little debby.

Dear Debby, 

You were the little storm that could. Thank you for your rain, your wind and your gusto. It was the perfect way to end my week-and-a-half long break. You provided me with relaxation, cozy time in bed with a book (or three), the opportunity to see two movies at the theater, and the longing for winter. You were just what I needed. But...you are on your way now, and I am happy to see the sunshine again.

Love,
This little Floridian

rainy disney world shenanigans.

Last Monday I went to Disney World with my friends Jen and Sherri. They are sisters (you really couldn't tell, could you? ;-), and some of the sweetest people I know. 

We made plans to go to Disney World at the beginning of March because we hadn't seen each other for a while, and we determined that we would hang out even if there wasn't a concert happening as an excuse for us to see each other. Jen has a friend who works at Disney World, so she was able to get three free park hopper passes (try saying that 10 times fast) for one day. Considering the fact that Sherri and I are both poor college kids, this was amazing news! Especially since Disney World is extremely overrated. What? It's true!

I had been checking up on the weather every day like it was my job or something to make sure that we would have perfect weather for the adventures that awaited us. We did.

Until I checked the forecast the before our adventure and the stupid percentage for rain went from 30% to 80%. 

Eighty-stinkin'-percent. 

Shoot...

After calling Jen up we decided that we were Floridians and a little rain couldn't hurt, and definitely wasn't going to put a damper on our day. Hee hee. I immediately ran out that evening and bought a poncho from good 'ole Walgreens. I was set and ready to go for the fun and craziness and sogginess that would ensue.

6:45 the next morning...I'm on my way and it starts POURING the moment I walk out my front door. Pours all the way to the notorious Orlando toll plaza, and lets up about 20 minutes before I get onto Disney property. So goes the story of the rest of our day...rains just enough for us to get wet, but doesn't pour quite enough to make us feel like we're miserable. Until we get under a covered area and the heavens open up. It never failed. Thanks, God! I know that's cheesy, but that's the way I saw it throughout the day.

Anyways, we started at Hollywood Studios. Can we please have a moment of silence for the greatness that once was MGM? Thank you. Moving on...
We got our passes, and decided that while we were there we would ride Rockin' Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror. They were both just as amazing as I remembered. Even though Tower of Terror did scare the life out of me for 2.5 seconds and made my heart pound way more than I ever thought it did. I might be getting old...

Then we made our way to Magic Kingdom and visited The Haunted Mansion. I hadn't been on that ride in ages, and they changed my favorite part. It was still silly, though. Jen and I even managed to have a mini-dance party in our cars. It was amazing. We wanted to go on Splash and Thunder Mountain, but they were closed because of lightning, so we ended up going on the tea cups. Note to self: Don't ride the tea cups with a poncho on. You will choke and feel like you're going to throw up. After that we grabbed some fast passes for Space Mountain, and decided to go eat lunch while we waited. By the time we were done eating lunch it was time for us to take a ride through space. After we were done with that, Splash and Thunder Mountain were opened again with about 20 minute wait times so we hopped in line and rode the both of them. After that we headed on over to Pirates of the Caribbean and literally walked right on. There was absolutely no wait at all. It was amazing.

After that we headed on over to Animal Kingdom and it was only 4:00, so we still had plenty of time to do what we really came there to do. I had my mind set on one place, and one place only. Expedition Everest! It was raining pretty hard by the time we got to Animal Kingdom, and the days activities were beginning to wear on us, but we were still pumped up about getting to experience the BIG mountain for the first time. There was only a five minute wait, so we walked right on. There was definitely not enough time to prepare for what we were about to endure. Especially after I saw the huge incline and my stomach dropped. Not to worry, though. It was everything and more than I hoped it would be. It was stinkin' incredible! So incredible, in fact, that we had to ride it again immediately after. We also watched the show in the tree of life. It was interesting and gave me the creepy crawly feeling. If you know what I'm saying... ;-)

Afterward we headed back to Hollywood Studios to hop into our warm cars and go grab some dinner at a Bob Evans off of Disney property. We warmed our bellies with food and drink, and warmed our hearts with conversation. We sat in Jen's car for a little bit and had a mini-listening party to Jason Gray's new EP. After all, it was his music that paved the way to my formed friendship with Jen, it was only right that he be a small part of our day. 

After our listening party, we both went our separate directions with memories of that one rainy day at Disney world to last us for a very long time.

hi-ho! hi-ho!

Sometimes it really is wonderful to live in Florida. It isn't very often that you'll hear me say that, because there really isn't that much that I love about this state. 

Until I have a trip to Disney World planned.

It doesn't matter how many times I've been there throughout my life. It really is the most magical place ever, and I'm so excited to have a trip planned there with my friend Jen a week from today. We know where we'll start, but we have no idea where we'll end, and I'm totally okay with that. The joys of spontaneity! 

I'll come back, I'm sure, with many stories and pictures to share and I can't wait!

What are your must do's at Disney World?

over the weekend.

-I went camping in the middle of the state and got to hang out with some pretty adorable children.

-Ate more food then should probably be legal.

-Gained a few pounds that will promptly be lost.

-Got a break from homework and other crazy things.

-Spent hours playing Apples to Apples.

-Smelled like a campfire 99.9% of the time.

-Probably ingested about a pound of dirt and ash.

-Went on a six mile walk.

-Biked 4 1/2 miles.

-Got a foot massage. Yes, it's true...

-Laughed like it was going out of style.

the past couple of weeks in picture.

I've been snapped a few photos over the past couple of weeks that sort of explains what has been going on in my life lately. I figured it would be kind of fun to share them with you guys, so here you go!

Cold weather. Christmas baking. Christmas wrapping. Christmas music. Christmas decorations. I'm definitely in the Christmas spirit these days. It seems as if I've happily turned into a Christmas elf.

What have you been doing for the days leading up to Christmas?

Happy Belated Memorial Day, my friends!

I hope you all got to do something fun and summery, but also remembering the reason why we have a day to celebrate, and remember our freedom and the people who gave their lives for us.

Being that this was my last weekend at home before I set off on my adventure, I spent tons of time with my family. Yesterday all of my step-siblings and my step-dad went to the beach together. It was a great day to play in the water, ride the waves, eat sandwiches on the beach, search for sand fleas to fish with, feel the sand between our toes, have a mini photoshoot with my step-sister, and spend the day/weekend at the beach before I will be thousands of miles away from something that I've become so comfortable with having right at my reach.

The beach is something that I've taken for granted over the years, and I've learned that it's not all that it's cracked up to be. From rip currents, to seaweed, to salt water in your eyes, sand in your bathing suit, sea lice, jelly fish, sharks, and all of the other crazy things that lurk out in the ocean, it's left little to be desired by me. However, it was lovely to just throw all of that out the window yesterday and enjoy every second of my time there. Even if I got more sea lice then I did on Saturday, and my tummy is itching like crazy from it. Or the fact that I've gotten the worst sunburn I've had in over two years..I can truthfully say it was totally worth it.

Dearest South Florida beaches, I will miss you...

missing something.

As promised, a list of things I always miss during fall.

1. The changing of leaves. I have ever only have seen the change of leaves once in my life. I was a little girl. I got a little hint of it back in September when I went to New Jersey, but everything was still green for the most part.

2. Apple picking. No apple trees here.

3. Various fall festivals. Things are just done so differently here. Spend a fall in Florida. You'll notice it immediately. I think i'm really a displaced northerner. Ahh, well...

Also! Update: I wore my sweater today and got tons of compliments on it. It was a hit. I'll have to do it again soon. The scarf was no good. I hope to wear it for our next cold front. Also go to spend some time in front of our fire in the backyard last night. This weather is just too perfect. This is when I come alive.

fabulous fall.

it's here! it's here! i have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of this cool/cold front all week long. it is in the 70's right outside my window.

i know, i know. all my northern friends are probably laughing at me because that's probably something like their summer. what can I say? i'm just a floridian who gets excited at just the tiniest hint of something that resembles cooler weather. today marks the first day of weather that is finally below 90 degrees since summer. today marks the first day of fall in my books.

i have never lived anywhere else in my life, but i do know that when weather like this comes around, the neighborhood springs to life. you see people walking all around the place, enjoying the fresh air they have so desperately been missing since the start of summer. this is our time!

and! the food in my house suddenly changes. we put the burgers and barbeque away and bring out the pork chops and pumpkin pies and PUMPKIN BREAD! that's right! we are making pumpkin bread today. we had pumpkin pie a couple weeks ago, but i can officially get excited about these things. all because it says 73 on my termometer. yes yes yes! things are looking up!

also! i said a few days ago i would post about things i miss during the fall because i never get to experience them. well, i forgot about it until yesterday. just didn't want to put a damper on my fall party i'm having here. so that will be tomorrow!

hope you are having a fabulous fall day, friends!