Key Kamping

For my birthday this year Blake took me camping on Big Pine Key, about 30 miles from Key West. We were lucky to have gotten an open camp site, normally you have to reserve 11 months in advance (they say), plus it was the busy season. So on the morning of Friday February 10th we packed up food, water and snorkeling gear so that we could leave right after school got out. The main reason we chose to camp on Big Pine was because it is where the majority of the Key Deer can be found. Key Deer are like little mini white-tailed deer. They grow to be no more then 75 pounds and about 25-30 inches tall. Anyway Blake and I really hoped we would be able to see some. It turned out, right after we set up our tent and began to cook dinner a little deer walked into our camp site. It did not stay very long but we were happy to have seen one. They reminded me more of a dog then a deer. 

 

We cooked Ho-Bo dinners (one of my favorite things about camping) with key-lime soda.  

One of the things I don't like about camping is the s'mores. The idea of s'mores always sounds so good. But it takes to much time and effort to toast the perfect marshmallow, plus they always become such a sticky disaster. I alway seem to suffer through the mess for the yummy taste though. Thanks to pinterest, this camping trip we did not make the traditional s'mores. Instead of bringing gram-crackers I picked up some waffle cones from Carvel. When we were ready for desert we stuffed the cones with all the s'more goodness. We used Symphony bar, marshmallows and some oreos. The best thing about the waffle cone s'mores is you can add anything you want. After stuffing the cones to the max, wrap it in aluminum foil and let it cook over hot coals. 

We did take off the USA wrapper before cooking. 

When they are done you just take off the foil and enjoy. Definitely a wonderful substitute for a Birthday cake. 

After dinner we looked out at the ocean and watched the moon raise. First time I have ever seen the moon "raise" but it definitely was raising.  

We ended the night of my Birthday with a movie cuddled up in our little tent by the water. 

Happy 21st to me.

We started the next morning off with some Ho-Bo breakfasts and fresh fruit. Then we went to explore the Keys a little more.

We asked some locals where we could see more Key Deer, little did we know all you have to do is drive through the town. They are literally walking through people's front yards. 

We stopped at garage sales (good place to find used scuba gear at garage sales in the keys), art shows, old bridges and random abandoned houses.

Once again Blake got us coconuts for a mid-day snack.

 

It still impresses me how good he has gotten at opening coconuts with his hands. The meat in these were just the way I like to eat them. 

We were having so much fun that we forgot to stop and eat (except for coconuts). Before we left the keys we had too stop for key lime pie. So once back on Key Largo we stopped at the fish house for a pie fix. They serve a wonderful pie toped with a high peak of meringue. But being to broke to eat a full dinner at the fish house we drove to the high quality golden corral for dinner back on the main land.

Just when I thought my Birthday celebration was over Blake surprised me with a little "Milk Martini". One of my favorite desserts is oreos dipped in milk, so what better way for us non-drinkers to still have fun on a 21st Birthday. Oreo was even having limited edition Birthday Cake flavor... 

 

Kamping in the Keys was a fun little Birthday get away. Can't wait till the next exuse we have to go back.

Good Morning Miami

One Saturday Morning, Blake had the idea of waking up early, driving to the beach and watching the sunrise. Not a bad idea, so we woke up and made it to the beach by 6:30am. Being Jaunuary the weather was just cool enough to wear a longsleved-T (my favorite winter clothes). Not only did we get to watch the sunrise but it was nice to have the beach almost all to ourselves, peace and quiet with no rush. It turned out there was just enough clouds to make the sunrise extra pretty.

This guy had the right idea.

This guy did not.

Leaving the beach we drove home to have brunch with some friends, they introduced us to cachapas. One of Blake's new favorite meals, he would make them everyday if I let him. After eating we went and explored a new beach, we had hoped to kayak and maybe see some manatees. But their advertivment online was way off from what they really charge to rent kayaks. So we enjoyed the sun and flipped over rocks to see what kind of wild life we could find. 

The best thing we saw by far was a little baby puffer fish. We have seen tons of puffer fish while scuba diving, but never have we seen them actually puff up before. It was so cute, I wish we could have taken it home. We figured it would have a better chance of surviving back where we found it. 

On the way home from the beach we found a Krispy Kreme!!! Blake and I have been looking for one since we moved to Miami, so we stopped in for a dozen hot and ready. Good thing it is still a little far from the apartment for daily visits.

After getting home and showering off the saltyness from the day, Blake and I ended the night with dinner at Verailles. Verailles is a Cuban restaurant built in the 1970's, located off calle 8 in little Havana. The food was wonderful, yuca, plantains, roasted pork, Cuban bread, and of course beans and rice. Not only was the food good but I loved the environment as well. The photo we got doesn't give it justice, the walls are covered in vintagey mirrors and  chandeliers with bright lights. 

If anyone is planing a trip down to Miami we will be glad to accompany you to Versailles anytime.

Krispy Kreme

One thing we miss about living in Gainesville is having Krispy Kremes near our apartment. 

 We stared going so often it was decided not drive there anymore. But that did not stop us. We woke up one Saturday morning and ran the 4 miles in the pursuit for a breakfast of donuts. 

On the way we even got a little science lesson. 

So we started at the Sun and ran all the way to Pluto.

It was fun to stop and read some facts about the different planets but that did not distract us from our goal. A dozen warm, glazed Krispt Kremes with whole milk. 

The breakfast run turned out to take up half the day because after filling our stomachs full of donuts it made it much harder to leave the booth. So we sat and talked till we started our walk/run back home. It was all worth it in the end. 

What would you do for Krispy Kremes?