Welcome to the Sunshine State! Enjoy yourself as you take a tour around our wonderful {and large!} state! Grab some freebies along the way, and be sure to enter to win our Bundles of Sunshine!
I am a true Florida girl, a Florida native, and I’ve never lived anywhere else! I’ve lived in 3 different Florida cities. I grew up in South Florida (Coral Springs area), went to college and stayed awhile in Gainesville, and now I’m in the Tampa area.
I know it’s kind of odd, but I’m actually not a huge beach person even though I’ve lived near the coast for most of my life. However, if you ever find yourself in the Tampa area, the beach is a must! Since the beaches on this side of the state are the Gulf, the water is very calm. Many of the beaches over here even have soft, powdery sand to sink your toes into. Just a tip, being that Florida is brutally sunny and hot year round, bring a chair and umbrella so you don’t melt! This picture is actually from 2 weeks ago at Indian Rocks Beach where my hubby and I spent our anniversary weekend! Gorgeous views and great sunsets!
I.love.to.eat!! Whenever we’re on a trip I’m the person to look up restaurants, read reviews, and find the best places to eat. I’ll save you some time for your trip to Tampa (because you know you want to come!) and tell you some of my favorite Tampa restaurants!
Datz is a super unique restaurant. Lots of sandwiches, comfort food, and these deliciously, amazing homemade chips with a creamy blue cheese drizzle… so good!!
My husband and I stumbled upon Green Lemon by mistake before we had even moved to town. It is now our go to restaurant when we are in the South Tampa area. It’s Mexican-style food but in a lighter (healthier?) way.
Apparently I’m really loving the Mexican food restaurants around Tampa because Taco Son is another one of my favorites! It’s quick and fresh, no greasy and heavy food from here!
After dinner you’ll need dessert and other than yogurt shops (which I love) Cupcake Cache is my favorite! I’ve tried almost every one of their chocolate-based cupcakes and of course, I love them all! They have tons of different flavors and combinations, and oh, did I mention they are stuffed with yummy goodness on the inside?!
YUM-O!!!
I can’t reach out and give you any free samples of this yummy food through my blog, but this weekend you can stop by each of our blogs for an activity or idea to use in your classroom. We also have freebies for you to enjoy! To grab my freebie just click on the image below.
Grab these vowel pages from my newest pack and read more about it below!
{Click on the image}
This weekend I have 2 products on sale for you!
My brand new, no prep, print and go pack is on sale! The Alphabet Search & Color pack includes activities for each letter of the alphabet to help students differentiate between all the letters, uppercase and lowercase letters, and practice reading color words. It’s great for introducing the ABCs to new Kinder kiddos or reviewing with 1st graders! It’ll be 40% this weekend only!!
This Apple Numbers Matching & Sorting Game is a new addition to my store this summer. You can enter to win it in the giveaway below or grab it on sale this weekend for 40% off!
The Florida teachers below have two fantastic giveaways for you! You can enter once from each one of our pages. All you have to do is follow my blog! Hop around to all the blogs listed below, and be sure to follow them to get more entries. The more entries you have, the more likely you are to win! Each pack also includes a Starbucks gift card (because, well, a teacher’s gotta have coffee!).
Come find out more about the beautiful state of Florida by reading about these other sweet teachers!
Woot Woot! Go Gators! Love the little Gator logo you put on the map, too cute!!! 🙂 I LOVE Mexican food…those places sound delish!!
Of course I had to include my Gators somehow! Come visit anytime, I love to eat!! 🙂
I love how you included restaurants! Great idea. And of course your Gator sign! lol. I can't wait to see your Gator-ized FL standards! 🙂
Meredith
Creativity to the Core
Well I love to eat so those are the places to see in Tampa, ha!! Can't wait to use my awesome orange and blue FL standards!!! You rock!!
The cupcake cache looks like my kind of place! We have family in Tampa, so we are going to have to try out all of your restaurant suggestions!
Susan
PassioninPortableland
That's awesome Susan!! You won't be disappointed! 🙂
Love your post! My boyfriend's company opens a seasonal store in the Tampa International mall so I spend a lot of time over there in the winter. DATZ is the best. food. ever.
They aren't sure if they are going to do it this winter or not, but I will miss DATZ if they do!
Bridget
Hardcore Teacher Resources
So glad you agree with my Datz obsession!!! 🙂
I would drive 4 hours {one way} daily for some Datz!!! YUM!!! 🙂
HA!! Do it!! 🙂
Just found your blog through the Florida Blog Hop. I am also from South Florida. I live just south of where you grew up in Coral Springs. I currently live in Tamarac. Such a small world. I can't wait to check out your blog.
Cara
The Teacher's Backpack
Awesome Cara!! I know Tamarac well. Thanks for stopping by!! 🙂
You had me at blue cheese drizzle!!! You sound like me living in different parts of Florida. I was raised in Naples. Went to college in Lakeland and now live in Panama City Beach. I have family in Tampa, Orlando, Frostproof, Bartow, Naples, Tallahassee and Quincy. We are all spread out!
Alison
Rockin' and Lovin' Learnin'
You let me know when you're in Tampa visiting family because there's a plate of homemade Datz chips with our name on it!! 🙂
I am seriously ready to come and eat my way through Tampa!! The chips look so yummy!! Also what a great giveaway from all of you ladies! I LOVE your vowel pages from your alphabet pack too. Thank you!!
Kelly
Sweet Sounds of Kindergarten
You are welcome to visit anytime Kelly!! Just bring an extra stomach with you! 😉
The restaurants sounds delish!!!
Thanks for sharing!
Oh Elyse, I think we have a lot in common! I'm not a huge beach person either, even though I live near Destin. I much prefer cooler, fall-like weather. I was just thinking this morning of how lovely wearing boots and a scarf would be today.. and then I stepped outside and it was a bazillion degrees. Then there's the food.. and cupcakes.. I certainly hope you're coming to Sea World so we can meet! 🙂
Mandy
The 4th Grade Journey
It's hotter than blazes out there!!!! I love hearing that we have so much in common! I'll be at Sea World…we can go find some cupcakes! 🙂
Woot woot, another Gator Girl!!!! We are going to have to go to some of the restaurants you suggested. Is it strange that I live here and haven't heard of them?
They really are some random restaurants!! I'm always up for some good food so you just say when! 🙂
I'm also a native Floridian and actually lived in Tampa briefly! I attended USF for about 5 months and then moved back home, not because I didn't like Tampa… although coming from Miami it was kinda weird to see clubs closing around 1 am when South Beach clubs were open way past that. Unfortunately, I never got a chance to visit the beach while there.
:0) Melissa
More Time 2 Teach
I love Datz! MMMMM! You nailed it on all the delicous food options Tampa has to offer!!
Kristen
Loving Teaching Inspiring
Thanks Kristen!! Anytime you're craving Datz you just let me know! 😉
Florida is the best state. I love Tampa and will have to check out those yummy places.
I grew up in Tampa, so it was fun to read your post. Those cupcakes look delish!
Burke's Special Kids
Go GATORS!! Proud to be a UF Edugator! 🙂
I also share your love of Datz…one of the best places to eat in Tampa hands down! We always take any out of town guests there and get them hooked too! 😉 I can't wait to try out Roux!
So glad that I found your blog through this blog hop. Enjoy the last few weeks of summer!
Florida has some fantastic restaurants. You would think that with all the people trying to keep a beach body there wouldn't be such temptation!