Favorite Spots Travel Guide

October 22, 2020October 22, 2020 ~ Alibrandi Dawn ~ Leave a comment

It’s a pretty common vacation location. Especially for those of us that live in the Fort. Lauderdale / Miami area. If you can endure the hour of basically nothing on Alligator Alley, you’ll find a sweet change in scenery and pace without a wild change in climate. Naples!
But what on earth do you do in Naples?

My husband and I have made Naples our go to for quick getaways that are affordable & restful, but still adventurous & creative so we thought it would be fun to share our go-to locations!

Naples, Florida // Our Fav’s Travel Guide

Jane’s Café
Our #1 stop in Naples is breakfast or brunch at Jane’s Café! The outdoor seating is quaint, the quality of the fresh food is unmatched, & the staff is gracefully attentive to detail and warmly welcoming! Always check the weather before you go & dress comfortably, even with lots of shade it can get pretty warm to eat outside, but with an iced tea in hand and eggs benedict freshly made, it’s always worth it!

Bad Ass Coffee
Best. Coffee. In. Naples.
We’ve tried a few cafés in Naples, and they’re all good, creative, & photo-worthy, but Bad Ass is definitely the best quality on the block with it’s own unique sass! Get an iced latte & the coffee ice cubes will keep it refreshing and flavorful all day long!

Naples Winery
Now this isn’t really the winery, (though you can visit & tour that in St. Pete!) this is a shop within Tin City that sells Florida Oranges Groves Winery fruit wines! Their specialty wines are made from 100% pure Florida Citrus Juice and other select fruit and they offer complimentary tastings every day! We bring home a few bottles every trip because they’re so unique and make great gifts

Third Street Farmer’s Market
One of the most unique and exciting stops because it’s always changing with new & unique items and full of creative people, the Third Street Farmer’s Market is open every Saturday morning from 7:30 – 11:30am so you can stroll it with your Bad Ass Coffee in hand and find unique handmade items like purses, baskets, jams, jellies, seasonings, fresh produce, flowers, coffee beans, and so much more! Make sure to look for the Naples Canning Co. booth and snag a Strawberry Rose Jam! It’s absolutely as beautifully delicious as it sounds!

Park Shore Resort
& where on earth do you stay during your Naples adventure?
We initially discovered Park Shore because my husband’s family went there many times when he was a kid, now we continue to stay there because it’s affordable, quiet, clean, & has the BEST outdoor amenities for a weekend vaca! We spend almost as much time outside walking the scenic paths, at the pool, and grilling dinner on the deck as we do in our cozy room!

…

I hope some of these sweet stops make your next Naples trip refreshing, exciting, and of course, photo-worthy! Tag me on insta @AlibrandiDawn if you visit any of my favorite places and with the new ones you discover! Can’t wait to add to this guide on our next Naples trip!

10.22.2020

Bloom Where You Are Planted // Taking Root

May 30, 2019May 5, 2020 ~ Alibrandi Dawn ~ Leave a comment

“Bloom where you are planted.”

I’ve always struggled with this phrase. As much as I like analogies and the image of us humans like delicate flowers or flourishing trees that sprout, grow, bloom or bear fruit, I didn’t want to picture myself stuck in one garden forever; living a life with one gift, working in one ministry, restricted to one career. It seemed too “new age” for me to justify with reality, too much like a fence and I hated feeling trapped by it.

But now God has shown me a correlation with His Word & made this over-instagram-captioned phrase a sequel to “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).

He has been reminding me of the word “season” in my life and for a long while I wasn’t sure why. It seems to be such a common word in Christian communities, but now I think He’s revealing the type of season He wants me in and how much more depth this analogy carries.

Each plant goes through seasons, but the identity of the plant remains the same. A sunflower is always a sunflower, a lily is always a lily, a gardenia is always a gardenia no matter where it’s planted, and each bloom will be unique according to its design. Different plants also require different saturation to see growth.

But the most important thing I’m learning about blooming where I’m planted is the first step; taking root. Taking root is the challenging part to an adventurous heart. It makes it more difficult to wander, but once rooted, it makes it easier to abide in Jesus (John 15), and to connect yourself with the community you are planted in, your root system intertwined with that of other believers.

If I don’t take root, I won’t grow in this garden, and if I don’t go through an entire season of growing in this garden, I won’t be strong enough to move to the next one when that time comes. Community & accountability are essential to growth.

“Bind my wandering heart to thee”
Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing – Robert Robinson

For those who (like me) feel lost in all the different branches of this metaphor (pun absolutely intended), I decided to study some literal plants to help clarify. Here are some of their characteristics that helped me understand my own growing process.

In different seasons, plants direct their resources where it’s most necessary. Depending on the time of year, they’re either directing all their energy to deepening their roots or using their roots to create the stunning blooms we get to appreciate in the spring.

It’s also critical that plants are moved only during a certain break between these seasons. Moving a plant involves breaking some of the roots. Once it is moved, it has to take hold of the new soil all over again. The deeper its roots go the better the plant is going to bloom, but the more it will hurt to be moved if it is moved out of season.

“Plants in flower or about to flower hate being moved. It’s a big no-no in their world. All their resources are going in to producing a flower so they can create seed, not new roots.”
Alys Fowler

“Moving a plant means breaking roots – usually the fine root hairs that do the job of exploring the soil to find moisture.”
Alys Fowler

I think I’ve been disappointed that I’m not blooming, that I’m awaiting my next spiritual spring and I’ve been looking to other gardens longing for that to come. God is teaching me to be content in this season, with a hope & joy for the future that doesn’t distract from enjoying where He has me now.

With this reminder, throwing yet another pile of my cares on the Lord, I kept digging….

Not only has God designed plants to be stationary as they take root and grow, but He’s designed them to REST in order to grow! Plants don’t ‘sleep’, but they do require the atmosphere of dark in order to perform work within their roots.

“When your plants aren’t performing efficiently due to the lack of true night hours, no equipment in the world can cure what ails them. So, make sure they have the required break from light and the right amount of hours for each stage of growth.”
Tammy Clayton – Garden Culture Magazine

“Be still” doesn’t mean, ‘do nothing.’ To be still requires work underneath the surface that often requires the dark, silence, & stillness of the night. This is why the second half of this verse is so important, “know that I am God.” Our part of the work is to know God is in control and sovereign over our circumstances. We grow in the season He’s placed us in when we grow in Him; in love for Him, trust in Him, & joy in Him.

In this season, God is doing more to grow me then I could ever dream to do for myself hopping around from one garden to another. He’s plowing, turning over the layers of soil in my heart, removing weeds, bringing fresh nutrients, and burying me so deep in His love & His presence that I can grow where He has me now and bloom where I’ve been planted.

Now I know, even when I do move from one garden to another, one season to another, I have to be still by continuously trusting Him, seeking Him & filling myself with His Word. HE is my gardener, HIS hands will move me. He’s teaching me that we will change gardens when the time is right, not while he has us rooted for growth, and if we’ve just moved, we have to take the time to grow new roots. Be still.

“Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;
Let the sea roar, and all its fullness;
Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it.
Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice before the Lord.
For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth.
He shall judge the world with righteousness,
And the peoples with His truth.”
Psalm 96:11-12 NKJV

I’d like to encourage you reading this, if you’re feeling unstable, unrooted, or not in the garden of your choice; spend time in prayer. God will make it clear whether or not you’re in His will. If He keeps you where you’re at, take root; plug into your church, sign up for that class, grow your community, start a Bible study, join a Bible study, set up an accountability relationship, or whatever step God is asking you to take in order to plant yourself deeper into Him. Read scripture, journal your thoughts, write songs of worship, record the songs you’ve written, & be still by knowing that HE is GOD.

5.30.2019

One Year Later // Hand-in-Hand

April 30, 2019May 5, 2020 ~ Alibrandi Dawn ~ Leave a comment

It’s still sinking in that in April we passed the first year mark of our marriage! In some ways it feels as though the year flew by like the wind on these south Florida spring days. In other moments, it feels like together is so precisely how we were supposed to be that it’s difficult to believe we haven’t been in this rhythm of life even longer. It’s hard to remember a life without ‘us’.

Marriage is challenging. It has brought me face to face with my sin & reminded me that I married a sinner Every. Single. Day. But it’s also been such a blessing! It brings a new depth of joy to life & reminds me of how unconditionally my Heavenly Father loves me, despite my sin,
Every! Single! Day!

This year we have learned a LOT.

We experienced a lot of the typical newly-wed trials; navigating making two lives one, communication, skewed & unmet expectations, communication, budgeting together, & did I mention navigating communication?

But we also faced some unexpected challenges, from a job change, to a totaled car & an ER visit, to other medical challenges; we faced a lot of things that were external of our relationship, but required us to be united.

One of the strongest lessons I took away from our first year was to always face challenges hand-in-hand. If we are truly one as man & wife, this is where it gets practical; we have to act in unity.

This reminded me of one of my favorite sermons on marriage I head about four years ago. Pastor Fidel Gomez of Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale taught, though he may have been quoting someone else,

“You don’t have to see eye-to-eye to walk hand-in-hand.”

This applies to most of our relationships in life, but I’ve found it to be critical to the intimacy & unity of marriage. No matter what we face, the trials of life or the challenges of making our two lives one; we can disagree, we can have different expectations, & we can have differing opinions, but we have to hold hands as we step.

For me as the wife, this can occasionally lead to the practice of submitting; trusting that my husband is seeking God & allowing him to lead & make a decision I may not entirely agree with. This doesn’t mean I walk behind Him when we disagree on something. It means that we still move forward, because I trust him enough to do so hand-in-hand.

Today I discovered a beautiful parallel in my devotional reading

“We are married to God… just as a wife will often take her husband’s name, God gives us the name of Jesus, which is ‘the name which is above every name’. (Phil. 2:9)”
“the only way to enjoy the privileges that come with Jesus’ name is to move beyond a casual relationship and become fully committed.”
James | Biblical Commentary – Joyce Meyer

Just as we brides take the name of our husband when we marry, as Christians we take on the name of Christ when we commit our hearts to Him, just as we vow our lives to our husbands on our wedding day. What a beautiful reminder of our identity change, not just in marriage, but in Christ as our Savior. Both examples of unity come with joyful privileges.

A lot of great things happened to us this year too! We traveled quite a bit, welcomed another niece (who is also our God-daughter!) into the world, bought a new-to-us car, adopted a kitten, & laughed more together than I ever remember laughing when we were apart.

It’s been a blessing of a year, & we’re ecstatic to be tackling year two, hand-in-hand!

4.30.2019

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Kindling the Soul // Peace River // Photo Journal

March 28, 2017May 5, 2020 ~ Alibrandi Dawn ~ Leave a comment

“to shine on the outside you have to BURN on the inside”
– Pastor Doug Sauder

Sunday in church that sentence rang in my ears while the muscles in my arms reminded me how sore they were & my heavy eye lids reminded me how tired I was. But every bit of soreness made me smile.

Saturday’s canoe trip may have taken a toll on my achy muscles and energy levels, but it fueled the fire in my soul. A little laughter, exploration, and a few deep breaths of fresh air with people you love can be absolutely medicinal. & I absolutely love the people of Koinonia.

From fear of spending too much time on myself and missing opportunities to fuel others, I find I don’t kindle my soul enough. But I’m learning the balance. I was so refreshed by this exhausting trip. Crazy, I know! I nearly didn’t go at all due to exhaustion and injury, but it was definitely the reset button I needed.

Peace river was my kindling. To get through the last 46 days of school. To keep serving with a smile. To keep burning for Christ.

I can do nothing of my own strength. I have to remind myself of this every. single. day. The Lord is my sole source of strength, that’s my reset button.

Thank you to my dear friends of Koinonia for reminding me of that, and for supporting me by always pointing me back to Jesus.

I am constantly surrending control back to God, stubbornly trying to take over, and surrending to Him again. He never fails to take my pieces & need for control and give me peace.

This peace kindled my soul.

Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” (ESV)

Ephesians 6:10 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.” (ESV)

Psalm 28:7 “The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.” (ESV)

41 people. 20 canoes. 15 miles of river. 5 hours of driving. 1 sweet memory.
3.25.2017

the truth about writing

February 21, 2017May 5, 2020 ~ Alibrandi Dawn ~ Leave a comment

Lately I’ve been desperate to write. To update this site. To update you all on some adventurous part of my life. But it’s been a struggle. I long for some poetic and profound words to flow and inspire you. Truth be told, I haven’t felt inspired.

I want to encourage you in some way. Inspire you to be creative, bold, productive, or unique. I want to bring you words of comfort. But I haven’t known what to say. Truth is, writing is not always writing.

Lately, the blank paper has begun to taunt me. Without words to put down the white expanse stares me down, tantalizingly challenging me. It tells me to try, but my words won’t be good enough. It tells me to try, but I’ll be disappointed in myself. It tells me to try, but no one will read it anyway.

I tried switching from paper to digital hoping for a disconnect from the dreadful voice. Digital seemed easier, faster, more productive by 21st century standards. No longer having to run my fingers across paper’s sensitive pores, I could simply type away. Without the emotional connection, detest at my own handwriting, or smudged ink slowing me down. But the blank screen shouts the same threats.

Even faster than I can get the words down, I stretch my smallest and most fearful finger to the back space key, tapping it repeatedly like a fearful case of OCD locks the door 17 times for assured safety.

Just like that it’s all gone.

It was terrible anyway, so I try again. This time it flows a little longer and I get an entire stream of thought out and breathe to re-read it. It’s terrible. It’s not complete. What else could I say? It’s too obvious. A child could write this. It’s not original, everyone knows this anyway. I have better things to do with my time. The timid tapping begins, each pixel is deleted and the door is locked for the 34th time.

I think back to the times I stared paper down before and conquered it. How it magically turned into a tool, how I wrote the sweetest poem or blog post or letter that I’m still so proud of to this day.

But I’ll never live up to again.

I don’t remember what inspired me. How I got past the blank paper. How I was content with the words. These days I listen to and read other words so much that I’m filled up with ideas, stories, and truths. I get inspired but find myself paraphrasing someone else’s idea and sadly realize I have nothing to add. It’s not mine to share. It’s cool, but it’s not me, it’s not new, and it’s not who I want to be. So I sheepishly stretch out my pinky, tap, and the door is locked for the 51st time.

Truth is, writing is painful. It’s pouring yourself out and exposing parts of yourself you may not want to. It’s not all the artistic sweet posts, best selling books, or top charting song lyrics. It’s exercise, stretching you constantly and making you sore. It often takes turning off all the other voices and distractions, asking yourself a hard question, and following through with the answer.

Inspiration doesn’t always fall in your lap, you have to work for it.

If you want to be a writer, that’s the truth. Anything fruitful is going to come after planting, watering, and struggling. I want to be a writer. So I’ll keep staring, battling, watering, growing, typing, erasing, re-typing, and struggling, until I get to the writing. I’ll tame that timid finger, and leave the door unlocked.

2.21.2017

Through the Eyes of a Child // Disney Photo Journal

September 20, 2016May 5, 2020 ~ Alibrandi Dawn ~ Leave a comment

It had been awhile since I’ve been to a Disney theme park. I must say I remember it being fun & magical, but I had forgotten some of the precious details.

This weekend I returned to the most magical place on earth with three of the most magical kids on earth and I found myself not only enjoying the parks with them, but learning so much from them!

Through Alex’s thrill of competition on rides like Toy Story & Test Track, Caroline’s enthusiasm for meeting princesses & singing along to frozen songs, and Theodore’s pure affection & infectious smile, I got to see Disney once again through the innocent, awe-struck eyes of a child.

In these eyes there are no other worries or distractions. Although there can sometimes be less patience and perspective causing some emotional moments… When a child’s joy is perfectly fixated on one thing, moment, or thrill, it is uncontainable and incomparable. Through these little eyes I saw more magic than I thought possible.

I found that once I grasped this magical joy it overflowed from Disney to the drowsy ride home and into the little thrills in life at home. No lines, no fastpass, no magicband required. All I needed was the eyes of a child.

// For Alex, Caroline, & Theodore, I love you //