Monthly Musings: January 2019

Well hello there 2019, one month down and 11 to go. The festivities of the holidays have died down and January sets the stage for a new year. Whether you want to re-organize, re-energize, learn a new skill or plan a new adventure January is the time for fresh starts. So what have I been doing this January? Let’s take a look.

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I started the year visiting family in Tampa and there are certainly worse places to be in January. Seven days of sunshine and 75 degree temperatures are always good in my book and I look forward to reconnecting with Steve’s family. Aside from relaxing and hanging out with my now 13 year old niece (how did that happen?!?) we try to get out and experience what makes Florida’s Gulf Coast such a great place to visit. For the second time we did a dolphin sunset cruise with Parrotdise Express and there is no better way to experience the beauty of Florida. This small boat cruise leaves from Dunedin (which IMHO is the cutest small town in all of Florida) for 3 hours of cotton candy sunsets and frolicking dolphins. It’s a huge hit with everyone and I can easily see this becoming a yearly tradition.

After the hectic nature of the holidays I was in of some relaxation so I grabbed Steve’s sister and headed down to the storied Don Cesar Hotel in St.Pete Beach for some spa and beach time. This grand pink palace has been St. Pete’s premier address since 1928 and has a prime location right on the Gulf of Mexico. If there is a better way to spend a day than a massage, pedicure, pink bubbles and white sand beaches I have yet to find it.

Back at home we’ve been doing our own Kondo-ing ( if you’ve been living under a rock without Netflix Marie Kondo has an insanely popular method of decluttering) of sorts. While we aren’t thanking our items personally there is a huge sense of accomplishment paring down our belongings.

At the end of the month, to combat the urge to hibernate inside with Netflix, Steve and I took a quick weekend trip to the Outer Banks. The downside of going to the Outer Banks in January is that 75% of restaurants are closed for the off season and it can be nearly impossible to tell who is open before arrival. The upside? Having miles of gorgeous Carolina Coast all to yourself. We also wanted a bit of adventure and finally crossed hang gliding off the bucket list. Taking a beginner’s lesson we didn’t fly any higher than 20 feet of the ground but the sensation of gliding through the air is equally surreal and euphoric. Steve in particular is hooked and can’t wait to fly again.