Hello friends! How is everyone's week going? This week has been such a nice 'break' week for me. After graduation, I headed home to Ft. Myers to literally just chill out. I move on Sunday, so I have been really enjoying some down time and hanging out with all of my Florida family. May is always such an exciting month, and this year even more so. I graduated, my sister graduates high school at the end of the month, and then there are three family birthdays this week: my mom, grandpa and grandma.

My grandpa's birthday is May 5, so he has a tradition of getting his free birthday meal at Iguana Mia amongst the masses of people who go there to celebrate Cinco De Mayo - which I could NEVER understand. Iguana Mia is just a chain, but I guess people really want to celebrate with non-authentic enchiladas and Coronas. Anyway, he always enjoys it despite the long wait times. He's 83 and still partying!

Yesterday was my mom's 50th birthday - another big one. We went to Season's 52 in Naples for dinner, one of my all time favorite restaurants EVER. P.S. the dress I'm wearing is from Forever 21 and I love it because I can make it dressy or super casual. And they're cut off but I finally found a pair of nude heels by Dolce Vita that I LOVE.

She's having a party this weekend because why stop celebrating? I started with a Caesar salad ordered the oak-grilled filet mignon with yukon mashed potatoes and a red wine sauce as my entree (I get it every time) and it was incredible.

After that, we ordered a bunch of their mini deserts. I got the carrot cake and peanut butter chocolate one but my favorite was actually the Mocha Macchiato one! They're heavenly. The waiter told us people just come to the restaurant to sit at the bar for a glass of wine and a flight of deserts. Not a bad idea.

And today I just finished a tough group fitness class and I am heading out to go to the beach with a couple close friends! Lots of exercise, sun, family & good food this week - all of my favorite things.

And I'll leave you with something to laugh at...

- Rach

Happy Monday! Enjoying my first post-grad Monday so far. I woke up early to go to a barbell strength class and stayed after for half of a cycling class but I got too hungry so I left. Priorities. Refueled with a delicious smoothie.

Napping is on the agenda today. And then maybe some laying out. It feels great to have nothing to do. Soaking it all up before I move and start my job next week!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 frozen banana
• 1/2-3/4 cup frozen raspberries
• 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
• 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
• Vanilla Silk soy milk (until desired consistency)
• 1 tbsp peanutbutter
• Granola for topping

Complicated Directions:

• Add everything to a blender and blend ;)

Cheers!

- Rach

I did it!! Okay, maybe the title is a little biased, but that's how I feel. GO GATORS!! Our graduation was in The Swamp (football field) for the first time in 44 years, so that was pretty awesome. The weather could not have been more perfect. I was a little worried because Florida in May can be very bipolar - it rained the entire week leading up to graduation! The Gainesville Graduation Gods were watching over.

All of my immediate family drove up for the occasion, including my sister who will be starting at UF this summer!

It was a wonderful graduation and the best way to close out my college career. It still hasn't hit me. I honestly feel like I am moving up to Philadelphia for the summer and coming back to school for fall....I just don't know any other way! It was very sad to say goodbye, but I'm so excited for what's to come.

On to the next one! But I'll always be a Gator.

- Rach

#ItsGreatUF!!!