absurdly random (just my style)

here's the thing about not posting for eight years (slight exaggeration), i have no idea where to start.

do i highlight the latter end of my florida vacation?

{clearwater beach}

{dunedin and my daddy}

or do i post photos of all the yummy food i've eaten lately? because yes, i am one of those people that likes to document the prettiness of food before i eat it, be it donuts or fancy pants foie gras.

or do i write about the dates that francis (boyfriend) and i have gone on recently?

like to sea salt for fish tacos and cole slaw (oh baby) and a walk around the falls.

or our walk along the mississippi where we were misted by st. anthony falls?

or our first twins game of the season and how i'm convinced we had something to do with their current winning streak?

or our summer cook out and how this photo is totally posed (because let's be honest folks, my job consisted of holding the plate and posing for photos)? francis is a grill master.

or the  incredible french toast my friend chelsea made topped with nutella, syrup, whipped cream, strawberries and banana and how it somehow managed to stay totally calorie and sugar free? (okay, slight exaggeration again.)

or how my usual distaste for sugary beverages (exception: hot chocolate and milkshakes) was thrown out the window with the coconut creme frappaccino? (danggggit...so delicious.)

or introduce my loyal readers (all six of you) to my absolute adoration of absurdly large bows? (pardon the myspace-ish mirror photo.)

or about when my roommate (kate) and i baked cranberry orange scones with white chocolate chips that were rather spectacular?

or about the time i hugged will smith? (not kidding)

or about my absolute and utter obsession with coffee? (i can't imagine this would be a very interesting post, if i actually did choose to blog about it, but it's the truth all the same.)

or do i just ramble and choose all sorts of nonsensical photographs to go along with the ramblings and then hit "publish post"? i think i'll choose the latter.

romping and giggling.

i'm not even sure that romping is a word, but it seemed suitable for alison and my adventures. we giggled and ate. then giggled and romped around. we started the day with coffee, biscuits (how southern) and scrambled egg whites made by miss alison, hostess extraordinaire.

 

then, we road tripped a whole mile to USF's campus (alison's alma mater). their mascot is the bulls and looking through my photos, i realize approximately 87% of them are me posing in front of a bull. the campus was very similar to how i imagine all college campuses are in hot weather - white, open, palm trees, tables outside where students gather... (as opposed to the midwest where students in parkas speedwalk to find the nearest source of heat).

i didn't do much touring of campuses when i was choosing a college. i applied to two schools i was familiar with and badda bing, badda boom. sometimes i wish i had taken the opportunity to see more options. its interesting to me, how different colleges can be, when the intention of education is the same core idea. is there anyone reading who spent time touring colleges and had any good or bad experiences? jaw dropping campuses?

after sipping starbucks around USF, we headed back to alison's to make cupcakes. i made coconut cupcakes with whipped frosting and toasted coconut

 

and alison made carrot cake cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, sprinkled with cinnamon.

then alison's friends joined us for a highly competitive game of putt putt. we played with penalty strokes if your ball left the green and i am embarrassed to admit that i, the one who plays actual golf, came in fourth....of four people, but we had a lot of fun.

we showered and prettied ourselves up for a fancy girls night at bern's steakhouse in downtown tampa. their upstairs is entirely devoted to dessert and wine. (i think this is a must for my someday house, how fun is that?) we were seated in a room filled with cozy booths and our very own piano player.

he played everything from classical to lady gaga and smiled every so often at alison and i giggling and taking pictures like it was our job.

we both ordered apple pie topped with homemade cinnamon ice cream. oh my goodness. it was so fancy and delicious. the crust of pie is my least favorite part so it was a little heavy on the crust but the presentation and apples inside were divine. i also ordered a cup of coffee. i don't remember the exact story, but i think the coffee beans were soaked for a year and then ground and put into my mug. (okay, this may be a slight exaggeration, but it was the best espresso drink i've ever sipped. that's saying something!)

i love fancy nights filled with giggles, silly moments, new inside jokes and telling secrets with a dear friend.

oh, i almost forgot. awkward moment of the night: i had just gotten out of our booth to take a picture of alison, when a man in the booth next to us offered. i excitedly handed him my camera. he said, "i understand, we've been looking for someone to take ours too." i said i would be happy to oblige. he responded, "well, we don't have a camera so we'll have to use yours." i didn't understand at all and waited for him to laugh it off to no avail, but nothing. he went back to his booth and alison and i could hardly contain our giggling. oh the joy of awkwardness.

xo.

florida!

after the cold of the midwest winter, i was beginning to forget what sunshine felt like and feared we may be transitioning straight from winter to fall. thankfully, this trip to florida has made me a believer in sunshine once again. i'm spending the first three days of the trip with my dear friend, alison (my flat mate in london) and the latter part with my dad.

i flew in yesterday and alison picked me up at the airport. we screamed and hugged and received stares from other travelers and it was absolutely marvelous. we headed to the spanish district, ybor and stopped for crepes. (spanish district with french food...oh, the irony.) 

first, i ordered the "la fontina" with turkey, spinach, mushrooms and fontina cheese. it was beyond delicious.

then we split a "romeo and julieta" with nutella, strawberries, banana, whipped cream and powdered sugar. i loved that alison chose a place so charming.

we decided to walk through the district and found a fun thrift store filled with vintage hats, totally appropriate for a royal wedding. it was so much fun, especially since we have a shared love of all things bri-ish.

after our british hats and mexican infused french crepes, we went home and gussied up to go see water for elephants. it was much more intense than i expected it to be but very good, a sweet story. 

we finished the night by meeting alison's friends for a couple of drinks at a local bar. it is still taking some getting used to not having to grab a coat when i leave the apartment, but i'm savoring the sunshine and the time with a dear friend.

off to play "putt putt," as the floridians say (known as mini golf in the midwest). if there is anyone out there reading this, what are you most looking forward to do in the sunshine?

{photos by me}