I love holiday weekends. A whole weekend jam-packed with quality family time is fine by me!
Ryan and I spent yesterday morning in St. Pete with my family and everyone dug into my banana pecan coconut baked oatmeal for breakfast.
Thankfully it got rave reviews!
I am always a little apprehensive about making a big meal for others because I want everyone to enjoy the meal, so it’s always a good sign when there aren’t any leftovers!
We hung out around my parents’ house all morning and I made myself a quick chicken and hummus sandwich before we hit the road for my mother-in-law’s house in Sarasota.
Someone is over the whole road trip thing…
Once we arrived in Sarasota, Ryan’s lunchtime hunger kicked in and he got a little creative in the kitchen and made himself quite the sandwich.
That would be a fried chicken, BBQ sauce, fried egg and bacon sandwich. I had a bite and I must tip my hat to the chef. It was pretty darn good!
After lunch, we ran some errands around Sarasota, gathering food and plastic eggs for today’s family Easter party.
Eventually it was time for dinner!
We had burgers, macaroni and cheese, baked beans and peas. I went back for thirds of the mac and cheese. I love extra cheesy mac and cheese!
Dessert last night was extra special since my mother-in-law made reservations at an adorable local café called Shoogie Boogies.
It was an eclectic, romantic little place! I fell in love with the charming décor, beautiful flowers and tranquil ambiance.
My mother-in-law, her boyfriend, Ryan and I shared a dessert platter.
I had a piece of every dessert and two pieces of the cheesecake. Everyone’s favorite dessert was grandma’s lemon cake. Perfectly sweet!
I also had a cup of hot Tea Forte jasmine green tea that smelled so pure and tasted so refreshing!
When we got home, we investigated the Tea Forte teas that they had at the café and I now want to try all of them! The flavors all sound unreal!
We spent the rest of the evening hanging out and chatting before tucking into bed.
Today will be a FULL day and I can’t wait. Family and friends will be arriving at my mother-in-law’s house around noon today for her annual Easter brunch. It’s sure to be a great day filled with fantastic food and family!
Hope you have a wonderful Sunday!
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What a cute little cafe! Happy Easter!
My weekend has been jam-packed with family and good food too- fun times :). Happy Easter!
Sounds like you are having a great time with family 🙂 I love tea! I am always looking for new kinds to try.
I think Ryan looks a lot like his mom! That dessert plate looks fantastic, and the tea sounds delicious. Happy Easter!
PS Love the pics of Sadie – hilarious.
I was just thinking the same thing! I can’t get over how much he looks like his mom!
What a beautiful cafe! Absolutely love the fresh flower displays!! Happy Easter!
Looks like a great weekend filled with family!!! I’m jealous!
Aw, poor Sadie looks exhausted 😛
Happy Easter!
Sadie is so adorable and that dessert tray looks great! Have a great Easter!
you totally do!
You look just like Ryan’s mom!!!!
Happy Easter!!
What a cute cafe, tea looks yummy:)
Have a great day
Happy Easter, Julie and fam!
Spending Easter weekend with the family is great 🙂 We are in Montana and so much yummy food!
I need to try that baked oatmeal! It looks awesome :D. I hope you have an awesome Easter with family and friends! That restaurant looks so cute…I love how it’s decorated.
Have a very Happy Easter! That restaurant looks so cute!
Your mother-in-law is SO beautiful! And it looks like you had a wonderful day!
I love Sadie’s face in those pictures … she looks sedated haha! 😉
Happy Easter!!
Ryan’s mom is beautiful! Happy Easter! I want a plate of desserts to try!
I met someone yesterday from Tampa. She had just moved up here to Durham, so of COURSE I was telling her all about pbfingers and Ocala! #nerd
Adorable cafe! I’m off to check out those teas. Love a cup of tea everyday!
You and Ryan’s mom look alike, crazy! I love tea, I am having a major love affair with David’s Tea…its the best! Happy Easter!!!
I had that same tea at the W hotel before and I actually wrote to them and asked them the brand because it was THAT good… but very expensive!
That cafe is adorable!
Ryan’s family orders the dessert sampler platter? Yeah. We would get along juuuust fine!
Enjoy your holiday!
I have been reading Julie’s blog for a while, and I love it! It is creative and inspirational with a spice of fun and cheerfulness. But I haven’t been able to find many other blogs like hers– do any of the readers know of more blogs similar to Julie’s? Or do any of you have one similar to hers?! 🙂
That cafe is so charming. I feel like I’d want to order properly and use phrases like “spot of tea!” 😉 Ryan and his mom look so much alike!
Dont you just love family@!!!
What a cute restaurant! I wish we had more places like that where I live.
Not gonna lie, ryan’s sandwich looks amazing! Can’t go wrong with bacon though!
Wowww what a fun day, and that cafe looks and sounds like my kinda place~:)
I love tea forte! I just discovered it at a cafe recently and their chocolate coconut truffle tea is amazing! like dessert in tea form. Now I just have to convince myself to give into their price tag for a box…
Sounds like a wonderful way to spend the day! Shoogie Boogies definitely seems like my kind of place 😉 You can never go wrong with lemon cake!
Sounds like an awesome day! Ryan’s mom looks a lot like you. Craaaazy. That dessert looks amazing.
Ahw Sadie is too cute!
Sounds like a great day! That restaurant is super cute! 🙂
I bought Tea Fore from RueLaLa around Christmas time as gifts for some friends and family – they got rave reviews! Keep an eye out for them to come back on RueLaLa 🙂
Julie that mac and cheese looks delish! Do you have a recipe??
i don’t! i think my mother-in-law actually had it leftover from a dinner with friends.