Our Weekend of Shopping and Relaxing

Saturday of Markets and Antique Shopping in Pensacola

T&W Flea Market

    Our first stop on Saturday was T&W Flea Market in Pensacola. Lots of ground to cover and lots of space available for anyone looking for a booth. Honestly, I am not usually a fan of flea markets, but this one has a good variety of products. 

    There are shops inside selling new and interesting items for gifts, everyday use, household, and more. There is also yard sale, antiques, and makers' booths. We didn't eat there, but they also offer several options for lunch while you're shopping. I can't help but wonder if there is even more available on the first weekend of the month.

    Definitely worth checking out if you like picking.

Pensacola Community Market 

    Calling all Makers and Shoppers!!! The Pensacola Community Market is a pop-up market that happens on various days and at various locations throughout Pensacola. It was a small market on Saturday but had some great vendors! The jewelry pictured is by TTE Designs, made from vintage tins. There were several jewelry booths, kids' clothing, gardening supplies, and homemade items. Check out the Pensacola Community Market website for information on becoming a vendor because the market also happened at a fantastic location - which brings me to our next stop...

Trader Bo's

    The Pensacola Community Market was in front of Trader Bo's so we made two awesome finds in one. Trader Bo's is full of amazing vendor booths and finds. Each booth is organized, neat, and easy to shop. Too much great stuff to try to name here, you're just going to have to check them out!

Franklin Antiques

    Our final stop in Pensacola on Saturday was Franklin Antiques. This is another goldmine for "junk shopping" ( as we call it). Not really any junk here, just rows and rows and rows of booths. We were concerned we might get lost in the maze! :) We purchased numerous great items here, including a sterling silver salt spoon that my daughter turned into a pinky ring.

Sunday Relaxation at Pirate's Cove

After a full weekend of shopping, we spent Sunday relaxing on the beach. We also had some laughs watching kids and dogs playing in the sand and water. Unfortunately, our day was cut short by a storm rolling in but we held on as long as possible. 

The Factory Trampoline Park - Gulf Shores, AL

We had quite the adventure at The Factory Trampoline Park in Gulf Shores, AL.

    

                                                

                      

Shout out to South Baldwin Urgent Care and  

Plastic Surgeon Dr Fred Fedok 

for taking such great care of me! 

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Big Kahuna's Destin, FL - GREAT DEAL on a 2017 Season Pass

You don't want to miss this deal!

Get a season pass for the 2017 season when you purchase a one day ticket to 

Big Kahuna's now!

Here are the details from their website:

2017 Season Pass $44.99 per person plus tax
This is your lucky day. You have the opportunity right now to enjoy unlimited visits to Big Kahuna’s for the rest of this summer and all of next summer for just $44.99. How? Just buy a single day admission, and you’ll get free unlimited admission through the end of the 2017 season.

•  FREE admission the remainder of 2016 season and the entire 2017 season
•  Unlimited use of the Water Park on any regularly scheduled operating day.
•  Don’t forget to purchase your Parking Pass for only $20!

CLICK HERE TO BUY

Even if you can't go for the rest of the 2016 season, this is a great deal for next summer. Get yours today!

New Orleans for Street Performing & Local Fun

I am from New Orleans and try to take my kids there as often as possible. I used to own a restaurant called A Taste of New Orleans in Fairhope, AL where I served local New Orleans fare. It was through that experience that I realized there are lots of things about New Orleans that most tourist miss - namely Roast Beef Po-boys and Sno-balls.

On this adventure to the Big Easy, I took my son, Dawson, to the French Quarter so he could be a street performer for the day. He is a hip hop dancer and LOVES to perform. I purchased a Sonic Suitcase from Dr Music to use in my basketball practices during drills and Dawson's dream to go dance in the French Quarter began - it was the first thing he asked when he saw the Sonic Suitcase.

So here is a video of clips from Dawson's performance. There is no music due to copyright rules on YouTube but it's clear he is having a blast and the kid's got moves!


After all that dancing and watching him dance in the August heat - it was sno-ball time! There are sno-ball stands in every neighborhood throughout New Orleans - it never occurred to me that wasn't the case across the country. Every summer growing up in New Orleans we knew when sno-ball season started for our local neighborhood stand.

Two of the more famous places are Hansen's Sno-balls, Mr Hansen invented the sno-ball machine. And Plum Street Sno-balls where you can get your treat inside a Chinese takeout container instead of a cup. That is where the picture below was taken. My usual order is chocolate with condensed milk, which is what my daughter Briana bought. However, when I'm super hot and thirsty, my go to is a large spearmint sno-ball. They are SOOOO delicious! You have to try one when you're in NOLA.

We ended our adventures for the day with an impromptu trip to the Lakefront. The kids asked a million times where we were going, I just kept telling them it was a surprise. I have told me kids stories of how we used to go out to the Lakefront when I was a kid with cardboard boxes and used them as sleds to slide down the levee. This was the day they were going to experience it. A quick stop at Lakeview Groceries on Harrison Avenue for boxes and we headed to the levees. As soon as the levees came into view my kids knew what was going on. I wish I had video going to capture their reaction - it was priceless.

Of course, no trip to New Orleans is complete without some beignets and Cafe au Lait from Cafe Du Monde. So enjoy this short video of these adventures and I'll be sure to post more soon.