the sunshine state

We're escaping the cold + snow and flying south to visit my family in Florida for a nice, warm, loooong weekend. GIMME SUNSHINE. We might even get a skydive or two in at my favorite dropzone, Skydive Sebastian. The views of the Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway are breathtaking.

Have a great weekend!

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::inspired by // the poor porker::

When I saw this post on Tomboy Style and watched the video I was amazed that little Lakeland, Florida was mentioned. That's where I went to college (and where I met Jay). It's a town filled with character, rich in Florida oranges and, for me, a place where many memories were made.

I wish I was still around to visit The Poor Porker at the local market for a hot, fresh beignet (I've never had one, but how can fried dough sprinkled with sugar be bad? AND bacon?!). Robyn and Jarrid have such a brave story about a cross-country move to start their business. And now their pastries are selling like hot cakes (had to).

I'm always a fan of people who turn trash into treasure, just look what this duo did with an old hutch they found in the dumpster! Oh, and Robyn's thrifted style is pretty impeccable. Check out The Poor Porker blog to see Robyn and Jarrid's awesome recipes, travels and how their thrifting and hand-crafting a unique home. 

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::on a {political} note::

My beautiful friend Lauren is an HR professional and sharp as a tack. This weekend she shared a little story worthy of mentioning here {in case it helps, doing my part to support a friend and a good cause}.

Polk County, along with much of Central Florida, is known for its vast orange groves. Local families have been growing and harvesting Florida oranges for generations. We're also home to large blueberry, strawberry and cattle farms to name a few. A large phosphate company in Florida is undergoing a review by the Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) to determine the environmental impacts of phosphate mining. Phosphate mining is important as it related to the country's food supply. Phosphate generates fertilizer, which we rely on to maintain crops. After mining, there is a stringent reclamation process-- land is brought back to grade, forestry is planted and wetlands are re-established. The alternative is outsourcing our phosphate needs to the Middle East-- causing foreign importing dependence. Not to mention, the financial foundation that phosphate mean to so many people in Central Florida: families {some of my friends}, contractors, vendors, businesses and the local economy.

If you'd like to leave a comment on the importance of continued phosphate mining in Central Florida, please visit HERE. Your comments will help the ACE determine the future of phosphate.