Florida Again in 2020

Dress (also) || Wedges || Clutch || Earrings || Bracelet

Alright friends! I have the most exciting news to share! No, there’s no pregnancy to announce, even though that’s a knee jerk reaction when you’re newly married and in your 20s. You may have noticed a huge change in scenery from my pristine Upper East Side streets. The colors are brighter and there’s much more flora. Well, that’s because we decided to move back to my beloved St. Petersburg, Florida. We couldn’t be happier!

There are several reasons as to why David and I made this decision. Some day I plan on really going in depth as to why, but until then, I want to share a few key points.

We Absolutely Loved New York

At first, we had some pretty mixed feelings about leaving the place we called home for nearly two years. In a city that is known to spit the weak out, David and I were doing great! Even as a one income family, we were making our financial goals, had an amazing apartment in the Upper East Side, and able to explore so much that the city had to offer. I had a pretty good feeling that NYC wasn’t going to be forever, but we loved every second while we were there.

Our Future Family

Starting a family is never going to be a simple decision. There’s a lot of things to consider and get in order. As you can imagine, all of that would be even more difficult in the Big Apple without family nearby or even a car. The education scene is notorious for being cutthroat starting from Pre-K. In St. Pete all of that is simplified. We’re not planning on starting a family yet, but we now feel more comfortable getting our selves ready. We have more opportunities to save money, buy a home, and have the full support of my family just miles away. Looking at the long term, it just makes sense!

My Own Career

Back in September, I made the extremely personal decision to take a step away from the classroom. I never really found my groove in the NYC school setting and it wouldn’t be fair to my students to already feel frustrated before the school year even began. Since then, I’ve focused more on the blog and landed some freelance opportunities, but couldn’t get fully hired in a new field. The freedom, while I was able to see so much of the city, left me feeling restless and bored. Even though the St. Pete job pool is much smaller, I already have several opportunities around the city to start a new venture.

Some Superficial Reasons

St. Pete is my kind of city. The weather, the people, the overall laidback demeanor truly speaks to both David and me. It’s where I’m from and will always be home, no matter where life takes us. We’ve been back since the beginning of December and feel like we haven’t even skipped one beat. I joke that New York was simply an extremely long vacation. Especially in the first few days home, we’ve visited all of our favorite haunts and I’ve been smiling from ear to ear! My time away has given me a refreshed loved for the Sunshine City and I vow to share more of my adventures along the way.

Now, will we call St. Pete home forever? Honestly, it’s hard to tell. I never want to rule out a new opportunity or adventure with David. What I can tell you is that it feels so good to be back in the sunshine, and even the humidity. Cheers to starting the 2020 back in Florida. You should definitely come along for the ride!

Love from Florida,
Katie

If you are more interested in travel than style, be sure to visit my exclusive travel page, here.