Looking back on the day we left NJ is surreal. Our family home for over 10 years, where our babies were raised and endless parties were thrown. The house Tom and I made a home…blood, sweat, and tears went into renovating our sweet cape cod. Yet here we were leaving the only place we knew. We had not yet purchased a home in Florida but had a short-term rental waiting. I think I can see slight fear in Hadley’s face when I look at this picture. To make the move as streamlined as possible we donated half our belongings and packed everything else into one POD. Tom packed the POD like a pro…if there were such accolades in packing Tom takes the cake!

We made the journey to Florida an adventure not just for the kids, but for us as well. We wanted to enjoy this life-changing event so we made a few stops on the 17-hour drive. Our first stop was quick – Arlington, VA to get sleep after a long day of goodbyes and tears. The next stop was Savannah which is one of our favorite cities to visit! Hadley and Maisie (and me) adore The Paris Market so we did a little shopping! Tom and I love food! Food is our thing and researching restaurants is our game! So we hit up some new places this go around which included The Grove and Little Duck Diner! Our third stop was St. Augustine! This was our first time visiting and let me tell you we will go back! This city knows how to decorate for the holidays! We walked around town in awe at the beauty. The architecture is simply gorgeous! A visit to Castillo de San Marcos is a must! Tom and I recommend Ice Plant Bar for its delicious food, drinks, and cool vibe…the building dates back to 1927! Onward to Sarasota our final destination!