Tampa Bay Speed Boat Adventures

I recently hit the jackpot when I came across the website for Tampa Bay Speed Boat Adventures. The website reads "Be your own captain as you tour Tampa Bay driving your own speed boat." Once I saw "no experience necessary" and all of the 5-star reviews on TripAdvisor I knew I was sold. (And to know me is to know I love a good tour!)

The 3pm tour coming back to land

I was able to book a 5pm tour on a Saturday. They do have earlier afternoon tours available, but I wanted a time that wouldn't be so hot. We met our captain near the Tierra Verde Marina. After a brief safety orientation and overview of the boats, we were stepping into our temporary home on the water.

Idle speed as we left the dock

There are a few periods in the tour where you have to go "idle" speed. This speed allows you to take in the scenery - waterfront homes and other boats out on the water. After a few minutes of getting used to the steering and the boat, you soon reach the regular speed zone. Then, it's party time! You can go full throttle throughout the Bay. The majority of the tour is at full speed. We did have some choppy water for short periods, but it adds to the experience. (Tip: you may want to bring a towel to put on the seat to ease some of the hit you will take if you have choppy water.)

nice house, eh?

We were lucky enough to have a clear day with ZERO percent chance of rain! Since it was a 5pm tour in October, the temperature was in the mid-80s, and there was not a cloud in the sky. We saw a handful of other boats out on the water, but it felt like we had the bay all to ourselves. Our captain took us all the way out to the Skyway Bridge. Let me tell you, the bridge is much nicer when you're looking up at it from a boat instead of driving over it. Unfortunately no dolphins came out to visit us while we were on the water.

oh how I love where I live

The speed boat tour was leisurely and FUN. We weren't rushed at all and before we knew it the sun was starting to set and we were heading back to dry land. I HIGHLY recommend this tour to anyone who is up for an adventure. It's an amazing way to unplug, unwind, and enjoy the sweet beauty of Tampa Bay.

a-ma-zing

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Brew Over Ice giveaway!

Let's face it - Florida is hot all year long! We may get a few weeks of cooler weather, but most of the year there is no need to wear anything more than shorts and flip-flops. There is also not much need to drink anything that isn't cold! An iced coffee is almost always my choice over hot coffee. I was really excited when I saw that Keurig has a brand of Brew Over Ice K-Cups that I can use to make iced coffee or iced tea at home.

I have been able to try a few Brew Over Ice K-Cups, and so far my favorite is the Donut Shop Sweet & Creamy Regular Iced Coffee. I was surprised how "sweet and creamy" it was right out of the brewer. (You can tell from the picture below too!) Unlike past attempts to make iced coffee at home, this one tasted like what I would get from a local coffee shop. I did add a splash of vanilla creamer for a hint of vanilla flavor. It came out perfect!

Brewing, brewing...

Brewed.

If you prefer tea over coffee, Brew Over Ice also sells many varieties of tea. I tried the Strawberry Pomegranate from Vitamin Burst, and Peach Iced Tea from Snapple. Both were great for an afternoon pick me up.

Brew Over Ice has offered a prize package to one of my readers! 
Congratulations to Tabitha W!
To enter to win, leave a comment with what Brew Over Ice flavor you would most like to try! 
Use the Rafflecopter widget to enter after you leave your comment. 

Prize package includes: 

3 Brew Over Ice K-Cup samples 

A Brew Over Ice plastic tumbler so you can take your tasty drinks on the road with you

4 Brew Over Ice drink coasters

A light up Brew Over Ice ice bucket with ice tongs

Even if you don't win the prize package, you can still feel the love from Brew Over Ice! You can download a $2 off coupon to try the Brew Over Ice K-Cups of your choice, or enter to win $10,000 cash!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I received a free Brew Over Ice package including K-Cup samples in exchange for this review.

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Cupcakes, cupcakes, and more cupcakes

Today the Morean Arts Center hosted their 3rd Annual Great St. Pete Cupcake Contest. This event allows amateur and professional bakers to compete for the title of the best cupcake. I was happy to participate this year by sampling as many cupcakes as I could handle. In lieu of a normal lunch, I sampled sweet cupcakes, savory cupcakes, traditional cupcakes, gourmet cupcakes, and everything in between. Here are some highlights of the event:

Chocolate Oreo Cheesecake

Blood Orange Creamsicle

Cannoli Cupcakes (Parisian raspberry to the right)

Snickerdoodle

Caramel Apple

The Elvis

Lemon and Pomegranate

My favorites were:

Red Snapping Turtle

Can't go wrong with Chocolate and Peanut Butter

I'm looking forward to next year! Go hungry and leave happy.

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Girls Night Out with the Tampa Bay Rays

Grab your best girlfriends and head out to Tropicana Field. The Tampa Bay Rays are hosting a Girls Night Out on Thursday August 15th. $25 dollars will get you a lower level reserved seat, a Rays wine tumbler, and a voucher for a Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon. (Psst- Did you know the Rays started serving wine this season? Pretty cool.) Head to this link to buy your ticket and use promo code GIRL3 to get in on this deal. Hurry, because you must buy your tickets by August 14th!

This Rays wine tumbler can be all yours!

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Enjoy Arts & Tastes St. Pete

Celebrity chefs are often found wondering around in Tampa Bay. Emeril Lagasse, Robert Irvine, and Wolfgang Puck have been known to dine at their favorite local eateries like Cassis and Cafe Ponte when they are in town. While I personally haven't been lucky enough to spot Emeril strolling down Beach Drive, I know others who have. Soon enough, famous chefs like Masaharu Morimoto and Ming Tsai will not only be in town, but we will all have a chance to dine on the culinary creations we've only seen on TV.

The Enjoy Arts & Tastes Festival will be happening in St. Pete this November. As a huge fan of culinary cooking shows, I am super excited to have the chance to get to see these chefs in person AND taste their dishes! All of the major chefs at the Enjoy Arts & Tastes Festival have names you'll recognize from your favorite culinary channel or TV show. This will be the largest gathering of celebrity chefs ever assembled on Florida's Gulf Coast. And, the best news is that all proceeds benefit Florida ProStart. Florida ProStart is a 501(c)(3) organization that sponsors high school students interested in the restaurant and foodservice industry.

Who can you expect to see at Enjoy Arts & Tastes St. Pete? Donatella Arpaia, Scott Conant, Todd English, Lorena Garcia, Duff Goldman, Ingrid Hoffman, Masaharu Morimoto, and Ming Tsai!

I am happy to present you with the lineup of events:

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15^th

SENSE IMMERSION DINNER HOSTED BY TODD ENGLISH & DUNCAN MCCLELLAN

A kick-off to the festival weekend, this dinner will combine culinary arts with fine arts through teams of celebrated chefs and artists. Teams will present a one-of-a-kind menu inspired by the sensibility and style of each artist, accompanied by fine wines and spirits. Seated dinner. Location: Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Dr. NE, St. Petersburg, FL

Time: 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Ticket Price: $200 (includes all food & beverage)

NOCTURNAL CRAVINGS HOSTED BY DUFF GOLDMAN

A late-night dessert tasting party that celebrates Salvador Dali’s art, and plays on his delicious lithograph, Les Pios Nonoches. The evening will feature notable regional pastry chefs and chocolatiers offering an array of desserts inspired by the artist’s work. A selection of fine wines and spirits will be served. Walk-around tasting.

Location: The Dali Museum, 1 Dali Blvd., St. Petersburg, FL

Time: 10:00 pm – 1:00 am

Ticket Price: $85 (includes all food & beverage)

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16^th

GRAND TASTING

The centerpiece of the festival, the Grand Tasting will feature top regional culinary talent who will present tasty portions of their signature dishes, both savory and sweet. To top off this gourmet experience, fine wine and spirits will be poured.

VIP tickets grant access to HSN’s VIP tent, where guests get a chance to mingle with celebrity chefs who will stop by throughout the day.

Location: Tented area at The Mahaffey Theater Plaza and Albert Whitted Park, Bay Shore Drive SE, St. Petersburg, FL

Time: 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Ticket Price: $95 General Admission/$125 VIP Access (includes all food & beverage)

CULINARY DEMONSTRATIONS BY GUEST CELEBRITY CHEFS & PERSONALITIES

An exciting array of interactive culinary demonstrations led by guest celebrity chefs and personalities who will reveal their tricks of the trade. Demonstration-only, no tasting.

Location: Mahaffey Theater at the Progress Energy Center for the Arts, 400 First St. S,

St. Petersburg, FL

Time: 11:00 am – 6:15 pm

Demonstration schedule will be available on the festival website

Ticket Price: $50 per demo

SIP, SAVOR & SWING HOSTED BY INGRID HOFFMANN

A Latin-inspired celebration featuring tastings from regional and guest celebrity chefs. Fine wines and spirits are not the only accompaniment - lively music will set the mood at the Vinoy Renaissance’s grand Palm Court Ballroom. Featured chefs will be on hand to present their dishes and interact with guests. Walk-around tasting.

Location: The Vinoy® Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club, 501 5th Ave. NE, St. Petersburg, FL

Time: 6:30 pm – 10:00 pm

Ticket Price: $225 (includes all food & beverage)

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17^th

BATTLE OF THE ‘BURG HOSTED BY DONATELLA ARPAIA

Enjoy burgers at this afternoon poolside party, featuring St. Pete and the Bay Area’s most popular chefs and restaurants. Celebrity judges, including HSN, Inc. CEO Mindy Grossman and host Donatella Arpaia, will crown the Best ‘Burger, and attendees can cast their vote for a People’s Choice award winner. Music will make this a lively finale to a great weekend. Walk-around tasting.

Location: The Club at Treasure Island, 400 Treasure Island Causeway. Treasure Island, FL

Time: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Ticket Price: $75 (includes all food & beverage)

Tickets for Enjoy Arts & Tastes went on sale today! Tickets are available at http://www.enjoyartsandtastes.com/

Special shoutout to those making this event possible: Bill Edwards Presents, HSN, Visit St. Petersburg/Clearwater, and Florida ProStart.

Which event would you most like to attend? 

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Sushi Wave

The future of sushi has rolled into town. Sushi Wave is a new family owned sushi restaurant in Pinellas Park. The cool blue lighting provides a warm vibe for diners sitting at the sushi bar, and adds a nice modern vibe.

Sushi Wave uses a tablet system for ordering. Each table receives an Android tablet in place of traditional menus and those pesky little pencils that most sushi places use. You can see a picture of every menu item along with the price, and submit any special requests. If you're dining with friends, you can even use the tablets to track separate tabs. Any time you need to call your waiter, request a refill, or order more sushi, just use the tablet. Magically, whatever you need will quickly appear at your table!

I am all about speciality rolls when we dine out. We tried several at Sushi Wave and they were all very good. I even missed some on the tablet that I want to try next time. The crispy spring rolls we had as an appetizer and the fried cheesecake we had for dessert didn't hurt either!

A perfect dinner

The Volcano

How cute is the White Dragon roll - snow crab, avocado, and cucumber, topped with seared white tuna with eel sauce and spicy mayo. Looks cute and tastes good too. Win-win.

The White Dragon

Kudos to Sushi Wave for investing in good ingredients and the technology to make themselves stand out. I think Sushi Wave is a great addition to the local sushi scene, and will be around for a long time to come. 

PS: Sushi Wave has been running lots of deals on their Facebook page.

Check out what others are saying about Sushi Wave on UrbanSpoon:

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Under Construction!

I am working on my blog layout and design. Sorry in advance for any broken links or other issues over the next few days!

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