A Day Trip to Lakeland

Sundress || Sandals ($50 off with SARAHFLINT-BAKATIE) || Handbag || Sunglasses || Earrings || Bracelet

Isn’t it funny how you can drive by an exit almost your whole life and never once stop to visit? I’m still on my quest of visiting more of the Sunshine State this summer. I was so happy to take up one of my dearest friends on her offer to show me her town, Lakeland. Home to picturesque Florida Southern College and a gift from the Queen of England, this small town is absolutely worth a day to see.

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Have a Pastry

Our day started the way every morning should, pastries and coffee on the patio. The number one spot in town for your morning fix would have to be Born & Bread Bakehouse. This is a local institution and has a line around the block almost every morning, even in quarantine. Because my friend knows me so well, she ordered me the Banana Bourbon Nutella croissant. This was such a decadent treat!

After we picked up our order, we stopped by her mom’s AirBnb, Owenby House. Just a quick drive from Lakeland’s downtown area, it would be a perfect place to rest your head. Her mom did such an amazing job decorating and furnishing this quiet oasis.

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Go Antiquing

Like with any other quaint southern town, Lakeland is prime for antiquing. The highlight of the trip, apart from seeing my friend, was spending time at Lloyds of Lakeland Antiques. We spent hours, yes hours, at this store right in their downtown district. There were rows upon rows of all kinds of vintage goodies that made my heart flutter. Blue and white china (including Royal Copenhagen)? Check! Mid-century Florida knick-knacks? Check! Jade cookware? Double check! Since our cottage house is short on space, I’m proud of what I didn’t buy. But just wait. When I have a full home to furnish, this will be my first destination for decor.

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Shop Local

One of my favorite things about visiting small, idyllic towns is to pop in and support the local boutiques. Lakeland has its fair share and then some. The number one name on that list is Scout and Tag. This seemed like several shops within one storefront. They sell a little bit of everything from home goods to beauty products. As you’re shopping, you’ll see a lot of swan motifs. That’s because they were gifted a pair of swans from Queen Elizabeth in 1954. Those descendants still call nearby Lake Hollingsworth home and gives Lakeland’s nickname the Swan City.

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Revamp Your Facial Routine

One final gem of Lakeland, actually comes from next-door Bartow. Rafa Naturals is a skincare and candle company that my friend has been raving about for years. Originally founded in 2010, they offer locally crafted, natural, vegan and organic products. I can personally attest that their candles and soaps are heavenly! On this most recent trip, I picked up some samples from their beauty line and can’t wait to give them a try too.

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We capped off the day together with lunch from Black and Brew Bistro. This felt like the spot to be and was simply delicious. Because of time, there was still so much that I missed out on and can’t wait for my return trip in August. Swan Brewing, in particular, seems like a great next spot to visit. For all of my Floridians, near and far, be sure to visit Lakeland for a lovely escape and a healthy dose of charm.

Love from Florida,
Katie

Thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.

An Evening in Tarpon Springs

Dress (also) || Sandals ($50 off with code SARAHFLINT-BAKATIE || Handbag || Sunglasses || Bracelet

So, yesterday I turned 29 years old! I’m never one to make a huge deal of my birthday and that’s especially true in the time of Corona. In fact, this year I spent the past few days at my parent’s house, dog sitting while they moved my brother into his new apartment. I’m always happy to help out mom and dad, but it also felt like a mini vacation. It was a good change of scenery and an opportunity to visit some of my favorite restaurants nearby. So, what’s a girl to do on her birthday?

David and I opted for dinner at my favorite Greek restaurant in historic Tarpon Springs. My family has been eating at Hellas Restaurant for as long as I can remember. It serves up my favorite regional dishes and is always a top recommendation for our out-of-town guests. With Greek music playing in the background, I felt nostalgic ordering some of my go-to dishes. Since it’s always hard to pick just one, we split a slice of spanakopita (a flaky spinach pie), pastitsio (a lasagna like dish), and horiatiki (the traditional Greek salad). No meal is complete without their bakery’s baklava for dessert, but I had a special birthday treat already waiting for me at home.

After dinner, we wandered along the sponge docks on the Anclote River. Despite going through an intense hot streak, my birthday shaped up to be a stunning evening. I stayed even cooler with a Greek frappe coffee, always a refreshing treat. I also want to take this time for the disclaimer that both David and I had on masks as wandered through Tarpon Springs. We maintained our distance from others and encourage you to do the same. To see my complete Tarpon Springs city guide, be sure to click the link here.

For dessert, we enjoyed my absolute favorite dessert, Key Lime Pie, on the back patio. While I think my recipe is pretty good, local spot JJ Gandy is the best. Since my parents weren’t able to celebrate with me, my parents surprised me with their pie and their delicious cookies. Needless to say, I’m full of sweets and extremely content.

Although 2020 has been the year of changed plans and mellow celebrations, I’m still so thankful for another trip around the sun with family and friends. This will be the last year in my twenties and I plan to make it the best one yet!

Love from Florida,
Katie

As always, thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.