Category: Ugly Cupcake & Muffinry

3/30/2020 0 Comments

#62) PERSPECTIVE @ Seaside Sculpture Park

Perspective: Of all the vantage points one can view the world from, of all the view points one can believe in - perspective - may be one of the most valuable sights of them all.

CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE ~ CHANGE YOUR LIFE

It’s vitally important, and maybe now more than ever before for many, to consider your perspective.

Because it shouldn’t be:
What CAN’T you do while sheltering in place? Or, in quarantine, or while practicing social distancing?
It’s definitely much more like this:
What CAN you do?

If you’re stuck at home right now - maybe you’re doing your part to either not catch or spread the Coronavirus...

The question should be:
How can I make the most of the situation I find myself in?
Instead of: What the heck am I supposed to do now?!

And instead of:
Constantly complaining over all the little things?
It should definitely be much more like this:
What little thing can I be grateful for today?

And when we stress over all the INCONSISTENCIES in our life….
All the UNPREDICTABLY...
All the UNCERTAINTIES over the future…

We should instead be focused on TODAY…

To live in the moment. To appreciate our life. To be present in the here and now.

What can we LEARN from today?
What can we APPRECIATE today?
What can we CREATE today?
What kind of ADVENTURE can we go on today?

What SMALL thing, right in front of our eyes - can we turn into our EVERY THING?

When, in your current reality, it may be more like this:
What can I focus on today… to simply make it through the day alive?

You see, in order to make it through a situation successfully, historically, people who survive intact and come out living and breathing on the other end, have focused on the little things. Whether it’s second by second, minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day, week by week, month by month, and year by year. Focus entirely needs to be on the present moment. And the simple routine of daily life. And then, those simple and small moments, add up to perseverance, add up to survival, and add up to the journey, and to life itself.

And right now, amidst all the uncertainty of the CoVid19 pandemic, many people are stuck at home. Many people are confined and sheltering-in-place. Many people are alone. Many people are bored. Many people are working their behinds off. Many - countless people - on the front lines of this world war, are stressed to the max, while literally putting their lives on the line for others. And many people - whatever they are doing, or not doing - are trying to make it through another day on this, our Earth.

So, as I write about the little things in life - today, I wanted to finally take the time to highlight a very small, and a very special park, on a lovely little street corner in my little beach town.

Yes - There’s a great little park in Jax Beach that you should definitely check out in the future.

And unless you and your area is currently under a shelter-in-place order or official quarantine, etc., my guess is that you’ll still be trying to get some fresh air at some point each day. While making every effort to stay home as well.

We are still going to the grocery store, and picking up take out, and going to pharmacies, and getting fuel in the car. And lots of people are still in need of walking their dogs. And many who are able are going for walks themselves.

So the really great thing about this seaside park is the fact that it has absolutely nothing that you should or need to be actually physically touching in any way. It’s all sculpture. It’s all art. On display. It’s all to look at. It’s all to gaze upon. It’s a great place to safely get some fresh air while you may be practicing social distancing. It’s located directly next door to the Ugly Cupcake & Muffinry. And most importantly, of course, it’s right on the oceanfront.

So, no need to worry about spreading or catching germs while gazing at beautiful art in the fresh coastal air.

Seaside Sculpture Park, located @ 480 1st Street South, in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, really is one of the little hidden gems in this small coastal town I call home.

I’ve been frequenting this park since moving to Florida. And I have watched the art get changed out many times. Sometimes, the piece of art proudly on display becomes so commonplace and usual and ordinary to life on 1st Street - and blended seamlessly into the surrounding scenery, that when a sculpture gets changed out for something new, there's a fictitious and dramatic or literal uproar in town.

In fact, right now there are Nemo fish on display. And a sea turtle. There used to be a copper looking shrimp, and there used to be a skeleton - that everyone misses. Right now there's a metal looking pipe that looks, to me, just like the Pixar logo lamp. And currently, I’ve become so used to the Nemo fish, that when they leave, I will be the one in an uproar.

Well, not really. But all kidding aside, when the Nemo fish came, I started to call the park the Nemo Fish Park - instead of its rightful and real name. And that’s now what it always will be to me.

Seaside Sculpture Park is run by the University of North Florida. More specifically, the UNF Department of Art & Design. The actual UNF campus is a little bit over the bridge and inland to the west, located very close to the St. John Town Center. UNF has a beautiful and sprawling, vast piece of land that the entire campus sits upon. With swamps and trails and lots of wildlife, all surrounding the campus buildings, offices, and dorms.

And about as many times as I’ve driven past the campus, I’ve visited my Nemo Fish Park about a thousand times more than that.

My dog also loves the park. And if you’ve got a dog right now in the current apocalypse spreading before us, they definitely still need to get their daily walk in.

So if you’re local, I’d highly recommend checking out this adorable and free park.

And if you’re much farther away, my recommendation is to find the small park in your own town. To think outside the box. And then go ahead and get outside of your own box. And breathe some fresh air into your lungs. In a safe and common sense kind of way. Yes, there are lots of areas on complete lockdown, quarantine, and shelter-in-place, etc. And always heed the warnings of your locality. But if you’re not under direction right now, you should consider stepping outside. Keep your distance. And get in a lovely walk. Maybe to a lovely park.

Because, as you may be cooped up at home, it doesn't mean you still shouldn’t live. And breathe. And feel the sun on your skin.

So, go ahead and get out there. Go ahead and change your vantage point. Go ahead and change your point of view. Go ahead and change your perspective. And go ahead and change your life.

You can keep social distance, you can follow all the guidelines, you can gaze upon without touching, you can breathe in the fresh air, and you can look at all the beauty around you.

Because, maybe instead of:
I’m stuck in the house with nothing to do and nowhere to go.
It can actually be:
Today, I’m going for a walk to Seaside Sculpture Park. And I’ll look at the Nemo Fish, while I look up at the sky. And watch the birds fly overhead. And I’ll see all the other dogs being walked.

Because maybe while Mother Nature certainly can be a beast and an evil villain, she can also most certainly be the true heroine of your own amazing story. ~

Author:

Christine Pieper is an Artist and Lifestyle Blogger, living, writing, and painting in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, with her hubby and eight year old puppy. She made a major life change in 2017 by uprooting and moving from Illinois to the Sunshine State, and has been living her best life in Florida since - detailing all her many and varied adventures living and traveling the Deep South to share with you. Her mission is to help you live YOUR best life - by getting out there, going for it, and making that big change you always dreamed of. Christine will inspire you to get over yourself, show up for yourself, and get out of your own way. The only one stopping you - is YOU.

To catch all of Christine’s Floridian Dreams, sign up your email below now.

What hidden gem in your town have you discovered since the Coronavirus took precedent over all our lives? I’d love to know. Drop me a comment down below:

Hey you! Over there! Yes, you - the one with the different perspective… go ahead and check out some more inspirational stories right here:
3] The Dog Days Of Endless Summer
5] The Reef On SR A1A: Worth Pulling Over For
8] It’s Fall ~ In Florida ~ Y’all!
11] Eleven South Bistro & Bar ~~ Supper Club Of The South
18] Sea & Sky Jax Weekend ~ Fun In The Florida Sun, Sea, Sky & Sand
21] Cinotti’s ~ And Why Life Is Too Short To Not Eat Donuts
23] Faith ~ And Life Lessons Learned Living With Wild & Untamable Hair
26] Deck The Chairs ~ BE THAT CHANGE YOU WISH TO SEE IN THIS OUR VERY OWN AND SHAREABLE WORLD
27] Thanksgiving & Pete’s Bar ~ Not All Resolutions Need Be Fulfilled On January First
28] The Scent of Christmas in the Air
34] Merry Christmas ~ And How To Buy For That Person On Your List Who Saved Your Life ~
36] The End Of A Decade & My New Year’s Wish To You ~
37] New Year/New 007 ~ Here’s 20 Tips That Will Have You Seeing 20/20 In 2020 ~
39] The Very Official & Quite Serious Donut Debate Of 2020
41] Minnie The Daschund Mouse & Her Birthday Wish
49] A Picture Worth A Thousand Words ~ Happy Valentine’s Day, World
51] Life Is Full Of Pasta-Bilities ~ Bean’s Red Sauce Recipe
55] The Shamrock

Plus - if you’re looking for further ways to help you through this Corona Crisis that we find ourselves in right now - check out the below posts for a few more ideas:
58] Bean’s Corona Kickin’ Chicken
59] REACTION ~ To World War 19
60] Welcome To Muffin Land ~ The Ugly Cupcake & Muffinry
61] Bean’s Idea List ~ 15 Daily Activities For Well Beyond 15 Days

And for some more artistic adventures - check out the links below:
2] 3 Wows Plus 1 Piece Of Magic I Experienced At Jacksonville, Florida’s Cummer Museum Of Art & Gardens
14] Finding Trinkets & Treasures @ The Jax Beach Vintage Flea Market
22] Saturday On San Pablo Island
24] In Real Life ~ My First Visit To A Southern Living Idea House
31] Tuesday’s On First Street ~ The Jax Beach Art Walk ~
32] Jolly Holiday In Jarboe Park ~ The Beaches Green Market
48] Love & Donuts In The Air @ Beaches For Australia

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3/23/2020 0 Comments

#60) Welcome To Muffin Land ~ The Ugly Cupcake & Muffinry

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This cafe is the absolute cutest place in town. I’ve been before. But I’ve never been during the Apocalypse...I’ve never been during WW19.

So, I’ll give it a whirl, I thought. And better yet, I’ll go, and then tell you all about it. So that you can also consider giving them a whirl on your next morning looking to support a local business, and when you want a fabulous cappuccino too.

So according to Facebook and Instagram, The Muffinry was currently open and inviting us to come on over and pick up some take-out. While indoor dining is not allowed at any restaurant in the state of Florida right now, lots and lots of restaurants, coffee shops, diners, cafes, etc. are still trying to stay alive. They are trying to keep their operations up and running. But most of all and very importantly, they are trying to keep America both alive and fed during this Conona Crisis, and at the same time, keep our spirits up.

The very least I can do is try to patronize local businesses in return. After all, I gotta eat any way you slice my ugly muffin.

So, on this beautiful day at the beach, we went for a lovely walk. The sea mist was beautiful and refreshing. Lots of people out and about walking and biking on the local strip. Countless dogs being walked.

And as we approached The Muffinry, I saw people picking up their order and walking to their cars. The beautiful and picturesque exterior of the cafe is beyond charming. I was so appreciative of everything I saw. Life was happening - still - all around me.

Yes, any day and every day can be the best day of one’s life.

The Ugly Cupcake & Muffinry is housed in an absolutely charming old house. About a block from the beach. And yes once again, their location is beyond priceless.

Surrounded by other homes, condos, sidewalks, and inviting and open parks, with the ocean on the horizon, The Ugly Cupcake has all the feels that perfectly define the local beach community here in Jax.

They have outdoor seating tables and chairs and umbrellas. Now just sitting there - waiting to be used when life is “normal” again. When we can un-social distance ourselves from one another.

The property entryway is lined with a white picket fence post front gate, which welcomes you into their front yard.

We were greeted immediately, outside at the front porch. They welcomed us inside and said we could come in if we wanted. We went in to pay and their payment Square is just inside the open front door anyway. But they have it set up to pay that you’re “inside” but not inside the building if you don’t need or want to go any further. While we obviously could not eat inside, I have been here many times, and never have eaten inside. The outside is sooo adorable, and besides, it’s Florida y’all. We are always outside anyway.

Pet-friendly establishment!

Always, such a friendly establishment every time I’ve been - but this day was even better. I was so glad we could chat with them a bit, before continuing on our walk back home. They informed us they have yet to lay off even one employee - as of my visit on Sunday, March 22. And that they are actively donating during this crisis through their newly implemented program entitled “Muffin But Love” - and I just love that.

They are truly helping pay if forward in this great time of need. 100% of the gratuity added to each check is being used entirely to pay it forward. So, if you go, please tip what you can give. They are putting that money to make food to pass on to those in the local community who have been affected by this new and unforeseen crisis, such as business and restaurant and bar workers who have since found themselves abruptly unemployed.

And While The Ugly Cupcake has recently since been restricting their dining to take-out throughout the Corona Crisis, they have still been publicizing daily on their social media about their daily muffin specials. Fresh and very healthy muffins made fresh daily.

Muffins used to be on display behind this case - but for food sanitation purposes they are not in the back in the kitchen.

And on a somewhat sad note, according to their social media, starting this week they are closing their doors to customers almost entirely for the unforeseen future of this crisis. They will still be available, but through online order, with pick-ups once or twice a week. As they are trying to do their part to limit interactions and help stop the spread. But on a positive note - this is adaptation. This is the way forward. This is innovation. To stay alive. To stay functioning. We all must change in some way to persevere in an ever-changing environment.

If you’re local during this crisis, please consider this wonderful and friendly and local community small business establishment. The next time you need a meal to go, a meal at home that you are too tired to cook for, or simply need to get out of your self-quarantine for a bit when going to the grocery store or pharmacy. Go ahead and place an online order. Stop by and pick up during the scheduled times they set.

The Ugly Cupcake has lots of other foods beyond muffins. I’ve had it all before. And I’ll be happy to come back and review their hot menu for y’all once their kitchen is open to the public again.

But for purposes of this visit, we got their basics. We picked up a bag of muffins and two coffees. Specifically, we ordered two blueberry muffins and two double chocolate muffins. I then ordered a large 16 oz. cappuccino and hubby ordered and the large cold brew iced coffee with some really cool coffee ice cubes inside it - the creative way of not having one’s cold coffee get watered down is genius to coffee fans.

Doggie muffin!

Blueberry muffin.

Double chocolate muffin.

And, of course, because it would not be a visit to the Muffinry without something special happen, they sent us away with a dog muffin as a treat. What a special place in our local community. And as I write this review with joy and love and happiness, I can’t help but feel the sadness still ahead of us through this pandemic. An economic and societal crisis that is really only truly beginning. The ripple effect of everything that has occurred is sending shock waves throughout the world. To receive the doggy muffin during such times touched my heart.

I’ll be back. When they open up again. I’ll be back for a full and thorough dining review - with a hot breakfast out on the porch. Oh yeah - side note - while we could not go upstairs this day due to the statewide indoor dining ban, The Muffinry does have an upstairs, outdoor porch. Breathtaking views await us all at their reopening.

In the interim, if you’re here in town, go ahead and place a take-out order. Help pay it forward to our wonderful and amazing local community when you add gratuity to your check. Say hello. Say thank you. Stop to have a conversation. Remembering all the humans that are part of our shared and beautiful humanity, while you have yourself a very large - and very ugly - muffin. ~

Author:

Christine Pieper is an Artist and Lifestyle Blogger, living, writing, and painting in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, with her hubby and eight year old puppy. She made a major life change in 2017 by uprooting and moving from Illinois to the Sunshine State, and has been living her best life in Florida since - detailing all her many and varied adventures living and traveling the Deep South to share with you. Her mission is to help you live YOUR best life - by getting out there, going for it, and making that big change you always dreamed of. Christine will inspire you to get over yourself, show up for yourself, and get out of your own way. The only one stopping you - is YOU.

To catch all of Christine’s Floridian Dreams, sign up your email below now.

*Have you been to The Ugly Cupcake? What small businesses are you supporting during this Corona Apocalypse? I’d love to know. Drop me a comment down below:

Hey there, my fellow cupcake lovers - here’s some more local bakery, diner, and coffee shop reviews for you, all located right here in the Jax, FL area:
9] Sago Coffee: A Cup Of Friendly & Flavorful Florida
*Part of ~ Bean’s Coffee Shop Challenge ~
16] Beach Diner ~ If You Feed Them They Will Come
19] Another Broken Egg Cafe ~ A Taste Of NOLA @ The Beach
21] Cinotti’s ~ And Why Life Is Too Short To Not Eat Donuts
39] The Very Official & Quite Serious Donut Debate Of 2020
48] Love & Donuts In The Air @ Beaches For Australia
50] Sundays Are For Diners ~ Super Diners
57] First Watch on the First Coast

Plus - check out these other fun adventures below - all from my Floridian Dreams:
2] 3 Wows Plus 1 Piece Of Magic I Experienced At Jacksonville, Florida’s Cummer Museum Of Art & Gardens
3] The Dog Days Of Endless Summer
8] It’s Fall ~ In Florida ~ Y’all!
11] Eleven South Bistro & Bar ~~ Supper Club Of The South
12] Paint N’ Pints @ Intuition Ale Works ~ Downtown Jacksonville, FL
14] Finding Trinkets & Treasures @ The Jax Beach Vintage Flea Market
15] V Pizza ~ The Very Best Pizza In Jax Beach!
*Part of ~ Bean’s Best ~ Award Winner 2019
18] Sea & Sky Jax Weekend ~ Fun In The Florida Sun, Sea, Sky & Sand
22] Saturday On San Pablo Island
31] Tuesday’s On First Street ~ The Jax Beach Art Walk ~
32] Jolly Holiday In Jarboe Park ~ The Beaches Green Market
36] The End Of A Decade & My New Year’s Wish To You ~
40] Visiting The Florida Cracker Kitchen ~ Jacksonville
44] Nothing Finer Than Coffee In The Keys ~ The Coffee Plantation Cafe
45] Dessert First, My Friends ~ Cantina Louie
52] Keeping Cool - And Creamy ~ In Key West
53] Totally Terrific & Tasty Thai @ Blue Orchid Thai Cuisine
54] Um, Open @ Angie’s Subs

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#62) PERSPECTIVE @ Seaside Sculpture Park

#60) Welcome To Muffin Land ~ The Ugly Cupcake & Muffinry

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