Lithia Springs, Florida

I went home this weekend to the Tampa Bay area to be with my family. My sister was home from Arkansas and it was my brother Blake's 30th birthday and his daughter's, Ellie, 5th birthday! There was lots to celebrate. I was only home for a total of three days and I haven't been home since February for my sister's wedding, another three day trip, that mostly consisted of wedding things- amazing wedding things! So, this was probably the sweetest trip home that I've had to date! I feel like all of the essentials were covered in such a short time. My first day I had a Cuban breakfast (one of my most favorite things!), Cuban toast and cafe con leche with my mom & sister, Afton. Then we scavenged Estate Sales and Antique shops, topped off with a cold treat from my favorite ice cream shop, Campbell's Dairy Isle (actually called Dairyland, but I have only ever known it to be Dairy Isle- sounds better anyways!!) of Brandon, Fl, a childhood classic. Yum. Yum.

Day two was spent celebrating birthdays, it was a horsey themed day. Ellie June, who turned five last week, loooooves horses and anything to do with horses- therefore she had a Horse Party and nearly every gift she received was in some way equestrian related. I gave her the classic, National Velvet, a movie I loved as a child. So, late that evening I spent laying under the dining room table with Ellie, watching National Velvet on my father's (her PaPa's) laptop! How sweet it was, but what a strange movie. Velvet is so bizarre to me now, but as a child I thought she was magnificent- I think Ellie is pretty fond of her too.

My final day home, in Lithia, Florida (rural area just south east of Tampa), I spent with my family at an old local haunt that had been long forgotten since the mid-90's, but seems to be making quite the comeback these days. It's called Lithia Springs Park. A magical place where I spent many a summer day as a child. In fact Lithia Springs was a hot spot even when my grandfather was young and I am sure for many generations before that. It was a hang out for my mother and her sisters as well. It is such a hidden little gem & I want to share it here with you. I love the color of the spring water, I call it Lithia Springs Blue & it's my new color for the summer! I love this place, so if you ever want to visit, just let me know. The pictures here are of the spring and the little springs surrounding. In the second to last photo you can see where the springs and the Alafia river meet. The Alafia eventually opens up to The Tampa Bay, which feeds into the Gulf.

p.s. I apologize that there are only photos of the spring. I was having too much fun at home & forgot to take pictures!!