One of the things I enjoy most about our annual beach trip comes with the chance to dress up for dinner a few nights out of the week. As a stay at home mom, who bums around in workout clothes all day long, I don’t often get myself all gussied up. I do enjoy doing so from time to time and vacation gives me just the opportunity.

Last night I pulled out one of my all time favorite dresses. I got it from J.Crew 4 or 5 years ago, but it has such a classic style that I still love it. I zipped it up and instantly felt a boost of confidence. Rocking a dress doesn’t happen often for me. Although, I must admit – as nice as it feels to dress up, it makes me appreciate dressing down all the more. I always can’t wait to get back home and into some comfortable digs!

I guess low-key suits my style better. In fact, I find myself choosing low-key over done-up quite often. Take Peter & my couples dinner from G-Pa this week. Every year G-Pa gives each married couple $100 to use how they want towards a dinner out together. Every year Peter and I go back and forth on how to use the money. Go all out one a dinner for two at a nice style restaurant we would not typically go on our own? Or hit up a favorite, albeit more casual, place and pocket the cash? What do you think we did?

We hit up the old favorite! We both love love love good pizza. Genovese’s Italian close to our condo delivers with good pizza, so we chose to go there for our dinner since we get a fix on nicer places during our family outings other times during the week.

We decided to start with an eggplant rollatini for an appetizer.  It had eggplant rolled with romano and ricotta cheeses, topped with a marinara.

It was just okay. We remembered after the fact that Genovese’s doesn’t have great Italian food - just great pizza. For our main dish, we ordered a pizza with light cheese, whole wheat crust, spinach, onions, olives, mushrooms, and pepperoni.

I gobbled up two large slices and saved the rest because I started feeling full. Yet we all know a separate compartment exists in the stomach for dessert. Despite both of us filling up decently on good pizza, we found ourselves hitting up a frozen yogurt joint to finish off the night.

I loaded up my cup. They know how to get you with those extra-large cups! I easily got suckered in to piling up my cup. I started with a reasonable portion of white chocolate and cheesecake yogurt flavors. Then, too many toppings appealed to me and I kept adding more and more on to my yogurt, leaving with a loaded bowl. I couldn’t leave behind brownie bits, cookie dough, peanut butter chips, and Cinnamon Toast Crunch toppings!

I have never seen any of those at a yogurt place before!! And they totally made my yogurt. I managed to eat the whole thing. It’s a gift. Our dressed down, low-key dinner date couldn’t have made me happier. Any date that includes frozen yogurt and chilling with my wonderful husband works for me – dressed down in all its glory.

• What is your style? Do you like going more high-end or low-key?

I had a good day today. A really good day. I woke up at 6 am to head out for a run. I hit the beach with no music, no set goals/pace, and no plan. I ran with just my thoughts, God, and the sound of the ocean in my ears.

I had time for four slower, steady miles again to process some thoughts and simply be with myself. At the end of my run, I happened to come across two very special people – Peter and Makenzie. We strolled the beach a little longer together before coming in for breakfast. I once again had my favorite bowl of oatmeal and some refreshing iced coffee.

Something about iced coffee tastes that much more refreshing at the beach. I savored it over a chill morning before getting ready for a special lunch date I had planned for later.

Julie and I have been buddies through the online world even before we both began blogging. Last year, when we knew we would be in closer proximity, we made sure to get together for a lunch. We had such a great time and needed to continue that tradition again when I came to Florida this year. And luckily, two other friends managed to add to the fun as well – Meghann and Kelly! I couldn’t wait to get the chance to meet both of them for the first time since we have bonded online for so long.

We met up at the Virgin Olive Market in Orlando for a lot of girl talk and sandwiches.

We were all ready to eat so hit up the order counter right after my arrival. I ordered the “Laughing Uncello” sandwich, which included turkey breast, provolone cheese, fresh basil, tomato & onion with a sundried tomato aioli all pressed on focaccia bread.

The sundried tomato aioli made this sandwich. Also, the focaccia. Without a doubt, focaccia makes a good sandwich. I loved every bite…and I do mean every bite. I ate the whole thing over the span of our almost 3 hour chat. Yep. Almost 3 hours. I would expect no less putting four women who love to share their lives and participate in such a fabulous community together. We talked blogging, relationships, Healthy Living Summit, family, running, babies, and more. I cannot wait to see them again…which luckily I won’t have to because we will all have the chance to spend more time together at HLS in August and at the Savannah RNR Race in November. Yay!

picture taken from Meghann because mine was super blurry

Hanging out with blog friends never fails to provide a lot of wonderful conversation, laughs, and plain ole fun. Next year hopefully I will remember to plan ahead enough to make it a bigger meet-up. More bloggers just means more fun!

• What do you love most about the blogging community?