Tag: florida

gainesville

Four Favorite Spots In Gainesville

by Kayla The Happy FloridianLeave a Comment on Four Favorite Spots In Gainesville
Four Favorite Spots In Gainesville

I’ve been living in Gainesville for nearly two months now and I have just fallen head over heels for my new city! From the beautiful parks to the bustling downtown, Gainesville has a big-city feel with small-town perks.

I moved from Orlando to Lake City in 2016 and that was a HUGE culture shock. Going from a metropolis to a small southern town was a big adjustment. Orlando was just a little too big, and Lake City was just a little too small. Gainesville feels just right!

I’ve gotten to do some exploring since moving to Gainesville and I’ve discovered some places that I absolutely love! So I thought I’d share a few of my favorites with y’all!

Here are four of my favorite spots in Gainesville:

Celebration Pointe

Celebration Pointe is relatively new to Gainesville and I’ve gone there like once a week since I moved here! It’s an outdoor shopping and dining destination with plenty of entertainment. There is a beautiful promenade going right through the center with tons of seating and sometimes there are live musical performances! There are also restaurants (I’m obsessed with Midici Pizza), stores, an amazing movie theatre and my new favorite day spa, Azulene! It’s definitely a great date-night spot or a fun place to go with your friends!

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Depot Park

I’d visited Depot Park a few times on my lunch break, but now that I live in Gainesville I get to go a lot more often! It’s a beautiful outdoor park built on an old train depot. There’s a playground, picnic areas, walking paths and more! There’s also a general store selling snacks, drinks and fresh-made meals, a beer and wine garden and a pizza spot! It’s a beautiful place to spend a warm Florida day. I love taking time to get out of the office and eat my lunch there!

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Haile Village

If you haven’t been to the Haile Village Center in Haile Plantation, you’re seriously missing out! It has total Stars Hollow vibes (if you don’t know what that is, I’m not sure we can be friends) with it’s tree-lined streets shading adorable small shops and restaurants. Every Saturday they host an amazing farmers market packed with local vendors selling everything from flower to artwork to delicious homemade muffins. I wrote a whole blog post about it a few months ago, which you can read here!

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Downtown Gainesville

You can’t pass up a night out in downtown Gainesville. There are some amazing restaurants and bars located all along the streets! One of my favorite things to do is to walk around and look at all the amazing murals! There are some seriously stunning ones. Let me know in the comments if you want me to do a whole post on Downtown Gainesville specifically!

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Lifestyle

Florida Skincare Essentials

by Kayla The Happy FloridianLeave a Comment on Florida Skincare Essentials
Florida Skincare Essentials

Let’s face it, the Florida weather, although mostly beautiful, can wreak havoc on your skin. The sun and humidity can turn your complexion from peaches and cream to tomato-like in minutes.

I have rosacea, a skin condition that causes your face to turn really red, especially on your cheeks. So, I have to be extra careful with what I put on my skin. The hot Florida weather can make my skin extra irritated, but luckily I’ve found some amazing skincare products that are cooling, calming and make me feel refreshed!

These products are perfect for any Florida or warm-weather-living gal. They have great ingredients and are perfect for relieving your skin on a hot day! Here are my Florida skincare essentials:

Cucumber Face Masks

Cucumber is a great soothing agent for your skin. There are tons of facemasks out there, but I’ve found that ones with cucumber work best for my skin. My favorite ones are the Yes To Cucumbers Calming Paper Mask and the Cool As A Cucumber Sheet Mask from Bath & Body Works.

Cool Off Gel Lotion

This is the best lotion for hot days or after a workout! I don’t use it on my face but I do use it on my arms, legs and chest to cool off quickly. The lotion is made with aloe, cucumber, vitamin E and kaolin clay. It’s made by Bath & Body Works but they no longer sell it in stores or online. But it is available on Amazon!

Clinique Redness Solutions Soothing Cleanser

The Clinique Redness Solutions Soothing Cleanser is THE BEST cleanser for people prone to redness. It’s extra gentle and helps calm visible redness and irritation while melting away makeup and impurities. My skin always feels so cool and clean after I use it.

ULTA Active Cooling Hydration Face Stick

I never leave the house without this. I run the ULTA hydration stick on my cheeks whenever I feel them getting red or when I’m sweating. It cools my face off instantly and it doesn’t leave it feeling greasy.

S.W. Basics Peppermint Water Spray

I just bought this peppermint water spray by S.W. Basics a few weeks ago and I’m obsessed with it! It’s only ingredients are peppermint and water, and the cooling face mist makes my skin feel instantly refreshed.

Finally, one final pro tip: buy yourself a jade roller and keep it in your freezer. What, the freezer??? YES! The cold jade roller will feel absolutely amazing on your face after a long day. This is the one I use.

Let me know in the comments if you want to see more posts like this!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Florida Travel

Top Fall Events in North Florida

by Kayla The Happy FloridianLeave a Comment on Top Fall Events in North Florida
Top Fall Events in North Florida

When most people think of fall weather, their minds don’t automatically go to Florida. Fall in Florida pretty much means the temperature drops from 90 degrees to 80. But, North Florida is special. Up here, we do get fall leaves, cool breezes and sweater weather. There are plenty of fall events to get you in the mood up here in North Florida, from fairs to festivals. Here are just a few fall events I’m looking forward to this season.

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Dining, gainesville

Foodie’s Top Five: Best Bites in Gainesville Under $5

by Kayla The Happy FloridianLeave a Comment on Foodie’s Top Five: Best Bites in Gainesville Under $5
Foodie’s Top Five: Best Bites in Gainesville Under $5

Do you ever have those moments where you’re suddenly hungry, but not quite starving enough for a full meal? Or, feel like a snack but don’t want to shell out $6 for a protein bar from the gas station only to feel hungry an hour later? Same. Luckily, Gainesville has plenty of places where you can grab a small bite on a budget. From sweet treats to cheesy and salty snacks, the options are pretty endless. Here are just five of the best bites in Gainesville under $5.

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Florida Travel, Uncategorized

Exploring High Springs, Florida

by Kayla The Happy FloridianLeave a Comment on Exploring High Springs, Florida
Exploring High Springs, Florida

If you’re looking to visit a place with small-town charm, High Springs is the perfect place to start. Located halfway between Lake City and Gainesville, High Springs is known for its beautiful, natural springs. However, they also have a downtown area that is full of places to explore.

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Florida Travel

Tasting the Best Wine in Florida

by Kayla The Happy FloridianLeave a Comment on Tasting the Best Wine in Florida
Tasting the Best Wine in Florida

Is there any better way to kick off a weekend than with a good glass of wine? I don’t think so! On Saturday I made my way out to the Island Grove Wine Company Tasting House in Hawthorne, about 20 minutes south of Gainesville to try some of their delicious wines.

The Island Grove Wine Company is Florida-based and prides itself on using its fresh fruit to create exceptional wine. I first tried their wine at the Gateway City Craft Beer & Wine Festival in Lake City and immediately fell in love. So when I realized the tasting house was less than an hour away from where I live, I knew I had to check it out.

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gainesville

A Perfect Day at the Haile Village Center

by Kayla The Happy Floridian3 Comments on A Perfect Day at the Haile Village Center
A Perfect Day at the Haile Village Center

This weekend I came to an epiphany about Gainesville, a city I’ve come to know well over the past few years: there’s no shortage of places to explore.

I’ve been working in Gainesville for a little over six months, and before then I spent nearly every weekend for the past two-and-a-half years making the drive there from Lake City to go the movies or to Target (Lake City doesn’t have one, I’m still appalled.)

On Saturday I decided to drive down and visit the Haile Village Center, a small community located near the larger Haile Plantation. Haile Village Center is known for its weekly farmers market and local restaurants, and I knew I had to check it out for myself.

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