Alabama

 Right after returning home from Florida, I had the opportunity to go down south with Brad on business. He dropped me off in Florence, Alabama so I could visit my dear friend Bea (who used to live in Georgetown, KY), while he drove onto Jackson, Mississippi for meetings. 

 During my brief two-day stay, I helped Bea finish unpacking,

organize and clean all the rooms in her little house,

and hang curtains (for an 86 year old, Bea knocked it out of the park!)

Afterwards, we rewarded ourselves with the most delicious burritos, that were as big as us! I had a great time with Bea, and am counting down the days when I can visit her again!

Andrea Bocelli

 While in Clearwater, Brad and I watched Andrea Bocelli perform in concert at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida.

 The concert was on February 13th, and was the best Valentine's gift Brad has ever given me!

 I have always loved Bocelli's amazing tenor voice, and I did not want to pass up the opportunity to hear him live in concert. 

 I was tiny bit nervous that his voice would not be everything I had hoped, because live performances are so different from studio recordings.

But my worries were totally unfounded. His voice was even more awesome in person. 

And he certainly held his own, even with an entire orchestra and full choir behind him.

 The guest performers were also pretty amazing as well, like Marisa Martinez, who was a fellow Italian soprano, 

(for an encore Bocelli and Martinez sang my fav Time to Say Goodbye) 

and Pia Toscano, who was actually once a contestant on American Idol, and eliminated much to everyone's shock.

Caroline Campbell, an American violinist, also performed, and she pretty much knocked my socks off!

There was also a couple who beautifully performed both contemporary and ballroom dancing while Bocelli sang.

Last but not least, Andrea performed with his very attractive son, Matteo Bocelli.

One of the songs they sang was their recently recorded duet, Fall On Me.

 

 I want to thank my husband Brad, for making all of my wishes come true! It was a night I won't soon forget!

Clearwater Florida

Let's just say that Winter is not my favorite season, so recently Brad has made it point to get me out of KY at least one time during the Winter, and it's been proven to be very therapeutic!

 Our destination of choice would first be Costa Rica, but in terms of convenience, we find that Florida is the next best place to go in the middle of Winter! We've been to many places in Florida and have enjoyed them all, but chose Clearwater beach this time around because of the cheap airfare and accommodations (love those Marriott Reward's points!). 

Beach Shanty Cafe where we ate brunch when we first arrived in Clearwater.

We stayed in the Marriott Residence Inn which was convenient to everything, had an awesome pool with views.  

And speaking of views, the amazing views of Clearwater harbor from our back patio.

 I especially loved the sunrises from our patio!

 The lights at night reflecting off the water, were pretty awesome too.

So, let's just compare for a moment ...JB's Big Boy in Detroit, MI in the Winter?

 Or JB's Big Boy in Clearwater, FL in the Winter!

 I love the salt water taffy in Clearwater! The only bad part is trying to narrow down which flavors to get!

 Another thing Brad and I couldn't get enough of in Clearwater was tacos! These street tacos from Jimmy Hula's were soooo good! 

We also tried tacos from California Tacos which was actually featured on Guy Fieri's Triple D, but the only thing we liked about that place was their sign!

 Unfortunately, Clearwater was a working vacation for Brad. So while Brad worked, I played and explored pretty much all of Clearwater beach! 

 While window shopping at Surf Style, I found wall decorations that I'm going to hang in my Florida beach house someday! 

I walked miles and miles every day, exploring every part of Clearwater beach, 

including the downtown area with Jimmy's Crow's Nest & Pier House 60 (restaurant on top with huge screen for movie watching),

Clearwater Marina,

 

 and Pier 60 

 with its restaurants, 

family activities (outdoor movies, vendors and recreational activities like blow-up slides and trampolines), 

 (view of Clearwater beach from Pier 60)

 (other side of Clearwater beach from Pier 60)

 street performers,

 beach volleyball, and so much more! Pier 60 has such a great vibe!

I've always wanted to paddleboard so one day I rented a paddleboard from Clearwater Beach Paddleboard and Rental Co. (I'm putting in a plug for them because they were so nice and helpful, and I even got a free private lesson at no extra charge!). I paddleboarded all around Clearwater harbor! At one point I paddled upon a family of dolphins and thought to myself, "this is how life should be everyday!" 

One of my favorite things to do was walk along the beach for miles in both directions.

 

 I loved watching all the different kinds of sea birds (Snowy Egrets, Sand Pipers, Royal Terns, Sanderlings, Dowitchers, and Willets) congregate along the beach and play in the waves.

 I also loved looking at the millions of different kinds of sea shells. I would have brought some home if I wouldn't have gotten the stink-eye from Brad.

 One morning when I walked the beach to its end, I came upon a bunch of shrubbery that people had decorated with all types of shells. 

 I also placed a shell on one of the trees hoping for good luck or something (even though I considered being on Clearwater beach, in 80 degree temperatures in the Winter, as lucky as it was going to get!). Anyway, I later found out that if you put a shell on the "shell trees" it was a good omen.

On the weekends, Brad and I were able to do more things together like ... 

 

Run on the walking/bike path along the ocean to the city of Clearwater,

walk over the bridge to Sand Key,

(watch the birds under the bridge sunbathing so perfectly spaced from one another)

(watch the dolphins swim and play)

(view of Clearwater beach from Sand Key bridge)

(view of Clearwater harbor and bridge from Sand Key bridge)

visit Sand Key State Park (view from bridge)

and Sand Key Park beaches (that seemed completely abandoned when compared to the beaches of Clearwater). 

(view of Sand Key bridge from Sand Key Park)

We also explored Sand Key itself with all of its expensive beach-front hotels and condos. 

 We also loved walking along Clearwater beach at dusk and looking at the picturesque sunsets!  

 Before leaving Clearwater, we drove around the city of Clearwater itself, which you can't explore without also noticing The Church of Scientology's headquarters,

 workers dressed in Scientology uniforms,

 and blocks of Scientology owned buildings and housing. I was hoping to see Leah Remini reporting from some corner of the property, but no such luck!

 Our last stop was Dunedin, which is just north of Clearwater. We've been to Dunedin before with kids and that's when I first fell in love! It's beautiful, and also right on the beach, but way less populated and touristy. It is much more chill, and has an old traditional town feel, unlike Clearwater and other surrounding beach towns. (road to Dunedin beach)

 Since Dunedin is where I plan on living someday, Brad and I drove all around the quaint little town once again, and walked the cobblestone streets of downtown where they were having an annual Art & Craft festival. (unique trees in downtown Dunedin)

More interesting sea birds in Dunedin Marina,

 and a friendly pelican, on the Dunedin Pier!

 (Dunedin Harbor)

 View of Clearwater from Dunedin Pier.