Tampa Bloggers Meet Up.

Photo courtesy of Meghan.

If you write and/or read blogs or have a twitter account you've probably had one of those moments where you think, 'man, I wish these were my friends in real life'. Nichole and I had that moment and then realized, hey wait, we could be. We started an e-mail thread with other Tampa bloggers to see if they'd be interested in meeting up with us as well and low and behold we weren't the only ones who wanted to be friends.

We met up last Friday night at one of my personal favorites, Fly Bar. It had that feeling of a giant blind date at first but I have to say these girls are awesome! I literally left thinking 'I would hang out with them every weekend'. What I love about bloggers is that they share my love for reading, writing, photos, and fun. I'm looking forward to many more hangouts with these amazing girls in the future. In fact, I'm hosting the next Tampa Bloggers meet up!

If you're a Tampa blogger and you want in on the future action shoot me an e-mail and I'll help you get connected. So excited for new friendships!

Love,

B

And this is my, beautiful life.

While I was so busy with real life I didn't find time to get on the blog, I had my best friend and her husband in town the same weekend as my precious Dad. I'm blessed to get to see both of them on a pretty regular basis but I have to say there is something extra special about having them on my 'turf'. I love to play hostess to those I love the most. I shared with you previously how much it meant to me to have my sister and bro-in-law a few months back (August) and now to have my Dad as well as Candy and Josh - well, I'm getting just plain spoiled.

Out to dinner at Lee Roy Selmons.



Doing a little Florida shopping for their fams back home - these were my idea, clearly. But I got overruled.

Happy One Year Anniversary to my best friend!

Church with my bff.

Grill master.


Quick nighttime trip out to the beach.

I love making memories in my favorite city. It's so fun having company. We also got to catch a Colts game including sideline passes for warms.

Candy, me, and Kayla in the WAY upper deck.

Josh and his two favorite ladies on the sidelines.

Dallas Clark - one of my favorite Colts during warmups.

The only part about this weekend that wasn't perfect was that it had to come to an end. I said a tearful goodbye to my sweet Dad at the buses Monday night after the game and a sleepy but thankful too sleepy to include tears goodbye to my bff on Tuesday morning. So thankful for a perfect weekend and looking forward to being reunited with them all in Decemeber.

Love, B

I'd to Introduce You to...

Old school pic of us at camp years ago. (please excuse my Deion Sanders dew rag)

We've come a long way - here we are in Tampa the day of her interviews.

My new roommate & coworker - the 'other' Bekah, Bekah with a k, B-squared - whichever you prefer. Bekah and I go way back...back to being 5 years old when Bek was about the height I am now and I was you, know, childsized. We spend every summer at camp together with our families and we our friendship grew over the years.

High school and college saw us into a lull in our friendship that we both now regret. As we were busy and distracted and our lives were in two different places and states. But thankfully, we've been reunited for a year now and God has seen fit to bring us even closer still...

Bekah decided a little while back to join my here in Tampa to be my roommate and as of her visit this week, she has been offered and accepted a job at Family First so we will also be coworkers. She may or may not be quickly become the new and better version of me? Ack. But really, I think we make a pretty dynamic team and couldn't be more excited that we will soon be together.

You can also get to know her better on her blog. Yes, we share a home, a place of employment, and a love for blogging, fro yo, getting tan, and of course the same Savior. : ] Pretty fabulous stuff.

Love,

B

A million miles apart...

Many of you who have been reading me for an extended period of time know that living in Florida was my dream...really my first dream that I ever helped come true. I love my life here from my wonderful job & coworkers to my condo to my church and especially my fabulous friends. But there's one aspect of living in Florida that gets hard from time to time.

Living a million miles apart from my family. Obviously, family is a big deal to me. I grew up in a family that was close knit and heck, we had to be. With Dad's given career there wasn't much room for us to be divided. The family that moved together, stayed together - in our case. My sisters were my best friends out of necessity for years and now they remain that way I'm thankful to say. My mom was my teacher among so many things. And Dad, well he was the leader...sometimes more accurately described as the 'ring leader', perhaps.

When I first moved here it was especially weird. I spent the best years of my life in Tampa, with them. I'd drive by our lake house here when I was feeling especially pensive. That house holds the best years of my life. It is filled with memories with my 4 favorite people. There's a part of me that wants to show up on the doorstep one day and demand they give it back.

I think my whole family knew I'd be the one to wander the farthest. I always gravitated towards sunshine and vast expanses of water. Deep down Florida was always the only place I ever felt at home. That being true, no one was too surprised when I ended up here, again. This time to stay. Putting down roots by buying a home here did come with the realization that the distance would be permanent.

I steal time with my family members as often as I can. I'm spoiled rotten with seeing my Dad for work twice per year. And meeting up with the fam for football games to show Dad some love and support. My mom is having more time to travel now that we're all out of the house. Rach & I are making our once yearly sister weekends a tradition. And Ruthie I mostly see at holidays right now, although I hope that my condo may be a draw for her & her friends for spring break!

I'm still struggling through in my mind just how to keep the distance from taking a toll. I remain incredibly close to each of my family members...though Rach and Mom are certainly the two I talk too most. I work hard to make sure they know that distance aside, they are always my priority.

There's a small part of me that does wish I could hope in the car and drive over to Rach's house for dinner whenever I wanted. Or go home and curl up in front of sportscenter with my Dad on Sunday afternoons. Or take my mom out for starbucks every week just to see what she's been up to. Or that taking Ruthie shopping for an outfit for one of her college events didn't require a 2 hour plane ride.

You can't have it all. As always, your best just has to be good enough.

Love,
B

Goodbye January.

Well I'm four days from departure for the Super Bowl. I've officially picked out 2 of the clothing items I'm going to wear. Sadly, they don't even go together. I allowed myself one new outfit...well, part of an outfit (aren't budgets the worst?) for the 'after party' which SHOULD be arriving via UPS tomorrow during the day. I may have to beg my boss to let me do drive bys of the condo every hour tomorrow until it comes. Is that wrong?

To say this weekend didn't go according to plan is a bit of an understatement. We planned to make it to the party early so we could be in bed early BUT Sarah didn't even get to Tampa til almost 9. So, after dinner and the party we finally flung ourself into bed at 12:30 (my idea of early is 10 by the way) for 6 hours of sleep before we had to be up for Gasparilla 2010! It was worth the sleeplessness however, since Gasparilla was WAY more fun this year than last. Last year we walked 10 miles, got sunburns and blisters, AND by the time we were done walking most of the parade was over.

This year we parked on the lawn of my friends house, hung out at their party until 30 minutes after the party started, walked 1 block to the parade and saw as much of the rainy debacle as we desired before walking back to grill out. It was a delish and entirely less tiring and stressful Gasparilla experience. Totally worth the lack of sleep which was made up for when we crawled into bed, well onto the air mattress that is pretending to be my couch for now, to 'watch a movie' and passed out by 8pm. I'm not as young as I used to be!

Oh yeah, you're wondering about the bull-riding huh? Sadly, by the time our business manager responded all the freebie tickets had been taken and our office didn't get any. Tear. So no bulls this year. But honestly, as fun as it would have been - my body is thankful that I let it recover last night from the 5 hour night before. Lame, I know...but so true.

Today was relaxing. I had to be at church early to work the table for Financial Peace which starts near the end of February. We got a great response after the service today and it looks like we'll be busting at the seams with new budgeters this 'term'. After a little recruiting I hit Brio for brunch with Aubs & Sarah before, sadly, Sarah had to return to Jville this afternoon.

I promised myself I would be productive today which apparently translated into vegging watching Criminal Minds, Millionaire Match Maker, and *drum roll* a lifetime movie! BUT in my defense I did fold 3 loads of laundry, change my sheets, balance my checkbook, work on my budget for Feb, workout, read, and pack two cardigans along the way. So today was not a total waste.

Without finishing my last book, I started 'Accidental It Girl' today during my workout. Don't judge me, I was craving some chick-lit in my life. At least it kept me on the bike for 8 miles of uphill riding!

Oh yeah, and did I mention I'm leaving for the Super Bowl in four days!?

Love,
B

Quote of the Week.

'What you are today is the sum total of the choices you have made' - Church Bulletin, Grace Family Church

If you live in Tampa...

Noteworthy goings on in Tampa:

Dove is replacing your used deodorant of another brand with a brand new Dove stick! Just take your old stick to any of the participating salons and trade it in. Also, while you're there - you can get 10% off your services. Not a bad deal at all.

Tampa -

Barbara Forgoine Salon

Hello Beautiful! - Day Spa/Salon

Kennedy Salon & Day Spa

Mane Stop - Hair Salon

More info here.

Love,
B