There are times when we need to fill our souls, as well as our tummies! Ann Kelly back from my wonderful, long weekend with my little sister Tricia. It’s the first time we’ve had a “just the girls” weekend and was long overdue. And did we sample the best of Tampa Bay. That included a weekend complete with a dozen of Sugardarlings  finest cupcakes. You really need to order your fall favorites now, like the tasty pumpkin. They're online and Jessica is happy to help you out at www.sugardarlings.com. Watch for the grand opening of their new store very soon!

Let’s start with Day One: it was one simple request that started it all. Tricia wanted to walk on the beach every day. Not a problem. What was a small problem was our choice of beach. Last Thursday we headed straight to Honeymoon Island in Dunedin after I picked her up at TIA. We spent a couple of hours enjoying one of the best beaches around and decided it was time to leave. Small problem. It was that Thursday when we had the police activity that closed the Dunedin Causeway for a good part of the afternoon. Nothing like starting off your vacation at a crime scene. So, when the park rangers turned us around and we headed back onto the Island with a lot of others, it was the perfect opportunity to enjoy the Honeymoon Island Café and just relax and catch up.

The week was a true tourism delight with stops at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium to visit with Winter and enjoy a behind the scenes tour. Then we actually got on one of those dolphin tour boats on Clearwater Beach! Can I tell you what a fantastic time that was?! Watching some of Winter’s relatives fly out of the water in the boat’s wake and follow us was just plain incredible! Ending the day with the Sunset Celebration on Pier 60, and dinner at Crabby Bill’s was the perfect end to the perfect day. And hey Crabby’s – nice blackened grouper sandwich! It was exactly what I’d been craving.

Saturday was a chance for me to introduce Tricia to the newer parts of downtown Dunedin, with stops at the Candy Bar (great place for those retro candy cravings and handmade chocolates) on Broadway, and lunch at Casa Tina – beyond incredible Mexican cuisine as we shared beef and chicken tortillas! You’ll find Casa Tina next to the new home of the Living Room on Main Street. We also had a tremendous meal at Guppy's in Indian Rocks which included one of the best Warm Spinach and Artichoke Dips I've ever had (Tricia agrees!). My choice for lunch was the Veggie Press Sandwich was was beyond filling, and Tricia had the Caesar Salad with Chicken. Since we were so close to the beach across the street, we decided a walk was beyond a good idea thanks to two very full tummys. And once again, timing was everything. That was the afternoon that the storms were moving in, and it felt like microdermabasion on the beach thanks to the winds really kicking the sand up. Ouch! But hey, one more interesting aspect to our weekend.

Sunday, Sunday…yes, we made it through the rain to Universal and enjoyed a slightly soggy afternoon with The Men in Black, ET and many others. Sure wish we would have had time for Margaritaville, but that’s for another time.

The worst part of the weekend? Taking Tricia to the airport and saying goodbye. But I know the men in her life (husband Sal, kids Christopher and as we say, “young” Sal) missed Mom and welcomed her and the goodies she bought for them at Universal very happily. My soul is renewed, and thanks to the Banana Bread Muffins I whipped up so were our tummies. I’ll bring that recipe for you soon!

 Now we count down the days to Christmas…

Words of Wisdom from Kelly’s Kitchen;

A sister is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost.  ~Marion C. Garretty