A Great Place for A Family Winter Break

If you've never been to Amelia Island, Florida, you need to make your travel plans now for a great family winter vacation. I've been visiting Amelia Island (home to Fernandina Beach) since I was a baby. It keeps getting better all the time. It is home to beautiful Victorian era homes and bed and breakfasts, fabulous independent restaurants, pristine beaches, and a great Civil War Fort. They are offering a wonderful special for accommodations to stay 2 nights and get the 3rd free at most of the wonderful bed and breakfasts and hotels on the Island! This special runs through February 29, 2008, so you can enjoy Christmas, New Year's and/or Valentine's Day with your spouse or the family. There are 12 participating hotels and B&B's offering this Lodging Special, including some of the one's I've stayed at and enjoyed. I can highly recommend Ash Street Inn, a Victorian home that offers spacious rooms with great breakfasts! I've also been to many events at the Elizabeth Pointe Inn, which sits right on Fernandina Beach!

My sister got married on Amelia Island after living there several years. My husband I have enjoyed the B&B stays for our anniversaries. Between the cute shops, the beach, the great food and the oldest bar in Florida, if not the USA, you can't beat the choices for entertainment. I may have to take advantage of this myself, even though we only live an hour away now.

First Friday Weekend Artwalk in St. Augustine

America’s oldest city, St. Augustine, Florida, is home to many artists and art-lovers. On Friday and Saturday, December 7th and 8th, along with the first Weekend of each month thereafter, the city comes alive with music and art exhibits. Grab a date and head out to enjoy your own First Friday Weekend Art Walk. We live very nearby, so we've had the opportunity to enjoy the St. Augustine Artwalk several times. It's really a fun way to spend a Friday evening, especially now that the weather is cooler and the holiday lights are out all over the city.

The art galleries of St. Augustine sponsor FREE, self guided monthly Artwalks, featuring the finest collection of eclectic art in North Florida. You can wander at your leisure, enjoy free appetizers and wine at a lot of the galleries, and get a little exercise. It's sometimes difficult to find parking, so it's really nice that they offer free parking and free Sightseeing Train and Trolley tours.

There's a little bit of everything available to see, painting, sculpture, pottery, photography...you'll find a treasure to take home to remember your special night out. I love the little watercolors of the historic homes and also photographs of the fort. So, maybe we'll see you there in a few weeks to enjoy the arts!

Visit Uptown Saturday Night in St. Augustine, FL

Very fun and interesting arts Events in St. Augustine abound. We live only 30 minutes away and often take advantage of the diverse and eclectic arts and crafts events there. It is a beautiful and historic city to visit anytime, but Fall offers the best temperature and great holiday shopping opportunities. Nights of Lights begins in November and the sparkling lights all over the city only add to the ambiance while you enjoy these special times.

One of the best and newer arts events is Uptown Saturday Night. Enjoy free parking at Mission of Nombre de Dios and stroll along the northern shopping district. There are also great restaurants along the northern corridor of San Marco Avenue, like Raintree and Cortesses Bistro, to enjoy. But take advantage of the festivities, as each participating shop features an open house with wine and refreshments that add to the festive night time atmosphere.

During the last Saturdays in October and November the focus is on the incredible antique shopping opportunities available in the Nation’s Oldest City. On that evening, the antique district concentrated along San Marco Avenue comes to life with lively street music and endless opportunities to shop for antiques, rare books – even authentic Spanish treasure. During this monthly event, participating antique dealers provide great workshops covering a variety of antique related topics, book stores provide readings and book signings by local authors, and art galleries feature exhibit openings of some of the finest Florida artists.

A short walk away, additional antique discoveries can be made along Aviles Street – the oldest street in America. Galleries, antique stores and unique shops between Ripley’s Museum and the Mission of Nombre de Dios remain open during this special time. Meet the artists, go to book signings and enjoy live music, refreshments and other events in the party-like atmosphere.

A favorite end-of-the-month event, Uptown Saturday Night takes place from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm the last Saturday of October, the 27th and November , the 24th, as well as every last Saturday going forward. So get out and enjoy the best city and best weather to enjoy art!

Slow Down....RELAX Mon!

I'm Stacey's dog, Buddy! I love working from home, chillin' with a homemade milkbone shake, and wearing hawaiian shirts. No more corporate life for me! You can slow down too by getting your own stuff at http://www.madgringo.com/, mon!

Can Fall Be Coming Soon, Really, Maybe??

I live in Florida - where it's hot pretty much all the time. My daughter asked this morning, why doesn't it snow here? I had to explain about our semi-tropical climate, blah, blah, blah (that's how she heard it, I'm sure). She said she wanted to move somewhere where it snows all the time. I explained that I didn't think there was such a place, except maybe Antartica. She assured me there was and that we must move there. Where is it people? Even Alaska has a summer! We need a cooler temperature and are ready to go!

UF Gators are Number 4? Who Knew...

What do mean University of Florida is only number 4?

When I went there it was number one party school....unfortunately! I say that because it certainly did detract from my scholarly career there - I went from A/B's in my first two years to BC and yes a D in my final year. That was the only D I ever got in my whole life! I was an honor roll student in high school, but lived a very demure life. Beer in massive doses can change that.

So, now that Butterfly has said she will be attending UF when she gets older - maybe I will steer her to a less prominent school in that regard - maybe a Mormon or Quaker school.

My mother actually got a scholarship to a small Quaker college, called Friends University, in Wichita, KS. She came home crying the first week, when she found out you couldn't wear makeup, fun clothes, and I assume, smoke. This was in the 50's y'all. I guess she was ready for UF back then!

Is the Big One on the Way?

Is the big one on it's way? You know, the big hurricane that will wipe out at least a major swath of Florida? You'd think so, because the usual media-hyped-up-train wreck has jumped on the hurricane bandwagon for 2007, now that Hurricane Dean has been named. I like the name Dean - it was my Grandpa Burns' name. He was a nice guy.

It may be on the way for Florida, it might not. As we saw with previous hurricanes, like Charley, things change and they can change fast (didn't do that hard right at Tampa - but instead into Port Charlotte).

I like to see what the meteorologists see and I think I have my own abilities to make some minor analysis of situations involving hurricanes. I go to Hurricane City all the time during hurricane season to see what the other weather-philes think, view the model links, and have a real-time ability to assess the changing weather scenarios that could affect us.

For some reason, my own family never seems to think much of getting really prepped for hurricane season. My dad is a retired engineer with the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers and he was in charge of flood control for south Florida for a long time - even he doesn't get excited about it all - says we live on a bluff and that we don't need to go anywhere (we live very close to the St. Johns River). But he counts on us women to be sure we have enough food and water to live on.

I just hope everyone is always prepared and keeps an eye on what's going on. Don't be vulnerable to the Boy Who Cried Wolf syndrome.

You Can Help Build a Children's Museum Today

I guess I am just finishing a trifecta - but here's a third post about my sister and her life. You already read that she's selling her house. Then you read about her perfume business and magazine. Now, she's started a founders' committee in St. Augustine, FL to start up a children's museum for St. Johns County. The website link will be up and running shortly.

Their Vision is:

The Children’s Museum of St. Johns, or CMSJ, will be a fun, safe place to play, an exciting place to learn, and a comfortable gathering place for families to interact. Children can touch, create, imagine, and learn through hands-on, interactive play. There will be no signs that say “DO NOT TOUCH!” Fun and entertaining exhibits will encourage play and, at the same time, stimulate the mind.

They're at the stage of needing contributions and philanthropic support to move forward to secure a site and continue with their plans. I know my sister and she makes things happen. Here is what they need:

Private Sources
• Individuals (Members of CMSJ)
• Corporations (Exhibit Sponsors)
• Foundations
Public Sources
• City and County
• State
• Regional and National
Numerous naming opportunities will be available throughout the museum to encourage and recognize philanthropic
support. For example:
• $2.5 million - Naming rights to Museum
• $250K - $1 million - Naming rights to specific rooms within Museum
• $100K - Naming rights for Permanent Exhibits
• $25K - $50K - Sponsorship of Traveling Exhibits
• $1K - $10K - Permanent recognition on donor wall in Museum

Please contact Wendy White Philcox at ppi@aug.com for more information or to help in any way. ***This is not a paid endorsement, this is family!

Forever Young Perfume - Try It You'll Love It

My sister has two businesses, this is the first one she started in St. Augustine, FL over 10 years ago. It is called St. Augustine's Forever Young Fragrance Collection by Southern Touch Fragrances.

She created the formula, packaging and art design herself and it was marketed on QVC when she first came out with it. It now sells in upscale and boutique shops in and around St. Augustine and through direct mail order.

This product and its success is another testimony to the success you can have from work at home businesses. I'm sure she'd be willing to discuss her success with this if y'all are interested. Please leave me a comment! And give this a try - they make great gifts - even people who are allergic to perfume can often use this. **This is NOT a paid post - this is family!

Another Experiment - Selling My Sister's St. Augustine, FL Home

God knows, in today's market it is harder to sell your home. But really, it shouldn't be too hard to sell my sister's house.

It is located in St. Augustine, Florida, in the historic district. Take a look here and share the links with anyone and everyone. It is a 1910 renovated 3 bedroom home with a separate apartment over the garage. It is walking distance to the historic downtown and waterfront (and the bars and restaurants).

While you check it out, if you want to go to St. Augustine and take a look around be sure to take a look at their business website for The Restaurant Times. It has coupons and restaurant menues and descriptions and great maps. This is NOT a paid ad, but send some love to my family - check it out!

Hurricane Season - what to do for the kids......

Hey it's that time again, Hurricane Season in dear ole' Florida. As always, with good cause, they say to be prepared, be ready! We can vouch for that as survivors of the messed-up 2004 season of hurricane love.....4 storms criss-crossing the state with two going right over our prior abode in Brooksville, FL. I can't say enough about having proper, non-electronic kid entertainment ideas on the ready. Given our kids' ages at the time, coloring books and other art gear were used daily. Books, the radio and a flashlight ranked high on entertainment value, not to mention "camping out". That is sleeping on the floor or wherever at some relative's house until the electricity was restored at our home (last count: two weeks each outage). Yep, that part is not fun for the adults! I'm sure many of the adults reading would assure me that a good stash of liquor/beer/wine is mandatory for post-electricity outage fun! Your choice!