Oh my goodness, I miss Orlando!
Yesterday took me back to my old stomping grounds to speak to a marketing club at the University of Central Florida with two fellow Orlando-area food bloggers, Tasty Chomps and Mega Yummo.
Driving on campus brought back so many memories. College was a blast!
That beautiful building is UCF’s gym. Isn’t it gorgeous? The big circular part of the building is actually a rock-climbing wall!
I was a tour guide when I was in college (Remember the psycho squirrel story?), so despite the new construction that has popped up since I graduated in 2007, I remembered my way around campus pretty well.
I felt quite nostalgic driving past my sorority house.
Heeey, Kappa Delta!
And seeing Ryan’s fraternity house next door taken over by another fraternity (Ryan was an SAE) made me a little sad. I miss the lion out front!
We loved trying to sneak over to paint the lion that was guarded 24/7 during Homecoming week.
My time on campus lasted a few hours, but I actually arrived in Orlando a bit early to hit up the Mall at Millenia to do some returns to stores we don’t have in Ocala.
Santa was there!
The Mall at Millenia is always so gorgeous around the holidays. They decorate it beautifully and you can’t help but get in the holiday mood as you shop.
Cold grande Frappuccinos also help!
I spent some time in my favorite stores that I miss terribly now that they’re no longer close to me, including Williams-Sonoma which is now carrying their incredibly delicious peppermint bark!
My mother-in-law laughs at me because she often has a tin of this stuff in her pantry year-round and I always snack on it when we visit. It’s so darn good.
I also browsed around in Anthropologie, picking up a gift for someone and falling in love with these adorable mugs.
Anthropologie really does have the cutest dishes and mugs. They all have a beautiful vintage look that I simply adore.
I also saw a gorgeous quilt with feminine ruffles that I immediately wanted to buy.
And then I saw the price tag.
Dagger to my heart!
I arrived back in Ocala late in the evening, but not too late to make some pumpkin spice cookies!
Later in the evening, we had a visitor!
Kona! We are dog sitting our favorite chocolate lab this weekend which means that Sadie is doing her best to look extra pathetic so we pay more attention to her.
I’m pretty sure she’s mastered the feeble look perfectly by now.
Kona, however, is well-behaved and listens perfectly (hear that, SADIE?), so the competition for our affection is quite stiff.
Hope your weekend is off to a wonderful start!
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Awww… I could practically see Sadie’s bottom lip trembling in that first picture! She is such a character!
I feel the same way when I visit our old neighborhood in Charlotte or drive through Athens. I’m such a sucker for nostalgia!
Aww cute visiter! haha 🙂
I am constantly driving back and forth to Orlando, everything is there!
Haha it seems like Sadie wouldn’t enjoy a permanent sibling! and I’m headed back to charleston, where I went to school, in January. its always so weird to go back! and go KD!
AOT, baby! 😀
Those cookies look amazing!
Yeah our dog has mastered the “sympathy treatment” look. Haha
Aww I miss Orlando too! I used to work at that Williams-Sonoma. 🙂
My boyfriend was an SAE too, and I met him because our houses were next door 🙂 I was a DZ though! 🙂 Memories 🙂
My husband is a Theta Chi 🙂 Sorry they took over that house!
Love Williams Sonoma (and the peppermint bark). They left my local mall about 8 plus years ago. We have to travel over 30 min. to get to the mall it’s in now. I miss it so much, especially around the holidays. Looks like you had fun.
Its me again–You introduced me to Anthropologie. I went into one last weekend. I loved it–but not the prices. It was awesome though. I have a great recipe for peppermint bark, so I did not purchase at WS. I can share if interested. I love barks! e
100 percent interested in the peppermint bark recipe!! 🙂 Feel free to email it to me annnnytime! pbfingers@gmail.com
Awww Sadie is such an attention-seeker…so cute 🙂
I <3 Williams Sonoma. It's a good thing there isn't one in the mall near me! haha
Ah, who didn’t LOVE college?!
The “J” mug from Anthropologie is super cute!
Oh the peppermint bark at Williams-Sonoma is seriously amazing!! And slightly dangerous because I could probably easily eat an entire tin of it in one sitting haha. I totally want one of those Anthropologie mugs! They are so cute!
you and me both! i almost bought a tin, but figured it would become my dinner in the car. i am on a mission to make my own this weekend!
Haha…that sounds like a great mission! I hope you post a recipe if you’re successful 😀
It is SUPER easy to make! I make it every Christmas – freezes really well too! I can send you my recipe if you’d like 🙂
yes, please, molly!
That gym is awesome! They’re building a brand new huge gym at my school (UNF), and right now all the fitness equipment is in the auditorium, its really weird.
I love peppermint bark too, 2 years ago we made our own and gave it as gifts, its super easy, you should try it!
And Orlando misses YOU, friend!
I love Anthropologie. They have the cutest dishes, they don’t really match my kitchen, but they make really great gifts!
eeek my brother lives in THAT frat house!!!
he goes to UCF and is in theta chi- what are the chances?!
Pathetic puppies are undeniably cute! Thankfully, my Dear’s sister works at Anthro so we get a family/ friends discount! Otherwise, my wallet would be steering me elsewhere 😛
P.S. My momma is obsessed with WS’s peppermint bark but I’m contemplating trying to make some of my own this season!
Looks like you had a good time in Orlando. Your pumpkin spice cookies look yummy! I eat so many cookies this time of year!
SADIE!! omg, she cracks me up. Seriously, what a ham.
Looks like a good trip! I know what you mean by feeling the nostalgia – that happens whenever I go back to my university’s campus too. It sure was good times!
I am also in love with Williams Sonoma and Anthropologie! I went to Williams Sonoma last week when I was in Arizona, and I loved all the holiday stuff.
Traveling back to my university’s campus always makes me feel ridiculously nostalgic. That’s where my boyfriend and I met (on the steps of one of the buildings we both had class in!), where I met my best friends, and where I had the best four years of my life to date. God, I miss it!
Hey, weren’t you supposed to trot down Vegas with skinny runner this weekend?
yes! unfortunately the summit was canceled, so i decided not to go for financial reasons since i was anticipating help w/ travel costs from the summit. 🙁 i’m bummed!
shoot. Bummer!
GO KNIGHTS!
The gym is probably one of the main reasons I chose to come to UCF. They actually just expanded on it last year and now it has racquetball courts and an extended weight and cardio floor!
Needless to say, it will be missed upon graduation 🙁
Kona is SO cute! I can’t wait to miss my college town! Haha. Their gym looks amazing…I wish my school’s gym looked like that!! Have a good weekend, Julie!
I had NO idea that the lion was good- that is so strange! That was like a landmark over there.
& I hear the gym got a total makeover- did you go inside?? I miss college too. It almost makes me want to go back 🙂
What an adorable visitor! 🙂
I love nostalgic drives and visits! Feels good–and nice to know life moves on and the things I’ve experienced have made me even stronger. I love it!
Cute mugs!!
I love Williams-Sonoma, but the price tag is always a little out of my range! 🙂
Sadie’s lookin’ cuter than ever!
I was just in Anthro last weekend was eyeing up those “j” mugs as well. I got a different mug for my friend, but it was so difficult to leave without getting anything for me. They really do have the best dishes, but then again, I want everything there, why does it all have to be so expensive? Dangit!!
I love Anthro, and always have to stop and browse their dishes and mugs, even though I really don’t need another mug. I have one from them from a few years ago that’s white and has a ‘J’ on it and I use it all the time.
My boyfriend was an SAE too! I don’t know how many nights out included pictures with the lions!
I’m a KD alum from Oklahoma State! Luckily I was able to drag college out one more year! Loving grad school!
I LOVE chocolate labs. My hearing ear dog was a chocolate lab and she was the sweetest. They’re a trip for the first year, though! They chew everything.
I wish there was an Anthropologie near me but then again, with the prices, it’s probably best there isn’t..
I’ve been giving that peppermint bark to my boyfriend’s mother for a few years now, and she loves it!!
Can’t beat mall decorations!
Wow ya’lls Greek houses are huge! How many people did they sleep?
I couldn’t help but laugh when I saw what fraternity took over Ryan’s old house. Theta Chi was one of my hubby’s arch rivals in college and when I showed him the picture he (direct quote) said “Gosh, they have to take everything from everyone!”
Hahah Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
oh my gosh, that is too funny!! 🙂
and our house slept around 35 girls, which is actually small compared to a lot of the other florida schools!!
haha what a fun post! I love seeing the daily adventures of people. I don’t blame you!! Those mugs are so…..kyyooot! 😀 And I totally know you feel with nostalgia. I’m highly nostalgic when it comes to places and stuff.
Wow, your sorority and fraternity houses are so much nicer than ours were! I went to Univ. of Florida and I was in a sorority there, but our houses were a lot older looking. And painting the SAE lion was always a thing at UF, too! 😉
you’ve GOT to try the oreo frapp or the neapolitan frapp from starbucks. they’re delish
Did you meet Ryan because you lived next door? My husband and I lived in neighboring fraternity/sorority and thats how we met – I don’t know what my life would be like if we hadn’t been right next door, thank goodness we were!
Hahah, I LOVE Sadie’s face in those pictures! So funny. And I also love Anthropologie! Did you know they have an accessories only store in DC?
I have that mug from anthropologie or should say I did have that mug. Beware it you add hot tea/coffee to it, the mug becomes EXTREMELY hot including the handle. I burned my hand and dropped and broke it the first time I tried to use it. Such a shame too b/c they are so cute!
What an exciting trip!
I agree. Anthropologie has the most adorable kitchenware. I love the unique-ness and rustic, vintage feel of everything. Plus, their clothes are amazing.
That store is VERY dangerous. 🙂
Did you check out the new Lululemon???
yes and i wanted everrrrything!
I have those mugs from Anthropologie! I got two of the P mugs for our last name. 🙂
I was JUST flipping through the Anthropologie magazine that my mother in law got in the mail while eating dinner and loved those mugs. Partially b/c they’re cute, partially b/c they are the only affordable thing in the entire magazine.