The subject of this post is actually quite misleading … since I took my boyfriend and all. Though, he was one of five men in the theater. But let me back up … Last Thursday night I had the opportunity … Continue reading
The Ultimate Girls Night Out
Tag Archives: florida
“Feed the Fire” with Firehouse Subs (Plus Giveaways!)
Are you hungry? If so, you’re about to be even hungrier. If not, you will be shortly. Last Thursday, I attended the “Friends of Firehouse” event, where I had the opportunity to enjoy dinner with the sub shop’s founders, along … Continue reading
One lovely person nomintaed me for a “One Lovely Blog Award”
It even just sounds lovely, doesn’t it? Yesterday, a fellow blogger, owner and creator of This Florida Life, nominated me for a “One Lovely Blog Award.”
First of all, it means a lot to me that someone whom I’ve never met in person, someone who follows my blog and has a wonderful blog herself, considers Sweet Tea and Skyscrapers a favorite. Second of all, I think the “One Lovely Blog Award” is great because it gives us all a chance to find and follow new blogs that we may not have discovered otherwise.
When I started this blog, I thought it was going to be about my adventures in becoming a “grownup.” I had just started a full-time job in a new city, and I was excited to share my experiences, life changes and travels with cyber-space. However, the more I blog, the more I realize my blog doesn’t fit into just one category. I find myself writing about anything and everything that I do, that I love and that I experience. Whether it’s a new restaurant or new recipe, a favorite vacation spot, a life-changing event, or a party I’ve hosted, I enjoy sharing my life with others and hope someone somewhere out there can relate in one way or another.
Though it’s tough to find the time to blog as much as I would like to, I thoroughly enjoy putting my thoughts into words and keeping an online journal, if for no one else, for myself. I’ve recently made a promise to myself to start blogging at least 2-3 times a week, so to any of my new followers (well, all of my followers), brace yourself. I have a list of posts coming your way!
so, back to the award. The duties of being a “One Lovely Blog” recipient are:
- Acknowledge the lovely person who nominated you.
- Share 7 things about yourself. Anything at all!
- And nominate other blogs for the same award (about a dozen or so.)
Seven things about me:
- My name isn’t a family name, nor does it have a really cool meaning. My mom used to live across from a Blakeley Street in Savannah, GA and thought it would make a great name. So, here I am!
- I can blow spit bubbles from my tongue. It’s my one true talent.
- If I could choose any other talent, I would love to be able to sing. I can listen to music for hours upon hours without tiring. Any genre, any style. I love the sound of instruments playing harmoniously together, the ways that different voices blend to create one unique sound, and the way that so many lyrics feel like they were written just for my life. I’m that person on a road trip that doesn’t want to talk – I want to listen to music and sing at the top of my lungs. It might not sound pretty, but it feels good and makes me happy.
- I LOVE pictures. I love taking them, printing them, hanging them, posting them, scrapbooking …. just having those memories in front of you for life is incredible to me. I also love crafting, painting, drawing, organizing and decorating.
- I’ve secretly always wanted to be a kindergarten teacher. I love my career field and love what I do, but if ever given the opportunity to make a difference is so many children’s lives, I’d take it.
- I’ve never been out of the country. Or to the west coast. In fact, I don’t even own a passport. That needs to change ASAP!
- I am the happiest, luckiest girl in the world. I’ve found my soulmate, have great friends, come from the best family, have the sweetest dog (and sometimes, cat), and I wouldn’t change one thing about my life.
So, with that said, I proudly nominate the following blogs for a “One Lovely Blog Award!”
- Clumsy Crafty Happy
- Starpulp
- The Food Bitch Blog
- Adventures of a Florida Girl
- Carrie with Children
- Stilettos and a Fishing Pole
- Teague FC
- E + K
- Pink Polish Blog
- Swmslo
- Savannah Sweethearts
- I’ve Got My City Girl Shoes On
- Modern Day Cicero
- The Miss Ruiz
- Oh So Savvy Mom
Go ahead … Check them out and follow ‘em! Don’t forget to check out This Florida Life, too!
Photo Journal: Firehouse Subs Family Reunion
Every year, Firehouse Subs Headquarters, the franchisees and their families head down to Orlando for an annual “Family Reunion,” and this year I had the opportunity to tag along since Jimmy now works for Firehouse HQ. And we would be … Continue reading
LEGOLAND Florida and Ticket Giveaway!
Two months ago, I began a new chapter of my life and started a new job with an ad agency, managing the PR and social media for the Southern Ford Dealers, as well as further leveraging existing sponsorships. I knew it would be a great opportunity and come with nice perks, but never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be spending a day “at work” at LEGOLAND Florida!
Before I started this job, I had never even heard of LEGOLAND. When I learned that the Southern Ford Dealers had a partnership with them and began learning more about the park, I pictured it as a small, almost cheesy, kiddie park. Well, my recent visit to Winter Haven, FL proved me completely WRONG. The place is AWESOME! Just shy of nine months old, LEGOLAND Florida is 150 acres of family fun, with over 50 rides, interactive displays and activities tucked away where the former Cypress Gardens once sat. The rides and activities are geared more toward children between the ages of 2 and 12 years old, but that didn’t stop me (or any other adult there) from being in awe the entire time. Every single display, every animal and every statue is completely made of LEGOs. Need a visual? Check out these photos of Miniland USA. These are actual, true-to-scale reproductions of some of the US’s most popular cities, composed 100% of LEGOs!
New York City
The White House. Do you see the Obama’s?!
Pretty awesome, huh? Wait until you see the animals….
Yes, the entire elephant is made up of LEGOs!
You can also find alligators, giraffes, birds and much more. Descriptions and these photos don’t even do justice!
One of the favorite attractions, however, is the Ford Driving School (pretty convenient for us, right?!), which features bumper-style cars that children can drive. After watching a video giving the “rules of the road”, children have the opportunity to drive their Ford cars through a simulated street scene, complete with traffic lights and stop signs. Participants can even take home their own Ford Driver’s License as a souvenir.
Learning the “rules of the road.”
Sorry to burst your bubble, but parents, you don’t get to drive. But that’s what the real thing is for, right?
Had to throw in a shameless photo of the all-new 2013 Ford Escape I checked out before heading into the park. I. Am. In. LOVE. You should totally get one.
And right outside of the Ford Driving School is this bad boy.
A true-to-scale Ford Explorer reinvented and built completely out of LEGO bricks. 382,858 to be exact, weighing in at 2,654 pounds. Check out this freaking amazing time-lapse video of it being constructed. It blows my mind every time I watch it!
There is so much more to see and do at the park that would take me days to write about, including the live shows, killer water park, build and test station and oh-so-much more. The lines aren’t long, there is plenty of shade, restaurants and shops are abundant and admission is extremely reasonable. What more could you ask for in a family outing?
Which is why the Southern Ford Dealers want to send YOU there for FREE! Register on the SFD Facebook Page to win a pair of tickets to LEGOLAND Florida. One winner will be selected at random on Thursday, July 19 at 5 p.m. ET.
The tickets are good through the end of the year. CLICK HERE to enter – it only takes a minute!
Be sure to check out additional photos of my visit to the park below. Good luck, and have fun!
Note: This blog post was in no way sponsored or endorsed by LEGOLAND Florida, Ford Motor Company or the Southern Ford Dealers. This is a personal blog with my own personal onions.
Movie Review: The Amazing Spider-Man
I’ll preface this post by saying: Don’t worry … I’m not going to spoil the movie or drop any hints.
Last night, Jimmy and I had the opportunity to attend a special sneak preview of The Amazing Spider-Man (because 95.1 WAPE rocks my world and hooked me up on Twitter – thank you!) We weren’t too thrilled about having to drive from South Side to Orange Park at the tail end of rush hour, but we sucked it up and headed to the AMC Orange Park 24. Since we both love movies so much and have been pumped to see this flick, the traffic and terrible Jacksonville drivers that use their left turn signal when they’re really turning right didn’t annoy us too much. We arrived at the theater to discover that the movie was being shown in IMAX 3D. How did we not know this? AWESOME!
Growing up, I wasn’t much for action and super hero movies. My dad and two brothers loved them, but getting me to sit through an entire one was pretty much impossible. Not sure when that changed, but now I feel like the kid who would wear the themed T-shirt to the premier of the newest comic-based movie. I really enjoy them!
Let me just go ahead and say that the movie blew me away, from start to finish. The graphics were just unbelievable! Have you ever been to Universal Studios? You know how Terminator and other 3D attractions have unbelievable effects, and you feel like you can grab objects that look like they’re coming out of the screen? Well, that’s how 3D is supposed to be, but most movies struggle with that and aren’t worth the extra money at the box office. Not this one. Each time Spider-Man shot webbing, I thought it was going to stick to me. On top of that, this movie made me realize I have a fear of hights. Remind me to never climb up the side of a skyscraper or jump off a bridge. The only things missing were the vibrating seats and misters during the water scenes!
I wasn’t sure if I was going to like Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man … just didn’t know if he’d be able to live up to the part. He fooled me. I was very surprised by his performance and I actually really enjoyed him in the role! And of course, you can’t go wrong with Emma Stone. She is just brilliant, in my opinion.
There were times I wanted to cry, times I laughed, times I thought I could do backflips and take on a 5-ton lizard-person, and times I feared for Spider-Man’s life. (Not sure why … he’s obviously around for several squeals, since this was about to be how it all began.) I love movies that can have you so involved like that, and leave you feeling like you actually have some sort of connection with the characters.
Jimmy pointed out that the director’s last name was Webb (Marc Webb), which I thought was pretty humorous. I guess he was meant to direct this movie!
So, if you’re hesitant about spending the money on seeing this movie in theaters, suck it up and do it. It’s worth every penny. I’d pay to do it all over again! (In fact, $20 says I will.) But if you’re going to see it, you MUST go all the way and see it in IMAX 3D. There is no other way. And get there early so you can pick a great seat!
What I should have expected during “What to Expect When You’re Expecting”
As promised from yesterday’s post, it’s time for my review of the movie What to Expect When You’re Expecting, in theaters now. We saw it last night (during $6 movie night) and I must say, I was highly impressed! I’m not a movie critic, I wasn’t endorsed by anyone to review this movie, and, in fact, this is the first movie I have ever reviewed. I decided to do so not because I thought it was important for you all to hear my opinion on the movie, but because I was seeing it with my boyfriend and I knew it was going to be a story worth telling. You see, Jimmy and I have been dating for almost three years and are in no hurry to “grow up.” We know we’ll be together forever, and sure, we might decide to tie the knot in upcoming years, but we are in no way, shape or form ready for kids. People always ask, “Wow, isn’t it time to get married?” or “So, when is YOUR big day?” The truth is, we don’t see the need to rush it. We are still young, trying to pay off student loans, just getting settled in our careers … why blow a ton of money we don’t have when we’re already living together and happy as can be? We’d rather save up so we can have the wedding of our dreams without going further into debt. But the real question we just LOVE being asked: “When are you going to have kids? Aren’t you getting to that age?” WHAT? NO! I am 25 and Jimmy is 27!!! I know many people our age are ready to take that step or already have, and that’s just peachy, but we want to travel, spoil ourselves, spend money on expensive things, stay out late .. how would that be fair to our kids? So no, we might be getting to that age, but we aren’t there yet. Don’t get me wrong, I love kids. I have 5 nieces and nephews and two more on the way – and they are my pride and joy. I’m just not ready for my own yet. After all, 30 is the new 20, right?
For those reasons, I knew I had to review this movie. Or really, review the reactions. Jimmy’s reactions.
You can often tell what kind of movie you’re about to watch based on the previews. In this case, they showed previews for a dancing movie, a few other corny flicks .. and Magic Mike. Channing Tatum AND Matthew McConaughey in one movie?
(Pause for a picture break…. it’s okay to drool)
I knew it was going to be good. The film started off by introducing the four main couples: One trying to have a baby, one not trying but is happy when they find out they’re expecting, one trying to adopt and the other nowhere near ready for parenthood. The scenarios are cheesy, quirky and cute, and, even if you haven’t had a kid (which obviously I haven’t) you can still relate to at least one of the characters in some way. They build on each of the couples’ relationships and show each of their reactions when they find out they are pregnant. Jimmy had been holding my hand this whole time, and when something sweet happened, he’d lean over and kiss my cheek. Or when something funny or feel-good happened, he’d squeeze my hand a little tighter. But about halfway through the movie when all the romance was over, the women started having pregnancy symptoms and the husbands got together for weekly “man walks” (a.k.a. bitch-sessions, which were hilarious), Jimmy let go of my hand and kept a disgusted look on his face. I mean, you should have seen the look on his face when one of the dads in the movie said, “You don’t know true love until you’ve wiped your kid’s ass.” It was priceless! When it was time for the babies to arrive, I caught Jimmy on the far edge of his seat, as far away from me as he could get without moving seats, and I heard a few “yuck” noises coming from him. DRAMA KING!!!! I could barely pay attention to the movie because I was laughing so hard.
So here I am, really into this movie, smiling with tears running down my face, and there’s Jimmy. Curled in a ball imagining his life coming to an end. As we were leaving the theater, I heard other viewers saying things like, “I’m going to go get pregnancy right now! Well, no. I’m not. But I would.” And, “That was so cute! I have to bring my mom to see it.” But Jimmy …. Jimmy said, “That was funny, but I’m gonna have nightmares for weeks!” And then I cracked up again.
So yes, the movie was adorable and I highly recommend seeing it, either in theaters or when it comes out on DVD in two months. It was sweet, funny, witty, serious and sad at a few times, and an all-around entertaining romantic comedy. But if you go with a guy that has fears about his life coming to an end because he has kids before he’s ready, you might want to rethink your movie decision, go see The Avengers instead, and wait and see it with your girlfriends!
I think we’ll just stick to our dog, Lexie, for the time being. The two of them are enough to keep up with! (I’m guessing they were really into some TV show.)
Tuesday Movieday
Growing up, my family had a “movie night” at least once a week. We would either rent a movie (remember when you could actually walk into your local video rental store, browse movies and pick out the one you wanted to watch?) and have an appetizer picnic in the living room, or we would go to the movie theater, enjoy popcorn, sodas and candy (back before if would cost at least $30 for these three things) and enjoy a night out. Sure, many people enjoy movies. But it’s rare to find someone else who wants to go to the theater to see a movie or spend a Friday night at home watching a flick. It’s also hard to find someone else who enjoys watching all types of movies. So, when Jimmy and I first started dating and I realized he loved movies as much as I did and was as easily entertained by nearly any movie like me, I knew we were going to work out.
We’d go see movies pretty frequently, but after a while it really started breaking the bank (with movies at $9-12 a person, it gets pretty dang expensive!) When we moved in together on the south side area, we discovered that Cinemark Tinseltown offers $6 movies every Tuesday. Yes, you heard right. $6!! We were as happy as pigs in mud when we heard of this news! So, for the past year-and-a-half, seeing a movie on Tuesday has become a weekly tradition for us. Of course, if there is nothing good enough to spend the money on at the time, we will skip that week and find something on Netflix or on the Roku. But that isn’t the case this time of year. Right now, all of the action movies (or “popcorn flicks,” as J likes to call them), rom coms and cheesy chick-flicks are coming out. We have a hard time picking out which one we want to see!
Our past few movies include: The Hunger Games (AMAZING, especially if you read the book), Cabin in the Woods (dumb), The Avengers (awesome – and I thought I would hate it) and The Five-Year Engagement (cute, but slightly drawn out). I have been dying to see The Lucky One but for some reason, I keep letting Jimmy pick the movies. And, unless we’re up for a double feature tonight, I don’t think I will be seeing that one in theaters. Tonight we are seeing What to Expect When You’re Expecting and let me tell you, I am pumped! A, because it looks hilarious and B, because Jimmy is excited to see it, too! I have heard great things about it, but I’m excited to see for myself. I will post a brief review about it tonight or tomorrow. No, I’m not a movie critic or expert, but more often than not, the best reviews come from a friend or from someone with similar taste.
Have you seen What to Expect When You’re Expecting? Or maybe another movie in theaters right now that you would recommend? I love suggestions!
Beginning a New Chapter
Today is very bittersweet for me. It’s a Monday, which typically isn’t the best of days for anyone, nor is it a day that many look forward to. I can’t say that I have been looking forward to this Monday, … Continue reading
Restaurant Review: Corner Bistro and Wine Bar
Ahh, brunch. That is one six-letter word that brings a smile to my face. Jimmy and I love Sunday brunch – it’s basically what we look forward to all week. Okay well, we don’t do brunch every week, but we would if … Continue reading
