Last night was so festive!
It also marked the return of Sadie Claus!
After dinner yesterday, Ryan and I dressed Sadie up in her Christmas best to fight the cold and headed out to the Ocala Christmas Parade.
(Notice Ryan’s haircut? Another backyard haircut also took place yesterday.)
I read about the Ocala Christmas Parade in two different local magazines which hailed the parade as the largest Christmas parade in the state of Florida. Naturally we had to check it out!
More than 60,000 people were expected to attend!
The parade was full of holiday spirit with many different floats, loud music and cheerful people.
Unfortunately Sadie forgot to bring her Christmas cheer and was very jumpy.
She wasn’t a fan of the police cars and fire trucks that turned on their sirens as they slowly drove down the street. We wished we would’ve brought her Thundershirt to help calm her down.
Still, the parade was a lot of fun and we were glad we went. It definitely made it feel a lot more like Christmas in Florida!
On our way home, we took a few detours to check out some Christmas lights.
Our favorite house of the evening was all decked out!
Impressive, huh?
Once we arrived back at home, we had big plans for dessert!
We picked up a half gallon of Blue Bell Christmas Cookies ice cream yesterday and couldn’t wait to dig in!
Check out the description: “Christmas Cookies Ice Cream combines your favorite holiday cookies – chocolate chip, snickerdoodle, and sugar – in a tasty sugar cookie ice cream with red candy cane shaped sprinkles and a green icing swirl throughout.”
It was deeeelicous. The sugar cookie ice cream base was fantastic and I loved the snickerdoodle cookie chunks!
Time to grab a quick breakfast before heading off to church. See ya later!
Oh wow. That ice cream sounds insane!!!
Sadie makes a good Santa Claus – she’s so funny.
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey
Oh, please mail some of that ice cream to Maryland. Please.
Hillary
Oh my goodness that ice cream! Can you do a fashion post for your outfit? So cute!
Laura @ LauraLikesDesign
Sadie looks like an adorable stand-in for Ms. Clause
I’m lovin’ ice cream right now [how ironic with the cooler weather rolling in], but we don’t have Blue Bell in the DC area… Bummer!
Allison
Oh wow I want that ice cream! It sounds amazing! And that parade looks so fun! It’s so cute how you and Ryan hold Sadie for pictures
. I totally want to see that decked out house with all of the Christmas lights! Did Clark Griswold stop by in Ocala? 
Hope you have great day!
Lindsay @ In Sweetness and In Health
Oh I adore Christmas lights…heck…I adore ALL things Christmas
Especially Sadie’s sweater 
That ice cream sounds ridiculous, I need it.
Meg
Sadie Claus is so cute! It’s so weird seeing a Christmas parade without snow!
Bee Goes Bananas
Awww poor sadie! Haha too much excitement! That ice cream sounds ridiculously delicious!
Katie @ Peace Love & Oats
Christmas Cookie ice cream! Yum!
Rebecca @ Naturally Healthy and Gorgeous
You and HRG kill me the ice cream! I want ice cream and can’t have it.
The Kidless Kronicles
Nicole
Whoa. I need to try that ice cream.
Boys have it so easy. They can just buzz their hair right off in 5 minutes! For free!
Emma @ Microcosm of Life
Our Christmas parade got rained out last night.
Sabrina
my husband and i are all about the backyard haircuts! he refuses to pay for one if i can give him a simple one at home. i’m okay with that – less money to spend!
sadie is so cute in her santa attire!
and oh my, i need to find that ice cream – sounds heavenly!
Ashley @ My Food ‘N’ Fitness Diaries
Sadie Clause looks adorable!
Jemma @ Celery and Cupcakes
That ice cream sounds sooo good! Now I want to look for it in the store!
Emily @ Perfection Isn’t Happy
Sadie Clause looks so cute! Glad you had a great time checking out the Christmas parade!
That ice cream sounds amazing!!!
Shannon (Healthiful Balance)
Sadie Clause is so cute— I wouldn’t have been able to walk past her without stopping to say hi to her! Also, I DID notice Ryan’s haircut…you did a great job!!
Kristin
I think Santa would prefer you leave him out some ice cream instead this year
Khushboo
I would like some of that ice cream topped with the new TJ’s cookie butter I just bought. I’m thinking that would be heaven in a bowl!
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen
We bought some of that ice cream last week and LOVE it. I think that and the seasonal pumpkin Bluebell are currently dominating half our freezer.
Also I have to thank you for the Thundershirt recommendation. I told my family (who has 3 dogs) all about it. As a result, my parents bought my husband and I one for our dog Elly as an early Christmas present. She ADORES it. She normally spazzes out when we vacuum and was actually pretty calm when we tried with her wearing her shirt. Success!
Ashley
Awww poor Sadie! It amazes me how well you guys can hold her, almost like she is an actually human baby.
Fallon
I’m jealous… love love blue bell ice cream, I only get to enjoy it when I’m visiting family in texas. wish they sold it in california!
Tasha @ Dine n Dash
I’m sure everyone loved Sadie in her Christmas get-up!
Erica @ For the Sake of Cake
Wow – in that first picture Sadie looks like scooby doo!!!
Sabina
Sadie loves to be held like a baby.. huh? Too cute!
Cait @ Beyond Bananas
okay this has nothing to do with your post but I was just on pinterest and there is a photo of you and ryan going around! it’s the one before the wedding where you are holding hands around the door. cute and unexpected!
Christina
That ice cream sounds ridiculously good! Sadie’s costume is too cute. I can’t believe she actually likes wearing clothes. My dog gets pissed ! lol
Brittany @ GOtheXtraMile
That’ looks like such fun!! And Sadie Claus? Hilarious!
Joelle (On a Pink Typewriter)
That ice cream looks to die for!
Jackie @ That Deep Breath
Ok, totally need to get some ice cream… STAT! My family loves playing the ooh- look- at-their-decorations-and-how-can-we-copy-it game. Except this year we did something original- for us anyway. WE have these huge 20 foot pillars in the front of our house. Well, we took some (ok, A LOT) of silky red ribbon a
Sarah
Woops- pressed enter… hehe. ANyhow, we took the ribbon and wrapped around the pillars to look like candy canes. People have been slowing down and asking what paint we used or who we hired! We just shrug
Though you need to have big thick pillars for it to work.
Sarah
wow.. that icecream sounds like heaven in a bucket. ohhhh, i almost hope I don’t come across that in my area! = trouble!
shana
Aww what a fun time, guys! I bet it’s so great to do little things like that in the midst of all the busyness. (esp. when you’re married)
And poor Sadie!! I bet those sirens felt excruciating to her doggie ears.
Ellie@fitforthesoul
Oh my gosh–Sadie!!!! So adorable!!!!!!
And this post made me nostalgic for my town’s Christmas parade which I’ve missed the past four years being away at school
Jamie @ Don’t Forget the Cinnamon
NJ needs that ice cream. Correction. I need that ice cream…
Angela
Whoa, that ice cream sounds awesome!! And what a fun idea–a Christmas parade. Looks so fun
Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife
Oh. My lord. First of all, Sadie Clause is so stinkin’ cute. She definitely looks like a jumper. And SECOND, do you watch Hart of Dixie? She lives in a town called Blue Bell. It’s fate.
Katelyn @ Chef Katelyn
That ice cream sounds amazing! I will have to look for it the next time I go to Publix.
Kim
I love cookies that come together so quick and easy and are tasty to boot!
Candice
Just found your blog and love it. I used to live in Ocala. And they would have the reindeer run before the Christmas Parade. Do they still have it? It is a great parade. Hope you are enjoying living there so far. I am about 2 hours away at the beach. Email me if you want suggestions for things to do or need some great ideas for little trips close by. I have some info on some great runs for you as well.
lorie
Yes they still have the Reindeer Run before the parade. Sadly though, I don’t feel like the parade is what it used to be. Lots of gaps and waiting for the next group, and way too many car clubs.
Nicole
1. Sadie Claus is adorable 2. I miss seeing you around!! 3. I met a new writer at our old company and have him the DL on everything.
So glad you’re doing well!
Lisa@Read.Breathe.Relax.
I gave my boyfriend a “kitchen haircut” today! My first haircut for him…and it was a success!! Poor Sadie Claus, she looks a little scared; it’s adorable that you can hold her though! Hope you had a great Sunday
Claire
So I told my fiance about that ice cream this morning and he declared that I would not be let back in the house this evening without it! Unfortunately, the store I stopped at didn’t have it in stock
Will keep an eye out on future visits! Also inspired to go check out the fancy neighborhoods in my city that are bound to have Christmas lights!
Katie
Hehe, Julie do people look at you funny when you and Ryan pick Sadie up? She’s not the smallest of dogs to be picked up haha. So adorable! Obviously
Debbie
Wouah geart parade! I love when the houses are all coverd in light, they look so magical! Your city seems really nice, and your pictures of hiking are terrible!
Gen
Sorry, not terrible, terrific! ^^
Gen
I live in Ocala!!! Born and raised
The reindeer run 5k is before the parade every year. This was the first year I ran it and I placed 5th in my age group (20-24)! SO Much fun!!! Do you live here?? I just found you on Pinterest from something a friend posted about weddings. I am getting married in march close to Orlando so I will be looking at all your wedding info 
Lindsey
no way!! oh my gosh, how cool! we just moved here a couple months ago and are slowly getting aquainted with the area. congrats on your upcoming wedding! if you ever want to get together and talk about wedding planning or anything, i’d love to meet you! clearly i’d love to meet new people!
peanutbutterfingers
Ahh! That’s so fun! Yes! We totally should meet up sometime..plus it will give you and your fiance’ a new couple to double date with haha PLus we can let you in on all the Ocala info you need to know about
add me on FB–Lindsey Moates
Lindsey
try the blue bell spiced pumpkin pecan soo good
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