Night Moves

Another semester bites the dust (finally) & we're back to doing what we do best: adventuring. I'm not going to Hong Kong this year (miss ya, Dad) so I decided to drive down to Weston with Jake so that we could have a little week of adventures together. My dad was kind enough to buy me a Nikon D3200 for Christmas. I've been playing with it non-stop all weekend & it's finally making it's Stellar Piece debut. J keeps describing it's photo quality as "crispy" & I'd have to agree. I'm in love.

We've only been here a day & it's been amazing so far. We woke up at noon, had lunch with his family & made a trip to Sawgrass Mills Mall. I feel compelled to tell you guys that I finally bought a pair of suede J.Crew loafers that I've been drooling over for months. They were originally $98 & I got them for $44 (hell yes).

Later in the evening, J & I drove to Radioactive Records to do a little hunting. I've been searching high & low for the Pretty in Pink soundtrack on vinyl, but haven't found it yet. Jake is trying really hard to teach me how fun it can be to patiently dig through bins at record stores. It can be pretty hard for a girl who doesn't know the first thing about patience, but I'm learning. J bought a couple of 7"s & I bought some Thompson Twins & Dead or Alive LPs.

Afterwards, Jake took me to this neat little dive called Le Tub. The decor was ultra kitschy & cool. They had metal bathtubs & toilets everywhere and their walls were adorned with old photographs & license plates. I had a yummy hot dog while J downed a huge cheeseburger. We finished it all off with some homemade Key Lime pie. It's amazing how much better you feel after eating when you're starving.  J & I both turn into Betty White in that Snickers commercial if we wait to eat but luckily it only takes a few bites until we are back to our normal, silly selves. 

I thought that we were heading home for the night when Jake took an impromptu right turn & took me to the beach so that we could run around for a few minutes. As we were walking down the boardwalk, I expected the beach to be nice & calm (you know, rom-com style) but the gale force winds kind of ruined that dream for me. It was romantic in a different kind of way, though. J & I were just running around like crazies, getting our shoes all wet in the ocean, drawing 'J+A Forever' in the sand & climbing all over everything. That's our style & I wouldn't have it any other way.

Love,

A

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

Sweet Spontaneity

Today was a day of spontaneity. A & I are undoubtedly two of the most obsessive planners you will ever know. We enjoy routine & planning ahead. But sometimes, a day can prove so much more thrilling when it operates completely without an agenda.

We awoke at the crack of noon to find ourselves working through a schedule of the day: pick up some hay for Tyson, the family celebrity // guinea pig, visit the Post Office, & take a trip to St. Petersburg to visit the Salvador Dali Museum. After getting into the car, A & I decided to completely derail our routine & take a spur of the moment trip to Downtown Tampa. 

A short drive later, we found ourselves at the Henry B. Plant Museum on the campus of the University of Tampa. If you've never been to UT, or seen photographs of it, let me be the first to tell you that it is by far one of the most beautiful campuses I've ever seen. After taking in the sights, we paid our admission ($7 for students) & were pleasantly surprised to be treated to a pair of complementary museum audio tour sets, which A & I took an immediate opportunity to look like total goofballs with.  

We strolled, appreciated times when a hotel room was $5 a night, and took an unending amount of mirror selfies. A discovered that standing over an air conditioning vent caused her dress to fly up, Marilyn Monroe-style. Photos were taken, you know, for documentation purposes.

Hunger hit us like a sudden wave, & we hurried across the street to one of our favorite little spots, Oxford Exchange, for some afternoon high tea. While A has experienced high tea many-a-time, this was my first. I must say that I was pleasantly surprised, never in my life have I eaten such a fancy finger sandwich. And while I'm usually the guy to run far, far away from anything labeled "vegetarian", I even enjoyed a few bites of an arugula sandwich (thanks for broadening my horizons, babe). 

We snacked on our three-tiered tower, sipped on some Earl Grey Lavender Tea & caramel cappuccinos, but most importantly, enjoyed each others company. Engaging one another in endless conversation is something A & I delve into regularly, but reaching the point in a relationship where a quiet, romantic lunch isn't awkward is something to be cherished.

To summarize, an afternoon in the gorgeous Tampa air, sans-any kind of plan, turned out to be one of the most perfect & memorable days of my entire life thus far; one that I will hold close to my heart for the rest of my life.

Love,

J

Jake // Shirt: J. Crew // Pants: H&M // Bracelets: J. Crew & Pulsera Project // Shoes: Clarks // Sunnies: Ray Ban

Aisha // Dress: Cotton On // Shoes: Deena & Ozzy // Sunnies: Urban Outfitters