climate, and the endless amount of outdoor activities available throughout the Sunshine State.
I finally had the opportunity to move down here from up north a few years ago. I’m excited to share with you how and why I went about relocating and making the move across the country. I showcase and explain Florida’s vast natural wonders and beauty, from the eyes of someone who is seeing and doing things in the Deep South for the very first time. From the top of the state to the very bottom, and lots of other traveling and adventures in between. So come on now and join me, in my Floridian Dreams…
I finally had the opportunity to move down here from up north a few years ago. I’m excited to share with you how and why I went about relocating and making the move across the country. I showcase and explain Florida’s vast natural wonders and beauty, from the eyes of someone who is seeing and doing things in the Deep South for the very first time. From the top of the state to the very bottom, and lots of other traveling and adventures in between. So come on now and join me, in my Floridian Dreams…
CREATIVITY AND INSPIRATION:
Over the past few years my husband and I and our eight year old puppy have been able to stroll along endless white sand beaches, explore swampy cypress forests, visit so many towns and cities throughout the peninsula and panhandle, and so much more. These travels have sparked my creativity and have been my source of endless and daily inspiration.
Over the past few years my husband and I and our eight year old puppy have been able to stroll along endless white sand beaches, explore swampy cypress forests, visit so many towns and cities throughout the peninsula and panhandle, and so much more. These travels have sparked my creativity and have been my source of endless and daily inspiration.
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WEBSITE:
I’m happy to share with you why I moved here, how I went about moving here, and my entire website is dedicated to sharing my Floridian Dreams and adventures with you. With my website, I share with you my creativity in all its varied forms: photography, oil and acrylic painting––including Impressionism and Abstract — palette knife painting, and through the written word.
I’m happy to share with you why I moved here, how I went about moving here, and my entire website is dedicated to sharing my Floridian Dreams and adventures with you. With my website, I share with you my creativity in all its varied forms: photography, oil and acrylic painting––including Impressionism and Abstract — palette knife painting, and through the written word.
WHY:
*Did you know that approximately 300,000 people each year are currently moving to the state of Florida? That’s like gaining a new city of Orlando - every year!
Florida is very popular right now.
I am one of those 300,000 people.
And, if you’re in the process of relocating or just moved to Florida yourself, and you don’t know much about the state, or where to go, where to eat, where to travel to, I’m here to tell you about all of my travels, adventures and dining all throughout the Sunshine State! And if you are a native Floridian, you may enjoy some of my humor?
I’ve always loved Florida my entire life. When I was only five years old, I went on my first road trip from Illinois to the Sunshine State. And Florida has called to me since. It had my heart.
*Did you know that approximately 300,000 people each year are currently moving to the state of Florida? That’s like gaining a new city of Orlando - every year!
Florida is very popular right now.
I am one of those 300,000 people.
And, if you’re in the process of relocating or just moved to Florida yourself, and you don’t know much about the state, or where to go, where to eat, where to travel to, I’m here to tell you about all of my travels, adventures and dining all throughout the Sunshine State! And if you are a native Floridian, you may enjoy some of my humor?
I’ve always loved Florida my entire life. When I was only five years old, I went on my first road trip from Illinois to the Sunshine State. And Florida has called to me since. It had my heart.
And in 2017 I finally answered the call.
And while most of those 300,000 plus people who are currently moving to Florida every year are doing so for financial reasons, that was not my reason for leaving my home state of Illinois... Did you know that Florida has no state income tax? Money and finances and taxes, etc. etc. etc. was not the main reason for my move - it is a nice perk though.
I moved for a complete and utter lifestyle change.
I remember at the time of the move I wrote on my Facebook page that I was seeking a “change of climate… and change of perspective.” That was my literal reason for moving across the country. Change - Change everything, down to the air I breathed in.
My husband and I had experienced some job losses, yes, so finance was an issue. But the main driving factor was simply to change our lives. I had years of chronic health issues, trying everything. Everything but moving. So moving was literally the only thing left to change.
We had been to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota a total of thirteen trips. This is what the drive consisted of most times we made the trek:
And while most of those 300,000 plus people who are currently moving to Florida every year are doing so for financial reasons, that was not my reason for leaving my home state of Illinois... Did you know that Florida has no state income tax? Money and finances and taxes, etc. etc. etc. was not the main reason for my move - it is a nice perk though.
I moved for a complete and utter lifestyle change.
I remember at the time of the move I wrote on my Facebook page that I was seeking a “change of climate… and change of perspective.” That was my literal reason for moving across the country. Change - Change everything, down to the air I breathed in.
My husband and I had experienced some job losses, yes, so finance was an issue. But the main driving factor was simply to change our lives. I had years of chronic health issues, trying everything. Everything but moving. So moving was literally the only thing left to change.
We had been to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota a total of thirteen trips. This is what the drive consisted of most times we made the trek:
That gets old - and real fast.
While up in Rochester on one of my many visits, we discussed with one of my doctors the possibility of moving away, to change my climate. Chronic illness loves a bad climate, I thought. I had heard countless stories of people moving away to change their health. I was desperate. We were desperate. And the seed was already planted in our heads.
During all of these medical travels we took a road trip to Walt Disney World in Florida. Having been to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester many times by this point, we naturally had heard about Mayo’s two other branches, in Arizona, as well as down in Florida. Jacksonville, Florida, specifically. We were very curious. Having never been we decided on a two night stop in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, enroute to our Walt Disney World vacation. It was probably one of the best decisions of our lives.
We fell in love. Immediately.
Jacksonville Beach is located on a small barrier island in the north east section of the state - San Pablo Island. It is an island of fresh and salty air, coastal breezes, and surfers everywhere. Tons of unique wildlife. Lots of cats and dogs, and snakes, too.
One of the main things I noticed upon my arrival was that people were outside - all the time. Everywhere. Doing everything, and anything. I didn’t see this where I lived. There were people here doing outdoor activities of all kinds. Lots of skateboards, bicycles, windsurfing, kitesurfing, volleyball, yoga, swimming, paddle boarding, surf boarding, the list can go on. I had been very athletic in my prior life before chronic pain took over me, and all the activity excited and inspired me, and really sparked a fire inside me.
This was definitely somewhere we could live, we thought.
What are we waiting for? I’m not getting any better? We are not getting any younger… as they say. We decided to go for it. We were moving to Florida.
HOW:
Naturally, Mayo was there in Jacksonville - but my doctors were still up in Rochester. And, we had to sell our house. This was all quite a process. So we put our house on the market, and took many more trips up to Rochester in the interim, with the eventual transfer to the Jacksonville Mayo branch. Our house took about a year and a half, two different realtors, and my grandmother’s St. Joseph statue buried in the frozen dirt in our yard, to sell.
While up in Rochester on one of my many visits, we discussed with one of my doctors the possibility of moving away, to change my climate. Chronic illness loves a bad climate, I thought. I had heard countless stories of people moving away to change their health. I was desperate. We were desperate. And the seed was already planted in our heads.
During all of these medical travels we took a road trip to Walt Disney World in Florida. Having been to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester many times by this point, we naturally had heard about Mayo’s two other branches, in Arizona, as well as down in Florida. Jacksonville, Florida, specifically. We were very curious. Having never been we decided on a two night stop in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, enroute to our Walt Disney World vacation. It was probably one of the best decisions of our lives.
We fell in love. Immediately.
Jacksonville Beach is located on a small barrier island in the north east section of the state - San Pablo Island. It is an island of fresh and salty air, coastal breezes, and surfers everywhere. Tons of unique wildlife. Lots of cats and dogs, and snakes, too.
One of the main things I noticed upon my arrival was that people were outside - all the time. Everywhere. Doing everything, and anything. I didn’t see this where I lived. There were people here doing outdoor activities of all kinds. Lots of skateboards, bicycles, windsurfing, kitesurfing, volleyball, yoga, swimming, paddle boarding, surf boarding, the list can go on. I had been very athletic in my prior life before chronic pain took over me, and all the activity excited and inspired me, and really sparked a fire inside me.
This was definitely somewhere we could live, we thought.
What are we waiting for? I’m not getting any better? We are not getting any younger… as they say. We decided to go for it. We were moving to Florida.
HOW:
Naturally, Mayo was there in Jacksonville - but my doctors were still up in Rochester. And, we had to sell our house. This was all quite a process. So we put our house on the market, and took many more trips up to Rochester in the interim, with the eventual transfer to the Jacksonville Mayo branch. Our house took about a year and a half, two different realtors, and my grandmother’s St. Joseph statue buried in the frozen dirt in our yard, to sell.
I said goodbye to my membership in the local garden club.
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We packed up our house and I said goodbye to my Green Gables home.
Then we had to say goodbye to our family and friends. This was hard. Very hard.
We got in the car, and the Chicago weather looked like this:
We got in the car, and the Chicago weather looked like this:
ARRIVING:
And one day later, we crossed the border from Georgia into Florida:
And one day later, we crossed the border from Georgia into Florida:
And the sky looked just like this: Dory was with me every step of the way. (She still is).
I remember looking up at the blue sky and thinking we made the right decision.
LIFE:
We moved into our new home in Jax Beach.
We got acclimated to our new beach and surf and sand lifestyle.
LIFE:
We moved into our new home in Jax Beach.
We got acclimated to our new beach and surf and sand lifestyle.
Then, I spent a month at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville. Specifically I was a patient at the Mayo Clinic Chronic Pain Rehabilitation Clinic (or “PRC” as us graduates call it). It was one of the hardest things I ever did. More than the move, more than saying goodbye. Knowing I needed this help, and needed all the help I could get, was one of the biggest factors in changing my life.
I just didn’t know it at the time.
MEETING GOD:
I ended up helping myself - by letting God help me. And I didn’t even know it - because he was guiding me, and he took over for a brief time. It was at that point in my life that God carried me.
I experienced my own version of the infamous “footsteps in the sand” poem. If you aren’t familiar, it’s a simple story about someone who says that when they were going through the hardest time in their entire life, and God was supposed to be with them, they only witnessed one set of footprints walking in the sand. That person then doubts God’s existence because they only saw one set of footprints instead of two, during the hardest of times… That person questioned - where was God? Where were his footprints? And God answers the person, stating that it was during that time they were carried by God. It was God’s footprints walking through the sand… not the human’s at all. God carried the person through the challenge.
That’s what happened to me. Growing up and raised Catholic, I never stopped believing in God, even though he knows I don’t go to church much at all. I always knew he was out there somewhere, and that I was going to meet him someday.
And most poetically and ironically, I found God in Florida. On the hardest of days. On the lowest of lows. When I was drowning and in a dark hole, and could barely see the light but knew I had to try to keep swimming into it, that’s where I found God. While I was swimming upward. He carried me. He pulled me. He pushed me. He helped me breathe. He even helped me stay hydrated. He guided me through the hardest challenge of my life. He carried me until I had the momentum to keep on the push and keep trying more. Then one day he pushed me and set me free.
GRADUATION DAY:
On “Graduation Day” from the Pain Rehab Clinic, this was me:
I just didn’t know it at the time.
MEETING GOD:
I ended up helping myself - by letting God help me. And I didn’t even know it - because he was guiding me, and he took over for a brief time. It was at that point in my life that God carried me.
I experienced my own version of the infamous “footsteps in the sand” poem. If you aren’t familiar, it’s a simple story about someone who says that when they were going through the hardest time in their entire life, and God was supposed to be with them, they only witnessed one set of footprints walking in the sand. That person then doubts God’s existence because they only saw one set of footprints instead of two, during the hardest of times… That person questioned - where was God? Where were his footprints? And God answers the person, stating that it was during that time they were carried by God. It was God’s footprints walking through the sand… not the human’s at all. God carried the person through the challenge.
That’s what happened to me. Growing up and raised Catholic, I never stopped believing in God, even though he knows I don’t go to church much at all. I always knew he was out there somewhere, and that I was going to meet him someday.
And most poetically and ironically, I found God in Florida. On the hardest of days. On the lowest of lows. When I was drowning and in a dark hole, and could barely see the light but knew I had to try to keep swimming into it, that’s where I found God. While I was swimming upward. He carried me. He pulled me. He pushed me. He helped me breathe. He even helped me stay hydrated. He guided me through the hardest challenge of my life. He carried me until I had the momentum to keep on the push and keep trying more. Then one day he pushed me and set me free.
GRADUATION DAY:
On “Graduation Day” from the Pain Rehab Clinic, this was me:
MARCH BEFORE YOU FEEL LIKE IT:
I learned that in Pain Rehab. I believed that. I still believe that. It IS my way of life. And that’s how I’ve been living - every day - ever since.
March Before You Feel Like It. Don’t wait until you “feel better” to live your life. Do it. Now. No matter how you feel. Because by acting, before you are ready, you give yourself that push, which can help you gain momentum, and then the momentum pushes you onward further.
By marching before I feel like it, I have seen all of this beauty and been on some amazing adventures...
I learned that in Pain Rehab. I believed that. I still believe that. It IS my way of life. And that’s how I’ve been living - every day - ever since.
March Before You Feel Like It. Don’t wait until you “feel better” to live your life. Do it. Now. No matter how you feel. Because by acting, before you are ready, you give yourself that push, which can help you gain momentum, and then the momentum pushes you onward further.
By marching before I feel like it, I have seen all of this beauty and been on some amazing adventures...
I learned and taught myself how to paint...
‘Pink Hibiscus”
I had my art in an art show…
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My Christmas Holidays went from This:
To This:
I’ve made amazing friends, and I’ve met some amazing people...
Including, Nicholas Sparks.
Including, Nicholas Sparks.
Mark Brunell.
The infamous chef in the vegan world of Disney - Chef TJ. (Located at Trails End Cafe at Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground in Walt Disney World.)--
WEIGHT LOSS
I lost a total of 92 pounds of chronic pain weight. (77 of which were lost in 365 days time that I detail for you here)...
I lost a total of 92 pounds of chronic pain weight. (77 of which were lost in 365 days time that I detail for you here)...
And I’ve met many creatures, great and small... (see my creatures in this slideshow below):
I held an alligator...
I experienced Hurricane Irma. Volunteered with the Red Cross and Mayo Clinic. Lived through the intense drama and stress surrounding Hurricane Dorian and it’s mandatory evacuation and curfews. And quite simply, I experienced lots and lots of “weather.”
And I learned a lot of valuable life lessons...
And this is me today. Weight literally lifted off my shoulders. God continually guiding me every step of the way:
Come, join me, in all of my Floridian Dreams.
As I tell you about my travels. Learn about hotels and restaurants through my detailed reviews. I give updates on weight loss and maintaining that massive weight loss. You will learn how you too can take massive action to change your life in small, incremental steps.
LIVING:
I now LIVE my life, each day, regardless of how I feel. I march each day before I feel like it. You can too. I’m here to help guide you through your journey, and to keep you moving forward, before you feel like it. So, don’t wait to do the one thing you’ve always wanted to do and never did. Don’t wait for the timing to be right. The time is “never right.” The time is right now. Live for the present. Be HOPEFUL for the future, but LIVE in the present. Love each moment, whatever you are doing. But most of all - do. Do. IT... Do it now… And march before you feel like it.
I am not a doctor, nor do I want to be. I cannot cure your pain and ease your suffering, even though I wish I could. But I can be a living example of someone who lives life every day. I march before I feel like it and you can do.
So… SUCK IT UP, BUTTERCUP!
And, then… GET OVER YOURSELF, show up for yourself, and get out of your own darn way. The only one stopping you - is YOU. ~
As I tell you about my travels. Learn about hotels and restaurants through my detailed reviews. I give updates on weight loss and maintaining that massive weight loss. You will learn how you too can take massive action to change your life in small, incremental steps.
LIVING:
I now LIVE my life, each day, regardless of how I feel. I march each day before I feel like it. You can too. I’m here to help guide you through your journey, and to keep you moving forward, before you feel like it. So, don’t wait to do the one thing you’ve always wanted to do and never did. Don’t wait for the timing to be right. The time is “never right.” The time is right now. Live for the present. Be HOPEFUL for the future, but LIVE in the present. Love each moment, whatever you are doing. But most of all - do. Do. IT... Do it now… And march before you feel like it.
I am not a doctor, nor do I want to be. I cannot cure your pain and ease your suffering, even though I wish I could. But I can be a living example of someone who lives life every day. I march before I feel like it and you can do.
So… SUCK IT UP, BUTTERCUP!
And, then… GET OVER YOURSELF, show up for yourself, and get out of your own darn way. The only one stopping you - is YOU. ~
