 To you and yours this holiday, from Genevieve Noel and I, here’s wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving 2024. I am so grateful and thankful for our amazing and wonderful community of dreamers here on YouTube. Thanks so much for being a part of this channel, filled with movement and adventure, fun and laughter, with some additional learning and growth sprinkled in along the way as well. Much love always, Christine *What are you thankful for this year?* P.S. Like. Share. Subscribe… and Dream. Be sure to check out this adorable little bird's morning routine in Jacksonville Beach, Florida! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKRRBHFok7c&t=99s Hey! Did you know I livestream in Jacksonville, Florida on a regular basis? Check out my Jax playlist right here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLa7nooQvf7IShaHCmZoxotV080ibgVsIr&si=VjVQKbWOfsSlnsxw Also, here’s my St. Augustine playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLa7nooQvf7IR1_dRr5VSHL0-RVtvKNDSV&si=8tzoLWMwIlzuh04W *Thanksgiving Merch!* I Came In Like A Butterball 1.0: https://christines-floridian-dreams.myspreadshop.com/butterball1?idea=6716f685031199471ee35eee I Came In Like A Butterball 2.0: https://christines-floridian-dreams.myspreadshop.com/butterball2?idea=67170923031199471eed4b68 Whatever Floats Your Gravy Boat: https://christines-floridian-dreams.myspreadshop.com/gravyboat?idea=6717bc74031199471e596ff2 Thankful 2.0: https://christines-floridian-dreams.myspreadshop.com/thankful?idea=6717b6836852e61ff92d2136 Thankful red: https://christines-floridian-dreams.myspreadshop.com/thankful?idea=5dbafb4ff9376439614a63f3 Thankful white: https://christines-floridian-dreams.myspreadshop.com/thankful?idea=5dbaffe420517624c577071f Gobble ‘Til You Wobble: https://christines-floridian-dreams.myspreadshop.com/thanksgivingtshirtdesigns?idea=65456a42c49e936fda71000c Edelen’s Braidwood Inn: https://christines-floridian-dreams.myspreadshop.com/edelens?idea=65456e8b60522920d7a4c224 Contrack Getting Nowhere Fast: https://christines-floridian-dreams.myspreadshop.com/contrack?idea=65457055c49e936fda75accc This video was filmed on Thursday, November 28, 2024 in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. Video 521. #thanksgiving #shetlandsheepdog #florida ___
0 Comments
 Holy cow! Florida Man makes an unexpected and epic appearance this morning! Let me know what you think of today’s sunrise… Good morning fellow dreamers. Happy Monday, November 25, 2024. And welcome to another week on this beautiful planet Earth. Join me this morning for a 30 minute POV sunrise beach walk in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. Let’s start this holiday week off on the right foot - with some movement, and motivation. If you’re new to the channel, welcome to a community of dreamers. Either way, definitely be sure to say hello! And many thanks for walking alongside me today. Love you, Christine P.S. Like. Share. Subscribe… and Dream. Be sure to check out this adorable little bird's morning routine in Jacksonville Beach, Florida! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKRRBHFok7c&t=99s Hey! Did you know I livestream in Jacksonville, Florida on a regular basis? Check out my Jax playlist right here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLa7nooQvf7IShaHCmZoxotV080ibgVsIr&si=VjVQKbWOfsSlnsxw Also, here’s my St. Augustine playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLa7nooQvf7IR1_dRr5VSHL0-RVtvKNDSV&si=8tzoLWMwIlzuh04W *Thanksgiving Merch is here! New designs for 2024:* I Came In Like A Butterball 1.0: https://christines-floridian-dreams.myspreadshop.com/butterball1?idea=6716f685031199471ee35eee I Came In Like A Butterball 2.0: https://christines-floridian-dreams.myspreadshop.com/butterball2?idea=67170923031199471eed4b68 Whatever Floats Your Gravy Boat: https://christines-floridian-dreams.myspreadshop.com/gravyboat?idea=6717bc74031199471e596ff2 Thankful 2.0: https://christines-floridian-dreams.myspreadshop.com/thankful?idea=6717b6836852e61ff92d2136 *More Thanksgiving Merch:* Thankful red: https://christines-floridian-dreams.myspreadshop.com/thankful?idea=5dbafb4ff9376439614a63f3 Thankful white: https://christines-floridian-dreams.myspreadshop.com/thankful?idea=5dbaffe420517624c577071f Gobble ‘Til You Wobble: https://christines-floridian-dreams.myspreadshop.com/thanksgivingtshirtdesigns?idea=65456a42c49e936fda71000c Edelen’s Braidwood Inn: https://christines-floridian-dreams.myspreadshop.com/edelens?idea=65456e8b60522920d7a4c224 Contrack Getting Nowhere Fast: https://christines-floridian-dreams.myspreadshop.com/contrack?idea=65457055c49e936fda75accc This was filmed LIVE on Monday, November 25, 2024 in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. Video 517. Livestream 215. #sunrise #jacksonvillebeach #florida ___ 9/12/2023 0 Comments 119) This Is How I Am Comfortable Talking To The Camera! I Put The Camera In My Face & I Talk To It. 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 ___    These Are My Dreams - and JIMMY is a part of them. Dear Jimmy, Can I call you that? I feel like we’re on a first name basis… You see, I’ve been to Margaritaville a time or two. And Jimmy, you were there with me every time… even if you didn’t know it. Gosh, Jimmy, this one hits hard. Real hard. Because - Just like millions of folks, I woke up to the news… that you're gone. You’ve left us. I Truly Was Shocked. I didn't even know you were ill, and then I got the news via a text this morning from my Mom. Usually, when I hear news of a celebrity death, the news hits me just like any other piece of news… A little distant… and a bit far from home. Maybe a prayer, and a well wish to the family, deep in my heart, and no one, but me, knows what I wished. Or what I prayed, as that individual goes to Heaven. But Jimmy - your news hit me differently… Much different. Because, you see, I found my lost shaker of salt a very long time ago. And how come you never told us you were sick? I know, I know, you kept it private for a reason. You really didn’t want your Parrotheads to worry about you. Because - worry - really is not part of the Margarataville state of mind, is it? So, Immediately upon hearing the news, flashes of Margaritaville went through my head, and flew right into my heart… And I was right in the middle of all of my dreams… And I could taste that infamous cheeseburger… And I could visibly see that bottle of Heinz 57. And I went further away, deep into my dreams, and I thought of how much you have meant to me. Because - All through the years… As I grew up… And as life got hard… And living got even harder… And I grew older… And hopefully a little bit wiser… And never even just a little bit wealthier… You were always there for me. During all the hard times. In the back of my mind. And always in my heart. It’s actually MIND BLOWING to me how many of your hotels we have been to, including my dogs! And how many of your restaurants we’ve been to. And how much of your good food we have enjoyed. And HOW many memories that me and my family HAVE that YOU have been a part of. You don’t know any of that. And SO, I thank you today. And I will miss you always. And it’s up to us now. Your devoted fans and Parrottheads. To keep living life even just a little bit differently than the rest of the world. To live a little bit loose. And maybe just a little bit more carefree. Maybe just because if we couldn’t laugh, we’d all go just a little bit insane. So even if people laugh AT me. And Even if I’m the joke. It’s all ok. Because I’ve already changed my Latitude. Which did help change my Attitude. Because Mother Ocean called to me many years ago now. And Because I’ve been on that 7 Mile Bridge. And I’ve sat at the end of the world. And I’ve felt that salty air on my skin. And I’ve breathed in those Heavenly Mallory Square sunsets. And in my dreams I HAVE sailed away. And I truly do know exactly where Margaritaville is located. And I’m more than happy to post the address directly in the comments section down below. Because I don’t want to take life too seriously. And because I hope others do the same. Because as life gets more conventional every day… And modern living gets more serious every waking morning… Here’s to hoping you’re not one of the last of your kind… You were that constant reminder in the back of my heart, to continue being somewhat unconventional, because that’s me and who I really am. So with that news of your passing, my heart aches today. And I do wish you well. And your family is in my prayers. And you are in all my thoughts. But maybe I don’t need to pray for YOU right now.. Because as when most people go to Heaven, I know they are up there where they Angels are singing… Your trip to Heaven means something a little bit different… It’s what I’d call a Sail Away Party that’s a bit more unconventional… Because as you arrived in Heaven - Which is right where you should be - The angels are not singing TO you - I know YOU are singing to the angels tonight. You’re putting on a free show. The best concert the Heavens have ever seen. And they are lucky to have you there. And your song is on repeat. And the drinks are ever-flowing. And the rims are salty. And someday, the rest of us will be there, with you, wasting away in that Heavenly sunshine. And no longer searching… ~  A Year Of Art, A Year In Imagery   'Mother's Baby' 2022 11x14 [SOLD]     'Sail Away Party' 2022 8x10 [SOLD]        'Every Night Is Halloween Night' 2022 11x14 [SOLD]            'You Are My Light' 2022 16x20 [SOLD]      16x20 Framed  'Sheltie Angel' 2022 11x14 [SOLD]           'Madeline's Christmas ~ In Heaven' 2022 11x14 [SOLD]   9/11/2020 0 Comments #82) September 11, 2020 'Oh Say Can You See'  'A September 11th Afternoon - 2020'
11/29/2019 0 Comments #27) Thanksgiving & Pete’s Bar ~ Not All Resolutions Need Be Fulfilled On January First At the beginning of every January I write a list of goals for the upcoming year. I don’t classify them as resolutions… I tend to dislike the term. There’s something about the word ‘resolve’ that’s so formal and ‘contract-binding’ like. “We hereby resolve to…” It’s as if you didn’t solve the resolve that you have failed? The contract and agreement you made with yourself was a disappointment, a let-down. You then become further discouraged. And you then give up on the whole idea that sparked the resolution in the first place. So I like to use the word ‘goal’ better. A goal is less formal. And reaching that goal then becomes a little less formal too; giving you more leeway as to how to get there, and when to accomplish said goal. It becomes about the doing, and less about the deadline, due date, and resolution itself. Just do - don’t resolve to do. So yeah, I write down goals for the year, each year in January. And it doesn't have to be January 1 - it can still be December, it can be mid January. But roughly around that time of year, I plot out some goals for the upcoming year. I write it all down on actual paper...wood from a tree. Not in my iPhone - but on paper. Did you know that the act of handwriting your goal instead of merely typing it out produces inside of you a whopping 40% higher chance of accomplishing that goal? Who said paper is dead? Right? Get a journal. It can be a cheapo one, a fancy one, a very expensive one…Just get one YOU enjoy looking at every day. Any way, get a journal and start writing down your goals. Then follow up with those goals. About half way through the year, roughly June, or somewhere into July, I follow up with the goals I wrote down on paper in January. It’s a reminder and a refresher for my brain. Oh yeah! I forgot about that one! Oooh… wahoo, I did that one! Or, oh yeah, that one’s still coming up! Pete’s Bar was one of those such goals. One coming up. One I had to wait all year for. It was the act of attending a Thanksgiving morning party that could not be achieved or solved on January 1. Thanksgiving 2019, I finally accomplished that bucket list of a goal. And it was such a good time that it goes without me even having to tell my brain I already know this is going to be a new tradition - an obvious must-do for next year. In 2017, just after moving down here from Illinois, I found out about the Pete’s Bar tradition. I intended to go that year. And it was that year in 2017 we had a Florida rainstorm of rainstorms early Thanksgiving morning. We did our turkey trot, and ran straight to the car. It was a summer rainstorm, in November. It might as well have been a hurricane. It was quite a rain. And we skipped Pete’s Bar entirely that year so hubby and I so we could reach dryer grounds. After all, we had been standing on pavement that had inches of water sitting on it, and cold and soaking wet gym shoes and feet, from doing our turkey trot in a flood. In 2018. we had driven up to Illinois to celebrate Thanksgiving with the family. But that meant yet again, Pete’s Bar was missed by us. And knowing even more about the tradition last year, I told myself - next year, for sure! So then 2019 came along. January was here, and I wrote down my goals for the year. I tend to think broadly and brainstorm broadly. It allows for more creativity and flexibility in all my goals that I aim for. I put down some really fabulous ideas… like starting my Etsy Shop, making my first and very own set of business cards, creating a few wave paintings, attend some more painting workshops, etc. And really a whole page in my journal of purely business goals. I have accomplished ALL. OF. IT. Not one thing left undone for 2019 for Christine’s Floridian Dreams’ small business venture. So I continue working onward. My personal goals are quite different. They are more detailed. Specific books I wanted to read this year, restaurants I wanted to try, towns I wanted to visit. Maybe a specific ice cream shop to try or a new coffee shop I want to visit. And my list is long. Very long. And that’s ok! I write down so many varied and quite unique goals for myself that I know I might not accomplish them all. And that’s ok too! That goes back to GOALS - not resolutions. We all know that the gym is alive and well, breathing, and packed on January 1. Every year. And we all know that by the end of that very month, and onward into February, gym attendance rates drop significantly. Every year. Without fail. People RESOLVE to hit the gym on January 1. And by February they are discouraged and give up. I tend to think they give up because they only thought BIG on January 1. And they forgot to think SMALL as well. Think year-round. It’s those small and incremental changes that work best in life. Don't start BIG on January 1! Start small… And start today. Why not start today? Why not start on November 29. Who said you can’t? Who said you have to wait until January to change your life? If you think of something you want to do, just go ahead and do it, now - get started - now! My goals are broad, and many. I don’t mind one bit that I don’t accomplish all of my goals. I pick and choose the ones that inspire me at the time. I pick the ones that make the most sense to me throughout that year and at that moment. I pick the ones that speak back to me. It’s God’s hand in my goal-setting and it’s God’s hand in my action-taking. Only through what he tells me do I know what I’m going to do next. He leads me. Well, fate and the Lord above, did lead me to Pete’s Bar on Thanksgiving morning of 2019.  So this weekend finally arrived, and watching on the news all the absolute crazy winter storms raging all across the country and stranding travelers everywhere, made me relieved and filled with great and deep gratitude that we did not attempt to make the drive up to Illinois. Finally, and after two years of missing it, I wasn’t about to let Thanksgiving 2019 head out the door, before I walked in the door - of Pete’s Bar. And I did just that. It was the BEST DAY EVER. As I've told my family and friends and the internet world and social media. So thank you Pete’s Bar, for a fabulous community gathering like nothing I’ve ever seen.     No, not all resolutions, goals, dreams and aspirations, are fulfilled on January 1. Some are resolved or completed on that holiday Thursday of November that comes round each year. And that’s A O K. If you think small, and detailed,, instead of resolving big and broad, you are goal-aiming. Your aspiring. You’re ON THE WAY to getting to where you want to be. You’re deep in the knitty gritty. You. Are. Working. The journey counts too. If I was in purely resolution-mode, instead of goal-mode, when I didn’t reach one of my first resolutions in January, it would have started a downward decline of potentially giving up on my next resolutions. Failure-mode. If one is in failure-mode, it’s that much harder to get where you want to be. It might have led to a completely different year. It may have been more negative than positive. Instead, I live each day in the positive, no matter what happens. No matter what is going on, today is a great day! So go into it all thinking positive. Thinking about the journey. Thinking about flexibility. And thinking each day is a new beginning. SO WHAT!... If you didn’t reach your five pound per month weight loss goal last month. Nobody says that means you have to stop altogether. Maybe you lost 4 pounds instead of five. Maybe you lost one pound. Guess what? You’re still one pound lighter for it. You’re still on the journey. Maybe you gained weight instead of losing? Gasppp… Guess what?... So what! Suck it up - and keep going. Then, GASP again, because of all that breathing and movement you are continuing to do. ***The only difference between those you don’t reach their goals, and those who do, is that fact that achievers just don’t give up! Period. They just keep going. So, just keep going! So what if it takes a month longer. So what if you gained weight and want to lose a huge chunk of it. In failure mode, you’ve already given up. In goal mode, you keep going, no matter what. Eventually, because you are not giving up, you will get there. Well, what if it takes you eight more months to lose the weight? What if you wanted the weight loss done by six months, or a year? If, five years from now, the weight is lost, and you are on your way to doing other new and exciting things… are you really going to care that today, all those years back in the past, that it took you eighteen months to lose the weight, instead of twelve months? Or if the weight loss took three years of the next five? So what? Who cares? Five years from now the weight is off and you are living a different life and you are grateful for the time it took, because the TIME is what made you into who you are five years from now! Don’t hate on time. Don’t complain about time. Use time - to your advantage. Pete’s Bar was a different kind of goal to have. It was one that had to take place on Thanksgiving for me. It wasn’t one I could do during the year. Well, actually, I could walk in Pete’s and visit there, yes, any time. But it was the act of attending ‘Pete’s Bar Thanksgiving Morning Gathering’ that I officially wanted to accomplish. So yeah, this year I did do just that. I pursued all my other goals every other day of the year, browsing and picking and choosing which ones I wanted to work on. Then when Thanksgiving came up to the calendar, I told myself, yes, we’re doing it. No matter what. And that’s exactly what we did. We raced our turkey trot. And went over to Pete’s. The tradition is this: Pete’s is the place to be at the beach on Thanksgiving morning. And there’s nowhere else I would have wanted to be! And it ended up being goal-day all around. I raced the 3.1 mile Tony’s Turkey Trot. Without training and without any prep workreally. My body is now resilient enough to handle the task. That’s something a few years ago would have NEVER worked for me. Hence why it was a great goal accomplished that I merely even went out there and winged it.     And then, I took a fall during the race, got back up, and kept going. I tell you this because, a fall such as this one, in the past, is something that would have been devastating to me. It would have destroyed me. It would have turned the dial on me into failure-mode… Leading to further failures. Yes, this Thanksgiving I took a hard, and quite ridiculous fall onto the pavement. And only about a quarter mile into the race. I tripped on one of those huge yellow reflective strips in the middle of the road. It was sticking out of the ground about an inch. It stopped me dead. I fell forward from my momentum and to my left side, pushed my arms out to catch myself. Landing on the glass screen of my Apple Watch of my left arm, my phone and right hand of my other arm sliding and burning onto payment, My left knee hit the road hard and slid and burned my skin from from the scraping as I skidded. And my left shoulder and neck area took the brunt of the fall slamming the pavement with more bruises from that. The fall felt like it took ten minutes. I might as well have been tumbling down the road for a mile. Life went in slow motion. Just like in a movie. I couldn’t stop and couldn’t believe what was happening to me. It was surreal, and a strange feeling. I lost all control, and down I went. I haven’t hit the payment that hard in an athletic event or workout in years upon years. I have fallen so many times in the ancient past, have already had many bruised knees, that the scabbed up and burned left knee I have today from yesterday is merely a fresh coat of paint added onto layers and layers of art from endurance activity of the past. But you wanna know what? The fall did NOT last ten minutes. It lasted maybe a second. And as soon as I was face down on the ground people came by and literally picked me up off the road floor! It all happened faster than I could even believe. And then I just kept running! The very next breath and the very next thing I did was JUST KEEP GOING. I knew I was gonna hurt later. I knew I was hurt right then. But I also knew I didn’t break anything either. And I felt that in that moment as I stood up that I was FINALLY resilient enough to withstand the fall that just happened - hitting the pavement, bruises and blood and all. It was because of the past, all the hard work throughout the recent years, all the resiliency I built up, that led me to having the ability to stand up straight, continue onward, finish the race, and head on down to Pete’s Bar. Ahead right toward a goal I set in January, and meet it with confidence in November. That’s why you KEEP GOING. Because, all those days of movement, all those days when it’s tough, you don’t feel like it, but you do it anyway, even if it's the tiniest action ever, you just keep going. And one day, when you really need it, your body will be strong enough to withstand the pain. The incident. The accident. The heartache. The sadness. Whatever it is that hurts you in that moment. You will be able to bounce back from with a resiliency that you never knew you had. And it will be utilized right then and there, 100% when you need it the most - which is the most important thing to know. And the kindest of kind thank you’s all around to the people who stopped their Thanksgiving Turkey Trot goals themselves, to help me get off the ground. When you feel it’s time to lose faith in all of humanity, all the chaos of the world, don’t. Be that person who stops, for even a second, to help someone else. I honestly didn’t expect to be picked up. In the long ten minute twenty four hour one second that my face was eye to eye with the hard and black roads of Atlantic Beach, I thought how can I possibly pick myself up?! But faster than I could even complete that thought bubble, I had been picked up by others! So beyond my resiliency, it was other humans who helped me initially. We are a team, world. And thank you, from a fellow teammate, for helping me out on Thanksgiving morning. Because you helped me carry on, that act helped me finish my race. And go on to continue to have the best day ever.    After my race was over, they ran out of water! And with still tons of people coming in to the finish, and another one mile fun run to go, that wasn’t good news for lots of people who needed a drink. That usually doesn’t happen at the countless running events I’ve participated in during my life. And not even counting my fall as bad, it was the lack of water that was the only real bad thing that happened that day. But I’m assuming they already learned their mistake and will be recalculating their water purchase for next year. Luckily, living in Florida heat, we don’t go anywhere without water in our car. So we walked back to the car to grab my water bottle, I chugged it down. And then we headed back on out to the party I had patiently waited all year for. It was the only race I’ve ever been to where people weren’t filing out to their cars afterward to get on back home quickly to cook their Thanksgiving meal. More people were coming in. By the time we left the party, there were more cars on the streets of Neptune Beach that even the 4th of July. And the 4th tends to be the biggest event in town, or so I thought.  I’ve never been to a party like this one. And yes, it really was the best day ever. It reminded me of college spring break in New Orleans. LOL. It reminded me of Key West. It reminded me of VACATION. It reminded me of the best of the best and most fun memories of my life. It reminded me why I’m so very glad I call the beach my home. Thank you to Pete’s Bar for literally throwing the event of the year, here at The Beaches. We purchased two drinks from one of the street tents. Made with champagne and orange juice, and champagne with cranberry juice. I told hubby to order two… not just so he could drink them both, but so we could both stand in front of Pete’s Bar sign, and take a selfie holding our drinks. Mission Accomplished. I am that dork, yes. And yes, we were photo-bombed. It officially ranks as my best photo-bomb to date.    And then we went in Pete’s. It was awesome. No other word for it. And it was just as they all said it would be. There were literally rows and rows of premade Bloody Mary’s and such. Get on up to the bar, take your drinks, and pay, fast. They had countless people coming in and out. All leaving to go stand in the street with drinks in their hands, going to talk and drink in front of Pete’s. There were pool tables set up with mixers and garnishes on top. There was another table covered with funny tee shirts and hats for sale. An embroidered turkey holding a Bloody Mary hat. We bought two at $15.00 a piece. They will get used.           We left Pete’s so we could let the countless others waiting in line to come in and get their Thanksgiving morning cocktails. We stood outside. We walked all around. The weather was perfect. It was quite a holiday morning indeed. We walked up and down the entire barricaded-off streets. No cars needed or wanted in Beaches Town Center this festive Thanksgiving morning. More people kept coming. I then heard the strangest screeching sound. First, I thought someone was just having a little too much fun… you know, from all the Bloody Mary’s, Mimosa’s, beer, and countless bottles of champagne sitting in buckets of ice under tents, tended to by the local area businesses. But then I heard the screech again. Much louder, and much closer to me. I had to stop and look around. What was that strangest of strange sounds? Omg. It was a parrot. Two actually. And meeting my new parrot friends and holding a parrot for the first time in my life, was another reason all kinds of life goals were achieved Thanksgiving morning of 2019. It wasn't’ the turkey trot, the 5k distance, the act of falling onto pavement, the getting back up and trying once again, not all of that. Been there done that. It was holding a parrot for the first time ever, that really sealed the deal. Yes, it was the best day ever. The man tending to the parrots told me to just hold my arm out. That he won’t bite me. That I shouldn’t be scared. How could I be scared? The person in front of me was a mere small child holding the parrot, if she could do it, I could do it! The blue one came gently onto my forearm. He slowly inched his way up my arm. He kept getting closer. Hello, he said. Hello! I said to him. The parrot keeper said this parrot I was holding was 37 years old! I was in shock at that age for a bird, knowing very little about them. I said, oh hello again, I’m 38 years old! He spoke back to me some more. We were conversing on how good we both look for our similar ages. Sadly, I’m not very sure what he was trying to tell me after that point, though, he kept talking. But yes, we bonded. We’re now friends for life. I miss him already. I tend to think he wished me a Happy Thanksgiving.  So moving onward to walk up and down all of Town Center, there was a stage set up by the beach entryway between One Ocean Resort and The Lemon Bar. There were photo booths. There were food trucks serving Atlantic Beach BBQ, and Cuban sandwiches. And walking beyond all the tents of various alcohol for sale, Southern Grounds was open for business! Southern Grounds is one of my favorite places on this earth. And to see them open on this holiday made my day even that much better. The Courtyard was packed! There was a singer and guitar player there as well. We walked in and waited in line for coffee. I’ve been there countless times. It was definitely this busiest I’ve ever seen Southern Grounds. The line for coffees and various tempting pastries was wrapped around the store and to the door. Thank you for being open on Thanksgiving and serving fabulous coffee drinks to the post turkey trot racers and the local community. We sat outside there for a while with our coffees, enjoying the live music.    We walked to the end of the street, by the Bookmark. And leaned by the Neptune Beach police cruisers who help make this friendly and casual street party possible. We stood there and looked down the street and took it all in. We said, THIS is a new tradition. And it was at that moment, late into the morning, the sun high in the sky, that a thought came through my head. I realized that had I been home right now, I would have been tending to my turkey by this point. It was then at that exact moment yet another thought bubble popped above my head. Yes, there I stood at the far end of the block party, watching all the fun, the easily thousands of people, thinking it was the best day ever; and my thought bubble informed me that my turkey was still sitting patiently in our freezer. Ha. I finally did it. I am 38 years old after all. I had forgotten to defrost our turkey this year! That never happened to me before. It was bound to happen; after all, I am as old as a blue and yellow parrot. It was either my old-age, or maybe I could attribute that act of forgetting about my turkey to all those above-mentioned goals that I’ve been working on. But, never fear, when we got home we put our turkey in a sink of hot water... That helped do the trick. Two big thumbs up to us. We hung out on the street some more and laughed. When it was time for us to leave, We walked back through the crowds, sipping our coffee, taking it all in, saying goodbye to Pete’s Bar. I will definitely be back. I texted my family and said they really should be considering spending Thanksgiving in the South with us next year. It was the day of days. And we hadn’t even cooked yet. I still had tons of good food to look forward to! Yeah, it really was the best day ever. Now, it’s your turn to have your best day ever. Stop resolving. Stop waiting. Stop being patient for January 1 to come rolling on by. January 1 is NOT your start date. TODAY is your start date. Whatever it is you are wanting. Whatever you are dreaming up inside your head. Whatever throughout bubble forms in the clouds in the sky above your brain. Stop waiting. And start doing. Listen to those bubbles. They may be delicate but they tend to be the thoughts that shine the most. And when you fall, and you fall hard, let others pick you up if need be. Know that you will fall at some point. It’s guaranteed actually. Because you cannot achieve without failure. There is always darkness before the dawn. So accept your fall on the hard ground for what it is. A moment. Get up once again. Let others help. Dust yourself off. And keep going. Cause no matter what day it is, It’s ALWAYS a good day for doing something you’ve always dreamed. So get started today. Set a goal today. Take action. Get out there and make this day, this very Black and very random of Friday’s, the very best day of your life. ~ 
 I’ve dreamed of visiting a Southern Living Idea House for probably as long as I’ve known of the idea itself. Fascinated with their magazine, I always read the Idea House stories, soaked in the advertisements inviting the public to come see, and desperately wanted to attend a tour. And then, this year the Southern Living Idea House was literally right next door to me! How could I not go?  I snagged up tickets in practically the same breath I found out about the events location. I live in on San Pablo Island, and just a few island hops north of me sits Amelia Island. Crane Island is a very small island within Amelia island… Have you ever been to such a place? An island within an island? I have fortunately, many times, and it never gets old. Hop onto an island… and then hop onto yet another island… that is housed within the confines of and accessed by that larger island. Fascinating, right? Crane Island is its own island on Amelia Island. To me, Amelia Island’s natural barriers seem like true southern low country. The tides practically touched the exterior of the home we toured, and all the surrounding properties on the quaint island. Breathtaking live oaks surround the islands exterior and draping over the roads leading there, along with nature at its best anywhere you look once upon Crane Island. Crane is a mere tiny little place, located right next door to the Amelia Island Airport. It’s somewhat off the beaten path, and with lots of round-abouts, difficult to find, without GPS. We booked our tickets through the Eventbrite App - two tickets at $22.00 each, plus fees. It was worth every penny. Of course I took the hubby along - myself, going purely for the interior design and decorating features, and my husband, always interested in the architectural features of a home. Back in Illinois, and prior to our move down south, we used to live in a home that was dated from 1840. A very old home by my standards, residing in a small strip of a national historic district… and always something wrong with it. So while I called it my very own Green Gables, it was also very much my very own version of The Money Pit. When we moved and sold our Green Gables, I was sick and tired of old. I just wanted new.  I also think that’s why I love the Southern Living Idea House. The whole concept of the Idea House is to showcase and put right out on display, both for tours and in print, the newest of the new ideas out there in architecture and design, appliances, and decor. My roughly 170 year old home in Illinois had definitely taken its toll on me, and us both, and I’m not interested any more in learning how in the strange and backward ways the pipes were set up, or how I couldn't renovate the bathroom into exactly what I wanted because my head already was hitting the roof while standing in the shower - and I wasn’t about to move the roof. That old house was a dream home, an ideal home, for a tiny bit of time. And once all the money kept leaving our wallets and then some just to keep it standing, the gray hairs it gave me were no longer worth it to me. I was glad to say goodbye to our old house, even though we did truly love it, with all its quirks. And now we live in a small, but very new, apartment. New everything. New pipes. New walls. New electrical sockets. A cable hook up...Sigh... It’s nothing luxurious by any means, but it new might as well be luxury to my brains expectations, based on my brains past experiences. So going from old house, to small apartments, it was great for my eyes to then feast on yet another way of life… how the other half lives… Ha. The Southern Living Idea House we toured this weekend is for sale… Yes, it’s for sale for a mere $4,300,000.      And with over 4,500 square feet of living space, and a half acre of property, right on the coast, I could never even begin to imagine the life of the future owner. How does anyone afford such a place?... That was sometimes the only question my brain could think and process while touring the massive home. I can’t even fathom how much money a person has to earn to purchase this life, or earn to maintain that said life??? But while I can’t grasp the financial implications of such a property, and nor do I even want to - I can grasp all the design. All the decor. Better yet… All the Christmas decor!     Honestly, that’s really all I was interested in - about the home itself. It was decorated BEAUTIFULLY!!! I can’t emphasize that enough! So tasteful, so modern, but classic at the same time. Nothing - not one thing in the entire home - screamed at me that it was going to be out of style any time soon. I think that's why I love classic design. It’s classic because it stands the test of time. Some of my favorite pieces of wooden furniture I own in my own home are the oldest ones. The ones with history. The classic ones that match anywhere. I loved the feeling and vibe given off by all the furniture and design throughout the entire Idea House. I love how warm and inviting and cozy it all was. This Idea House had all of that. All of that and then some. And the holiday decor was the added touch that made the entire home quite special indeed. It was heavenly to tour. I couldn’t help but think my mom would LOVE this outing if she was down here in Florida with me. Just come on down for the weekend and go with me? I thought. Mom is the one who got me utterly and completely hooked on all things magazine. And while I’ve tried to change and adapt with the times to read digitally if at all possible, there’s just something not the same as holding a paper copy of a magazine to read. Flip through, and glance at all the pictures.   Reading a paper book or magazine to my is literally like that scene in Full House (the original, not the re-make), when little Michelle Tanner hears the ice cream truck driving past the house.  She screams, “Ice cream man,” on repeat.  She takes her piggy bank. She shakes it. And shakes it. She screams for money from her piggy bank. “Give me back my money, YOU PIG!”  She yells at her bank, shaking it still. But the bank is ceramic, and she doesn’t yet know how to release her funds from his belly. In the meantime, the ice cream truck is heard driving away and they miss him entirely. Her older sister DJ tells that they have ice cream in the freezer… just go eat THAT ice cream.  But it’s not the same,” says Michelle.  It’s not the same. It's definitely not the same thing as going to get ice cream, out of a truck, on the street, in front of your home. The action can’t be replicated. It’s not the act of eating said ice cream, it’s where the ice cream is coming from before it enters your mouth.      Michelle Tanner understood that much as a very small child. She knew how she wanted to spend her funds from her piggy bank. It was the experience that Michelle really wanted, not necessarily just the ice cream.  And sometimes digitally reading something is not the same as reading it in print… on paper.    Flipping the pages at your leisure.  Bookmarking your spot… and closing the cover. And then looking at the beautiful cover as the magazine sits and takes a rest break on your coffee table or ottoman. Or putting the hard bound book back on the book shelf after finishing it. To keep the book after reading, add it to your book collection, and gaze upon it and dream of what adventures it holds inside its pages.  Paper is just not the same as digital, even though the content itself can be the same. Reading a paper magazine is the act of eating ice cream out of a truck - not just eating straight from your freezer. And all my many years of reading about homes and their decor and their paint colors and swatches to match, while flipping the pages, in magazines such as Good Housekeeping, Better Homes & Gardens, Ladies Home Journal, Woman’s Day, Martha Stewart Living, Coastal Living, and Southern Living - studying home layouts, and countless before and after images - all of that does not compare one bit to seeing one of those described and written about and photographed homes - in person. It was a simple outing. About just over an hour from home. $22.00 per person. But it was a dream. Realized. Pulling up to the Idea House, walking in, and opening the door to be wowed by the visualization, was a real dream - come true. The home was stunning. It did truly WOW me. Visually, the exterior was very natural, and seemed to camouflage into its surroundings. In fact, we walked out onto the slip to view the home from afar, and while the trees covered most of the homes vantage point from that angle all the way out on the water, I knew the home was right there, mostly nestled in and blended into its natural surroundings.   Living in Florida for a few years now, I couldn’t help but notice right away how high the water already was, and how very close to the home the water was sitting. If a hurricane came through, I do fear for the Idea House in that situation. New or not. Quality construction, or not. Newest building codes and hurricane proof windows, etc. etc. notwithstanding. I’ve now lived through a few hurricanes in the south, and that’s more than I ever want to. And all the building codes and 200 mile per hour wind proof this or that, doesn’t really matter to me - once one is bearing down on us. It’s a feeling of doom and gloom, either way, so I honestly didn’t care about how strong the house was, and therefore, didn't pay much attention to those features of the home… I only knew if a hurricane was heading its way, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere near its location, baby steps from already high and some choppy waters that day. But regardless of the homes strength and quality construction, it was a fabulous set up. The home has a lot of stairs, so it’s definitely not for someone who doesn’t like a lot of exercise while hanging out at home. We entered through the foyer stepping directly into the great room - the main living room of the home. To the left is the master bedroom, residing on the same main level. With wrap-around patios and porches all facing the water... Every direction there was water - there was an outdoor porch for viewing and contemplation.   To the right is the kitchen and dining room as well as a massive beast of a laundry room. The laundry facility was so big, to me, it might as well be laundry for a large-scale hotel operation. Almost unimaginable to me, but at the same time, I loved every inch of that room. I do a LOT of laundry, and I actually think that room may have been my favorite part of the Idea House.   There are two set of stairs to second floor sleeping and more living areas - each set of stairs and second story does not connect to the other set of stairs or second level in any way. This leaves two very separate living and sleeping areas from each other. We were told it was set that way so one of the upper areas could be utilized as an in-law living arrangement, complete with its own bathroom, and slightly separated from the remainder of the home. All of it, the entire home, was quite a set up. Not for me though, ha - much too big. Much too much to keep clean. Just the act of vacuuming all the sets of stairs would probably take me half a day. But of course, someone who can afford all that, can probably afford to hire a housekeeper to keep all of that very clean for them... I heard many people commenting while touring the home. Laugh out loud… I can’t even imagine such a life living in this enormous house. And while my brain and imagination do have major difficulties visualizing and understanding the cost that goes into this home, its purchase, and its deep maintenance costs living directly next to salty waters and salty air, my brain very much aimed right into the decor. I really enjoy seeing how a home is decorated, if merely to take some of those ideas, put them into puzzle pieces in the back of my brain, close that lid on that puzzle, and keep them ready for a rainy day. Pinterest in my brain. I’ll then take those ideas out of my brain closet and see how I can work something unique into my own decor. At some later date and well into the future, something will spark a memory, and two puzzle pieces will fit together into a fabulous project for me to complete on my own. I loved all the holly/berry for the holidays mixed in with their everyday decor. And I was definitely inspired to find some holly of my own. I’m assuming I can find some quite inexpensively, as I have in the past, and make my own small swags for Christmas time to enjoy. I was inspired by the wallpaper that was hand-etched into backsplashes and as a main accent wall feature. What a neat and modern twist to the old and very messy wallpapers of the past. I loved the furniture and its placement throughout. Complete feng shui to my brain. Rooms set up to flow together, but defined and separate as well.       I absolutely adored the gingerbread house little accents acting as place settings on the dining room table. I’ve already put that idea directly into the back of my brain for a future project. I loved basically everything about the home, really. I must say the only real thing I didn’t like about the concept, was of how much such a home and lifestyle would cost someone. That cost is really the only thing that I couldn’t shove into my brain, and wouldn’t want to, and definitely wouldn’t want to take home with me. But I adored everything else about the home. PROS AND CONS ~~ OF THE EXPERIENCE ITSELF While everything and them some I mentioned above was a pro, and the cost alone is the big and obvious con to me, I wanted to detail for you some features of the experience itself, in case you want to put the Southern Living Idea House tour onto your to-do list for a future outing, or even ahead to a future years Idea House. You’ll have some details on what to expect about the day itself. And since any time I’m doing pro and cons I’m a fan of ending on a positive note if at all possible, I’m going to start here with my cons, and I’ll end with my pros: CONS ~ ***NON-TRANSFERRABLE - AND NO REFUNDS*** Rain or shine, your ticket is good only for the day purchased. Non-transferable, if you can’t come that day, there is no transfer or refund available. And earlier this week we had sort of a minor emergency in our household, so we both thought we were going to be out of luck and not get to go to the Idea House on our ticketed date - and we were definitely saddened by that. But alas, God answered my countless prayers this week to end our emergency, and the situation did end up working itself out, all was right in our world, and we could attend this weekend as originally planned. Just know, if you purchase tickets - no transfers - and no refunds. ***NOTE THE STAIRS - AND LACK OF RESTROOMS AVAILABLE FOR THE TOURING PUBLIC*** While I previously stated the cost didn’t break the bank, and I justified the cost in my mind… also in my mind, when someone pays $22.00 per person for something, I basically expected and assumed they would have a restroom available. And I was definitely not the only one under that assumption. Countless times I heard people asking where the restroom was. We traveled by auto ferry across the river, and hopped from island to island, drove over an hour in the car, onto Amelia Island and then onto the smaller Crane Island for this outing. And I’m sure others came from afar as well. I have an extremely healthy lifestyle now, and drink a lot of water, on the regular. When you pay for something like this, they really need to have a bathroom available to the public. And if there wasn’t going to be one, they should have mentioned it in the ticket specifications. I do read the fine print. It wasn’t there. There were also a lot of older people at the event and I could tell the stairs were a challenge for them. If you’re going, plan for lack of restrooms and lots and lots of stairs. I’m not afraid to ask, so myself and many others had to line up and use the ‘unavailable’ and formal bow-tied toilet during the outing. So expect lack of facilities, or going where you technically aren't supposed to be going. With a whopping 5.5 bathrooms in the house, and charging what they do to get all the way out onto the sparsely populated island upon island, plus the lack of public facilities on Crane Island itself, they really need to have a facility available for the touring public. Note - I did share these opinions in my feedback survey they asked me to complete.       PROS ~ ***COST*** At $22.00 per person, I do consider the cost reasonable. I easily could have seen them charging roughly $40.00 per person, and getting away with it, before it became an unreasonably expensive outing for what you are paying for. And $22.00 is not cheap by any means, but at that price, I was able to really have a once-in-a-lifetime experience, share that experience with my hubby, soak in all of this beauty, and not break the bank too much. ***AVAILABILITY*** The Southern Living Idea House is open and available to the public for a few months. Basically autumn through about mid-December. There are still tickets available, and many date options to choose from as well. The last available ticket purchase date on Eventbrite is for December 15th, 2019. If you are in the area, or this is something you are very interested in attending, I highly recommend going online now and buying you tickets… only a few weeks left! Plus, they were taking cash at the door, for anybody who just stumbled upon the place, or operates in last-minute mode. And cash at the door, I’m assuming, will alleviate the small fees charged by Eventbrite for booking, as well. ***HOLIDAY DECORATIONS*** While the Idea House has been open for a few months, earlier this week there was another Grand Opening of the home - in its new holiday attire. The Idea House being decorated for Christmas in the South intrigued me immensely. As soon as I knew there was to be decor for the upcoming holidays, I knew I wanted to book my ticket for after that second grand opening so we could see the home decorated. And it was definitely worth it. And while none of the frosted, sprinkled, and decorated sugar cookies put out on display throughout the home were for us to eat (yes, they did make a point of telling us that much) the event itself can’t help but get someone in the holiday spirit. Plus, I really can’t wait much longer now in anticipation of baking my own Christmas cookies. Yes, there’s definitely something a bit extra special during the holidays, anywhere you go. And the holiday decor was in each and every room of the house, including the food pantry - which was stocked with peppermints, cookies, and Santa tins. You just can’t miss the holiday spirit when something is decked out in its finest of apparel.  All in all, it was one fabulous outing. It was a 100% Michelle Tanner eating ice cream directly out of the ice cream truck type of outing for me. One that I’m thrilled I was in the vicinity and location to attend for the first time in my life. I probably wouldn’t do it again though - as I’d probably spend my next $22.00 per person on something completely different altogether. But it was worth it - it was worth the travel and the cost to attend. I do very much highly recommend going if the opportunity presents itself. And if you can’t make it to this years event, watch and read Southern Living Magazine in anticipation for their 2020 location. Yes, It’s definitely good to eat ice cream directly from an ice cream truck once in a while. After all, not all ice cream is created equal. I now challenge y’all to get out there and do something similar - whether it’s something small like a delicious ice cream cone from an ice cream shop you don’t normally frequent, or something as big as seeing an IDEA House, or bigger - but either way, get out there and do something that your eyes have only ever seen in print, only gazed upon while flipping through the pages of a book or magazine. Get out there and feast your eyes on something beautiful - in real life. ~ **Editorial Note: All photos in this article are by Christine Pieper (Christine’s Floridian Dreams) and by Bryan Pieper (BEPREADY). 
The scene is referring to a bed-bound woman who is being cared for by her neighbors. But the woman is never happy with her level of free care; never satisfied, never pleased. And she’s certainly never grateful of the others who are taking the time out of their lives to care for her. She has come to expect this care, and then still proceeds to complain about it. At some point in the film the people vent their frustrations about her (while still never giving up on her)... They declare and come to a vocal realization about her ongoing complaints and extreme levels of ungratefulness. They call her “cantankerous.” They realize the most simple of facts… When they are offering her one thing, she wants the complete opposite. Almost as if out of spite. The woman is never able to be satisfied in any way whatsoever. If you haven’t seen the film, I highly recommend viewing it. I’ve watched this film repetitively throughout my youth and I’m pretty near confident I have most of the lines memorized. I would say the film is basically about Pollyanna’s affect on those around her… With Pollyanna being introduced to a new home, a completely new way of life, and with that new life, a whole bunch of new people brought into her world. And she plays ‘The Glad Game’ with all of them. Always finding something to be happy about, no matter the circumstance. Without giving any spoilers for those who haven’t seen and may be inclined to watch… valuable life lessons are learned throughout the film, especially when things don’t go one's way. And sometimes that’s just how life really is. You expect a certain something, but you are thrown a certain something else completely. Life is about how you handle those things you are thrown. If you live your life fully and completely and are truly happy, you may understand that life is not about your wants and desires and dreams that haven’t been fulfilled and might never be… life is really about how you react to your certainties, your abilities, your strengths, and your weaknesses. Life is sorta just like the saying goes… Life is 10% reality, and 90% your reaction to that reality. Please re-read that previous sentence. Soak it in. You can do whatever you want in life, merely by your reactions. Your reactions become your reality. With that key - you can unlock the potential to your complete happiness. So if you don’t have the reality you want, react to your reality, and that reaction will become your new reality. Life is your reaction, life is your perspective. PERSPECTIVE. MATTERS. You can continually sit and complain and wait, and wait, and wait for LIFE to arrive at your doorstep. OR, you can go out there and catch life along the way and enjoy the journey you are on. I’ll give you a simple and silly example. My hair has never cooperated with me - like, ever. My hair is the stuff of jokes, of classic Florida memes. My hair is the hair in the YouTube joke videos of Florida Woman stepping outside her air-conditioned vehicle, and two seconds later her hair is completely puffed out... along with her sunglasses being fogged up, and she can’t see a thing. It doesn’t matter if I had a salon style blow-dry treatment worth hundreds of dollars or more. When my hair hits that Florida humidity, it turns into its own living creature. Completely wild and untamable. My hair is the Velociraptor in the first Jurassic Park who eats alive the Newman character from Seinfeld. And usually, I just roll with it. I go with the flow. I have become really used to it. My hair doesn’t do what I want it to do... Ok…. Whatever… Sigh… And then I throw it in a ponytail and go on with my day. And keep in mind that yes, I’ve tried all kinds of products and spent a ton of money on all kinds of tools and strategies and types of shampoos, etc. It doesn’t matter, my hair does what IT wants, not what I want. But I don’t throw a fit. I work around IT. I buy beautiful and colorful and fun barrettes to help attempt to calm it down. I buy fun and cheapo colored rubber bands to hold it all together, and I go through a million of them, as my hair is also so thick it breaks rubber bands way too frequently. And so, well over a year ago now while visiting up in Illinois, I was getting my hair cut and styled buy my favorite hair stylist in all of the entire world. Her name is Faith. And she is a living, breathing example of exactly that - FAITH. If you’re having a bad day… go see Faith. If you want someone to talk to, or listen to, just go see Faith. She’s like a frosted Christmas sugar cookie from a bakery, alive and breathing. You can’t see Faith and NOT have your day brightened in some way. Plus, you’ll have an absolutely gorgeous head of hair when you leave her station. Faith is a Pollyanna to me. You just can’t go see her and not be glad afterward. She is a living version of Pollyanna’s Glad Game. And I value Faith’s opinion greatly. Not only is she an absolutely wonderful human being, Faith is the only one on Earth who can work miracles on my hair. I leave her station refreshed, and with hair set for a night on the town - even if I’m only going out for some good ol’ Chicago style pizza afterward. And the last time I saw Faith, which was much too long ago I might add, I was contemplating all of these above thoughts. I could sit in her chair, with my jaw dropped, watching her in the mirror fix up my hair to perfection. Mesmerized. I’m always in awe of what she is able to do with my wild hair. I knew as I watched her doing it that I could never replicate it myself. Awestruck, I asked her what brand of straightening product she recommends for at-home use. At the time she mentioned BabylissPro. I had never heard of it, but kept the name in the back of my mind. Later on, after my visit up in Illinois was complete, and I was back home down in the hot and very humid Sunshine State, I was thinking about BabylissPro, as I gazed upon my completely humidified and wild head of hair in the mirror. I did some research about straighteners, and quality straighteners, and I found the product online at Ulta. Coincidentally, I had just previously signed up for Ulta’s awesome rewards program. So I researched which one I wanted. I decided that my hair needed the BabylissPro Nano Titanium Ionic Straightening Iron with the ceramic heater and the 1 ¾ inch thick titanium plate. The cost came to a whopping $139.95, before tax and shipping. With new knowledge of the high price, instead of splurging on yet another hair care purchase, and not even knowing if it would do anything to help or if I was going to be wasting some real legit money, I decided to save up for the straightener with my Ulta Rewards. I then bought all our soaps and lotions and makeup and shower gels and lip balms, etc. etc. etc. for well over a year. At some point I obtained the coveted Platinum status, and then started earning 1.25 points for every dollar spent. Every time I needed a skin care product and was at the grocery store, I instead told myself I would order it on Ulta to get the points. Every month we got a box from Ulta in the mail. Every month I earned points. I saved my points and I saved my points. And I finally redeemed 2,100 points just a few weeks ago, ecstatic. My very own BabylissPro was finally on its way to my front door.  Ulta is very, very slow - religiously slow - with their deliveries. I waited and waited for my product to arrive. When it finally got here I couldn't wait to try it out. And I had just washed my hair when it arrived at our door; a full head of long, wet, ridiculous hair. I decided to wait for my hair to be fully dry to try out my BabylissPro for the first time. I patiently waited until the following morning, and then finally, I plugged in for it’s trial run.  First, I used a bottle of dry shampoo on my hair, sprayed it on in bursts, brushed it out, and waited a bit. I repeated that process. I turned on the product for the first time, and rested it on top of my Vera Bradley heat-resistant sleeve I was going to use to store it in. I clipped my hair into sections using some very ancient hair clips that came with an old hair dryer from years ago. I had no idea how to test if my new Baby was hot or not. The box stated that it can reach up to 450 degrees. Well, that sounded pretty hot to me!   It was set for 300 degrees when I plugged it in. I decided to leave it at that temperature for my first use. I envisioned in all of my clumsiness burning off my hair that I have been patiently growing long for a few years now, and starting a fire on top of my head. 300 degrees sounded plenty hot for a test drive. I was so scared to touch it. I picked it up and touched the heat pad it was resting on to test if it felt hot. I started straightening. And - It worked! Instantly! Well, not instantly, but it started to work right away.  And, Yes! I actually tamed my wild, humid, Florida hair. It was worth all the money in the world. I was so satisfied with the product that I honestly would have paid even more, knowing how well my hair turned out. I felt it was the “fanciest” my hair ever looked by my own handiwork.   And it only took AN HOUR! Ha. No joke. It took me one whole freaking hour and I still could have worked much, much longer on it. I would say I could have spent at least another half hour on it to just maybe get it even near perfect. As you can see from the photo, it was definitely not perfect, but it was so shockingly improved, that I didn’t recognize my own hair. Around fifty minutes into the process I thought to myself… Wow…. And I haven’t even burned myself yet! Gosh... I’m so proud of myself… of this miraculous skill and talent I have for straightening my own hair! [Crediting only myself completely in my own mind, and not the expensive and very high quality product, but of course.] And… of course... that’s right when I burned myself. I grabbed the plate the wrong way for a mere millisecond… And I screamed bloody murder! 300 degrees of heat, smooshed into my pointer finger… I dropped my BabylissPro in agony. I screamed again! It was at this point I finally decided it might be best to stop straightening for the day. After an hour of hard work, and completely dripping with sweat, I finally decided I probably should just give it a rest. I knew I could keep straightening and straightening - maybe for another hour? How long would it take to fully straighten this wild hair? But after I burned my finger I knew I finally had enough for the day. And I was absolutely thrilled!!! I honestly didn't expect it to look even half as good as it did. I expected NOTHING. I expected the same wild hair. But I had the patience to try. I had the patience to wait over a year and earn up the product through reward points. I had the patience to stand in the bathroom mirror for an hour and work on it. I was very pleased with the outcome... And then I went outside. Into the Florida air. And that was the end - of the perfect hair. Florida heat, and extremely high coastal winds off the shore that day, blew all my hard work into oblivion; and almost immediately. Much as I had expected. A rubber band and ponytail were very much needed later that day. I didn’t care though. And I would do it again. I am very pleased with the product. I highly recommend it. Yes, I’ve had many types of straighteners in the past, and no, none of them have done this well of a job. Mind you, all the former products I owned were very inexpensive, drug-store type products, costing well under $20.00; or found collecting dust from some random bottom shelf in the shampoo aisle at the grocery store. My BabylissPro was definitely the best, and most high-quality straightener I ever purchased. I am looking forward to straightening my hair again, very soon. Actually, I need to remind myself that I can do this to my hair every single day if I really wanted to - now that I have my very own BabylissPro! But who wants to spend an hour in front of the mirror? For that? Every day? When there are so many other things I could be doing? No thank you. I’m so glad I own it, I envision using it a lot. But definitely not on the regular. For now, and today, It’s the usual ponytail for me. It’s a head of hair that’s not cooperating with me in any way whatsoever. A head of hair that has its own mind, and is stubborn as heck, and wants the complete opposite of what I want it to do. My hair is the CANTANKEROUS neighbor in Pollyanna. When my hair decides to be curly, I’m trying to straighten it. When I’m trying to curl it, my hair wants to be flat and boring. When I want a thin head of hair, my hair puffs out trying to reach the ends of the Earth... As if it’s been ZAPPED into an electrical socket. CANTANKEROUS. Faith has told me that she sees many clients who would die for my curly, thick hair. Ha! OMG - I think. Who would want this?! I want the absolute opposite of what I’ve been given. If the hair is naturally straight, they want it curled, if the hair is curled, they want it straightened. Cantankerous, folks! The people in Pollyanna’s new world are dealt some serious blows. Life knocks them for a loop. In their own small town kind of way, there is drama, sadness, and of course, much happiness. But their lives in the film are merely how they react to what has happened to them. Aunt Polly, who, never been married, no children of her own, no husband or current love in her life, is dealt an orphan child arriving on her doorstep. Pollyanna. To come live with her. How will she raise a child? How will she react to Pollyanna? How will Pollyanna react to her? And the ripple effect of other people throughout the film that have change brought to them because of Pollyanna’s introduction into their lives. Change happens. Whether we want it or not. It’s coming. There’s no stopping it. Change is life. Faith is life. And Faith is a good thing to have. If you don’t have a Faith in your life, go out and get one. Maybe Faith will be in the form of your hair stylist. Maybe Faith will be a frosted green and red sprinkled Christmas sugar cookie you pick up at the bakery. Maybe you will make your own Faith. Any way you get it, grab ahold of your Faith, and go. Because... Whether you want them to or not, the wheels are turning. Nothing stays the same. Everything changes. How will you react to that change is the biggest question of all? Life IS change. My hair IS my hair. How I handle it is how I look, and how I appear, and is who I am. I can be all fancy and have a professional style blowout every day, spending hours in front of the mirror, and there's nothing wrong with that! But it’s usually just not for me. Most of the time, I throw my hair into a ponytail, and get out there, and live my life. Life is your TIME. Life is your REACTION. LIfe is your PERCEPTION. Now get out there, grab a rubber band and put your hair up if you need to… and LIVE. ~  Check out my entire “THANKFUL” product line here!
|
Archives
June 2025
CategoriesAll 100th YouTube Video 118th Congress 12 South 12 South Nashville 12th Annual Deck The Chairs 15K 15K National Championship 1935 Hurricane Memorial 1 Hour Loop Ocean Sounds 1 Mile Fun Run 1st Place Sports 1 Year As A Livestreamer 2020 2020 Key West Half Marathon 2024 2024 Periodical Cicada Emergence 2024 Sleighin' Sweets Scented Plush 2025 2025 Gate River Run 2025 Planner 225 Christmas Trees 26.2 With Donna 30 Minute Beach Walk 30th Anniversary 3D Wood Dog Ornament 44th Birthday 4Ocean 4th Of July 4th Of July Travel 500 Mile Journey 5K 5K Race 5th Day Of May 9/11 A1A ABBQ Acosta Bridge Acquisition And Restoration Council Acrylic Acrylic On Canvas Acrylic Painting Acrylic Painting On Burned Wood Action News Jax Acure Acure SPF 30 Day Cream Adairsville Advent Calendars Adventure Adversity Advertisements A Guy & A Golden A Guy And A Golden Ahinga Babies Alan Roberts Alba Botanica Alba Botanica Hawaiian Coconut Sunscreen SPF 50 Alba Botanica Kids SPF 50 Al Carius All About Birds Alligator Alligators All Wheel Drive Amanda Moon Art Amazon Amazon KDP Amelia Island Amelia Island Coffee Amelia Island Florida Amelia Linen & Wood Amelia Schoolhouse Inn America American Red Cross American River Cruises Amphitheater Amtrak Amtrak Auto Train Amtrak Roomette Amtrak Silver Service Amtrak Silver Star Ana's Cuban Cafe A New Beginning Angeletti Cookies Angel Food Cake Angies Grom Angies Subs Anhinga Anhinga Nests Anhinga Overview Anna Maria Anna Maria City Pier Anna Maria Florida Anna Maria Island Annual Tradition Another Broken Egg Cafe Appetizer Apple Apple Cider Donut Apple Genius Bar Apple Store Apple Watch April April 2025 A Quiet Morning ARC Meeting Arlington Lions Club Park Armed Forces Art Artist Arts Education Art Studio Ascension St. Vincent's Ash Wednesday ASMR Atlantic Beach Atlantic Beach Arts Market Atlantic Beach Barbecue Atlantic Beach Elementary School Atlantic Beach Fire Department Atlantic Beach Heritage Tree Atlantic Beach Police Department Atlantic Boulevard Atlantic Ocean Audubon Audubon Florida Audubon Florida Petition Auntie Anne's Author Auto Ferry Autumn Autumnal Equinox Autumn In Avondale Autumn In Florida Autumn In The South Avenida Menendez Aviles Street Avondale A Year Brushed Upon Canvas Azure Oceanfront Residences Baby! BabylissPro Hair Straightener Baby Steps Background Ambience Back To School Sales Tax Holiday Bacon Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts Bahama Mama Bahia Honda Bahia Honda Key Bahia Honda State Park Bake Baker Bakery Bake With Me Baking Baking Night Baking Powder Bali Balis Park Basic Invite Basketball Batch Bay Breeze Cottages Bayfront Inn Bayfront Marin House Bayfront Westcott House Bed & Breakfast Baymeadows Beach Beach Ambience Beach Boulevard Beach Boulevard Bridge Beach Cottage Beach Diner Beach Diner Ponte Vedra Beach Beach Dogs Beaches Art Fest Beaches At Vilano Beaches For Australia Beaches Go Green Beaches Green Market Beaches History Museum Beaches Museum Beaches Oktoberfest Beaches Sea Turtle Patrol Beaches Town Center Beaches Veterans Memorial Park Beaches Water Tours Beach Fest Beach Getaway Beachin' Beach Stop Beach Style Beach Town Beach Vibes Beach Walk Beach Walkover Beans Baking Series Beans Basement Bash Bean's Best Bean's Best Award Winner Beans Best Award Winner Bean's Best Bakery Blowout Beans Coffee Shop Challenge Beans Recipes Beautiful Beauty Beef Stew Before And After Beignets Be Mine Ben Affleck Bennie Furlong Senior Center Ben's Soft Pretzel's BEPREADY Best Soft Serve Best Soft Serve In Jax 2025! Best Western Best Western Historic Bayfront Best Western Oceanfront Betty Crocker Betty Crocker Angel Food White Cake Mix BeYou Jewelry Big Talbot Island State Park Biodiversity Bird Bird Island Bird Island Park Bird Nest Birds Bird Watching Birthday Birthday Party Birthday Zoomies Black Friday Blackhawk Bluff Blackhawk Trail Black Raven Pirate Ship Black Raven Pirate Ship Adventures Blowout Blue Angels Blueberry Muffin Bluebird Bluebird Of Happiness Bluebird Of Happiness Statue Blue Bloods Blue Cypress Fishing Pier Blue Moon Blue Orchid Thai Cuisine Boardwalk Boating Boat Parade Boats Bonnethead Shark Bontill Boo Buckets Book Launch Book Proposal Book Reading Sounds Boone Park Boone Park South Boxty Brach's Brach's Halloween Mellowcreme Pumpkins Bradenton Beach Brayden Of Mickey Views Breakfast Breakfast Review Breezy Coffee Shop Breidert Green Brewery Review Brick Restaurant Bridge Of Lions Broad Street Broad Street Chattanooga Broadway Bronchitis Brooklyn Bryan Pieper Bucee's Bud Light Buffalo Check Burger Republic Butter Butterball Turkey Talk Line Butterfly Butterfly Garden Cabbage Cabins Cabin Tour Cafe Du Monde Calhoun California Calm Calming Calming Sounds Cal-Sag Channel Cal-Sag Trail Camper Campsites Candy Cane Cookies Candy Hearts Cantina Louie Carnival Cruise Line Carnival Elation Carriage Way - Centennial Bed & Breakfast Carriage Way Inn Bed & Breakfast Casa De Buenos Bed & Breakfast Casa Marina Hotel And Restaurant Casa Monica Resort & Spa Casey Affleck Castaway Island Preserve Castillo De San Marcos Castle Cat Cafe Celebrate Celebration Celebration 5K Celebration Florida Cell Phone Centennial Park Centre Centre Street Ceramic Tile Change Change Your Life Characters Charms CC Charms CC On Etsy Chattanooga Chattanooga Tennessee Chaunies Coffee Truck Cheap Holiday Photo Cards Check In Day Check Out Day Cheers Cheeseburger Cheeseburgers In Paradise Chicago Chicago Food Chicagoland Chicago Pizza Chicken Chickens Children's Arts Children's Book Children's Book Illustrator Children's Books Chili Recipe Chill Chimney Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies Chocolate Chip Muffin & Quick Bread Mix Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie Christmas Christmas Cookies Christmas Cookie Tin Christmas Cookie Week Christmas Day Christmas Decor Christmas Decorations Christmas Eve Christmas In Avondale Christmas In The South Christmas In The Sunshine State Christmas Lights Christmas Merch Christmas Pajamas Christmas Pop Up Bar Christmas Shopping Christmas Tree Christmas Tree Trail Christmas Vacation Church Cicada Cicada Coemergence Cinco De Mayo Cinderella Castle Cinottis Bakery Jax Beach City Of Angels City Of Atlantic Beach City Of Jacksonville City Of Jacksonville Florida Special Events City Of St. Augustine City & See Civil War 2.0 Clark Griswold Clay County Clay County Historical And Railroad Museum Clay County Historical Society Clear And Present Danger Clinique Clinique Moisture Surge SPF 28 Clinique Superdefense City Block SPF 50 Clover Coastal Birds Coastal River Town Coastal Town Coast Guard Coffee Coffee Plantation Cafe Cold Cold & Flu Season Cold Press Watercolor Paper College Columbia Restaurant Comfort Comfort Station Comfort Zone Commercials Community Community Blood Drive Community Garden Community Loaves Community Of Dreamers Community Presbyterian Church Atlantic Beach Compass Competition Conch Cuban Cafe Congress Consistency Constitution Plaza Content Creator Cook County Cookie Dough Cookies Cook With Me Coola Cordele Cordele Railway Park Cordova Street Corinne Crabtree Corned Beef & Cabbage Corona Coronavirus Cottage By The Sea Courtyard By Marriott Courtyard Marriott Jacksonville Beach Oceanfront CoVid19 Crackling And Popping Crane Island Creative Discovery Museum Crescent City Crescent Lake Crisp County Crock Pot Crocs Cross Country CSX CSX Railroad Cuban Coffee Cuban Coffee Shop Cumberland River Cumberland River Greenway Downtown Connector Trailhead Cummer Cafe Review Cummer Museum Cummer Museum Of Art & Gardens Cupcakes Curiosity Currents Dachshunds Daily Activity Daily's Daily's Place Dames Point Bridge Dames Point Bridge Park Dancin' In The Street Dangerous Ocean Conditions Danny Reagan Dapper Dans Daschund Daylight Savings Time Daytona Beach Day Trip Debby December December Birthday December In Florida Deck The Chairs Deck The Halls Declaration Delicomb Deltona Dessert Detailed Cabin Tour Detailed Cottage Tour Detailed Room Tour Deviled Eggs DIA Diamond Junction Diamond Junction Interchange Dickens On Centre Dick Mondell's Burger & Fries Dining In Atlantic Beach Dining In Jax Beach Dining In Ponte Vedra Beach Dining In St. Augustine Dining On The Water Dining Review Dining Review Vilano Beach Directions Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday Disney Disney Camping Disney Girl Kim Disney Munchling Disney Parks Disney Parks With Love Janel Disney Parks With Love - Janel Disney Pins Disney's DVC Cabins At Fort Wilderness Resort Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort Disney Springs Disney Trading Pins Disney Vacation Club Disney World DIY DJI DJI Air 3 Drone DJI Phantom 4 Drone Doctor Appointment Dog Birthday Party Dog Days Of Summer Doggie Stroller Dog Life Dog Ornament Dog Pajamas Do It Yourself Dolphins Donnie Wahlberg Don't Forget To Hang Up Your Sock Don't Tread On Me Donut Decision Day Donut Decision Day 2024 Donuts DoubleTree Doubletree By Hilton Hotel St. Augustine Historic District Dough Day Downtown Fernandina Beach Historic District Downtown Jacksonville Downtown Jax Investment Authority Downtown Lemont Historic District Downtown Nashville Doxie Life Doxies Dream Dream Big Dreamers Dreamette Dreaming In The 904 Driftwood Jax Beach Drive On Beach Drive Thru Lights Driving Tour Drone Drone Video Duck Pond Ducks Dune Restoration Project Dunkin Dunkin' Dunkin' Blueberry Muffin Dunkin Donuts DunKings Dunkin Munckins Dutton Island Preserve Duuuvall Duval County Shore Restoration Project Duval Street DVC Each Day Is A New Beginning Each Spring Is A New Beginning Earth Earth Day East Coast Greenway Easter Easter Basket Easter Merch Easter Peeps Easter Sunday Easter Sunday Brunch Easter Zoomies Ebay Eclipse Box Edens Leaf Naturals Edgewood Avenue Eggnog Element Element Jacksonville Beach Element Jax Beach Eleven South Review El Faro Memorial Ellie And Emma Ellie Golden Life Embarkation Embassy Suites Embassy Suites By Hilton St. Augustine Beach Oceanfront Resort Emerald Coast Endless Summer End Of Summer Enrico's Key Largo Enrico's Pizza Epcot Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival Ernest Hemingway Escape Etsy Etsy Seller Etsy Shop Everbank Stadium Every Damn Day Fitness Everything Bagel Executive Order Exploration Explore Explore Act Explore Amelia Explore Georgia Explore With Me Exterior Walking Tour Facebook Fairfield Inn & Suites Fairfield Inn & Suites Jacksonville Beach Faith Falcon Heavy Fall Fall Front Porch Fall In Florida Fall In St. Augustine Fall O Stream Fall-O-Stream Family Family Traditions Father's Day Fat Tuesday Favorite Drive In The World Favorite Place In The World Fernandina Beach Filming In National Parks Film Review Fire Fireplace Fireworks First Coast Life First Coast News First Day Of Fall First Watch Fish Fishing Fishing Pier Five Hour Five Hour Fireplace Five Points Flag Day Flagler Railroad Fletcher Park Floating Generation Florida Florida Cold Front Florida Cracker Kitchen Florida East Coast Railway Florida Endless Summer Florida Keys Florida Keys Sculpture Trail Florida Land Swap Florida Man Florida Skimboarding Pro/AM Tournament Florida's Oldest Race Florida State Of Emergency Florida State Park Florida State Parks Florida Sunshine Florida Winter Flour Flour Explosion Flowers Flowers And Gardens And Shelties Flowers & Gardens Football Football Stadium Forbes ForestCulture ForestCulture Etsy Shop Forest Preserve Forest Preserve District Of Cook County Forest Preserve District Of Will County Fort Fort Clinch State Park Fort George Island Fort. George Island Fort Nashborough Fort Sackville Fort Wilderness Foundation Foundation Of Faith Four Four Points By Sheraton Fox Foxtail Coffee Co. Frankfort Frankfort Country Market Frankfort Fall Festival Frankfort Fire Protection District Frankfort Grainery Frankfort Illinois Frank Reagan Frazier Park Freedom Freight Train French Cafe Fresh Off The Palette Friday Night Live Friday The 13th Friendship Friendship Bracelet Friendship Fountain Friends Of Bahia Honda Frosting Fuller Warren Bridge Full Moon Full POV Fundraiser Fun Facts Garlic Artichoke Dip Gate River Run Gate River Run Streaker Gateway To South Georgia Geese Generator Safety Genevieve Genevieve Noel Genevieve's Homemade Blueberry Frozen Dog Treats Genevieve's Homemade Pumpkin Peanut Butter Dog Treats Genius Bar George Rogers Clark Memorial Georgia Georgia Southern & Florida Railway Get Ready With Me Gigglescape Gina Cristine Photography Gingerbread Haunted House Gingerbread House Gingerbread House Competition Gingerbread House Kit Girvin Road Give Some Away Giving Glade Pumpkin Candle Golden Hour Golden Retriever Golf Carts Goodbye Good Morning Good Tidings Goo & Matt Goo To You GooToYouLIVE Gourds Grace Grandpa Grape & Grain Exchange Grateful Gratitude Great Blue Heron Great Florida Birding & Wildlife Trail Green Cove Springs Green Spaces Green Springs Park Green Sulfur Spring Groundhog Groundhog Day GRWM Guana Preserve Guana Preserve Land Swap Guana River Guana River ARC Meeting Land Exchange Guana River Preserve Guana River Wildlife Management Area Guana River WMA Gulf Coast Guy Fieri Halloween Halloween Advent Calendar Halloween Decorations Halloween Ghost Mug From Target Halloween LED Purple Lights Halloween Merch Halloween Pumpkin Mug From Target Halloween Squishmallow Mystery Box Halloween Trees 2 Pack Hallow Stream Hallow-Stream Hampton Inn Hampton Inn Jacksonville Beach Oceanfront Hampton Inn Key Largo Hampton Inn St. Augustine Beach Hampton Inn & Suites Chattanooga/Downtown Hampton Inn & Suites St. Augustine Villano Beach Hampton Inn & Suites St. Augustine - Villano Beach Happiness Happiness Found Happy Birthday Happy Easter Happy Fall Happy Groundhog Day Happy Halloween Happy Holidays Happy Jimmy Buffett Day Happy Labor Day Happy Monday Happy Monday! Happy New Year Happy New Year's Eve Happy St. Patrick's Day Happy Thanksgiving Happy Veterans Day Harrison Ford Hauntingly Good Times On Amelia Island And Beyond Hawkers Asian Street Fare Health Update Heart Of Georgia Railroad Hemingway Hendricks Avenue Henry Flagler Heron Hey Boo Hey JB Hialeah Hibiscus Hickory Creek Hickory Creek Preserve Highway I-4 Hills For Helene Hills For Helene Miles For Milton Hills For Helene - Miles For Milton Hilton Hilton Curio Collection Hilton Garden Inn Hilton Garden Inn St. Augustine Beach Hilton St. Augustine Historic Bayfront Historic Historic Avondale Historic Bridge Street Pier Historic Downtown Fernandina Beach Historic Downtown Frankfort Illinois Historic Downtown St. Augustine Historic Downtown Valdosta Georgia Historic Downtown Vincennes Indiana Historic Old City Jail Historic San Marco History Hocus Pocus Holiday Holiday Baking Traditions Holiday Decorations Holiday Event Holiday Inn Holiday Inn Express Holiday Inn Express Jacksonville Beach Holiday Inn Express St. Augustine - Vilano Beach Holiday Organization Holiday Season Holidays In Jax Beach Holidays In Neptune Beach Holiday Spirit Holiday Week Holly Holly Berry Holly Branch Home Horizon Hospital Hot Chocolate Hotel Palms Hotel Review Hotel Room Tour Hotels Howard Gilman Memorial Park Howell Park Hoyt House Inn H.R. 6492 Huguenot Lagoon Huguenot Tennis Park Humans Helping Humans Humidifier Hunny Bunny Hurricane Hurricane Beryl Hurricane Debby Hurricane Disaster Reief Hurricane Helene Hurricane Joaquin Hurricane Kit Hurricane Milton Hurricane Relief Hurricane Season Hyatt Place St. Augustine Hydrate Ice Cream Iced Coffee Iced Tea Iguana Illinois Illustrator I Love You So Much I&M Canal I&M Canal Trail I&M Canal Trail Passage Indiana Ingredients Interactive Pet Puzzle Interior Room Tour Intracoastal Intracoastal Preserve Intracoastal Waterway Intuition Ale Works Review IPhone IPhone 16 Pro Max Ireland Irish Blessings Irish Blessings To You Irish Food Irish Mode ON Irving Berlin Isaiah David Hart Bridge Is It Humid Out Today? Islamorada Island Donuts Isle Of Eight Flags Italian Restaurant It's Cold It's Gonna Be May Jack-O-Lantern Jacksonille Beach Jacksonville Jacksonville Beach Jacksonville Beach Fishing Pier Jacksonville Beach Pier Jacksonville Beach Tennis Center Jacksonville Grand Prix Jacksonville Northbank Riverwalk Jacksonville Preparedness Puppy Cricket Jacksonville Public Library Jacksonville Riverwalk Jacksonville's Brooklyn Neighborhood Jacksonville Track Club James Bond Jamie Reagan Janel Love January Jarboe Park Jarboe Park Christmas Tree Jax Jax 4 Kids Jax Beach Jax Beach Art Walk Jax Beach Coffee Shop Jax Beach Pier Jax Beach Vintage Flea Market Jax Ready JaxReady Jax River Taxi Jax Today JaxTrib Jeep Jellyfish Jerusalem Jesus Jeven Dovey Jimmy Buffett Jimmy Buffett Day Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway Jimmy Buffett Sunset Cruise Jimmy Johns Joe's Crab Shack John Glaude John Ross Joliet Joliet Iron Works Historic Site Jolly Holiday Joy JTC Running Kandahar Kansas City Chiefs Kayak Kayaking Keep Shaking Your Tail Feathers Key Largo Key Largo Florida Key West Key West Florida Key West Half Marathon Kilwins Kindness Kindred Spirits King Tide Kiss The Sun Goodnight With Me KitchenAid Kona Ice Kookaburra Coffee Krispy Kreme Labor Day Lake Lake Buena Vista Lake Katherine Lake Katherine Nature Center & Botanic Gardens Lake Monroe Lake Monroe Historic Bridge Land Deal Landon Park Land Swap Land Trust Latte Lemon Bar Lemont Lemont Area Historical Society Lemont Illinois Lemont Metra Train Station Le Petit Paris Let's Paint Together Let's Rise & Shine Together Liberty Library Life Along The Coast Life Before Facebook Lifeguard Chairs Life Is Like A Hurricane Life On The Coast Life Story Lifestyle Light Up Ceramic Haunted House Light-Up Ceramic Haunted House Light Up Ceramic Pumpkin Light-Up Ceramic Pumpkin Lilly Pulitzer Lime Bubly Limestone Lined Notebook & Little Donuts Live Oak Tree Livestream Livestream On YouTube Livestream Schedule Livestream YouTube Poll LIVE Walking Tour Lizard Los Angeles Love Love Life Love Muffin Love Yourself Low Tide Luck Of The Irish Lumi Bean Candles Luna The Mini Cockapoo Maggie Smith Magic Magic Beach Magic Beach Motel Main Street Main Street Bridge Main Street USA Make Your Monday Matter Mallory Square Manatee Man O' War Mantanzas Bay Mantanzas River March Before You Feel Like It Mardi Gras Margaritaville Margaritaville Beach Hotel Jacksonville Margaritaville Beach Hotel - Jacksonville Margaritaville Beach Hotel Jacksonville Beach Marina Marine Life Marion Motor Lodge Market Street Market Street Chattanooga Marriott Marriott Bonvoy Marshmallow Marsh Martin Luther King Jr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Mary S. Holden Massive Action Matanzas Bay Matching Family Vacation Tees Matching Pajamas Matching Tees Matching Vacation Tees Max Velocity Mayo Clinic Mayo Clinic Jacksonville Mayo Clinic Jacksonville Florida Mayo Clinic Pain Rehab Clinic Mayport Mayport Cats Mayport Florida Mayport Village May The 4th Be With You... May The Sand Be With You... McCormick Bascule Bridge McDonalds McDonalds Boo Buckets Meadows Pool Medium Meeka The Husky Mellow Mushroom Memorial Day Merch Merch Shop Merry Christmas Merry Christmas Cards Merry Christmas Day Merry Christmas Eve Merry Cove Life Meteorologist Brian Shields Meteorologist Patrick Hammer Metra Metro Diner Mexican Food Mexican Restaurant Mezza Luna Ristorante MFPMilestones Miami Dade Mickey Mouse Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party Mickey Views YouTube Channel Mickler's Landing Mike Buresh Mile 0 Miles For Milton Mile Zero Military Milk Bone Milkweed Milton Minestrone Soup Mini Donuts Mini Golf Minnie Mouse Ears Mistakes MLK MLK Jr. Mokena Mokena Illinois Momentum Mom's Park Monarch Butterfly Monarch Butterfly Waystation Monday Mondo Llama Moonlight Moonrise Moose Mug Morning Motivation Morning Routine Morning Walk Morning Walk With Me Mosaics MOSH Motivation Motivational Monday Mourning A Loss Movement Mrs. Breadsticks Mr. Weatherman Muffins Mums Munchling Murals Murray Hill Murray Hill Preservation Association Murray Hill Theatre Museum Museum Of Science & History Music City My First Easter Sunday At Walt Disney World MyFitnessPal My Morning Routine My Own Irish Blessing Mystery Box Mystery Munchling Mystery Pack My Wish For You Nabisco Nabisco Create-A-Treat Nao Trinidad Naples NASA NASA SpaceX Crew 10 Launch Nashville National Donut Day National Hurricane Center National Monument National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration National Park Service National Register Of Historic Places National Weather Service Nation's Oldest City Natural Disaster Natural Disasters Natural Fireplace Nature Nature Preserve Nature's Beauty Navi Waterfront Bar & Grill Nemo Park Neptune Beach Neptune Beach Community Garden Nest Nesting Activities Nestpark Nest Watch New Beginning New Lenox New Lenox Commons New Lenox Community Park District New Lenox Illinois New Merch New Orleans News 104.5 WOKV News4Jax New Year's Day New York City NFL NHC Nights Of Lights Night Walk Nine Eleven NOAA NOAA Fisheries Nocatee NOLA Norfolk Southern Railroad Northbank Riverwalk North Beaches Art Walk Northeast Florida Northeast Florida Land Deal North Pole North Pole South Notebook November Nurse Shark Nutcracker NWS Nylabone Oak Park Avenue Oak Park Avenue Train Station Oaxaca Club Obese To Beast Ocean Boulevard Oceanfront Dining Oceanfront Park Ocean Fun Facts Ocean Sounds Ocean Vibes OceanView Lodge October Oktoberfest Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom Old Plank Road Trail Old Town Trolley Tours Olivia Shore One Ocean Resort One Ocean Resort & Spa Opening Of The Beaches Opening Of The Beaches Parade Oreo Gingerbread House Oreos Orlando Orland Park Orland Park Illinois Osborne Street Outside Overseas Highway Pacifica Pacifica Sunblock Pacific Palisades Paczki Paczki Day Paid Parking Kiosk Pain Rehab Clinic Paint And Coffee Paint By Number Paint-by-Number Paint-by-Number Kit From Etsy Palatka Palm Sunday Palm Valley Palm Valley Holiday Lights Boat Parade Palm Valley Outdoors Bar And Grill Palos Heights Pandora Pandora Bead Pandora Charm Papa Paperback Parade Of Trees Paris Olympics 2024 Parking Shuttle Pasta Pasta Party Pastries Patience Patriotic Merch Pawsitivity Peace Peanut Butter Peanut Butter Bubbles Peanut Butter Pie Pecan Tree Peeps In A Row Pelicans Pelindaba Lavender Peppermint Peppermint Candy Cane Cookies Peppermint Extract Perserverance Perseverance Personal Update Perspective Peterbrooke Chocolatier Pete's Bar Petes Bar Petes Bar Thanksgiving Morning Gathering Pet Friendly Petition Pet Loss Pet Parents PetSmart PetSmart Charities Pharmacy Philadelphia Eagles Philadelphia Pennsylvania Phit-n-Phat Phone Call Pickleball Pier Pierre's Pub Pigeon Key Piggy's In A Buggy Pigs Pigs Of Instagram Pillsbury Creamy Supreme Seasonal Cream Cheese Frosting Pina Colada Pine Avenue On Anna Maria Island Pinhole Projector Pink Lemonade Pioneer Hall Pioneer Woman Pirate Ship Pirates Paradise Pirates Paradise Souvenir City Plan Planet Earth Plant City Plants Plaza Plaza De La Constitucion Pluto Pluto Thanksgiving Sandwich Pneumonia Poinsettia Polar Plunge Pollyanna Pond Ponte Vedra Beach Ponte Vedra Beach Branch Of The St. Johns County Library Ponte Vedra Boulevard Ponte Vedra Inn & Club Poonchkey Porpoise Point Portugese Man O' War Post Street POV Prairie Pralines Prayers PRC Prediction Pre Hurricane Helene Pre Hurricane Milton Preserve Pretzel Nuggets Prissy And Pop Prissy_Pop Progress Prospect Five Points PSL Public Art Public Beach Access Public Butterfly Garden Publix Pumpkin Pumpkin Candles Pumpkins Pumpkin Spice Pumpkin Spice Edition Pumpkin Spice In Paradise Pumpkin Spice Latte Purple Purpose Quick Update Quiet Race Expo Race Roster Railroad Bridge Railroad Tracks Rain Raintree Restaurant Random Acts Of Kindness Ranking RAP Rating Reaction Real Christmas Tree Recipe Recipes Red Boat Tours Red Boat Water Tours Red Food Coloring Red Potatoes Red Sauce Ree Drummond Regency Inn & Suites Relaxation Relaxing Relaxing Sounds Relaxing Stroll Residence Inn - Jacksonville Downtown Restaurant Review Rest Stop Rick Burnett Artist Key West Ripley's Red Train Tours Rise & Shine Ritas Jax Beach Riverfront Park Riverside Riverside Arts Market Riverside Avondale Riverside Avondale Preservation Riverside Duck Pond Riverside Memorial Park Riverwalk Road Race Road Trip Roaring Fire Roasted Red Potatoes Rockaway Garden Rocket Launch Rod & Reel Fishing Pier Rollin With The Nolans Ronnie Phillips Ron On The Go Room Tour Rooster Roosters Rory Rosemary Ross's Landing Routine Royal Mess Running Run Riverside 5K Ryan Hall Rye Bread Safe Harbor Safe Passage Sago Coffee Jax Saint Italian Restaurant Salt Salt Air Inn & Suites Salt Life Salt Life Food Shack Salt Marsh Salty Salvation Army SAM Shoreline Excursion Railroad Sandbags Sandcastle Competition Sand Dunes Sanderson Sisters Sanford San Marco San Marco Avenue San Marco Balis Park San Marco Bookstore San Marco Lions San Marco Lions Fountain San Marco Preservation Hall San Marco Preservation Society San Marco Town Square San Pablo Island Santa Claus Santa Was Here Saran Wrap Sautéed Onions Save Guana Save Guana River Saving Private Ryan Sawdust & Lace Studio Sawdust & Lace Studio On Etsy Sawpit Creek Boat Ramp Saying No Saying Yes Say Yes Sculpture Seacoast Bank Sea Cottages Of Amelia Seafoam Seahorse Oceanfront Inn Sea La Vie Jax Beach Sea Oats Seascape Condominiums Sea Shells Seashells Seaside Park Seaside Sculpture Park Seaside Shoppes Sea & Sky Sea & Sky 2024 Sea & Sky Jax Season Season's Greetings Seas The Day Sea Turtle Maze Sea Turtle Nesting Season Sea Turtle Nests Sea Turtles Sea Turtle Statue Seawalk Music Festival Seawalk Pavilion Seaweed See You In St. Marys Seinfeld Self Care Self-care Self Help Self-help September 11 Set Up Seven Mile Bridge Sevier Park Shadow Shamrock Shamrock Sunrise Shamrock Zoomies Shark Shells Shell World Shelters Sheltie Sheltie & Friends Sheltie & Friends Easter Coloring Book Shetland She Shetland Sheepdog Shimmering Shimmering Snowman Notebook Shimmering Snowman Notebook: Let's Roll! Shionren Shipwreck Shoppes Of Avondale Shopping Shorebird Shorebirds Sights & Sounds Silicone Baking Trays Skaya Siberian Skimboarding Skin Care Small Towns Smart TV Snail Snap Crackle Pop Sneakers Sports Grille Snow Social Media Soft Pretzels Soft Serve Solar Eclipse Sous Chef Southbank Southbank Riverwalk Southern Belle Riverboat Southern Glades Southern Glades Wildlife And Environmental Area Southern Grounds Southern Living Idea House Southernmost Point Southern Swells Southern Wind Inn Souvenir Souvenir City SpaceX Spanish Street Spanish Street Walking Tour Species Profile Spooky Garland Spreadshop Spring Spring Break Springhill Suites By Marriott Springhill Suites Jacksonville Beach Oceanfront Spring In The South Spring Park Spring Park Coffee Spritz Pet Banner Squishmallow Mystery Pack Squishmallows Stand Mixer Starbucks Starfish St. Arrrrgustine Star Wars Star Wars Day State Of Emergency State Of Florida Stationary Statue Of Liberty St Augustine St. Augustine St. Augustine Beach St. Augustine Beach Farmers Market St. Augustine Inlet St. Augustine Lighthouse St. Augustine Nights Of Lights Stayc-66 Stayc-66 EBay Seller Staycation St. George Street St. George Street Walking Tour Stingray Stitch 626 Day St. Johns Avenue St. Johns County St. Johns County Dunes Restoration Project St. Johns County Emergency Management St. Johns County Ocean & Fishing Pier St. Johns River St. Johns River Ferry St. Johns Town Center St. Marys St. Marys River St. Marys Waterfront Park St. Nicholas St. Nicholas Day Stocking Stop The Swap St Patricks Day St. Patrick's Day St. Patrick's Day Merch St. Peter's Episcopal Cemetary St. Peter's Episcopal Church Strawberries Streaming Streamlabs Streetcar Street To The Beach Study Sounds Sugar Sugar Cookies Summer Summer 2024 Road Trip Summer Beach Run Summer Beach Sounds Sun Sunblock SundaysOnMain SundaysOnMain Etsy Shop Sunflowers Sunrail Sunrise Sunrise Beach Walk Sunrise Summary Sunset Sunshine Sunshine & Hurricanes Sunshine Skyway Bridge Super Bowl Super Bowl LIX Super Bowl Sunday Supergoop Supergoop Sunblock Supermoon Supermoon Blue Moon Supper Club Surfers Swamp Sweetly Southern Chattanooga Gifts Take Out Dining Talking To Camera Tampa Tampa Bay Target Target Halloween LED Orange Lights TBI TECO Line Streetcar System Teddy Tennessee Tennessee Aquarium Tennessee River Tennessee Titans Tennessee Titans Football Stadium Tennis Tent Camping Teresa Echols Thai Food Thai Smile Thankful Thanksgiving Thanksgiving Merch Thanksgiving Week That Crazy Disney Lady The Adventures Of Mrs. Breadsticks The African Queen The Ancient City The Battle Of The Bulge The Boathouse The Caffeinated Cat The Castillo Inn The Chattanoogan Hotel The Continental Hotel Site Landmark The Cricket Chronicles The Cuddle Collab From Target The Day Before The Dis The Disney Blues The Donna The Donna Foundation The Donna Marathon The Economy Inn The Great War The Green Monster The Keys The Lazy Dog The Lodge & Club The Lone Sailor TheMakersMap The Mini Bar The Old Powder House Inn The Passage Water Memorial The Peach State The Perky Pelican Christmas Shoppe The Pioneer Woman The Player's Championship The Players Club The Players Club Sawgrass The Ponte Vedra Inn & Club The Reach Key West The Reach Resort Key West The Reef The Renaissance The Renaissance St. Augustine Historic Downtown Hotel The Saint Augustine Beach House These Are My Christmas Dreams These Are My Dreams These Are My Dreams The Podcast The Settlement The Shoppes Of Avondale The Spark By Hilton The Spark By Hilton St. Augustine Historic District The St. George Inn The St. George Inn St. Augustine The Sunshine State The Tributary The Year Of The Cicada This & That Gifts Tide View Preserve Tide Views Preserve Tile Time Savings Tinis Martini Bar Tinley Park Tinley Park Illinois To Do Downtown Jacksonville To Do In Celebration Florida To Do Jax Beach Togetherness Tolomato Cemetery Tony's Turkey Trot Tonys Turkey Trot Review Tower Of Pizza Tower Of Pizza Key Largo To You And Yours TPC TPC Sawgrass Tracking The Tropics Tradition Traditional Irish Pancakes Trail Of Tears Trail's End Train Depot Train Ride Trains In The 904 Trains Magazine Traumatic Brain Injury Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Travel Trays Full Of Goodness Treasury Street Treasury Street Walking Tour Treats Trick Or Treat Rhinestone Headband Tropical Disturbance Tropical Smoothie Cafe Tropical Storm Debby Trout Creek Trout Creek Community Center Tubi Tucker And Todd Tucker Budzyn Tulips Tumovo Luyan Art Turkey Turtlehead Lake Turtles Turtle Spotting Twistee Treat U-571 Uber UF Health Jacksonville Ugly Cupcake & Muffinry Ulta Products Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier Unboxing United Nations Unity Plaza Universal Endless Summer Universal Epic Universe Universal Orlando Resort University Of Florida University Of Florida Health Jacksonville University Of North Florida Unsalted Butter Upland LLC U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers U.S. Highway 1 U.S. Route 1 Vacation Mode ON Valdosta Valentine's Day Valentines Day Venice Venice Beach Pier Vertical Livestream Veterans Day Veterans Memorial Vicks Vicks VapoRub Vilano Beach Vilano Beach Fishing Pier Vilano Beach Nature Boardwalk Vilano Beach Pavilion Vilano Beach Pier Vilano Coffee Shop Vilano Grill 180 Vilano Road Vilano Town Center Vincennes Vincennes Historic Farmers Market Vincennes Indiana Virtual Railfan Visit Chattanooga Visit Florida Visit Jacksonville Visit St. Augustine Visit St. Marys Vlogmas Vlogmas 2024 Volleyball Volunteer Volunteer - Florida State Parks V Pizza V Pizza Jax Beach Wabash River Waffle House Wake Up The Sun With Me Wake Up With Me Walk Walking Tour Walkover Walk With Me Walnut Street Pedestrian Bridge Walt Disney World War Films War Memorial Warming Centers Watch With Me Watercolor Watercolor Painting Water Columns Water Columns Sculpture Water Park Perk Waterside Suites & Marina WaveMasters Weather Weather Event Week Two Check In Weight Loss Weight Loss Success Weight Maintenance Welcome Wellness Western North Carolina Wetlands WFLA News Channel 8 WhatANut White Bison Coffee White Christmas Whit's Frozen Custard Whits Frozen Custard Whits Jax Beach Who Builds It Better? Wicked Lick Wildfires Willaford Railroad Museum Will County Williams Sonoma Willowbranch Creek Winston Family YMCA Winter Winter 2025 Winter In The South Winter Meals Winter Park Winter Park Florida Winter Storm Winter Wonderland With Love From Florida Wondershop Wood Art Wood Burning Wood Burning Fireplace Wood Slices World Market World Ocean Day World War 1 World War 19 World War II Worst To Best WWI WWI Memorial Xavier Cortada Xray Yacht Basin Park Y'all Yamasi Trail Yarden Tour Ybor CIty Year In Review YMCA YouTube YouTube Anniversary YouTube Community Post YouTuber Youtube Shorts YouTube Update Youtube Video |
RSS Feed
|
_____
My Floridian adventures on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@christinepieper ______ My motivational merch shop! https://christines-floridian-dreams.myspreadshop.com/ ______ © 2025 Christine's Floridian Dreams. |