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Some New Found Hobbies

April 22, 2020

Some New Found Hobbies

Hobbies, Work from Home, Photography, Hobby

“All work and no play makes quarantine a dull time.” Or I think that’s how the saying goes. Since David and I have the luxury of working from home right now, it’s sometimes hard to find that clear separation between business and relaxation. Luckily, I’ve been able to work at this for over a month now and I think I’ve found some relief. It’s not particularly earth shattering information, but finding a new hobby during this time can help your attitude in a wide variety of ways. It gives you something to look forward to and can be a substitute for your normal routine. Since I’m not quite sure when I’ll feel like things are back to normal, here’s some new found hobbies I’ve found in the the Spring of 2020.

Learn a New Language

I’ve been brushing up on my Spanish intermittently for a few months to prep for our June trip to Peru. Unfortunately, we ultimately decided to cancel the trip and plan on rescheduling when we feel the time is right. There’s still a hopeful trip to Ecuador in September for a family wedding to look forward to. Even if there was nothing on the horizon, I think having basic Spanish mastered is such a vital skill, especially in Florida. I’ve personally been using Duolingo. While I don’t know if I’ll ever be fluent in a second language, I think it lowered the language barrier on my trips to both France and Italy.

Make a New Cocktail

Still trying to keep some boundaries, I try and limit my cocktails to Friday and Saturday evening. Going to the local bars was part of our normal routine. Instead of pouring a standard drink, I’m practicing my mixologist skills and making drinks a little bit out of my comfort zone. One of my favorite sources is the Coastal Living ‘Beach Cocktails’ book. It has fun, tropically inspired drinks that both David and I would enjoy. If you have a favorite Quarantine Cocktail, feel free to share!

Give Photography a Try

Recently, I’ve decided to get on the other side of the camera and take a stab at photography. I’ve been editing my own pictures since the get-go of this little blog, but this prospect has given me a new layer of creative freedom. While I’m at home, I take a designated daily walk. Even if it’s just around the neighborhood, I have camera in hand, ready to capture the beautiful side of St. Pete. I think it adds something interesting to my Instagram page, too. Now you’ll see more about my day and where I live. It’s a small adjustment, but I feel less vain too.

Begin Creative Consulting

My new hobby for photography, and its bright aesthetic, has recently caught the eye of some of my favorite St. Pete businesses. It’s even stemmed into some freelance work. Because I love the idea of working with local businesses, and want to contribute more, I decided to launch Orange to Apple Creative. The goal is to create more cheerful content from my corner of the Sunshine State and get new businesses noticed. If that sounds like you, I would love to chat and learn how I can help. From copywriting to social media management, I can take care of it for you.

This is such a short list and I want to hear from you! What have you been filling your time with? I imagine by the time we’re through this, we have a whole set of skills in our arsenal.

Love from Florida,
Katie

As always, thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.

Thinking of NYC

April 21, 2020

Thinking of NYC

Shirt || Skirt || Heels || Handbag (similar) || Earrings || Bracelet || Watch

Since this global event has started, I’ve heard several times “aren’t you thankful that you still aren’t in New York?” With all that I see on the news, I completely agree with that sentiment. I’ve often said that the universe told us to move back to St. Pete, and that seems more true than ever! On the other hand, I know it’s not that simple. There were things that David and I absolutely loved about living in the city, and St. Pete really can’t recreate those things. Occasionally, I feel this wave of panic wondering if we actually did make the right decision. And yes, it’s happening even during this crazy point in time.

I want to chalk this up to cabin fever, some mild situational anxiety, or maybe even very watered down survival’s guilt because the city I called home now looks like a ghost town. Whatever the root cause, I thought sharing my love for NYC with you would have some therapeutic effects. Please bear with me.

The Neighborhoods

When living in NYC, we specifically called the Upper East Side home. While there are so many neighborhoods to know and love, the UES had so much to offer! A lifetime’s worth of museums? Check! Quick access to Central Park? Check! Perfectly manicured streets? Double Check! One of my favorite weekend rituals was grabbing my coffee to-go (either from Butterfield Market or Ralph’s) and aimlessly wander. Even though I did this multiple times a week, I still feel like I didn’t take full advantage! Better still, even going a few neighborhoods over, like to the UWS or Union Square, would create a whole different vibe and list of things to do.

The History

A city with deep rooted history just speaks to me. It’s probably why I love New Orleans and Newport so much! When I travel, I always try and learn about the history of my next destination. “Oldest bar” or “oldest restaurant” are often in my search history. That was one of the biggest appeals of living in New York City. There was no shortage of traditional restaurants with pages upon pages of history to visits. I loved exploring any particular neighborhood and spotting a historic marker. For example, one of my favorite coffee shops, Devoción in the Flatiron District, just happens to be across the street from Teddy Roosevelt’s childhood home. There were countless little gems like this all around Manhattan.

The Fashion

I almost have no words for the amount of fashion you’ll find in New York. It goes without saying. Every time I stepped out of my apartment, I would come across countless impeccably chic outfits. Wandering down Madison Avenue, where some of the most exclusive designers in the world call home, could send me into an inspiration overload. Between uptown, midtown, and downtown, you’ll also find different styles that speak to the neighborhood that you’re in. All have their special place in the city culture. Since St. Pete is so laidback, dressing in that metropolitan style can raise a few eyebrows. Still, I love turning to some of my favorite NYC bloggers, like Krystal Bick, Allie Provost and Blair Eadie for a taste of the city.

The Buzz

This is probably the aspect of New York City living I miss the most! Calling it ‘the city that never sleeps’ is not a misnomer. There’s always something to do, something new to see, and interesting people to meet. When I first moved back to St. Pete, it felt refreshing to have some peace and quiet. Now that the dust from our move has settled, I find myself feeling jittery over missing that energy. The other angle is that the potential is limitless in New York. There are so many opportunities, especially in terms of a career in writing, my daydream job!

My pictures for this post are glaringly NOT in New York City. Since I was able to live a block away from the MET Museum and its famous steps, I thought I would try and find something similar in St. Pete. This is the Museum of Fine Arts. It’s kind of like the MET, but to a much smaller scale. It will always be one of my favorite buildings in the Sunshine City, especially since our wedding reception was held here. Since I can’t be in NYC right now, I’m trying to find small pieces of the Big Apple locally that give me joy. Even if you’ve never been there, find the best NY style pizza your town has to offer, make your favorite cocktail, and dance to Frank Sinatra in your most elegant outfit. I simply can’t wait to get back to the big city, but until then, I’ll find it wherever I am.

Love from Florida,
Katie

As always, thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.

Flowers in St. Pete

April 20, 2020

Flowers in St. Pete

Flowers, St. Pete, bloom, hibiscus, jasmine, plumerias

It’s the middle of spring and that means all of Florida, St. Pete included, is in full bloom. Since I’ve been spending so much time at home, like we all should be, I’ve able to a take full advantage of my neighborhood. Everyday it seems like a new flower is starting to blossom. The colors in my little historic neighborhood are incredible! Recently, one of my favorite bloggers, Kristin from Color By K, posted a Charleston Flower Guide. Color me inspired! The Holy City has about three hundred years on St. Pete, and has had so much more time to establish beautiful florals. Still, the Sunshine City has a lot to show for it. Here’s a quick peak into some of my favorite flowers, and where to find them.

St. Pete, Flowers, Spring, Jasmine, Plumerias, Bloom

Confederate Jasmine

Also known as star jasmine, this fragrant flower has been blooming in droves over the past few weeks. The window for catching the flowers is pretty narrow, especially when compared to others in Florida. The month of April is the best chance you’ll have to see them for yourself. Although their time with us is short, it makes it so much more special. You’ll find jasmine in the historic neighborhoods around St. Pete, usually growing on the fencing. There’s one house in Grenada Terrace that has jasmine as a ground cover which I think is an amazing idea! You’ll smell the flowers long before you even see them.

Plumerias

Another fragrant flower calls Florida home, along with Central America and the Caribbean. It’s often times associated with Hawaiian leis and were used as a status symbol for the nobility in the Aztec Empire. The plumeria comes in a rainbow of colors, but I simply love the white and yellow flowers that are all over St. Pete. The trees, which can grow up to 25 feet tall, bloom in the spring and will keeping flowering until the middle of the summer. You catch a few glimpses of them in Old Northeast, but I saw so many trees in the Old Southeast neighborhood while biking over the weekend.

Hibiscus

It may be the state flower of Hawaii, but did you know that this hardy flower grows almost anywhere? It’s true! David’s mom even has them in her garden in Vermont. My backyard, growing up, was absolutely full of them in all colors. Hibiscus bouquets at the dinner table were a pretty common occurrence. Although I’ve seen them planted throughout the Old Northeast neighborhood, I’ve noticed it’s usually with the newer homes. My guess behind the reason is that they do grow so quickly and almost year round. From my quick observation, pink and coral are the most popular colors, but all are possible.

Bougainvilleas

It’s hard to pick a favorite flower, but nothing makes quite a statement as bougainvilleas. They are some of the brightest pops of color you can find in Florida. I especially love the contrast against a light colored house. They are technically vines and do their best work climbing up fences and trellises. One of the most memorable displays in town is right at North Straub Park, across from the Vinoy, where a large trellis has become a very popular spot for engagement and wedding pictures. Some of the most manicured homes on the Bay and Gulf, boast these flowers too.

Palm and Trees

Even though they don’t neatly fit in the flower category, I always love to admire our local collection of trees and palms. The palms, which have become a very frequent backdrop for my own pictures, gives St. Pete an eternal green color. In March, the famous Trumpet Flower Tree on Coffee Pot Bayou blooms in such force that it almost looks like its snowing pink petals. Right now, the magnolias trees are starting to bloom and makes me thinking of my childhood where I would climb up to get the prettiest flowers.

St. Pete is becoming a city of constant change and growth, but the one thing that will always remain the same is our gorgeous plant life. The next time you’re visiting the Sunshine City, be sure to take the time to appreciate what Mother Nature has already done for us. Stop and smell the roses.

Love from Florida,
Katie

As always, thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.