This shop serves mini donuts, and I ordered a box of 'One Dozen Groovy' - with a total of six powdered sugar and six cinnamon sugar. You can pick whatever toppings you want from an abundance of choices, and they are all made-to-order fresh - each and every donut. 

This box is priced at $15.00, but keep in mind, there is a credit card transaction fee that is also charged, and I didn't know until after I paid via Apple Pay. Not complaining - every penny does make a difference - so I do like to quote prices and provide as much information for y'all as possible during all of my travels and adventures.
​

Peace, Love, & Little Donuts is located at:
12 Cathedral Place
St. Augustine, Florida 32084

Hours of Operation:
Monday-Wednesday 8am-5pm
Thursday 8am-8pm
Friday/Saturday 8am-9pm
Sunday 8am-8pm

P.S. If you missed it LIVE, definitely check out the replay of our walking tour of charming Cordova Street in historic downtown St. Augustine, Florida. The link is down below.

#walkingtour #staugustine #florida
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Hey Dreamers!!

We finally made it to Oaxaca Club!

​

This brand new Mexican Restaurant is located in Downtown Jacksonville Beach, Florida and I have been very curious to try it for a while now. And I’m here to tell you, while somewhat pricey - it’s definitely worth it… Let me explain.

While it might have been a bit more than we were planning on spending, I’m glad we went, and I do think this is literally just the place Jacksonville Beach needs right now.

​

The food was simply delicious. For appetizers we ordered chips and salsa dip, and for the main entree I ordered the Carne Asada Tacos, minus the cilantro, plus a lemonade. Bryan ordered the same Carne Asada, with the cilantro, plus a side salad. He also ordered an OC Margarita. 

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So let’s start with the drinks. My simple lemonade for $3.00 and Bryan’s OC Margarita was priced at $12.00. The portion size of the margarita was quite small. So - It will go down fast, especially if you’re as thirsty as we were. We had just come from an exploration hike at Castaway Island Preserve - which you can check out on my YouTube Channel right here!

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And if you’re really hungry, here’s where some of the cost will add up. I was absolutely fine with my entree - but if you’re expecting your tacos to come with refried rice and beans, that is not going to happen here at Oaxaca Club. Sides are an extra charge and it can add up fast. The charge for a side of rice is $5.00, separate from the cost for refried beans which is also a $5.00 charge. 

My steak tacos cost $14.00 - that comes with two steak tacos on corn tortillas, zero sides. The tacos were FABULOUS! However, the simple math means if I wanted to add on a side of refried rice and beans, my entree would have been $24.00.

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We did order the tortilla chips and salsa - at a cost of $6.00. The chips were phenomenal, freshly made, and a beautiful presentation with the choice of three salsas to dip in. But again, usually chips are included at pretty much every other Mexican restaurant I can think of. So, that was an ‘extra’ $6.00 if you want the chips. ​

So it was a bit more than I was expecting to pay, as I was assuming I was going to order a plate of tacos, rice and beans included. But you’ll probably love this new Jax Beach local, trendy, upbeat style of restaurant in town!

And all this brings me to the main point of us coming here in the first place - Oaxaca Club is a new LOCAL restaurant. And ‘downtown’ Jax Beach desperately needed more restaurants like this right now, and was the main reason I really wanted to try this place.

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I’ve been a Jacksonville Beach area local since 2017. I’ve watched the downtown area at the Beach attempt to grow, get stalled due to 2020, attempt to grow, over and over and over again. I’ve seen restaurants and businesses close up shop, their buildings sit abandoned, an eyesore to the local area. And now, it seems, we are in a real resurgence again. A new local sushi place opened up just a few blocks away, fabulous new hotels are popping up, plus new restaurants. All taking away from the abandoned buildings that once sat vacant, then demolished, with empty fenced-off ground, on prime real estate. It seems these pieces of property are all finally coming to life again. It was sad to see such a fabulous beachfront location in Florida with really slow growth. For some reason, downtown Jax Beach just has had a very difficult time, for certain establishments, to actually grow and thrive. 

So I’m really excited about both Oaxaca Club and the new Jekyll Brewing, directly next door - which I’m going to venture over to soon hopefully. 

Sometimes, when I see the vacant land all fenced off, and the empty, blocked off pieces of property less than half of one block from the sandy shores of the Atlantic Ocean, I think that Jacksonville Beach ‘Town Center’ doesn’t really know what it wants to be when it grows up. But Oaxaca Club is the ideal and near PERFECT establishment to come into its own, here in our lovely holiday town square - did I mention Deck the Chairs is going on right now?! And that was actually one of the highlights of our meal… We sat outside (PET FRIENDLY!) at Oaxaca, watched a fabulously pink and golden sunset, while our eyes sparkled as the lights of the lifeguard chairs came to life directly in front of us.

While Oaxaca may not be a place I can frequent on a regular basis, it was a most lovely dinner outing, and a real kick-start to the holiday season here at the Beach. And I truly do really appreciate the fact that any restaurant, and/or investor(s), wanted to take the risk that is our small and very undecided and up-in-the-air downtown Jacksonville Beach. I highly recommend trying Oaxaca, do spread the word, and give them a review and a shout-out to your friends and family. Because, while it may have cost more than we were expecting to spend, the ambiance was phenomenal. And to be able to sit and dine - outside - literally in the Town Square of Downtown Jax Beach, watching the holiday magical chairs come to life in front of our eyes during this special time of year, was an experience that I’ve never had in all the years I’ve lived here - and that alone, is priceless.

I love you,
Christine

Oaxaca Club Mexican Restaurant is located at:
131 1st Avenue North
#102
Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32250

And for more information on Oaxaca Club, check out their website linked below:
https://www.theoaxacaclub.com/

I dined at Oaxaca Club on Wednesday, November 29, 2023.
#oaxacaclub #mexicanrestaurant #jacksonvillebeach

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Gosh, you guys… It’s that time of the year once again. Jeaz - I mean, they do it to us, not once, but twice a year??? Lol. 

Today we’ve got to ‘fall behind’ - as they say. Tonight, at 2AM. Don’t forget to change your clocks. So let’s do it together y’all. And let me know your thoughts on turning back the clocks. 

To me - there’s one good thing about it - we gain an hour - but that’s today only. And, that one hour is enough to completely knock me out of my routine, and minor adjustments are needed to get reestablished during the next few days. Dog included.

So I’m not really fond of either the spring ahead, or fall behind. However, if I have to choose one, I’ll choose to fall behind any day, only because we gain an hour, that one day out of the year.

So, tonight, once again, we are transferring from Daylight Savings Time to Standard Time. And I want to take this moment to THANK YOU for spending moments of YOUR time with me, as we traverse through this world we call our home.

I love you,
Christine

P.S. Kiss the Sun Goodnight With Me! At this beautiful riverfront park in downtown Jacksonville, Florida.

Riverside Memorial Park is located at:
1620 Riverside Avenue
Jacksonville, Florida 32204

Further information can be found at:
www.memparkjax.org

Prospect Five Points Restaurant is located at:
1521 Margaret Street
Jacksonville, Florida 32204

Further information and the menu can be found at:
www.prospectfivepoint.com 

Falling Behind - a few articles I found interesting this year:
https://abc7chicago.com/amp/daylight-saving-time-fall-back-sunday-sleep/13991968/

https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2023/11/03/daylight-savings-when-change-clocks-fall-back-florida-arizona-california-hawaii-spring-forward/71418925007/

Filmed LIVE on Saturday, November 4, 2023 in downtown Jacksonville, Florida.
Livestream number 26.

#riverside #jacksonville #florida
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Alright folks, we’re gonna do some eating, and some walking. This is our first visit to Buc-ee’s - in St. Augustine, Florida! So, put your walking shoes on and come join me!

We’ve been to both Buc-ee’s Calhoun, Georgia, and Buc-ee’s Warner Robins, Georgia. But today we’ve finally made it to my first visit to a Buc-ee’s located in The Sunshine State!

Thanks for strolling along with me as I walk a 0.64 mile loop around the Buc-ee’s parking lot. This place is massive, you guys! I show you all the Tesla charging stations, the diesel area, the abundance of gas pumps, plus, a very pet-friendly space throughout the expansive property for dog relief, including dog poop bag/trash stations everywhere. A person has no excuse to not pick up after their pooch here, that’s for sure! And tons of grassy space for dogs, and humans alike, to stretch their legs.

Inside the gas station, I mean shopping mall, I mean convenience store, I mean - I have no idea… the abundance continues. There’s endless drink stations, coffees, bakery, breakfast, lunch, and dinner foods. Homemade fudge?!! I even found out the difference between Beaver Chips and Beaver Nuggets!

So, for lunch we decided upon Icee’s from the freestyle machines, I got cherry, and Bryan got wacky watermelon. I had the beef brisket sandwich, Bryan had the pulled pork sandwich. He also surprised me with those infamous Beaver Chips - which are basically freshly fried potato chip slices - very delicious, two thumbs up!  We also purchased a boatload of snacks. We took home a ridiculously large bag of Beaver nuggets, and I bought Bryan a bag of pork rinds - regular flavor - he loves those. 

And then - oh gosh - the merch! So, let me tell you a little secret. Buc-ee’s has Christmas/Holiday Merchandise! I mean, who would have thought, right? Duh. So I might have bought some festive goods. Actually, I bought a Buc-ee’s ceramic ornament for $4.98 - very cute. And a holiday tee shirt for $17.98 - I don’t show the shirt on the livestream because I’m gonna wear it and show it in a future video.

And most importantly - Thank you so much for joining me as we ‘tailgate’ - Beaver style. In a great mystery of life, I can’t figure out why, there is no place to sit down and eat inside Buc-ee’s or outside Buc-ee’s. So eating at the car is pretty much what most everybody does who comes here. I really did not want to eat my lovely brisket sandwich inside the car… I wanted the FULL Buc-ee’s experience. So I grabbed my bag chair and sat outside the back of the car in the parking lot. Watching the cars and trailers and pickup trucks come and go. Lines and lines of cars both coming and going in all directions.

Then I tried to take you guys inside Buc-ee’s, but the internet cut out and I lost y’all for a while. So, sadly, I couldn’t really tour all the merch that I wanted to with you, but at least I was able to show you what we purchased ourselves. 

And lastly, there can’t be a Buc-ee’s video without me mentioning the restrooms. They are the best! The End.

Gosh, you guys! I can’t thank you enough for coming along with me today! This being my third visit to a Buc-ee’s, I’m happy to say I really think Buc-ee’s is THE BEST gas station and highway rest stop in the United States of America! Crowning Buc-ee’s as Bean’s Best Award Winning Gas Station lol.

But now it’s your turn - What do you think of Buc-ee’s? I’d LOVE to know your thoughts! Share with me in the comments below, and I’ll see you in the next livestream, from somewhere in The Sunshine State!

Buc-ee’s St. Johns is open 24 hours and is located at:
200 World Commerce Pkwy
St. Augustine, FL 32092

#bucees #staugustine #florida

Filmed LIVE on Saturday, October 7, 2023 in St. Augustine, Florida.

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Hang out with me under the Palm Valley Bridge this magnificent evening! 

You know - Jacksonville really is a City Of Bridges. So much activity happens underneath them - never mind how many cars traverse the top of them. I find bridges really fascinating, and they’re quite a good hang out spot as well. Added bonus - Anywhere there’s a bridge in The Sunshine State, there will be some shade underneath. So whether you’re hiding from a hot sun and cooling off in the shade, fishing the day away, or simply enjoying the views, be sure to spend some time underneath a Florida bridge next time you’re here.

So I really hope you enjoy this evening live along the Intracoastal Waterway in the Palm Valley area of Ponte Vedra Beach. Situated between Jacksonville and St. Augustine. There’s so much nature to soak in here. Birds, jumping fish, hawks, tons and tons of little crabs scurrying about, and we just missed seeing a gator before going live. 

Plus, we had an absolutely phenomenal meal at the Palm Valley Outdoor Bar & Grill, just before we went live. We ordered the garlic shrimp appetizer, and then we both had the burger and fries for dinner. I highly recommend the Palm Valley Outdoor Bar & Grill. We’ve been there many, many times, and for some very special reasons - that I discuss on the livestream. I also wrote a blog article about this restaurant in the past, back from when restaurants reopened in 2020. So be sure to check that out, as it was the first restaurant we ate at after everything had been closed for a long while.

http://www.christinesfloridiandreams.com/christines-dreams---blog/75-the-first-supper-palm-valley-outdoors-bar-grill

The Palm Valley Outdoor Bar & Grill is located just under the Palm Valley Bridge at:
377 S. Roscoe Blvd. #2
Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida 32082

Filmed LIVE Saturday, September 30, 2023, in Palm Valley, Florida.

Thanks for being here with me, and I would LOVE for you to Subscribe if you’re new to my channel, and Like this video, if you enjoy seeing the sights and sounds of The Sunshine State.

Love y’all,
Christine

#palmvalley #intracoastal #florida

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Celebrating My 100th YouTube Video!!!

Hey Dreamers!! 

You There! 

Don’t Stop! 
Don’t Quit Now! 
If you’re a new content creator on YouTube… Or - Maybe you haven’t even started your channel yet? All because you lack confidence or comfort in talking to the camera…? Watch this video - to see how I handle the camera being in my face. This is my 100th video upload on my YouTube Channel (Christine's Floridian Dreams) and I made this video to celebrate that special milestone. Thank you so much for dreaming along side me in this wild and crazy life. 

But mostly, I made this video because I hope this can help you in any way as you pursue the dreams of your own YouTube content creator journey. Or, just to help you get out there and live the life of your dreams - each and every single day. And then - do it all over again tomorrow. If you’ve got dreams, it’s up to YOU to make them come true, and no one else. So pick up that camera - and hit record. You have a story to share with the world! For goodness sakes, TELL US! 

Love you, Christine 

P.S. Let me know how your dreams of talking to the camera are going? I would absolutely love to know… What stage of content creating are you in? How do you overcome the fear, anxiety, or awkwardness you may feel when attempting to talk to the camera? And what about all the rest of your dreams? Are you pursuing them each and every single day? Share with me in the comments… I’d love to know! 

This was filmed on Tuesday, September 5, 2023 in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. 
Video 100. 

Places I went in this video: 

Sneakers Sports Grille (phenomenal food, by the way!) 
111 Beach Blvd. Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250 

& 

Whit’s Frozen Custard (my favorite ice cream shop in Jacksonville Beach!) 
1232 Beach Blvd. 
Jacksonville Beach, 32250 

#talktocamera #motivation #contentcreator 
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Over the last few months, #lastsupper might have well been trending every single day.

Because with every conversation I have had with another human being - this meal - this act - was a topic of conversation…

Where was your last dinner out?

What did you order?

Who were you with?

And even - what did you talk about?

Ahh, who were you with??? Before quarantine took us all over.

Were you with the ones you are with right now?

Were you with loved ones you now have not seen in eight weeks?

Separated by an invisible plague.

A plague that is wreaking havoc on civilization itself.

Were you celebrating a special occasion during that final meal? Or was the dinner out nothing special at all?... Just another day, just another outing. Not really having given it a passing thought.

There are lots of meaningful moments in a person’s life. Many moments that, when they are taking place, the person does not know it’s the last time. That’s why the old adage…

Live each day as if it were your last.

OR

You don’t know what you’ve got, till it’s gone.

So, maybe now is the time to ask yourself: Are you living each day? Yes, even during quarantine. Are you fully alive? Each and every single day. Regardless of place? Circumstance? Location? Setting? Situation? Finances? Limitations? Roadblocks? Mystery? Scarcity? Hope? Fear?

I am. And I have been, living, each day.

For three years.

I am fully ALIVE.

Pandemic…

Or no pandemic.

I am alive. And I am living my very best life.

I was fully alive before the world changed, and I am extremely grateful to be fully alive during it. And I’m still completely and 100% alive, as the world awakens, opens up their front doors, and steps off their front porches… many, for the first time, in a very long time.

You see, I was already out there… standing in the street… looking inward, toward humanity, inside their houses. Just waiting for y'all to come on out again. And join me. In life.

Because life - in Florida - means fresh air. While it was winter, and a cold and rainy spring, in many areas of the country, during this horrific shutdown, living in Florida during this plague was an extra special blessing to be from God Himself.

I was able to still walk outside, and get fresh, warm air, every single day. I was able to sit on my balcony, outside, every single day. I was able to literally soak in my vitamin D. The vitamin they keep discussing in the news as being imperative to fight CoVid19.

So, I’m happy to FINALLY see and hear of many other people starting their own venture outward. Yes, even New York is seeing signs of hope and life again. So, as the weather turns warmer, and brighter, in other parts of the world, many others can now also soak in their daily vitamin D. Have their coffee on their balconies. And get outside.

I’m happy to be joined with the sea of humanity as they open their front doors.

Many are afraid.

Many are terrified.

Many are following guidelines, plans, and executive, gubernatorial orders, or newly enacted city ordinances.

And, yes, many are stepping off their front porch steps at the very same time.

So, I’m out here to say to those who are starting out right now...

Hello.

Welcome back.

And -

There’s a life to live out there.

Life is happening - whether we know it or not - whether we like it or not - and whether we want it to or not.

And life is, merely and once again, your reaction, to other actions.

I am showing you my reaction.

People are craving normalcy. People want to socialize. And people want to go out to eat.

Well, we, in Florida, were able to finally do just that.

For the first time in over two months.

We dined out.

We sat outside. We were far away from other humans. And we had a great meal. As we gazed at a gorgeous, waterfront setting.

We traveled down the winding Palm Valley Road toward the bridge.

Nestled and tucked under that large expanse of a hovering bridge is the Palm Valley Outdoors Bar & Grill. Located at 377 South Roscoe Boulevard in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, the location really is perfect as well.

On a bright and shiny and blue sky day, we arrived at the Grill for a lovely lunch outing.

We planned our outing to go earlier in the day, rather than later. My work schedule has me going to bed early, so we usually end up with a lot of lunches out - instead of dinners.

But considering this was a first meal of sorts, and it was a birthday celebration, both hubby and I were extra excited to arrive - no matter what the time was.

We knew it would take a while. We knew they had just recently opened to the public once again for dine-in service. We were prepared to wait, long.

And all their signage around the building told me another story… That they were open during the worst. That they were doing curbside pick up - and even dock side pick up, for boaters.

I was extra grateful to be a dine-in patron that day.

We had about a one and a half hour wait… They had told us about 35 minutes, it ended up being a lot longer, obviously.

No problem.

We knew what we were getting into by dining at a restaurant just after an official re-opening to the public. In my mind, I treated this outing as the equivalent of visiting a restaurant on their first day of operation - a new business. A restaurant’s first day is always a huge mountain to climb. Always a challenge. And yet, no one seemed to be bothered by the wait. But it’s kinda hard to be bothered with anything at all when this is the setting:

I cut my burger in half, and had the other half for dinner that night - my way of watching calorie intake during that outing.

The steak French fries were from Heaven. Because - again - key word being - fried.

We chose not to have dessert there, as I had special-ordered a few cupcakes from Cinotti’s Bakery to act as the birthday cake dessert, that we would eat at home later that evening.

We thoroughly enjoyed our meal. But the setting was what we especially enjoyed. And it was the action itself of dining out. Leaving the house, driving to a restaurant, reading a menu, and dining amongst others, that was most important to us on that date.

Overall, the Palm Valley Outdoors Bar & Grill was a lovely experience. A great birthday outing. And a fabulous place to try if it happens to be your First Supper as well. The tables are spaced plenty distance apart, and the restaurant is following all the cleaning protocols in place. With employees wearing gloves, and lots of santitzing tables between customers. The setting is more than ideal, with the Intracoastal as a backdrop, and tucked just under and off to the side of the Palm Valley Bridge.

You’ll enjoy the boats coming and going. Paddleboarders going north and south. And you may especially enjoy the countless doggies - sitting on the edge of their owner’s boats. Also taking in all the sights and sounds… and smells… of the salt life, and good food.

It is my sincere hope that for those of you in states where restaurants have also been approved to reopen, just like in Florida, that you use the experience of my First Supper, as a push to get out there yourself. For those still anxiously waiting for your own First Supper. Go ahead and get ready now. Your time is coming. To start your own venture outside. To open your own front door. To step off that front porch. Find yourself an open restaurant. Wait All The Minutes. Get seated. And have a lovely meal. Have your very own First Supper. And, what the heck, maybe even order dessert while you’re at it.

It’s ok to be scared. And by all means, it’s also mostly certainly ok - to be very uncertain. And, just like The Last Supper, it’s ok if you don’t yet know when your First Supper will be. Just keep it in mind. Plan for it. Get it in your head. Because one day, and maybe when you least expect it, it will come to you.

And you can ask yourself - will you be fully alive on that fateful day? Will you be living that day like it’s your last on this Earth? Will you remember the moment - so you know what you’ve got, when it’s gone? And then, finally, who will you be with when that date arrives? ~

*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.

Angie, short for Angelo, opened up his first sandwich shop up by the Mayport Naval Station back in the 1970’s. He also owned Angelo’s Pizza & Subs and a few other shops around town over the years, before selling The Grom and Angie’s Subs to the current owner.

And Edward Malin, the current owner of both the infamous Angie’s Grom as well as Angie’s Subs in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, also happens to be currently running for Congress in Florida’s 4th District, on a platform of federal tax reform.

Beyond the potential amendment of the federal income tax being his very passionate and number one campaign platform issue - which would directly affect the paychecks of every working American - Ed also has a vision aimed more locally. Starting right here at Angie’s. And right here at The Beaches.

His aim is to renovate Angie’s Subs into a fairly large and elaborate tourist destination. The plan consists of knocking down the current Sub shop, and rebuilding the property into a three story distillery and barbecue restaurant in its place. And let’s not forget a new parking lot. But Malin promises the original subs will still all be sold, just as they have been for the past thirty years.

And with sub sandwiches on the menu printed with names such as “My Wife Kicked Me Out” and the “Dirty Gringo” I wonder what the menu will look like in the future, residing in a brand new three story building a few years from now... Will the Father Dan still be on the menu? Will out-of-town tourists flock to purchase a Scrippy or El Guapo?

Only time will tell. I do know tourists need to eat while they’re here though. However, all these future changes still have to make their way through the highly bureaucratic city government approval process, and any renovations are not likely to commence for approximately two years.

Each sub comes standard with mayo, provolone, lettuce, tomato, onion and an oil/vinegar mix. I chose to leave off the mayo and the oil/vinegar sauce - alleviating a lot of calories in the process.

And hubby ordered one of Angie’s newest subs - the Angie’s Philly. The Philly is a cheesesteak sandwich that includes steak, italian sausage, mayo, cheese, sweet peppers, onions, and mushrooms, priced at $7.49.

Ummmmmm, hey, you, over there - check out some of my other local dining reviews, right here - you know, down below:
9] Sago Coffee: A Cup Of Friendly & Flavorful Florida
*Part of ~ Bean’s Coffee Shop Challenge ~
15] V Pizza ~ The Very Best Pizza In Jax Beach!
*Part of ~ Bean’s Best ~ Award Winner 2019
16] Beach Diner ~ If You Feed them They Will Come
19] Another Broken Egg Cafe ~ A Taste Of NOLA @ The Beach
21] Cinotti’s ~ And Why Life Is Too Short To Not Eat Donuts
35] Happiest Of Holidays @ Hawkers Asian Street Fare
40] Visiting The Florida Cracker Kitchen ~ Jacksonville
45] Dessert First, My Friends ~ Cantina Louie
50] Sundays Are For Diners ~ Super Diners
53] Totally Terrific & Tasty Thai @ Blue Orchid Thai Cuisine

Have you been to Angie’s Subs in Jax Beach? What’s your favorite sub sandwich? I’d love to know. Drop me a comment down below:

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

Hawkers was born in Florida. In 2011 their first restaurant opened in Orlando. And since its early successes, this sit-down, yet casual, eatery has now spread to a variety of other locations throughout the state. Plus a few openings in other locales within the country as well, such as North Carolina and Georgia, with both a Tennessee and Maryland location opening very soon.

And while any night of the week is a good night indeed to visit Hawkers, I had the pleasure of dining there most recently on the same evening my husband and I browsed all around Beaches Town Center to take in all the holiday goodness out on display. Walking around town, seeing the gingerbread house at One Ocean Resort, visiting the Holiday Palms where Atlantic Boulevard meets the ocean, all of it, after a delicious meal at Hawkers.

Walking inside Hawkers, I always immediately take notice of the Edison style lighting throughout the large dining room and bar area. I absolutely adore any Edison lighting whatsoever, and I desperately dream of it placed throughout every room in my entire apartment. To me, the lighting gives off a warm and very inviting and homey atmosphere. Not too bright, and perfect for an evening dining establishment.

The other great thing I love about Hawkers is the menu selection. Besides tapas style dishes, they also have a variety of dishes for both vegans and vegetarians. When I try to eat vegan, this place makes it super easy for me. I order the Edamame, and/or the Spring Rolls.

And I’ve saved the best for last… even though it’s traditionally served first. The Roti Canai... I can’t even express to you how good the Roti Canai really is. The Roti Canai is on the appetizer portion of the menu - it’s a Malaysian flatbread, and is a savory break-apart-piece of heaven, a type of hot bread. Calling all dough lovers. This is the dough for you. What a treat.

And it is just that, a treat. Which is why we didn’t get it on this particular visit... But I can’t talk about Hawkers without talking about the Roti Canai. It’s a must-do, a must-try. Especially on your first visit. One bite, and you’ll be in love with Hawkers and want to come back whenever you can. On our first visit, when we were very unfamiliar with Hawkers and the menu offerings, our server recommended this dish. I’m so glad she did, because we’ve been ordering it ever since and every time it is pure perfection on a plate.

The reason we don’t order the Roti Canai all the time though is that I know for a fact this dish is a calorie-counting nightmare. Well, maybe not a nightmare, I just know it has too many calories for my tummy to process all at once. With one small piece clocking in at roughly 318 calories, that’s about half a dinner for me. All in a single slice of bread. And I’d personally rather spend my calories on protein - and anything that will keep me fuller, longer. And thus I treat this bread as the deserving treat that it is. It’s just such a TREAT that we don’t need to get it every time. So even though it’s my very favorite item on the entire menu, I resist all temptation and I don't order it every visit. But every time we do get it, it's absolutely divine.

I do highly recommend trying the Roti Canai. If you are looking for something a little bit different, a little bit out of the norm when eating the standard American diet every day. This is THE dish to try. The curry dips that are served alongside it gives one a sampling of some flavors that I personally don’t have all the time. And I love trying different things. So get the bread. You won’t be sorry.

And one more quick piece of good news at Hawkers - they have a new menu item that I am VERY excited to try on my next visit. On that next visit I can then plan the needed and many allotted calories into my day so that I can try this dish with zero guilt. It’s a dessert…. And yes, it’s DONUTS! Yummm. They sound fantastic. And fried. The Jo-He Bag of Donuts. Next Time, My Friends, Next Time.

I’m fairly certain there will be a photo of fried donuts showing up on my Instagram sometime in the near future.

Overall, Hawkers is super. Simple as that. If you have a Hawkers by you, definitely give it a try. And if you don’t have a Hawkers by you, maybe, and hopefully, one will be on its way to you soon. ~

This December marks my third holiday season living in the South. And while I’ve already enjoyed seemingly countless new, exciting, and very different holiday traditions each winter here, there’s always something else I want to try, or add to my must-do list. Many of these events and outings are completely unique to Florida, Florida’s history, and, unlike Chicago - with the fact that bodies of water are not frozen solid, or on their way to be, down here in December - it means a whole lot of those holiday traditions involve the water in some way or manner.

St. Augustine’s 26th Annual Nights of Lights is one such event that I’ve incorporated into my holiday traditions here on the First Coast. And this year I planned my outing to be centered entirely around the coastal and inlet waters of Vilano Beach, Matanzas River, Anastasia Island, and the very historic city of St. Augustine itself.

I’ve seen the St. Augustine Lights each year here thus far. But mostly I’ve gazed at the lights just quickly touring or driving through, so this year I wanted to do things a little bit different.

Red Boat Water Tours - docked at the Vilano Beach Pier - hosts a nightly boat tour of the coastal waters which reflect the lights surrounding all the beauty in the city.

We booked our boat ride months in advance. The tour is so very popular it sells out way ahead of time for each evening they take on customers during the entire holiday season.

We had been on this exact boat tour during the day time with my family when they were in town for a visit about a year and a half ago now. We witnessed lots of dolphins swimming about during that ride, as we listened to the captain tell us many stories about the great history of St. Augustine. So I was pretty excited about gaining a different perspective of the city this year, at night, once the waters were completely dark, and with the lighthouse acting as a true beacon surrounding our entire ride, and all the magnificence of the lights display bordering the entire shore line.

Tours start at $40.00 per person, plus fees, and our original total came to over $90.00. However, since we had been customers in the past, they had offered us a repeat rider discount specifically for the Nights of Lights Tour, with fairly significant savings - it nearly halved our total cost. This repeat customer deal was better than any other sales/codes/online deals offered.

Honestly, the large discount is the only reason I booked the tour. I personally think we would never have paid this much to go back on the same boat we had already been on - as I tend to try different things each year, especially those that cost significant money. While tending to keep the traditions that cost next to nothing or are completely free. Sugar cookies, anyone?

I also planned for us to have dinner at Beaches at Vilano in advance of the tour. It makes sense to me to try a restaurant we’ve never been especially when we’re right there in the vicinity.

Our ride started at 7:15pm going through 8:30. Red Boat asks in the fine print for us to arrive about 15-20 minutes ahead of time. The restaurant is just opposite the pier and basically shares the same parking. So I planned our dinner for 5:30. That gave us enough time to work a full day, drive down, eat a leisurely meal, including time for a quick dessert, then head on over to our awaiting horse-drawn open sleigh upon the warm waters.

Dinner was just fine. I say that meaning there was absolutely nothing wrong with it, while at the same time it wasn’t the best meal of my life. It ended up being roughly half the cost as our anniversary meal at The Reef, which is located just down the street a bit… so the lesser cost was fabulous. And despite it not being the absolute best, I do recommend stopping in Beaches if you get a chance.

The atmosphere and the views are worth it alone. You will be transported instantly into vacation mode there - whether you’re on vacation, or not. And there are no complaints here about vacation mode.

This is how I stay healthy or even somewhat healthy while dining out. I researched the menu in advance online. I logged into MyFitnessPal in the morning to plot out my calories for the day. And I knew exactly what I was ordering for dinner. After massive weight loss, I’m not about to go back to where I was. While I receive lots of questions asking me how I maintain the loss...it's a daily plan just like it was during the loss. Even more so afterward, I’d say, than during, sometimes.

Healthy decisions have to be part of the new and changed lifestyle. Wherever I am. Whatever options are available to me. And most especially when coming face to face with the almighty and highly coveted FRENCH FRY.

No, I never met a potato I didn’t like.

Don’t get me wrong, I still eat burgers and fries, just infrequently. The meal I selected for this outing is loaded with nutrients from the broccoli and is heavy on the protein from the steak. And nothing fried.

The protein helps the tummy feel full, and takes longer to digest, upping the metabolism. The harder the body has to work to process the food, the more calories it burns in the process. That’s why protein is a major perk to weight loss. And, the broccoli’s many and countless benefits will basically go without saying for right now and the purposes of this post, as the perks of eating it should be self-explanatory for most. Hence, the large plate of broccoli.

My only critique of this dish, at this restaurant, is that I would recommend the steak and broccoli be served on separate plates. The juices/sauces/butters/etc. from both dishes were already mixed together by the time my plate was served to me, and it didn’t take long for the entire dish to taste all the same. And when everything tastes the same, it’s becomes increasingly less appealing. Leading to less enjoyment from me, leading to my hubby’s meal becoming more and more appealing and quite tempting to me by the second.

Here is the hubby’s meal.

We both froze near to death. It had just been in the mid 80’s a second ago, this was an ice age. We laughed at ourselves as if we were delirious. 53 degrees in Chicago in December is a heat wave. Break out the ice cream and sit on the front lawn with it. Open the windows!

Now we were Floridian Fools covered in blankets. Not allowing our fingers and cheeks to feel the air if we can at all help it. I can already picture myself next year..., I’ll have the big Ugg boots to match. I already know it. How else can I get through another Florida winter? Either that, or we are moving to the Equator.

No other sensible or reasonable or sane-minded options exist.

I mentioned the cold makes us delirious now, right?

If you’re a local and booking this ride, dress appropriately. Bring blankets. Pack for summiting Mount Everest.

If you’re a tourist and here on vacation from anywhere up North, never fear, you’ll feel like you’re in the tropical paradise of your dreams as your boat captain plays ‘Pontoon’ from Little Big Town as you race off toward the lights of the night.

Know that if you are looking to obtain quality photos, they will be hard to come by. With all the movement, added into the darkness, even with my hubby’s better camera, we couldn’t really capture the moment digitally with any great detail. Our best photo remains at the top of this post. If the boat had come to a complete stop, plus a tripod, then, maybe, we’re talking. But some things can’t be caught on camera I guess. You know, like Santa Claus. I tend to never capture a great full quality image of him, but I know he’s out there.

If you are in the area, definitely check it out. It’s a holiday tradition and celebration in a beautifully historic town, for all to enjoy, regardless of background, beliefs, and a lovely addition to a family holiday tradition as well. After all, in constant learning about different beliefs and traditions and reasons why others might put candles in the window each December, we are reminded that while we are all different, we are also all the same. Everybody wants Hope. Everyone wants Light.

I’ll choose not to do the ride again as it was costly. But, next year, I plan to view the Lights on foot, in town… off from the water's edge... and on solid ground.

I’ll travel up close and personal.

I want to see the fire lamps.

I want to see the Christmas trees in the window displays. I want to walk the town and see the lights as close as possible. I want to listen for the sound of reindeer hooves on roof tops. And most importantly, I want to look for Santa Claus… I tend to believe he might be hanging around all the dreamy chocolate shops and gift shops and restaurants… blended in amongst the gorgeous and magical Lights of St. Augustine. Yes, those shops seem like a good place to start on my hunt for the big SC. But for now, I’ll enjoy my memory of a coastal Christmas holiday on the water’s edge. ~

I like to think that my passionate love of bakeries and their heavenly creations runs in my blood... My grandfather was a baker for well over forty years. And when he wasn’t working, both he and my grandmother were at home. They spent hours upon hours in the kitchen. Always cooking. And always baking. Some of my favorite memories with both of them include time well spent in that small kitchen. My sisters and I helped them cook all kinds of food. But my favorite foods they made were their baked goods, of course.

My Papa taught us how to hand-roll the dough to make kolacky cookies. We always started by pouring flour onto the table-top - that was my favorite part - making a purposeful and deliberate mess. We rolled the dough and we put in the jellied fillings. We watched them bake. My grandparents made hundreds of cookies, each and every Christmas, before their health declined and they could no longer do it. It seemed to me that everyone they knew was given a large and heaping full silver aluminum tray of kolackys to take home and enjoy on the holiday. I’ve yet to be able to replicate those amazing cookies. I am continually determined to try though.

I believe my grandparents teaching us these skills in the kitchen has held influence on my life and transformed my love of food, and really just helped me become the person I am today. Foods are tradition. And when my husband and I bake now, not making nearly as much at a time that my grandparents did in their prime, we are always sure to pass some goodies along to a neighbor, a friend, or to whomever we will be seeing in the coming days.

This holiday season I am looking forward to baking chocolate chip cookies, frosted sugar cookies, and Angeletti cookies with my husband. It is now tradition in my home, and someday I’m going to replicate that kolacky as well… maybe even this year.

When I lived in Illinois, there was an abundance of local bakeries. I could go in any suburb surrounding me, living just outside of Chicago, and find a bakery. There was never a shortage of places to pick up special cookies for Easter, a coffee cake to bring to a party, or a cake for a special occasion. And my hubby’s favorite item served at any bakery are always their frosted sugar cookies. Me - I like the chocolate donuts. Simple, basic, and the best ever.

In my hometown, the Orland Park Bakery is one of God’s best creations. I make it a point to stop there at least once, and most likely always much more than once, every time I go up for a visit.

Some years back, I remember one cold December day, my husband and I decided to make the trek all the way out to Chicago just to visit a local bakery and pick up their special St. Nicholas Day gingerbread cookies. My hubby had them in his youth every year, so we wanted to bring the tradition and memories back, and he really wanted me to try them for the first time.

Well, being a self-proclaimed bakery connoisseur by this point in my life, I should have well known that making the very long trek fighting through Chicago holiday traffic and ridiculously sloppy weather to arrive at a bakery around two in the afternoon... is really not the best time to arrive at a bakery.

Bakeries thrive in the mornings. They are the place to be - in the morning. After almost two hours in the car and arriving mid-afternoon, what in the world was I thinking? We definitely should have gone in the morning for this adventure? But that was a different life I lived, and now I am fully awake by five am daily. Anything later - I tend to consider myself sleeping in.

We parked and walked through the icy cold and the busy and festively decorated street to find the bakery, just about to close. The window displays were empty. And once inside, the shelves were near empty as well. Sold out for the day of all product. I was crushed.

We inquired... And somehow, by some miracle of the bakery Gods up above, they still had a few St. Nicholas Day cookies left… We’ll take them! We were ecstatic. We took all that remained. Thrilled. We also snagged up a pre-arranged box of their sprinkle cookies simply because it was all that reminded for sale, sitting on a counter and patiently waiting to go home with someone. It was only after this outing did I learn that I could actually pre-order special product at bakeries to guarantee them available when I arrive to pick up.

So we were on our way out of the bakery to leave them be as they closed up for the day. It would be many more years before I learned my lesson about “sleeping in” and my enrollment in my own 5am Club membership. To me, at the time, we had simply just ‘lucked out’ that’ they had some cookies left for us to purchase.

We then strolled just a short ways down the street from the bakery and dined at a local Bohemian restaurant. It was an old building, and a place beautifully decorated for the upcoming holiday. It was an altogether lovely outing. An outing entirely revolved around bakery as the destination.

When I moved to Florida, it was my definite perception and really became quite hard to find a good bakery. They weren’t nearly as abundant as they were in Illinois. And when we did find a bakery - it didn’t taste the same as up north! I am extremely biased though...Chicago has the best food, and nothing else even comes close. So it’s very difficult for me to compare the delicious food from the north with the different food in the south.

Today, bakeries are still part of my life. I recently lost a lot of weight and made a complete lifestyle change these past few years. I am much healthier than I was during the earlier part of this decade. I had gained weight during a lot of inactivity, and now I have lost it all, and am quite happy to say that I am very healthy. I lost 83 pounds lost to be exact. I go into great detail on my weight loss journey here if you’d like to check out how I lost 77 of those pounds in one year’s time.

How can I be so healthy now and still eat donuts regularly? The answer is simply moderation. And - Discipline. I can eat ALL THE THINGS. Just not ALL THE TIME. I believe that when one fully grasps and understands that simple and basic concept, it can truly be life-changing.

And I love baked goods so much that I currently plan a once-a-month outing to our local bakery - Cinotti’s, located in Jax Beach, FL. “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” Declared on the top of each box. I lost 83 freaking pounds, while eating treats and breads and pastas and pizza and ice cream - AND - bakery, lots of Cinotti’s Bakery.

If you’ve been looking for the finest beignets on the island - and not just any random beignets - then look no further than Another Broken Egg Cafe… Because THEY have the best beignets at the Beach!

And, I know, this is definitely not New Orleans… beignets are not plentiful around here. But they really are the best around.

I’ve had the opportunity to visit NOLA three times thus far in my life. The most recent trip being in 2016, which feels like an eternity away from such fabulous memories. Such a very special place and a vibrant city that I could easily move to in two seconds flat.

So it was 2016 the last time I was blessed with the opportunity of being able to dine upon beignets. On that most recent visit, my hubby and I had arrived in NOLA by rail from Chicago; Amtrak specifically. I remember sitting outside at a table at the famous Cafe Du Monde. It was Thanksgiving weekend. The Christmas season was officially starting and beautifully decorated trees were popping up everywhere I looked. Everything we ate and drank that weekend was divine. But the beignets were the best of it all.

The beignets were a very unintended surprise, so I hadn’t planned that food into my day. A few months ago I completed a personal weight-loss journey and major transition to a very healthy lifestyle. But one of the commitments I made to myself during that change was that I would always allow myself desserts. I lost a total of 83 pounds, while never giving up desserts. I love treats too much to eliminate them entirely from my life, and I refused to restrict myself in that area. So any weight loss that occurred had to occur while allowing access to treats. The only difference now being continual moderation.

So, with complete confidence - as the completely unplanned powdered beignets were served to me, I was able to sample them. And THAT sample and THIS picture below are the prime reasons that desserts remain a part of my life.

*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.

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.

On a hot Florida summer day, also our 16th wedding anniversary, we took a drive down south on A1A to have dinner at The Reef. Having driven this state route between Jacksonville and St. Augustine numerous times, I consider getting to The Reef a treat in and of itself. A quick glance out of the car window and I am treated to some of the most scenic coastal views around the entire southeast United States. Pelicans flying overhead, waves crashing on the shore line, much of the road bordered by a coastal reserve––it’s a breath of fresh air to drive through so much nature at its absolute finest.

Besides Vilano Beach, The Reef is one of the very few eateries to stop at when enroute between Jax and the nation's oldest city. There’s only about one other place to dine (Cap’s), which requires a turn off of A1A heading toward the intracoastal, as well as a gas station and convenience mart. So naturally, The Reef is in quite an ideal location to catch all of the many passersby and tourists who are hungry and aching for a break from the car.

Is a trip to Walt Disney World complete without a visit to Disney Springs? If you classify yourself as a professional shopper then definitely don’t let Disney Springs pass you by. After completing a vast and extensive renovation a few years back, the original Disney Shopping Village Marketplace, and then Downtown Disney, was officially rebranded to Disney Springs. With that rebranding came a whole new array of food and fun.

ou can now literally spend an entire day, or a full morning, afternoon, or evening at the Springs, and never once run out of something to do. Many more stores were added, some pricey, some reasonable. I didn’t run into anything that would be considered low cost, but you can definitely make your own fun too with little to no money involved. Parking is still free, thank goodness. And there is usually live entertainment on stage by the World of Disney store every time I’ve visited recently. So grab a coffee from Joffrey’s (a storefront Joffrey’s!) and stroll around the West Side, the Landing, and the Marketplace, for a nice outing outside of the ticketed Disney Parks.

On this particular visit we we were searching for dinner reservations at The Boathouse. I was trying to reserve dining through the My Disney Experience app, but I ended up booking dinner through OpenTable. The Disney app has given me nothing but grief and trouble for at least a few years now. So finally, after countless attempts to resolve, I took some drastic Disney action and deleted the app from my phone altogether. As a formerly huge Disney fan (now just a casual fan) this was a big step for me to take, but it had to be done. The app officially would not let me reserve anything anymore, rendering it almost totally useless for me. One of the issues was that it kept asking for an updated credit card, and I gave it this information more than you really want to even know. Error processing notifications were constant. Well, if you don’t give The Mouse your money, The Mouse doesn’t let you play. Dining reservations, theme park tickets, hotel reservations, mobile quick service food, drink, and snack ordering, etc, are all on the app now, and all need your credit card. My husband had the same problem, consistently, and it wasn’t our cards. We were able to reserve over the phone if we called just fine. It was definitely the app. The app also would not recognize a change of address or any other profile update I attempted. I always had to call, and wait in queue, to do anything with Disney.

We did end up at The Boathouse for dinner, and it was one of the most fabulous dinners of my life in Florida. Having dined there in the past on a trip to Florida before moving down here, at the time I remember thinking the exact same thing - one of the best meals of my life. And that was when I lived in the Chicago area, where the best food in the world comes from, no joke. I do have a theory on why I love the food at The Boathouse so much. It’s owned by Gibson’s, a Chicago based restaurant group. Naturally, the Chicago-instilled history of The Boathouse is why the food is so darn good, of course.

On the way back to our hotel we stopped at Twistee Treat for dessert. Which I have officially-unofficially classified as the best and most quintessential ice cream shop in all of Orlando. I first learned about Twistee Treat from Teresa Echols @ The Dis, (one of my favorite Dis team members by the way) and then, I saw the cone in The Florida Project and knew I had to try it. I’ve been to Twistee Treat a number of times now and it does not disappoint. LOVE that place! So while a professional shopper needs to visit Disney Springs, an ice cream aficionado needs to go to Twistee Treat.

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?