First Florida Christmas

Yes it's true, we traded in our fake pine Christmas tree for real live palm trees this year. Yet again our house isn't ready for company for the holidays. With our tight budget right now, we weren't able to travel either. So, we decided to make the best of our situation. 

One year ago Christmas we were visiting family in Florida, We were staying at the Hilton hotel. After several days of fun at the beach, warm weather and enjoying family we decided that Mi MIguel needed to be in Florida. He needed to be close to his family. Being precisely one year since we had that great epiphany, we decided to celebrate by going back to the Hilton.

Being residents of Florida this year, when Mi Miguel booked our room he told the receptionist our story. She thought the whole thing was so romantic she made us gold star members and gave us the honeymoon suite. Yep, that's where we spent our one year "Decision To Move Anniversary" at the Clearwater Hilton Hotel Honeymoon Suite with this grand view. 

Once everything with our room got situated, Mi Miguel snapped this photo of me. It's the precise moment (December 24, 2015) that I decided to simply stop caring so much about what other people think of me. I've spent my whole life so afraid of offending others and always feeling like I'm on the defense when I invariably do. There's no happiness in it, so I'm moving on to what matters and leaving behind those that you'll never please no matter how hard you try. It was quite an event for me and for Mi Miguel. He's been trying to tell me for years to just let it all go.  

Another spectacular event occurred on Christmas Eve, a full moon. There won't be another for thirty some odd years. It was incredibly bright and made for a great evening to walk to the same restaurant where we ate a year ago on Christmas Eve.

If it's amazing stone crab you're looking for Cooter's would be the place to go if you're in the Clearwater area. 

Stone Crab, the one meal you'll need a wooden mallet to enjoy.

It's nothing fancy, but it's a fun place and the food is top notch. Love that full moon.

Sitting back relaxing on the beach after a wonderful meal with a nice bottle of champagne. Christmas Eve on the beach...it's awesome.

After a few glasses of bubbly, we walked along the shoreline, capturing this neat view of the ocean mist coming off of the rolling waves.  

Life really is this good in Florida. Nothing like champagne flowing over your shoes and onto the fine white sand.

Yes, given enough champagne I can still do a cartwheel. It's just my way of letting it all go.

Christmas morning we got up early rode the hotel beach bikes. Aren't these beach bikes cool?

Riding along we stumbled across a beach bar. Wanting to cool off and relax, Sharky's was perfect for just that.  

So, we parked the bikes by some shrubbery and sat out on the patio.

Ordering an Arnold Palmer, we found that there is nothing more refreshing than a half lemonade, half iced tea beverage to beat this Florida heat. 

The shrubbery by our bikes is unusual. I have no idea what it is, do you?

With a few hours to spare before our Christmas dinner with Mi Miguel's family, he wanted to go early to St. Petersburg to walk around his old stomping grounds from his youth. We stopped by the Vinoy.

This hotel is so lavish and ornate. We strolled around enjoying the view. Even the entrance is gorgeous.

We were offered a complimentary mimosa so of course we obliged.

We had a wonderful visit with Mi Miguel's family; a nice dinner and then decorating our own little gingerbread man. 

With another Christmas behind us,we'll continue working on our house, we're hoping that 2016 will allow us to let go of even more excess baggage. It's so liberating to free yourself of those people, those things and those thoughts that keep you from doing what makes you happy, healthy and satisfied. Goodbye 2015. Hello 2016!