Lil' Lunch Date

I love eating. I love food, I love trying new food, & I love recommending good food.

I also love A. I love eating food with A, exploring new places with A, & I especially love lunch dates with A.

One of our favorite things to do is find little hole-in-the-wall, off-the-beaten-path spots in Tampa and make them our regular stops. Last year, we first tried Mel's Hot Dogs off of Busch Blvd., and we've been going back ever since. One time, A wrote me a note while we were eating here saying she loved me, and took a photo of me on a disposable camera. (That picture is hanging in her room now). 

This week, we made our triumphant return to Mel's for the first time this semester. For two quirky little people, this place fits right in: 70s radio pop blasting from above and gourmet snack foods. The walls are adorned with some seriously dated photographs of Mel's enthusiasts rocking their logo t-shirt in different parts of the world. Bottom line: Mel's is an experience. And we all know that A & I love hot dogs. 

I think my favorite part of today was how our little hot dog lunch date felt like a little escape from the mundane day-to-days that my daunting college schedule has me running this semester. We hopped into the car in between our short break between classes, & for a little while I didn't think about responsibilities at all. My best friend & I just talked with our mouths full of chili-cheese & Mel's Special dogs, took selfies in front of their impeccable mirrored windows, & ran daringly into the middle of the street to get a photo next to the place's sign. 

Thanks for keeping me grounded, A. It's one of the things I love most about you. Let's keep adventuring until we're old & gray. 

Love,

J

PS - Thank you to the amazing staff at Mel's Hot Dogs, for not judging either of us one single time for taking so many photos in & around your restaurant. You guys are the best!

PPS - Happy 13 months, A!! We've eclipsed a year and sailed right on into a new one. Luv u~~*

Aisha // Jacket: H&M // Dress: Forever 21 // Boots: tout ā coup // Watch: Nordstrom // Bracelet: Pulsera Project 

Jake // Shirt: HUF // Pants: Supreme // Shoes: Nike SB // Sunnies: Ray Ban

Random Road Trip: Rainbow Springs

J & I had the chance to take yet another Saturday road trip this weekend so we decided to venture over to Rainbow Springs. We got up at the crack of noon, hopped into my PT Cruiser, made a little pit stop at Publix for some yummy subs & hit the open road. We played 21 questions, listened to playlists from the 80s and 90s on Spotify & just enjoyed each others company. We went a route that we've never taken before & laughed at all of the weird things that we drove by. We passed a couple of giant manatees, a million Dollar Generals &  came across an actual street called Panda Bear(my favorite animal) Terrace. We also stopped at a gas station that looked like something directly out of a horror film. After a busy week of tests & assignments, a silly drive with my guy was just what I needed.

 The two hour drive turned into three after we stopped a couple times to explore but we finally made it to Rainbow Springs around 4 in the afternoon. We paid $2 per person (which is a total steal) to get in, changed into our bathing suits & walked over to the clear blue water. I was under the impression that the springs were 72º year round, but it ended up feeling like we were in whatever water Jack & Rose were in when the Titanic crashed into that iceberg. Even though J has a zero tolerance policy for cold water, he was a trooper & hung out with me in the spring for 15 minutes. We hopped out before J froze to death & went to explore the rest of the beautiful state park. They had the coolest waterfalls & we hopped the fence to get some cool photos in front of one. I know, very #PUNKROCK of us.

 From the 1930s to the 70s, Rainbow Springs was a popular tourist attraction with live animals & a rodeo. After it closed, the state park kept all of the cages that the animals used to live in & turned the rodeo area into a cool butterfly garden. I think abandoned areas are really interesting because I like to visualize families bringing their kids there to explore back in the 40s & 50s. J even got inside one of the cages that a bobcat used to live in, which made for some sweet photos.

 On the way home, we stopped at one of the only restaurants that didn't weirdly close at 3 p.m. on a Saturday night, Cody's Roadhouse. They gave us a bucket of peanuts & had the yummiest bread with this incredible cinnamon butter. After we filled our bellies, we headed back home & got so lost in conversation that J didn't notice the sudden drop in the speed limit as we entered Hillsborough County. We got pulled over RIGHT before our exit, met the grumpiest cop & Jake got his first ticket ever.

It was another day full of firsts for the both of us & I'm just happy that we got to do all of it together, as a unit.

Love,

A

Random Road Trip: Gainesville

"Why are you guys going to Gainesville?" 

Better yet, why are we going to Gainesville on a UF game day? Some things are better when they're not so planned out.

Friday afternoon, I sent a text over to my lady telling her to clear her schedule for a road trip on Saturday. We didn't know where we'd go, we didn't know what we'd do when we got there. All we wanted was a day away from the hectic fall semester, together. A & I settled on Gainesville. Not too far, & we hadn't been there together yet.

Always inquisitive, A made the drive fly by by keeping my mind occupied answering surveys from Tumblr. Before we knew it, she asked me who I last talked to on the phone four times & suddenly we arrived! Thanks Tumblr!

We wound up in Downtown Gainesville in the cutest little shopping district filled with vintage shops & record stores (hallelujah!!). A scooped a new pair of bold black sunnies from Wolfgang, I walked home with a live Black Lips record from Hear Again. Who doesn't love a souvenir?

We roamed the streets, hardcore. Who knew Gainesville was so hot? We walked up to the UF campus, which was mobbed with blue & orange toddlers and alumni. Not ones for school spirit, A & I ducked into the nearest Krispy Kreme for some sugary salvation. Phew. Close one. It was, however, hilarious to compare a school with a spirited, talented football team to our modest USF squad. (Editor's note: USF actually won this weekend's football game. #MIRACLE)

On our walk back to the car, we stopped for a quick bite at Relish, where we split a delicious cheeseburger. I did not know that one could put different condiments on separate sides of a burger, but apparently it can be done.

One of the recurring survey questions on the drive home was "what was the best part of today?" My answer is, confidently: spending the day wanderlusting with my best friend. Driving to a new city, roaming the streets aimlessly while sipping coffee & tea and checking out little indie shops & taking pictures of such a beautiful girl separated me from reality for a short while. For once, I wasn't consumed with school or responsibilities & was able to stop & enjoy life today.

Thanks A, for always being my little travel partner.

Love,

J