modern mommy

Sandpearl Resort, A Love Letter

I’ve just returned home from three days at the Sandpearl Resort on Clearwater Beach. We take a beach staycation every year around this time to celebrate the warmer weather, and my birthday. Yesterday, I turned thirty-six. I have spent the last few days eating gelato, drinking Blue Hawaiians, dining on seafood, swimming in the warm Gulf of Mexico, and not having a care in the world.

I have been very fortunate to have traveled quite a bit in my life, and I can easily put the Sandpearl Resort at the top of my favorite hotels ever list. This resort just takes care of you, and no detail goes unnoticed. The hotel itself is beautifully appointed, with large hotel rooms, super comfortable beds, the deepest bathtubs I’ve ever seen in a hotel, an awesome zero entry pool, and wonderful restaurants. You receive complimentary champagne upon check in, and the girls received buckets and shovels for the beach. At sunset, the resort comes alive with music, a fire pit to sit around, and they ring a bell when the sun goes down, which was one of Amelia’s favorite things. The hotel staff is very helpful and friendly, and you receive turn down service at night, complete with chocolates and bottled water left by your bedside. The Sandpearl has set the tone for you to feel pampered and relaxed. I arrived at the resort wound tight, and left feeling like a wet noodle. I am very lucky to live just 10 minutes from Clearwater Beach, but I have never experienced it like this. We will definitely be back, and may stop in just for a meal, or drinks and a sunset viewing in the very near future.

I love you, Sandpearl Resort.

If you go: We had two meals at the resort. The first was breakfast at Caretta on the Gulf. We had the breakfast buffet, and it was spectacular. We requested a table outside, and it was the perfect way to start our day. The buffet price is $21 per adult, including your beverages, and children 9 and under are free. This meal was well worth the price. The second meal we had at our resort was at Tate Island Grill. We sat outside and enjoyed the view of the beach from our table. I had the pulled pork nachos, and they were yummy.

Next door to the hotel is Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill and the Palm Pavilion. Both restaurants are favorite spots for locals, and have amazing food. Buffalo shrimp & she crab soup are two of my favorite dishes at Frenchy’s.

Now, let’s talk gelato. I had the best homemade gelato of my life at Gelato Bello, which is also located next door to the resort. Try the pistachio, it is heavenly. In the same plaza as the gelato is a small restaurant called Clear Sky Beachside Cafe. This is a great casual spot for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

*This is not a paid post. The opinions are 100 percent mine.

La Dolce Vita

This morning while scrolling though my Facebook feed, I was reminded of how uncertain life can be sometimes. A second cousin of mine passed away recently, and today would have been her 36th birthday. I will be 36 in three weeks. It inspired me to blow off my to-do list, keep Amelia home from preschool, and head out to the beach.

I didn’t know this family member really well, but I like to think today was a little tribute to her. My girls and I celebrated life & love today, and I although I can’t thank her for the inspiration, I hope she is smiling down on us in heaven.

Our Easter in Pictures

Port Orleans Disney Weekend

We spent three chilly days at Walt Disney World last weekend. We stayed at the lovely Port Orleans Riverside Resort in their new Royal Guest Room. We spent time at Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and the Magic Kingdom. It was a fun weekend filled with roasting marshmallows, horse-drawn carriage rides, Disney movies on the lawn, Ghiradelli hot chocolate, and good quality family time. (Amelia was sprinkled with fairy dust. You can see the sparkle in the up close photo of her in the red jacket. It was a highlight for her)

I was given a cold as a parting gift from Disney, so I am resting today so I can enjoy the eighty degree weather we will see this Sunday.

Spring break is right around the corner for Amelia, and I am dreaming of a trip to the beach.

What are your spring break plans?

Catching My Breath

The last few weeks have been hard. Two weekends ago, my entire family came down with the flu. It was awful. It took me a whole week to feel better, and just as I was coming back from being ill, I was told to visit my grandmother in the hospital because she was dying. The very next day she was gone. We just lost my grandfather last June, and my grandmother was so sick with grief, that in the end, I think it killed her. My grandparents were married nearly 67 years. I am not sure how one is supposed to carry on with life after such a loss.

So now, I must pull myself together, and go on with my life. The flu, followed by grief, stopped me dead in my tracks. Today is really the first day I have been able to find some motivation to work on laundry, and to-do lists. I have been spending the last several days being nice to myself with mugs of herbal tea & honey, and long hot baths & naps. I needed that.

My grandmother’s service is on Saturday. I am trying to decide on something we can do as a family to celebrate her life on Sunday. I think a trip to the flea market might be the perfect thing. My grandmother was a treasure hunter, and she and my Papaw spent many of their retirement weekends at yard sales. A fitting tribute, indeed.

A photo of my sweet grandmother at our wedding reception in October 2011.

* The Barack Obama chia pet was one of Amelia’s xmas gifts. The garden gnome was one of mine.

Christmas Traditions

My mom recently shared a Christmas memory with me from her childhood. She said when she would go over to visit her grandmother on Christmas, there would be a gumdrop tree waiting for her and her siblings as a treat. My mom’s grandmother would find a branch, wet it and cover it with flour, put it in a pot, and cover it with gumdrops.

My mother decided she wanted to bring back this tradition for my girls. Amelia and Maggie were more than happy to participate!

What is your favorite Christmas tradition?

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope you all are enjoying some delicious food with your family and loved ones. I was happy to host my family again this year, and it was my first year cooking the turkey. It turned out great, and I am glad we decided on a free-range organic turkey.

The turkey cupcakes were inspired by a photo I found on Pinterest. Aren’t they adorable?

I was excited to unpack my vintage Eva Zeisel china, it’s the Caprice pattern, to use for our dinner. I keep it packed away for safe keeping, and it’s like Christmas morning every time I unpack it.

I am thankful for many things, including you, dear readers. Check back later this week for a special giveaway. My way of saying thanks.

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort {Little Mermaid Room}

We were lucky enough to be among the very first to stay in the Little Mermaid wing at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. We LOVE this place! There is so much attention to detail, and something new to see around every corner.

The Little Mermaid rooms are the standard rooms here at this resort. Our room had two double beds, a small table with two chairs, a flat screen television, a small fridge, and the usual tub/shower combo. The room was a bit on the small side, but comfortable enough for the four of us, Maggie slept in a portable crib.

My girls loved all of the Little Mermaid decorations and characters everywhere. The shower tiles were made to look like you are in Ariel’s grotto complete with all of her treasure. The pool in this section of the resort was also a lot of fun, and not crowded at all. Did I mention they gave us lemonade and chocolate chip cookies when we checked in?!

There is a great food court here at the resort with lots of yummy food choices. The children’s meals were generous, and my girls were able to split a meal , which saved some money. We ate four meals here, one lunch, one dinner and two breakfasts. My husband and I enjoyed the make your own omelet station at breakfast, and we had burgers at one meal, delicious, and mongolian beef at another, also delicious.

We spent alot of time exploring all of the other areas of this resort. The other three wings are based on the movies Cars, The Lion King, and Finding Nemo, which is where the main pool and splash park are located.

We will definitely be staying here again!

Worry.

I have felt so heavy with worry lately. I am worried about my Grandmother who recently lost her husband of 65 years, my Papaw. I am worried about money, as my business is really slow in the summer. I am worried about my 37 year old cousin , who is battling stage four melanoma. I am worried about my mother who recently quit her job to take care of my 90 year old Grandmother. I am worried about my father and his health issues. I am worried about my sweet 10 year old dog, who has recently started suffering from arthritis. I am trying to stay positive, eat healthy (even though I would really like an ice cream sundae for dinner), and remember to breathe. I know life can’t be sunshine and rainbows all the time, but it is still hard to watch your family go through such trying times.

That beautiful sunset photo was taken on a recent family vacation. Oh, sweet vacations. I am already scheming to take a trip over the long Labor Day weekend. Life can get heavy, but it is important to look ahead, and plan for a little lightness, too.