run. drive. sleep? repeat.

next month i will join a group of 12 friends/runners on a journey across the state of florida. the race starts at tarpon springs and finishes at daytona beach- a 201.6 mile race that benefits big brothers big sisters.
12 runners. 2 vans. 201.6 miles. 24 hours.
[[i always describe it as a game of leapfrog...12 runners, running a total of 3 different legs, picking up where the last runner left off...total insanity! last year it took us 27 hours, but this year we know what to expect so we should finish sooner than last year]]

athens farmers market

one of the greatest aspects of this town is the fabulous farmers market in athens that provides the community with amazing locally grown fruits, veggies, herbs, baked goods, herbal teas, and meats. it's the largest open air farmers market in the state, and crazy enough...they're open year-round! one of the main things i love about athens is the support the entire community has for the community. it's a great experience to be living in a place where people have such love and respect for their surroundings.

[[there are quite a few restaurants in town that support the local economy - purchasing their food from the farmers market to create the meals they serve - and their food is delicious!]]

learning to cook

a few nights ago i cooked beau a yummy little dinner. personal flat bread, tomato-basil pizzas that i whipped up all on my own :)
[[i used to despise cooking, simply because i didn't have time to enjoy it...crazy since i come from a heavy-cooking, live-in-the-kitchen italian family...but since moving to ohio i've had a bit more time to experiment:: edenfoods.com has some great organic recipes]]

...can't help falling in love with you...

on june 20th we had the most beautiful, perfect wedding i could have ever dreamed of. our wedding video is finally done and we've been able to relive that day over & over :)

lesson #1: deer

in florida we have alligators. they are secluded to fresh water - canals, lakes, whatever. i've seen them sunning themselves on the bank of the canal on hold #8 at my parents golf course, in the canal behind my neighbors house, and during the 100 mile trip across state i counted over 200 of them in the water that runs along alligator alley (i wasn't the one driving...). but, most important thing to know about alligators is: they mind their own business. it's a misconception that people have about them, but as long as you don't bother them...they won't bother you.
in ohio we have deer. they are everywhere. [[we have a family of four deer that wonder around our neighborhood and i just can't help but be fascinated by them]]. they are such delicate, graceful creatures. but, in the few months that i've been here i've heard horror stories about them and the damage they can do. they aren't scared of cars. beau almost hit one a few weeks ago...the whole, "if you ignore them they ignore you" thing isn't true at all.
[[beau's parents have discovered 'deer whistles'. they're almost like those whistles that people use to train their dogs - they make a real high pitched noise when wind blows through them. anyways...they clip on to the front of your car (like in the grill area) and as you're driving that high pitched noise is created that makes the deer completely stop in it's tracks.]]

bottom line: deer aren't as nice as they appear.

seasons?

i've never experienced winter. actually...i've never experienced seasons (except summer, of course). [[fall, winter, spring...all foreign to me. i've seen snow - skiied, made snow angels and snow men, been stuck in a blizzard...all that fun stuff - but i've never lived in it. vacations to colorado and new york are short term. for me, the snow and cold weather is tolerable when you're visiting because there's an end in sight and you know you will soon be back to sunshine and 90 degree weather.]]

i've been in ohio for three months. it's now october and fall is pretty much here. we've had 40 degree nights and even cooler mornings. and i am slowly realizing that there is a lot i have to learn.

this blog will be dedicated to my life lessons - as a new wife, with my new life as a northerner...away from everything i've ever known. [[luckily, i have my hubby by my side!]]

how [[and why]] it started

i am a true floridian - born and raised in the sunshine state.
for the past 24 years i've been able to spend christmas and new years at the beach or by the pool. i consider "cold weather" to be anything below 70 degrees. "hot" and "humid" are words used to describe 300 out of the 365 days in the year. my toes have never been confined to close-toed shoes for more than a few hours and for that reason, i have more sandals than i will ever know what to do with. tank tops, shorts, and bathing suits rule my wardrobe and i wear my sunglasses at night (ha! just kidding...)
have i been spoiled? um...you betcha!
but three months ago i left the state of florida (with my brand new hubby), left everything i've ever known...uprooted and then planted in a tiny little town in ohio (yep...you read that right...OH-IO) and that is why i started this blog...