365

It's been one year since we moved into our extended stay hotel in Tampa. I can't believe it. At times our life here feels completely separate from the life we had up in DC. I love Florida. I love the heat. I love the sunshine and all the animals I see out side (birds walking around everywhere, cows, turtles, manatees). I love the expanse of blue sky and white clouds as I drive. I love that it's me and Dave building a life together in a new place for us both.

 

So many things have happened for us since we moved down here and while it hasn't been all rainbows and sunshine we've grown together and have come out stronger for it. I'm so happy we chose Florida as our home and I'm looking forward to all the memories we will continue to make throughout our years here.

sandy paws

{me and dave and finley somewhere back there swimming}

This past weekend while Janet was in town, we took Finley to his first dog beach. I was a little hesitant because I'm a worrier and I didn't know how he would do. I worried for nothing, per usual, because Finley did AWESOME. He got right in the water, he retrieved tennis balls we threw, and he played well with all the other dogs. Finley swam so much and loved every minute. Dave made him take a couple breaks because he was breathing so hard after so much constant swimming. It made my heart so happy to see how much fun he was having. He was a good boy and listened when it was time to go and let Dave and I hose him off and dry him before we went back to the car. It was a really cool dog beach and I know that we'll be back, next time with shampoo for bathing with the hose afterwards. We're rookies.

 

I'm so glad we went but my car still smells like wet dog. blah.

Beach Week: beach essentials

Sometimes I feel like it takes so much effort to get ready to go to the beach that by the time we get there I'm so tired that I just sit for a good long while. But the packing and hauling is always worth it because I'm never uncomfortable or wishing I had brought something. I made a beach essential checklist so you're always prepared too.

Beach Week: beach day

 

For Memorial Day weekend we of course went to the beach (it wouldn't be complete without a beach trip). We went to Longboat Key to our favorite beach-it's also the one Dave used to go to with his family when he was younger. This place holds a lot of memories for him and is starting to for me as well, since we've been going there ever since we moved here. This time though, we finally made it to the infamous (if only with his family) Omas Pizza. Dave has been talking about this place ever since I've known him, so I was excited to finally go there with him. After our bellies were satisfied we laid out and enjoyed being together in the sun. On the way home we stopped and I got my after the beach traditional Slurpee. I have the most patient husband, because I had to go to two 7 eleven's as the cherry Slurpee machine wasn't working at the first place. It was a great day and I'm looking forward to all the visitors that are coming to visit soon so that we can take them to our favorite beach and explore the town a little more.

Beach Week: snacks

I'm making it 

 here on Bound by Love. Yay!

 

Let's get a little sandy shall we*.

Dave and I have a pretty good system down by now when it comes to packing snacks or lunch for the beach. We usually bring the smaller cooler unless we have friends in town. The small cooler doesn't give us too much room for extras so we're careful about what we bring.

The most important thing to pack is water as it's easy to get dehydrated being in the sun all day. After water, I make us sandwiches: usually I have peanut butter and Dave has roast beef. In the cooler we add any other items that need to remain cold such as my cheese for my cheese and crackers snack. Usually by then our cooler is full and ready to close. With snacks like Doritos and Pringles I'm able to carry then in my regular beach back since they don't need to be cold to enjoy. I also always bring a plastic shopping bag or two for trash and if we find any shells on the beach. It's a good way to consolidate our trash without getting it everywhere or having birds bomb diving our beach bag. These are just the typical snacks we bring and I'm always happy and full!

*I actually hate being sandy aside from my toes in the sand. I hate the feeling of wet sand on my hands or when sand gets into your sun screen. Makes me want to scream. So YOU can get sandy and I'll sit on my beach chair with only my feet in the sand. ok?