Our Day at Marando Farms! {Ft.Lauderdale, FL}

Today was a lot of fun! 

My mom took Ava and I to Marando Farms in Ft. Lauderdale. She came across this little, local gem while looking into local farms. She was searching for local and organic food and waa laa!

We decided to head over today because I wanted to learn more about the benefits of raw, unpasteurized cow's milk for Ava vs. conventional store bought cow's milk. 

I am still researching and learning about which  milks we will use to transition to once she is done with the formula at a year old- thank goodness that's almost over! 

I so wish I would have stuck to breast feeding (but that's a whole other blog post!)

As of now, I am looking into coconut milk, almond milk, and unpasteurized cow's milk. 

Here are some photos of Marando Farms!

raw, unpasteurized:
cow's and goat's milk- yogurt - ice cream

Mom ordering us 2 "Sunshine" smoothies with added Spirulina.
SO GOOD!!! 

They have a HUGE healthy dog food section too

Ava yawning from a long day while I enjoy the Sunshine smoothie and checking out all the amazing local and organic finds. 

Talking to the owner, Chelsea Marando - sweetest lady ever!

Her and her husband, Fred, are the owners and are celebrating their 4th year this month of being open.
Congrats to them!

I will be back VERY soon!
I am already looking forward to my next visit. I will be buying: raw milk, this amazing fruit jam I saw, my produce, and some local, organic granola.
Maybe even some raw, local honey made since most of the honey in the grocery store is not even real honey.
Oh, and definitely buying another delicious smoothie!!!

If you haven't been to Marando Farms, I recommend this place 1000%
It is very easy to miss since it is tucked away. Basically, if you are heading East on Davie Boulevard, you make a right onto SW 1st Ave. It is the right after you cross the railroad tracks. Go all the way to the end of the road and you will see it on the bend where the road turns. It is back in the area behind (west of) Tap42 and Broward Medical.

Here is their website: Marando Farms
and you can "Like" them on Facebook too.

Hope you stop by and like it as much as we do!

XO
Christina

Snapshots of Today: Rio Vista Pumpkin Patch

Hope everyone is enjoying their Sunday evening! 

As soon as I got home from Jacksonville today, we decided to take Ava over to the pumpkin patch in Rio Vista. She had to pick out a little pumpkin for her 1st Halloween! We also decided to "mommy and me" match our outfits too. 

We so need to start doing that more often!

 Ava was in a funny face kind of mood today.

 Enjoy !

Lights, Camera, Action! {Kyle's Event}

On Tuesday evening, I headed down to Hollywood, FL to meet up with my group of friends, their parents, and the rest of our friend's fans... I'd say there was a group of about 150 of us. Sorry if I'm wrong on the number but we filled up the entire theater! :) 

We were attending an event created to unveil some of our friend's recent film work. 

I had such an amazing time. Whenever I get to the opportunity to meet up with my friends, I jump at the chance. When we are all together again it feels like home. I've known most of my friends since I was about five years old. We grew in catholic school together and we pretty much consider each other siblings (especially me, because I was raised seperate from my siblings). I am super protective of them and they all know it. 

This event was awesome. I could not be more proud of our friend, Kyle. He lives in LA now and is working in the film industry. The new Cinema Paradiso in Hollywood just opened and asked him to fly back and show his latest work. 

His mother and father made sure to extend an invite to his family and friends with a food & drinks portion before of the film portion. We all met up at an Irish bar (which was fitting because they are a fun, Irish family), followed by his work at the cinema, and ended with more good times at the bar next door called Tequila Sunrise.

^at the end of the night: Tequila Sunrise on Hollywood Blvd. 

[*They even had a photographer going around capturing candid moments and posed pictures with Kyle which made me happy... I could just relax and look forward to the professional photos instead of me taking 100 myself. I can't wait to see them!*] 

Knowing that Kyle would be leaving us again in morning to end his 24 hr stay in south Florida, we all caught up with him as much as we could. 

I am so happy that I was able to attend and see his work. I know that Kyle has amazing things in store for him and I feel so lucky to be able to come along for the ride as is proud friend. 

So if you any of you have some awesome film industry connections, you just let me know and I'll introduce you to a extremely talented man! 

I can't wait to celebrate Christmas night  with my family and friends at the annual Shea (Kyle's family) Christmas party. 

One of group's favorite friend traditions... 

^there is a photo of a few of us from 2009 Christmas and the night before I got engaged. 

 

WE LOVE YOU, KYLE! 

XO

Christina 

HOW 'BOUT THEM NOLES?!?!?!?!?!

HAPPY SUNDAY, SEMINOLES!

 IT WASN'T A DREAM!  :)

WE BEAT CLEMSON LAST NIGHT (BY A LOT) AND HAD THE LARGEST SCORE BY A VISITING TEAM EVER IN DEATH VALLEY!!!!!!!

These pictures were from yesterday leading up to the game. After I put Ava to bed at 7:30PM, my mom came over and stayed at the house.  Mark and I headed over to a friend's house to be able to watch the game with no fear of waking the baby with our obnoxious yelling. 

I wish I would have taken more pictures because it was one of the greatest nights of game watching with my friends.

I spent the entire night screaming my head off with our rowdy friends and it was absolutely amazing. 

I need to get a hold of the videos that my friend captured... It was basically a bunch of grown men throwing each other up in the air for each of the amazing plays while running circles throughout the house cheering. 

I knew it was going to be a great game when we scored in the first 30 sec. of the game. 

AND I love the fact that Clemson fans were actually "attempting to set the record for the highest decibel reading ever at a football game Saturday on Florida State's first possession. 

The Seminoles, though, took a lot out of the amped-up crowd by forcing a turnover on Clemson's first play and scoring three plays later." 

-Tom D'Angelo (Palm Beach Post)

 

and a little quote from the Clemson Coach himself...

 "Florida State might be the best team in the nation." 

- Dabo Swinney

Hope everyone has a very Happy Sunday. 

(51-14) 

:)

XO

Christina 

Ava's 11 Month Old Pictures

I thought I'd post some pictures of Ava during her last "baby" month.
In a couple of weeks she will turn the BIG 1. 
Who am I kidding? She will be considered our baby "Ava beans" forever. 
But really, how is this possible? 12 months have already gone by?!
 I just had her! 

Hope you all enjoy these photos as much as we did taking them. 



What is this thing? Toms? 

Grrrrr! 

Birds!

 

"Ava, Clap! Clap! Clap!"

I love this breeze! 

Is that my friend, Cooper? 

XO

Christina