GIVEAWAY! First Watch Sarasota Half Marathon and Relay

Hi friends! Today I have some pretty awesome news for my fellow runners. For the third time, I am partnering up with First Watch Sarasota Half Marathon which is taking place on March 19, 2017! We have some fantastic memories at this event and I am giving a few people a chance to run this race for free!

photo from First Watch Sarasota Half Marathon Facebook

I cannot say enough about the First Watch Sarasota Half Marathon. It's sponsored by First Watch, a restaurant where everything is made fresh to order and has some surprisingly healthy options. All First Watch Sarasota Half Marathon participants receive a gourmet breakfast at the finish line and if you feel inclined, a free Michelob Ultra (I am definitely one of those inclined people).

photo from First Watch Sarasota Half Marathon Facebook

The First Watch Sarasota Half Marathon Course
The course is amazing, starting at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, then over the John Ringling Bridge to St. Armand’s Circle. You make a loop and go back over the bridge.

photo from First Watch Sarasota Half Marathon Facebook

At this point, those doing the relay will find the exchange at 6.2 miles and the second half will continue the race with those running 13.1.

photo from First Watch Sarasota Half Marathon Facebook

The second half of the race continues on Tamiami Trail, then onto residential Indian Beach Drive, heading over to the John Ringling Museum, then looping back to finish at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.  The finishers medals are huge and along with delicious food, you will find live entertainment at the finish.

2013 was our first time participating in the First Watch Sarasota Half Marathon series and we did the relay. Looking back on the race recap makes me smile (and laugh at the horrid iPhone photo quality)! At the time, my husband and I were not engaged yet and very into running. I reread the post and my statement of "I was jealous of everyone running the full vs. the relay" made me LOL. Read about our 2013 First Watch Sarasota Half Marathon Relay Recap here.

We returned in 2014 and I clearly remember this race. It was shortly after I went race crazy, running 10 races in 3 months, 2 were full marathons, 4 were half marathons, including one Dopey Challenge and one Glass Slipper Challenge. The 2014 relay began with me doing the first 6.2 miles - and I struggled hard. We finished slower than anticipated but that was fine with us. We enjoyed the course and the amazing sunrise. Read about our 2014  First Watch Sarasota Half Marathon Relay Recap here. This was the last race we ran before our wedding!

Although I am 4 years older than the first time we did the First Watch Sarasota Half Marathon Relay in 2013, I feel much stronger. I've never been one to write about hopes of a PR but I cannot lie that there is a huge part of me that want's to slay this course.

I have not one, but two race entries to giveaway today! I am giving one away here on the blog and one away on Instagram (click here to head over to that post from your smart phone). This race is selling out fast so this will be a quick giveaway, ending a week from today. I encourage you to share away on twitter daily through the rafflecopter below to gain extra daily entries.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

REGISTER AND RECEIVE

Register for the 2017 First Watch Sarasota Half Marathon & Relay and receive the following:

First Watch gourmet breakfast items for all participants
Free Michelob ULTRA beer for all participants over the age of 21 (ID required)
Largest medal in Florida for all half marathon and relay finishers
Custom made, tech short-sleeve shirt
Live band at the finish line presented by First Watch
Kids Corner featuring face painting, balloon artists, interactive games and contests
Great photo opportunities throughout the course

First Watch Sarasota Half Marathon Start / Finish Line
6:45 am – first wave race start time
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
777 North Tamiami Trail
Sarasota, FL 34236

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Photo Tour of Epcot Flower and Garden Festival Part 1

My favorite Epcot event of the year started last week - the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival. The weather in FL has been gloomy, so when we woke up on Sunday to an absolutely beautiful day, I decided it was time for a quick visit to Epcot. I love going to the Flower and Garden multiple times over the course of the festival, it is awesome watching all of the different topiary's and displays flourish over the two month span. The festival will last through May 17th. There are too many displays to put in one post so here is part 1 of many!

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2015 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival Food and Drink Menus

My favorite annual event at Epcot is returning in two days - The Epcot Flower and Garden Festival. Many are often surprised when they find out that I prefer this event over the Wine and Food Festival but there is a reason for this - the Flower and Garden Festival has "Outdoor Kitchens" which offer a similar experience to the Food and Wine Festival! So not only will you be surrounded by beautiful topiary's, you can also experience seasonal dishes and beverages at every stop!

A lot of my favorite dishes from last year are returning, along with a few new items that I cannot wait to get my hands on. One thing is for certain, between March 4th - May 17th, expect to see my instagram flooded with amazing eats, drinks and beautiful scenes from Epcot!

One piece of advice that I have for those going to festivals at Epcot is to decide ahead of time what you want to try and set a limit on how much you want to spend. Also, splitting the small bites two ways have always worked for us - we get to try more this way! Another thing we always do is buy a Disney Gift Card when we enter the park, using this as our form of money. This way we will not spend too much money or leaving so full you have to use a wheelbarrow to exit the park.

The Outdoor Kitchens menu is posted on the Flower and Garden page and you can download the entire Festival Guide by clicking here. All of the outdoor kitchens are located around the World Showcase and have the diamond orange fork and spoon symbol.

Jardin de Fiestas (Mexico)

Tacos al pastor – Corn tortilla filled with achiote-marinated pork, garnished with grilled diced pineapple, onions and cilantro and salsa verde

Veggie Quesadilla – Flour tortilla filled with Monterey Jack Cheese and mixed veggies

Flan de queso con chocolate Abuelita – Mexican chocolate custard with whipped cream and cinnamon

NEW! Tecate Draft Beer with Patrón Citrónge

Mexican sangria

NEW! Blueberry Pomegranate Margarita on the Rocks

NEW! Tequila Liqueur Flight (flavored tequilas)

Lotus House (China)

The top right pancake from 2014 is not returning - however the Candied Strawberries & Peach Bubble Tea are

NEW! Kung Pao Chicken Bun

Beijing-style candied strawberries

Vegetable Spring Roll

Oolong Peach Bubble Tea

Kung Fu Punch – Vodka and triple sec with mango and orange juice

South Sea Storm – Guava juice with light and dark rum

Plum wine

Tsing-Tao beer

Honey Mango Wine Cooler

Florida Fresh (Germany)

Shrimp and Stone Ground Grits with Andouille Sausage

Watermelon salad with pickled onions, B&W Gourmet Farms baby arugula, feta cheese and balsamic reduction

Shrimp and stone ground grits with andouille sausage, sweet corn, tomatoes and cilantro

NEW! Florida Blueberry and Lemon Curd Tart

Watermelon passion fruit slush featuring Simply Lemonade®

Key Lime Sparkling Wine

Blonde Ale

Channel Marker Red Ale

Feast of Flowers Farmhouse Ale (Festival exclusive)

Jai Alai

Beer Flight: Blonde Ale, Channel Marker Red Ale, Jai Alai, Feast of Flowers Farmhouse Ale

Primavera Kitchen (Italy)

NEW! Fior di Latte, Prosciutto e Pane di Casa — Pinwheel of Mozzarella, Prosciutto, Ciabatta Bread

Cheese manicotti – Egg pasta stuffed with ricotta, mozzarella, parmesan, tomato sauce and béchamel

NEW! Limoncello Panna Cotta — Lemon custard, limoncello liqueur, raspberries

Placido Pinot Grigio

Placido Chianti

Bosco del Merlo Prosecco

Corbinello

White peach bellini – Prosecco and white peach puree

Strawberry rossini – Prosecco and marinated strawberries

Frozen Italian primavera – Assorted fruit slushy with limoncello and vodka

Moretti Lager

Moretti La Rossa

The Smokehouse: Barbecues and Brews (The American Adventure)

Piggylicious Bacon Cupcake

NEW! Beef Brisket Burnt Ends Hash with White Cheddar Fondue and Pickled Jalapeños

NEW! Smoked Debreziner Sausage with House Made Kraut and Mustard

Pulled pig slider with cole slaw

“Piggylicious” bacon cupcake with maple frosting and pretzel crunch featuring Nueske’s® Applewood Smoked Bacon

Billy’s Chilies, Twisted Pine Brewing Company (Boulder, Colorado)

Floridian Hefeweizen

Category 3 IPA

NEW! Maple Bacon Stout

Beer Flight

The Original Rib Shack Red Wine

NEW! Frozen Lemonade (with Palm Ridge Reserve Whiskey Optional)

NEW! R.C. Sweet Tea made with Twinings Cold-Brewed English Classic Tea

Hanami (Japan)

NEW! Teriyaki Curry Bun — Steamed bun filled with chicken, vegetables, curry and sweet sauce

NEW! Osaka Salmon Sushi – “Hako-sushi” Box style Sushi with Salmon and Rice, topped with Dynamite, Volcano and Eel sauce

Frushi – Fresh pineapple, strawberries and melon, rolled with coconut rice, topped with raspberry sauce, sprinkled with toasted coconut and served with whipped cream on the side

Kirin Draft Beer

NEW! Strawberry Nigori

NEW! Daishichi Kimoto Sake

Botanas Botánico (Morocco)

NEW! Seafood Ceviche — Shrimp, Scallops, and Grouper with mango and avocado

NEW! Cachapas with Farmer’s Cheese

NEW! White Corn Arepa with Braised Beef and Chayote Slaw

NEW! Coconut Tres Leches

NEW! Polar Beer, Caracas Venezuela

NEW! La Tizana

NEW! Classic Venezuelan Fruit Drink

NEW! Monte Paschoal Reserve Tannat

NEW! Monte Paschoal Natural Brut White Sparkling Wine

Taste of Marrakesh (Morocco)

NEW! Falafel Pocket with Cucumber Tomato Salad and Tahini Sauce

Harissa Chicken Kebab with Couscous Salad

NEW! Pistachio Baklava

Mint iced tea

White sangria

Guerrouane red

Casa Beer

Desert Rose — Sparkling Wine with Pomegranate Liqueur

Fleur de Lys (France)

Gnocchi Parisien à la Provençal – Parisian-style Dumplings with Vegetables and Mushrooms

Confit de Canard, Pommes de Terre Sarladaise – Pulled Duck Confit with Garlic and Parsley Potatoes

NEW! Macaron Guimauve à la Fraise, a Strawberry Marshmallow Macaron

NEW! Ice Pop Combination of French Peach Iced Tea, Grand Marnier Peach Raspberry Liqueur, and Vodka

La Vie en Rose Frozen Slush – Vodka, Grey Goose Orange, St. Germain Liquor, and White and Red Cranberry Juice

Kir Imperial – Sparkling wine, Chambord and Black Raspberry Liquor

Kronenbourg Blanc 1664 – Fruity White Beer with Citrus Notes

Pineapple Promenade (Showcase Plaza)

NEW! Pineapple Dog – Spicy Hot Dog with Pineapple Chutney and Sriracha Mayo

Pineapple Soft Serve (Dole Whip)

NEW! Pineapple Soft Serve with Sammy’s Beach Bar Red Head Macadamia Nut Flavored Rum

Pineapple Soft Serve with Parrot Bay Coconut Rum

Frozen desert violet lemonade (non-alcoholic)

NEW! Ace Pineapple Hard Cider

Sparkling Pineapple Wine, Florida Orange Groves Winery, St, Petersburg,FL

Berry Tea Cocktail with Twinings Cold-Brewed Mixed Berry Tea

Urban Farm Eats (Future World West)

NEW! Kale Salad with Dried Cherries, Almonds, and Goat Cheese with White Balsamic Vinaigrette

NEW! Quinoa Vegetable “Naanwich” with Arugula Pesto and Oven-Dried Tomatoes

Ghost pepper-dusted tilapia with crisp winter melon slaw and mint oil featuring The Original Sauce Man’s Kick It Up Rub

NEW! Urban Mary: Spicy Tomato Juice, Lime Juice, and Worcestershire, with shot of Vodka (optional)

Cucumber lemon spa water, finished with a sprig of fresh mint

Hess Shirtail Creek Vineyard, Chardonnay

King Estate Acrobat Pinot Noir

Crispin Blackberry Pear Cider

I'm super excited for the return of the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival. A few new items I am looking forward to, along with a few return items I cannot live without are:

• Kung Pao Chicken Bun (Lotus House China)
• Beijing-style candied strawberries (Lotus House China)
• Shrimp and stone ground grits with andouille sausage, sweet corn, tomatoes and cilantro (Florida Fresh Germany)
• Beer Flight: Blonde Ale, Channel Marker Red Ale, Jai Alai, Feast of Flowers Farmhouse Ale  (Florida Fresh Germany)
• White peach bellini – Prosecco and white peach puree (Primavera Kitchen Italy)
• Beef Brisket Burnt Ends Hash with White Cheddar Fondue and Pickled Jalapeños (The Smokehouse: Barbecues and Brews - The American Adventure)
• Teriyaki Curry Bun — Steamed bun filled with chicken, vegetables, curry and sweet sauce (Hanami Japan)
• White Corn Arepa with Braised Beef and Chayote Slaw Botanas (Botánico Morocco)
• Confit de Canard, Pommes de Terre Sarladaise – Pulled Duck Confit with Garlic and Parsley Potatoes  (Fleur de Lys France) 
• Macaron Guimauve à la Fraise, a Strawberry Marshmallow Macaron (Fleur de Lys France)
• Ice Pop Combination of French Peach Iced Tea, Grand Marnier Peach Raspberry Liqueur, and Vodka (Fleur de Lys France)
• Pineapple Dog – Spicy Hot Dog with Pineapple Chutney and Sriracha Mayo (Pineapple Promenade Showcase Plaza)

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Lunch at Fulton's Crab House, Downtown Disney

I have walked past the giant boat named Empress Lilly at Downtown Disney hundreds of times. This boat, named after Walt Disney's widow Lillian is now home to Fulton's Crab House and I finally got a chance to walk in those doors while in town for Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend. My best friend and I were looking for something different to do for lunch and being she isn't a pass holder (shame on her), our lunch options were limited.

After we visited the Expo and Packet Pickup, we headed over to Downtown Disney for our lunch reservations at Fulton's.We decided on Fulton's because they had a decent salad (Keri's request) and I was very intrigued with their Lobster Grilled Cheese. Let's just say only one of those selections happened :)

The first thing we did was pick out a bottle of wine. Cambria Chardonnay it was! I don't recall the price of the bottle but it was around the $30 range.

When it came time to order, my decision had been made from the time I made our reservations - Lobster grilled cheese. Let me tell you, this was worth every single calorie. Tillamook Cheddar, smoked Gouda, Provolone, confit tomatoes, and cold water lobster served between two pieces of grilled Texas Toast. Good lord. It was very rich and I could only eat half but it was a great sandwich.

As mentioned above, Keri was going to get their chopped salad but changed her mind when she saw the blackened fish taco's on the menu.She was very satisfied with her decision. The daily catch is served with pico de gallo, queso fresco and guacamole. They were fresh and delicious.

Our bill came out to around $80 which is a little pricey for lunch, but we did have a bottle of wine and my sandwich set us back $20 so we didn't go into sticker shock. While sitting in Fulton's, I could only think at the changes that are about to happen with Disney Springs over the next year!

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Florida Cane Vodka - Fresh Strawberry Martini Recipe

What if you had a liquor distillery in your back yard? A distillery who focuses on ingredients made entirely of ingredients found in your home state. A distillery who also has Florida's only Vodka tasting room. That my friends is Florida Cane Distillery located in Tampa, FL - less than 10 minutes from my front door. Pretty cool right?

I recently took an invitation to get a private tour of Florida Cane Vodka Distillery located in Tampa, FL. We sipped on multiple vodkas and moonshine while learning the story of how Florida Cane came about. In early 2012, three entrepreneurs formed The Florida Distillery and had one thing in mind - capturing the very best of Florida in every bottle. This concept turned into a success with Premium Hand Crafted, Micro-Distilled Vodka made entirely of Florida ingredients.

Florida Cane creates multiple flavors of Florida flavor vodka, everything from Weeki Wachee Watermellon, Orlando Orange, Okeechobee Cherry, Bucaneer Blueberry, Key West Lemon Lime and much more. They also make Moonshine! We were able to sample a few bottles of Sunshine Moonshine. I am the great-grandaughter of a moonshiner from South Carolina. I have heard multiple stories of my Mothers grandfather, which I am sure have been exaggerated over time. Let's just say the show moonshiners have nothing on my family. I was a little apprehensive as I know my way around hooch. I was very impressed and all of the other store bought moonshines out there better be running with their tails tucked.

After a night of vodka tasting, I was sent home with a bottle of Florida Cane Vodka of my choice. I selected Florida Cane Premium Vodka - this way I could use it in multiple drinks.

Click here to check out some of the Florida Cane Vodka flavors and click here to book your own tasting experience!

I created a Florida Strawberry Martini, using plant city strawberries and mint planted in my balcony garden.

Florida Strawberry Martini
3 oz Florida Cane vodka
3oz simple syrup or agave syrup
2 handfuls Plant City Strawberries, hulled
1 sprig fresh mint, leaves
Ice Cubes for the martini shaker

Muddle the strawberries, mint and simple syrup (or agave) in a martini shaker. Add vodka and ice cubes. Shake vigorously and place in a martini glass.

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