Good evening ladies and gents!
I’m sorry I’ve been MIA all day, but this is the first chance I’ve had to sit down. It was another BEAUTIFUL day today and I was determined to spend as much of outside as I could. π
The morning started early, well it would have been early yesterday, today I guess we can consider it sleeping in. My alarm went off at 7:15, but it felt like 6:15. π Booo.. losing an hour of sleep!
Begrudgingly we awoke from our slumbers and I had 1/2 a bagel with almond butter and chocolate chips before my run.
Last night Derek offered to join me on my run this morning and I welcomed the company. He rollerbladed while I ran and together we completed the 10 miles like it ain’t no thing. π It was reassuring to have Derek by my side and company always make the miles fly by on long runs.
After the run I had exactly one hour to shower, pack, dress, and eat a quickie breakfast before heading out the door. Luckily Derek and I were able to divide and conquer. While I was in the shower he got to work on the eggs.
And after the shower I assembled a yogurt bowl with orange, cereal, and chocolate goldfish to complete my plate.
Yummy π
Where were we off to in such a rush? Well, let me tell you…
The Florida Strawberry Festival!!
Every year Plant City – located just outside of Tampa – has a month long festival that revolves around the start of strawberry picking season. Plant City is known for they’re fabulous strawberries and they’re proud of it!
I’ve never been to the strawberry festival, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I did know, however; that I wanted strawberry shortcake! Derek and I bee-lined it to the ‘Build Your Own Strawberry Shortcake’ bar as soon as we arrived.
There was a line that wrapped around the booth!
You start with a choice of pound cake and a biscuit. (I chose the pound cake)
Next, you pile on the strawberries
And a healthy serving of whipped cream.
Last, but not least, they top it off with a simple strawberry for decoration.
Nom Nom Nom
You can’t tell in the photo, but Derek’s bowl was OVERFLOWING. He was determined to get his $3.50 worth of strawberry shortcake! π
I had been warned ahead of time that the vendors at the festival offered just about every deep fried item you could imagine, they weren’t kidding!
Look, I found veggies!
Can’t forget the chocolate dip’t bacon!
I saved the best for last!
In case you can’t read the tiny sign below, it’s cinnamon flavored deep fried butter! I’ll take two deep fried Pepsis, two deep fried butters, and a heart attack to go please! Thanks!
I was expecting all the deep fried food and all the pop-up food booths, but I was also hoping for some local Mom & Pop vendors as well. I was wrong. π The only local food options involved strawberries and dessert items. I was craving actual food for lunch and not just dessert items, but my choices were limited.
After Derek and I looped the festival and surveyed our options, we both decided that Gyros would be the best we could do.
I ordered the chicken gyro, which actually wasn’t that bad.
Does anyone else get sick just watching rides twist and turn?
This however looked like something I would do!
Today’s trip to the Strawberry Festival wasn’t just about strawberries, fried food, and people watching, we had a hidden agenda as well. π
Sara Evans!!!
Each year the Strawberry Festival draws in a few big name performers and this year it worked out that Derek and I could see Sara Evans perform.
I LOVE Sara Evans! Her music is fun, up beat, and she is an amazing performer as well. It was a great concert to end the weekend with.
During the concert Derek and I split some chocolate covered strawberries and I reached my officially sugar overload limit for the day. π
The street on the way back to the car was lined with vendors selling fresh, local strawberries that we calling my name.
I took home half a flat of strawberries for $6!!
I plan to put half in the fridge to eat during the week and the other half for future smoothies and other treats.
When I finally made it home, I was seriously craving fresh VEGGIES for dinner!
I made a platter plate of snap peas, zucchini…
… peanut butter pretzels, jalapeno cheese…
… yellow squash, carrots…
…and a big dollop of hummus to dip it all in.
I enjoyed the stacks of zucchini, hummus, and cheese. π
It has been a long day and my bed is calling my name.
Good night!!!
Oh dear lord–they’d deep fry anything! But you totally have me excited for strawberry season π
Ugh…I can feel my arteries closing just thinking about deep-fried butter!
The strawberries look unbelievable, though — and love your festive dress! I’m also incredibly jealous of your glorious weather…it’s been cold and rainy and windy all weekend π
Who knew you could deep fry pepsi or butter or strawberries? Although I won’t lie, thew chocolate dipt bacon sounds a little tasty…
I can’t wait until summer when berries are in season in the North. Mmmmm!
Such a fun day! Love all your food. Deep fried COOKIE DOUGH?! That is what I would have gotten!
six dollars for all that strawberries!! I pay $5.99 for a small carton in the city !!! ahh I wish you could ship them too me!!! I want to move to FL you have so much more options for fresh produce!
One of my sorority’s symbols is the strawberry–we had a strawberry festival for recruitment! I totally didn’t know there was such thing! I LUUURVE strawberries. I could eat ’em all day long. What a fabulous day to enjoy outside too. Pretty dress.
How do you deep fry pepsi? It’s a liquid!
I think I just felt my arteries clog at the thought of deep fried butter. But I’m totally jealous of those strawberries – yum! Can’t wait to see what all they pop up in!
Sounds like a great day! I love strawberries!
Wow girl, sounds like a fantastic day!!!! SO jealous of the strawberries, I can’t wait for ours to come in in SC!! And half a flat for that price is cheap!!!
I totally have the biggest craving for strawberry shortcake now..
Deep Fried Pepsi??
Looks like a fun day. And I am totally jealous that you are wearing a strapless dress. I need summer to come to GA too.
oh my- that strawberry festival looks amazing! I love strawberries and warm weather, maybe I should consider Florida schools for grad school!
Yum. Ah, to have good fresh strawberries at your fingertips would be amazing. I’d eat that entire 1/2 flat in 3 days easily.
You should have special requested deep fried kok.
Great deal on the strawberries!
I love the dress you were wearing today, where is it from?
Deep Fried Butter? Deep Fried Pepsi? How in the world do you deep fry those things? Summerfest in Wisconsin is all about the deep frying foods. Thankgoodness for those yummy strawberries!
I don’t care what anyone says, Publix makes the best subs!! I will take them over any other sub place any day of the wk.
Fair food is the best-especially gyros-yum!!
Ok, wow! This looks like a little piece of heaven π Strawberry shortcake is my absolute favorite dessert!
So glad that you and Derek had a nice time. I have to admit, I laughed out loud when I saw the strawberry on the “chocolate dipβt bacon” sign with the pig. It’s the same one I use in my header — it’s hilarious to see where a “stock” image will travel…from Chicago all the way down to Florida π I kind of love that sign!
I’m not gonna lie….some of that deep fried goodness did make me a bit hangry. Deep fried butter though?!?! What’s next, deep fried lard?!?!
Was the veggie “plate” fried as well?!?! π
OMG deep fried twinkies and oreos are bad enough, but deep fried PEPSI? BUTTER? Grosssss. How on earth do they deep fry pepsi – I’m actually quite curious!!
Aww, Sara Evans! I used to love her!
I see deep fried Pepsi every year at Mardi Gras and I always want to order it just to see what it is. So strange.
Deep fried Pepsi? Is that a joke?!
One of the perks in my old office was a make your own strawberry shortcake bar once a year. Boy do I miss that!
Ohhh gag on all the deep fried stuff……it makes me sick just thinkin’ about it!!! I can’t believe you got ALL those strawbarries for 6 bucks…..what a great deal!! Reading this post makes me sooooo excited about the Farmer’s Market and fresh strawberries here in TN!!!! Cute dress, p.s.! π
-emily http://emilyeatsclean.wordpress.com
The Florida Strawberry festival is one of the top 25 fairs in the nation. Started by the Plant City Lions Club in 1930. Took five years off during World War II, and this year celebrated its 75th Anniversary. In opinion, it’s an event that offers more bank for you buck!
what a fun day!! I love your dress by the way
Oprah tried the deep fried butter and said it was amazing! I bet. If I didn’t care about my health, I would LOVE to get a deep-fried snickers bar. mmmmm
What a fun day captured through photos. AND I LOVE YOUR DRESS! it’s sooo pretty and SO Spring.
Love your cute little sundress! Nothing reminds me of FL more!
~Christie
It looks like you had the most amazing day! So jealous that 1) you are wearing a DRESS and 2) you scored all those strawberries!! Can’t wait to see what you create with them this week!
Wow what a day! I cannot believe all that deep fried food – its insane! I think I would have been a little overwhelemed by it all!.
LOVE those strawberries though!
GAH! be still my heart…i’d love to have a strawberry festival nearby! what a fun day…full of color! bet y’all had a great weekend together π
I just wanted to write a quick thank you note saying that your blog has totally motivated me to get back into running. So much so that I ran my first half marathon today and had a blast. I totally went above and beyond what I expected and managed to come in at 2:02:45…thanks for all the support, even though you don’t even know it!
That is such a pretty dress!
And way to indulge – everything looked great!
You left me wondering- how does one deep-fry a Pepsi?
All that deep fried food is funny- Pepsi?! Seriously?! The strawberry shortcake looks delish though!
The thought of deep fried chocolate dipped bacon made me throw up in my mouth a little bit. Seriously. I’m horrified and disgusted. Kind of feel sick to my tummy! π
Omgosh I would have died and went to heaven for a flat of strawberries like that! They look so fresh and yummy.
Glad you had a nice day!
Oh how I adore PB pretzels and strawberries!That looks like SUCH a fun day out!! Wow lucky you π Florida looks like such a great place to live, I really want to go on holiday there π Glad you had fun!
it looks like such a fun day!! lots of food and lots to see π my kind of day! xx
Yum, I love strawberry season.
I didn’t know you could deep fry Pepsi, but for some reason I’m intrigued by the deep fried Twinkie. I think that would be a once in a lifetime kind of snack.
This post makes me want to move to Florida, it looks so sunny!!
WOW! I have NEVER seen so many deep fried foods adverts in all my life! My nutrition profs from undergrad would DIE!!! hahaha
What a fun day! I love strawberries and can’t wait to pick them at home in MA this summer. The deep fried pepsi sounds kind of intriguing, but I think you guys made the right choice with the gyros!
Looking forward to seeing lots of strawberries on the blog this week π
Last year at this festival my friend and I ate a funnel cake with chocolate and pb, fried green tomatoes, strawberry shortcakes and stopped at Twistee treat for soft serve when we left. I am fairly certain that was the greatest day of my life.
I love your dress! It’s so cute π
I love Sara Evans too!!
And I love your dress Meghann! It’s so cute and fun. I wish it was warm enough for sundresses up in D.C!
Mmmm. Those strawberry pics made my mouth water! I can’t wait until they’re in season here. Sara Evans is fabulous!
These posts are making me want to move back to Florida (that along with the no income tax and no personal property tax). π
That sounds like a perfect day to me!! I used to love picking strawberries as a kid- we used to take them straight to the local ice cream stand and top our soft serve with fresh strawberries..yum!!
I LOVE the veggie plate. I do that as well after a day of eating out a lot. Looks awesome, and so do the strawberries!
strawberry nirvana…awesome!!
Strawberry festival looked like a lot of fun! I’ve never been to one but I’ve been to garlic festival, that was yummy too π
Your fresh veggies dinner looks lovely too!
That festival looks like so much fun! It reminds me of the MN state fair. I can’t believe how many foods can be deep fried! It is just wrong π Glad you had a great weekend.
I love, love, love your dress!
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