Thank you to all of the men and women who have served and continue to serve our country.
We are celebrating and remembering you today.
Happy Memorial Day!
Sunday in Bradenton
After a long day at work on Saturday, I was ready for some quality time with Ryan and Sadie on Sunday. We slept in, ate breakfast and went on a long morning walk around our neighborhood before we hopped in the car and made the drive to Bradenton on the west coast of Florida to spend the rest of the day with my father-in-law, Greg.
Along the way we stopped at Starbucks and I ordered one of the refreshers drinks to try.
It was… refreshing. Who would’ve thought!
Dinner at Pier 22
We arrived at Greg’s a little after 2 p.m. and hung out for a few hours before it was time to head our for dinner. Our plans for the evening took us to Pier 22, a local seafood restaurant located on the marina. Before dinner we spent some time walking around outside (and sweating like crazy since Florida decided summer is here) and took in some of the beautiful seaside views.
Once we made our way into the restaurant, we perused the menus and ordered a dozen raw oysters to share to kick off our meal.
They were fantastic and I probably could’ve downed another two dozen all by myself without a problem.
For my main meal, I selected the jambalaya made with fresh fish, andouille sausage, rice, mussels and shrimp.
It was great and incredibly filling. I left feeling full and happy.
Dessert at Euphemia Haye Dessert Loft
After dinner, it was time for the main event! Dessert!
Our plans for dessert were quite special since my father-in-law took us to the dessert loft at Euphemia Haye on Longboat Key. I’ve only been to Euphemia Haye one time before when Greg took us to the restaurant to celebrate Ryan’s 21st birthday and I have been dying to go back ever since. I remembered the experience surrounding dessert at the restaurant being incredibly special and my memory was dead on because our dessert at the Haye Loft last night was fabulous.
The minute we walked in, we were greeted by the hostess who walked us over to a beautiful display of cakes and pies. As full as I already was from dinner, I knew I couldn’t pass up a slice of something from the Haye Loft!
I went with a slice of the chocolate toffee banana pie and it was rich, indulgent and incredible.
Ryan ordered the banana cream pie (which won my vote as the best dessert selection of the evening) and Greg chose the key lime pie which was the perfect combination of sweet and tart.
I didn’t leave so much as a crumb on my plate and left Euphemia Haye feeling a little too full. It was definitely a special treat!
Once we made it back home after dinner, we arrived to find Sadie in thunderstorm freak-out mode.
After we let her burrow under blankets and cuddle up next to us, she started to calm down as the thunder dissipated and happy Sadie was back in no time.
She’s ready for lots of playtime today!
Today
Our plans for today include a Memorial Day barbeque at my mother-in-law’s house followed by a trip to the Ringling Museum with my father-in-law in the late afternoon. Lots of fun on the agenda for today!
Happy, happy Memorial Day!
![\"Quantcast\"/](\"//pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-1e3-7hOJ_U8Bg.gif\")
Wow, those desserts! So decadent and yummy sounding! Sounds like a fun weekend – enjoy! 🙂
OMG! I almost took my hubby there last night. We spent the weekend on Longboat Key and ended up spending too much time at the Columbia Restaurant and The Circle. That storm got crazy so we headed to the publix for ice cream to play some games at the house. I am so jealous I would have been so suprised to see you there! Was the music good?
Oh my gosh, how crazy! Yes, the music was great!! 🙂
I love the Starbucks refreshers but I drink them way too fast! They go so much faster than my iced coffees so I feel like I’m just gulping money lol! The cool lime is my favorite!
Looks like a lovely day! Enjoy the sunshine and family time. 🙂
Looks so relaxing, and I would kill for a slice of key lime pie right about now!
Julie I love your hair curly!! It’s so pretty.
I’m so glad you had a great weekend! Happy Memorial Day!
Happy Memorial Day!! It looks like you had a wonderful Sunday 🙂
Those desserts look divine!!!
Julie, your hair is looking so nice and long! Glad you had a nice weekend with your family! 🙂
Thanks Lauren!
That second one is SUCH a good picture of Sadie!
Wow those desserts look DELICIOUS! Hope you have a fabulous rest of the holiday weekend with family!
Hold up, is this a magical land where you go JUST for dessert? That is incredible. Definitely worth a trip to the States for! And so worth being a bit too full for in my opinion – sometimes you just gotta do it 😉
I know how Sadie feels, thunderstorms freak me out!
Hahaha! Dessert is the best.
Gaahhhh you always find the yummiest seafood places, I {figuratively} drool! And I hope you have a beautiful day~I’m not a planner so not sure how the day will end up, haha.
My pets hate thunder, too … they freak out.
Did you ever see Marley and Me? (and what Marley did in the garage during a thunderstorm?) Mine hide in closets.
Yes! I loved the book, too.
Oh man, I wish I had known about that place earlier! I was in Bradenton visiting my Dad this weekend. I will have to remember it when I visit again in July.
Yes!! It’s definitely worth a dessert stop!
Such a pretty pretty dog!
Wow, those desserts look amazing. The set up reminds me of this little dessert place we found in Barcelona.
Your pie definitely looked the best!!!
Sounds like an amazing Sunday. Love family time!
That photo of Sadie on her back is too cute! What a goof 🙂
Random thought, but didn’t you have one of those fleece type “thunder blankets” to put on Sadie?
Holy dessert!! Mmmm…
There should be more dessert only restaurants – such a great concept!
Hi Julie! Although I’ve been reading for quite a while, I think this is my first comment so I apologize that it is a critique. As an Air Force wife, I appreciate your recognition of military members. However, those who “have served and continue to serve” are celebrated on Veterans Day in November. Memorial Day is to recognize, honor, and remember those who have given their life in service to our country. So while I am very happy to celebrate my husband for his service in November (and everyday, really!), I am beyond grateful that I was not honoring him yesterday.
I appreciate this clarification, Mary! And thank you for doing so in such a kind way. I’m very grateful to you and your family for your service and am so glad your husband is safe. 🙂
I love your wavy hair. Is that natural and if not how do you get it like that?
The pies all look incredible!
We had a hailstorm last week and my never afraid cat hid under the bed. I wonder what pets think of weather. I mean when you take Sadie out and it’s pouring, does she grasp that it’s not your doing?
There’s nothing better than dinner on the water!