A Low Key Thanksgiving

We had THE BEST time and it ended up being our most low-key holiday yet… and we loved it. I go home to Tampa quite often and honestly, we do the same things over and over again. We’re at home 90% of the time and then go to our favorite places. I’m not going to Tampa to venture out or plan a packed vacation, I’m pretty much going to hang out with my family, even if it means going to Publix 400x with my mom.

Thanksgiving week is also a little bit different because it coincides with “cyber week.” In the past, it was limited to Friday and Monday but now it’s an all day, every day kind of thing. I worked a lot. (At one point I literally went to get an eye exam because I felt like I couldn’t see well and figured it was some sort of almost-thirty transgression. Turns out I just had SUPER dry eyes from staring at my computer screen for so many hours 🙈I’m glad I was with my mom though, she was a huge, huge help and I’m so grateful that she’s always more than willing to roll up her sleeves and help.

We were planning on going to our friend’s son’s preschool performance… but we literally missed it by five minutes because of delays getting our suitcases at the airport. So my mom and I headed off to Buddy Brew for cappuccinos and avocado toast.

I always get my hair cut when I’m in Tampa. I was ~this close~ to chopping it off, but then chickened out when I got there. Even taking an inch or two off though makes me feel like a new woman; nothing better than nice clean ends!

My mom and sister and I have a tradition of doing afternoon tea the day before Thanksgiving. We’ve missed a couple of years, but it’s been fourteen years since we started. In fact, before her cake pop business, my mom had a little party decorating/catering business that she called “Tea for Three” after our tea tradition.

I had a few people DM me asking where we go. It’s called The Royal Tea Room and it’s right on MacDill almost to Bay to Bay!

Stacy recently moved into a house with a couple of her girlfriends and it’s the most darling little house ever. Isn’t the porch adorable??

Last year, I dragged my mom and sister to the Thanksgiving 5k; they did the one-mile walk, I ran the 5k, and my dad was our Uber driver. This year, Stacy tapped out completely, my mom offered to snap photos/video, and my dad Uber’d us again. I didn’t train at all for this. In fact, I think I have only done five runs total since my last 5k last December. I figured I was in decent enough shape to finish it because of BBG. I wanted to do it under 30 minutes and ended up finishing at 29:06, which I was pretty happy with.

Meesh and I went for coffee right after dropping my dad off at the gym. She got me super hooked on Peppermint Mochas from Starbucks right now. They are so good and I’m trying to have them only once a week, but do I think about going to get one every day? Yes, yes I do.

We always do hotdog lunches before the official Thanksgiving dinner. I don’t know when it started but we love it!!! Chips and hot dogs… can’t beat it!

My grandma was visiting one of my aunts who lives in a different state and everyone else who usually comes also was out of town. So it was just the four of us (my mom + dad + sister). It was the first holiday, I think ever, where it was just the four of us. It was really nice that we didn’t have to put anything away or worry about what the table looked like or even making dishes for other people. We did our favorite food, kept things super casual (we didn’t even change into clothes for it!), and had the quickest clean up afterward of all time.

Hasbro had sent us a giant box of games after they heard we had a Thanksgiving game night tradition. We tried a bunch of them, but The World Series of Yahtzee was the clear-cut winner (followed by Don’t Lose Your Cool, which had my mom SHRIEKING with laughter to the point where she legit almost threw up).

This new Yahtzee game took a few practice rounds for us to get the hang of it, but it actually ended up being so much more competitive and intense than the regular game. We played it every night and even my sister (who is usually the first to tap out of game night) kept suggesting “just one more round.”

Someone (rudely) DMed me asking why I go to Oxford Exchange every day. Well, I go every afternoon when I’m in town for the TeBella tea! Driving to Davis Island is way more of a hassle so Oxford Exchange it is. In the winter they have my ABSOLUTE favorite and, no joke, I would go twice a day if I could for it because it’s only out for a limited time. They do a Peppermint Bark fog and it is heaven in a cup. Get it!!

My mom was going to an engagement party and needed a gift, so it was a kill two birds with a stone deal. And we tried on glasses just for fun. But of course, I fell in love with a pair…. Guys, I got these pink + tortoiseshell glasses! I can’t get over them.

PS this is my shirt + earrings, both c/o.

Is this not the most beautiful sunset?

I also crashed multiple date nights with my parents because, why not?? I haven’t been to a Bartaco since I moved out of Connecticut. Still as great as ever.

My favorite house in my parents’ neighborhood. The square wreaths are so perfect.

And one last trip to Oxford Exchange right before my flight to have lunch with Ashley and Ryan. Ryan is actually having a surgery today and could use any and all prayers and positive vibes. ✨