Congratulations to my sister!
Today my little sister Leslie graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in public relations. My family, Ryan and I drove to Gainesville for the occasion and had a great time celebrating such a fantastic accomplishment.
Leslie’s graduation ceremony began at 2 p.m. and took place in the school’s arena.
I’m not sure if you’ll be able to pick her out, but she’s standing up with a group of her girlfriends in the above picture and is the first blonde in the line standing in between two brunette friends. It’s like Where’s Waldo: PBF Edition.
The commencement ceremony actually moved pretty quick. My parents, Ryan and I only got a little restless when they started to read name after name… after name.
Fortunately Words with Friends helped get us through until we heard Leslie’s name called.
You better believe we stood up and catcalled for her! Ay Yai Yai! 
After Leslie walked across the stage, we had several hundred more names to get through. Luckily a tweet from a reader provided me and Ryan with some entertainment when she said she saw us in the audience. We then proceeded to scan the crowd of graduates for the top of her beautifully decorated graduation cap. When we finally saw her it felt like Christmas and we waved probably a little too enthusiastically! Success! Hello, Jamie!
When the ceremony concluded, everyone filed out of the arena and into the Florida sun.
Our gang headed to the car and drove into downtown Gainesville to stroll around until we were ready for dinner.
We started off the evening by enjoying happy hour at the bar of Dragonfly, a neat sushi restaurant where we had reservations later that evening.
I was so psyched when I saw cucumber martinis on the drink menu and my mom, sister and I each ordered one immediately
Cucumber martinis may be my all-time favorite drink. I tried one for the first time at Sushi Samba in Chicago on my bachelorette party last August and fell in love. I haven’t seen this drink on a drink menu since then and have been dying for another one!
It was just as delicious and refreshing as I remembered.
I downed my martini fairly quickly and then my sister and I then ordered the summer fling martini which was much more lemony and sweet.
It was okay, but I’d stick to the cucumber martinis next time.
Eventually our table was ready and our little six-some sat down and ordered a ton of food.
We basically ate family-style and shared a ton of different sushi rolls,spring rolls and edamame.
I also got a spicy tuna salad for myself.
Everything, and I mean everything, was incredible. I’ve had a lot of sushi in my life and I can honestly say the sushi we had at Dragonfly was some of the best I’ve ever enjoyed.
Just in case you’re ever in the Gainesville area and stop by Dragonfly, I would whole-heartedly recommend Dragonfly, especially the surf and turf sushi roll and the signature Dragonfly roll. Oh, and the cucumber martini, too. 
While eating dinner, my dad surprised the table by ordering a bottle of champagne and we all toasted Leslie’s wonderful accomplishment.
Of course dessert was also ordered.
And now I am pooped! We just got home from the 2-hour drive back to Orlando and are beat.
What a great day with the fam. Congrats again, Les! I’m so proud of you!
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Oh my SUSHi! And deliciousness! Wowza, what a day! You and your fam are so beautiful Julie! Congrats to your sister 🙂
Have a wonderful night! Get some rest!
That last picture of you and your sister is gorgeous!! Congratulations to Leslie!!
Congrats to Leslie! That sushi looks great. I could really eat sushi everyday for the rest of my life and be happy. It’s my go to choice for dinner when I’m not cooking.
Congrats to Leslie! What a wonderful accomplishment! And wow, that meal looks amazing – the drinks, the sushi, and the dessert. YUM!
YAY for Leslie! Such an exciting phase of life! Hope she enjoys every moment of it! 🙂
Congrats to your sister – you guys look so much alike tht you could be twins!
The food looks delishhh – love love love sushi! Have a great Saturday night chica!
I went to school at UF and used to go to Dragonfly all the time, their sushi is amazing! I recently moved to Orlando and discovered that Dragonfly has a place in Dr. Philips on Sand Lake in the Dellagio Plaza. The food is just as amazing and they have the cucumber Martini, also a favorite of mine!
By the way I love your site! I just started following recently and now I check it out every day. You have given me so many great food and exercise ideas. Thank you so much!!
You and your sister are so cute! Congrats to Leslie — that is wonderful! I didn’t walk at my graduation and sometimes I wish I had. The ceremony (although boring) is still kind of fun to be a part of.
Where did you get your dress?
Congrats Leslie! 🙂
Love both of your dresses!
What a fabulous day with delicious food! Congrats to Leslie!! 🙂
What a fun FUN day!! I love graduation when parents come into town (what happened to me last weekend)-SO great 🙂 You and your sister are both gorgeous!
You and your sister are both so gorgeous! Congratulations Leslie!
Aw Congrats to your sister! 😀
What a big day for your family!
Nice to see you celebrated it sushi style ha.
That Cucumber Martini looks refreshing and cool! [bahaha cool as a cucumber]
Congrats to leslie! That cucumber martini looks aaaamazing btw.
Congratulations to her!!! That’s so awesome! And what a great rest of the day, too. That sushi plate has me drooling.
Hi Julie! I just wanted to let you know that I graduated today with your sister and saw you at the O Dome today but didnt want to come interrupt your family time to say hi. I actually saw your sister out and about last week and introduced myself. She was super cute and took a picture of her and i. 🙂 Hope her day was as amazing as mine! Congrats
Oh you should have! Did you meet her at Jimmy John’s?? She told me she met a really nice girl out recently there and I bet it was you!
Yay! See Jul, I tell no lie :)! Happy graduation, Chelsea! It was so nice meeting you the other week!
Nice to meet you too Leslie! Julie if I see you out and about again I will be sure to say hello. I live in Tallahassee, but my boyfriend lives in Maitland so I love recognizing all the places you visit.
congrats to your sister!!! i’m going to my sister’s graduation mid-May (crazy!!!) and i can’t wait!
Yayyy!!! So glad I got to briefly meet you, and give you some more where’s waldo entertainment during the ceremony! You and your family were just as nice and wonderful in person as I imagined!! 🙂 Congrats to Leslie!!
It was great meeting you!! Congrats again! 🙂
Congrats Leslie!
What a better way to celebrate it, than with having sushi 🙂
Sounds like the perfect way to celebrate! All that sushi looks great!
That’s so great to see, congrats to your sister! I’m a freshman in college, so I have a few years to go. Both you and your sister are really pretty!
Congrats to your sister! SHE IS SOOOO pretty! Beautiful family you have! I love how you both look like your mom!
That dessert looks amazinggg! what was it? the first one?
Tempura ice cream!
Good thing I have a sushi night planned tomorrow… those pictures look so delicious!
Congrats to Leslie for graduating! It’s one of the best feeling in the world!! 🙂
Congrats to ur sis! That cucumber martini sounds awesome! 🙂
Hey Julie! I have been Religiously following your blog for months now! I love your approach towards eating and working out! Also, the sushi looks great! I live in Japan and could honestly eat in ever night for diner! Congrats to your sister! 🙂
YUM! I’m from Gainesville and Dragonfly is my absolute favorite sushi restaurant. It’s the one place I make sure to go every time I’m home! Congrats to your sister 🙂
Oh my gosh! I was at UF’s graduation yesterday too!
What an awesome day you had. It looks like you all celebrated properly 🙂 . Sushi and martinis…mm! Congrats to Leslie!
Congrats to your sister!! Confession: I’m not going to my graduation. 6,000 graduates in Yankee Stadium, no thank you. BUT I do intend on having my parents take me out 🙂
Congrats to your sister! 😀
I wish I was done with my bachelor already! 😛
That sushi looks to die for! Now I’m hungry for some haha! 😛 and that cocktail sounds amazing! Never heard of cucumber cocktails! 😛
Congrats to your sister!!!!!
That sushi restaurant sounds amazing! 😀
Congrats to your sister again!!!
I’m going home (Gainesville) for a few days in a few weeks and even though I grew up in Gainesville, I never have been to Dragonfly… I definitely need to check it out!
Looks like you had a great trip and that sushi looks so good. I love sushi and could eat a ton if it was in front of me 🙂
I miss my family and I am headed to see them Wednesday. Can’t wait to see my sister!
Looks like such a wonderful day! Congrats to Leslie! 🙂
Congrats to your sister! I am now craving a cucumber martini…at 9 am uh oh!
You should get a bottle of Crop Cucumber vodka it’s usda organic and it’s the best tasting vodka ever!
Julie, I recently bought a bottle of this vodka and we can have a toast before our trip! Yum. Thank you, Chelsa for the endorsement! p.s. Daddy thought I was nuts… xo Mama
Graduation must be such a great time! We don’t have suche ceremonies in France that’s too bad;
Anyway, the lunch semed quite delicious, and your sister is as beautilful as you are!
Thanks for the sweet post, Jul! All of the comments are soo sweet! That was such a special day :). Can’t wait to see you Tuesday!
Congrats to your sister! I don’t know if I could handle attending a graduation like that. Sounds suuuuper boring and I don’t have any kind of smartphone! So much waiting for one name and then more waiting? But hey, for family you do what you gotta do!
Congrats Leslie! You looked beautiful!
Looks like a gorgeous day for a graduation! Congratulations to your sister!
I LOVE cucumber martini’s! My favorite is the Gin Somethin’ at the Back Bay Social Club in Boston. It’s made with fresh grapefruit juice; the best refreshing drink for the summer. 🙂
Aaaahhh….graduation. Great memories. Congrats to her and the food looked amazing! Thanks for sharing.
Suzanne Williams
Congrats to your sister!!! I dont graduate until december but im already super excited lol:) I go to Flagler college in St. augustine but one of my roommates is from Gainsville and whenever we go to her house we always go to Dragonfly!! I love the food there and the decor and service is pretty good too:):)
Congratulations to Leslie!!! I graduated at UF last year and now doing my Master’s there. I’m so glad you have a Gator in your family! Go GATORS!
Congrats to Leslie! You guys all look so gorgeous! I’m so glad your mom is doing well; she is beautiful!
Can you do a “fashion page” for your sister’s dress too?! I LOVE IT
Congrats to your sis!
My sister graduated from UF on Sat as well (at 6:30 pm) I am also a very proud big sis. :o)
I just came across this post while reading another one of yours. I have been reading your blog religiously for the past couple of months, but it must’ve been right after this, because I just realized I graduated with your sister! How funny! Such a small world.