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Valentines Day Needs a Makeover

By Christina Thomas 4 Comments

Valentines Day Needs a Makeover

Valentines Day needs a makeover. It’s time we celebrated friendships!

Whatever happened to Valentine’s Day being about friendships and not just romantic love? Do you remember being in elementary school, where on Valentine’s day, you would give out heart-shaped candies and notes to your friends with cute little messages like “Best Friends Forever”? It was such a happy day. I remember preparing my little gifts the night before and looking forward to going to school the next day. There were no expectations or pressures of insanely over-the-top romantic gestures and no feelings of inadequacy or shame for being single, as if you were the only single person on earth. In the US alone, as of 2011, there were more than 102 million single adults, 43% of the population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. I’m sure that number has increased in the past few years, so why is this day only meant to be enjoyed by a little more than half of the population? It’s time to change that. Valentines Day needs a makeover.

Yes, I know Valentines is the designated holiday for romance here in the US and in most countries around the world, although in some like Finland and Guatemala, they also call it “Friends Day” or “Day of Love & Friendship” which I think is the way to go. Right now, many of you are scrambling to make reservations for a romantic Valentine’s dinner on February 14th, which by the way, is the second busiest day of the year for most restaurants, second only to Mother’s Day according to market research. Is it really that romantic to be in a crowded restaurant trying to gaze lovingly and whisper sweet nothings to your sweetie, all the while the couple on your right and the couple on your left are trying to do the same thing, sitting less than a foot away from you? There is no whisper so soft that it can’t be heard when you’re so close to your neighbor that you can eat off their plate.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I am not advocating for husbands and boyfriends to boycott the holiday and refuse to take out their lovely sweethearts out for a special date to celebrate your love. I would surely be hung for that! There are some great restaurants out there that understand the importance of leaving a bit of space between tables to provide the perfect romantic ambiance, at the expense of their cover count. If you can get one of those coveted tables, then go for it and make it a magical evening.

What I’m advocating is this, and I think most ladies will agree with me, it is much nicer and less pressure when that romantic dinner happens “out of the blue” any day of the week, just because he felt like it, and not because he gave in to society’s expectations. A romantic gesture should be about your expression of love that happens all year round, not the expectation of it on one day of the year. Ladies, do you agree? Guys, surprises are much more romantic, trust me.

I’m proposing an image makeover for Valentine’s Day because many adults, both single and in a relationship, find this to be a dreaded overly commercialized holiday. But it doesn’t have to be. Instead, Valentine’s should be about celebrating friendships and all the people in your life that are there for you through thick and thin, both your romantic partner if you’re in a relationship as well as your friends that have known you since your first crush, when your relationship status changed to “in a relationship”, through heartaches and beyond. If we do this, all of a sudden it becomes a positive day instead of a depressing, “let me eat a whole box of chocolates and follow it with a pint of ice cream” kind of day.

Valentines Day needs a Makeover

How do we accomplish this image makeover? It’s simple.

Host a party at home and invite your friends over. Make it casual or make it lavish, it’s up to you. Open a nice bottle of wine or two, cook, laugh, and enjoy. Friendships are meant to be celebrated. You don’t have to go crazy, you just have to make it happen. If you don’t feel like staying home or are not inclined to host a party, there are some great events happening around town this time of year that can be as much fun with your friends as they would be with your significant other. Search through the calendar sections of your paper, google it, ask around and I’m sure you will find something fun that would be of special interest to you and your friends. Make it a group of couples and single friends, make it a girl’s night out, make it a double-date, whatever it is, make it a celebration. You can choose from movies or concerts in the park, cooking classes, pub crawls, food tours, artsy events, spa days and more. The point is there are plenty of choices out there for you to get the whole gang together and celebrate this special day of the year.

And there you have it! Voila! Valentine’s day makeover complete.

Valentines Day needs a Makeover

How do you plan to celebrate your friendships and give Valentine’s day a makeover?

If you need ideas, check out this post for the Top 9 Ideas To Celebrate Valentine’s with Friends.

Cheers!

Go Epicurista

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About Christina Thomas

I'm Christina, a hospitality consultant, freelance writer, food & travel enthusiast, brand cheerleader, ice cream fanatic, chocoholic, and eternal optimist on a mission to #MakeSomedayHappen one delicious bite, sip and trip at a time. Celebrating life with great food, wine and friends throughout Central Florida and everywhere I GO! I want to inspire you to take time out of your busy schedule to do the same. GO celebrate life today, for someday may never come. Join me and GO Epicurista!

Comments

  1. Dolmari says

    02/07/2014 at 10:45 am

    Love the new and refreshed look to Valentine’s Day!!! I love cooking classes…our local Italian restaurant is hosting a few sessions. I’m thinking of signing my hubby and I for one of them! However, I have one more idea to take the pressure off Valentine’s Day…you can do what we did. We have a Valentine’s Day Baby! Trust me, Valentine’s Day takes a whole other meaning after that! LOL! Cheers, to love and friendship not just on February 14th, but every day, and not just those we know, but to all the people we encounter in our daily routines.

    Reply
    • Christina Thomas says

      02/07/2014 at 2:33 pm

      Well, that’s certainly another way to give Valentines Day a whole new level of celebration! Glad I inspired you to take a cooking class. Please share how it goes. Thanks for the comment! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Ximena says

    02/04/2014 at 6:13 pm

    I agree with you Christina…I usually don’t celebrate “Hallmark” holidays…everyday should be “Valentine’s Day”!! I will be tasting a new cupcake recipe and opening a bottle of wine! Cheers girl!

    Reply
    • Christina Thomas says

      02/05/2014 at 7:19 pm

      That sounds good to me! Cheers!

      Reply

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Meet your Chief Epicurista

I'm Christina, a hospitality consultant, freelance writer, food & travel enthusiast, brand cheerleader, ice cream fanatic, chocoholic, and eternal optimist on a mission to #MakeSomedayHappen one delicious bite, sip and trip at a time. Celebrating life with great food, wine and friends throughout Central Florida and everywhere I GO! I want to inspire you to take time out of your busy schedule to do the same. GO celebrate life today, for someday may never come. Join me and GO Epicurista! Find out more...

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And what's the difference between macaron and macaroon? The words may look the same but macarons' (with one “O”) main ingredient is almond meal and macaroons' is shredded coconut. Macarons are colorful and airy and macaroons are textured, chewy coconut and usually dipped in chocolate. Which one is your favorite? ⠀
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My question today is: ⠀
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Lemon Meringue or Key Lime Pie? ⠀
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What’s your favorite pie? ⠀
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I’ve already shared how much I love @sisterhoneys but I’ll say it again, owner Evette Rahman makes the best pies. And if all the awards and blue ribbons on her wall don’t convince you, your taste buds definitively will!⠀
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I have a tough time deciding between the sweet tart key lime pie or the lemon meringue with that dreamy fluffy topping. So I get a slice of both! ⠀
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👉🏼 You can read more about Evette and other inspiring women chefs and entrepreneurs on GoEpicurista and keep celebrating #WomensHistoryMonth⠀
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How do you celebrate Pi Day? ⠀
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Some do with dessert pies, or savory pies and others with pizza pies. But did you know the origin of this national celebration began in 1988 with fruit pies and tea served at 1:59pm (the next 3 digits of pi) at the Exploratorium in San Francisco? Physicist Larry Shaw thought it would be a fun celebration for the staff. A few years later, after Larry’s daughter, Sara, remarked that the special date was also the birthday of Albert Einstein, they started celebrating the life of the world-famous scientist. In 2009 US Congress declared it a National Holiday. ⠀
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Happy Pi Day! ⠀
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#GOepicOrlando #MakeSomedayHappen #LoveOrlando #PieDay #PiDay
“You can’t ZOOM a vacation.” - Phil Brown, C “You can’t ZOOM a vacation.” - Phil Brown, CEO Greater Orlando Airport Authority ⠀
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We're craving a return to travel and safe getaways because as Phil says, we can't zoom a vacation. Since Hawaii is at the top of my US travel bucket list (my "someday list") I'm so excited to share @hawaiianairlines now has non-stop flights from Orlando International Airport (@flyMCO) & Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) ⠀
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Great reason to cheer so I'm celebrating their inaugural flight today with the most Hawaiian cocktail of all time: The Mai Tai! ⠀
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Yesterday I got the chance to tour the roomy Airbus A330 aircraft during a media visit with Jeff Helfrick, Hawaiian Airlines Vice President of airport operations & Phil Brown, CEO of MCO ⠀
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✈️ Non-stop flights to Hawaii offered twice a week (Tue & Sat) increasing to 3 flights this summer⠀
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😷 Extensive safety precautions in place including electrostatic spraying aircraft & face mask required. ⠀
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😷 Hawaii requires negative state-approved Covid test prior to departure or 10-day quarantine upon arrival. Hawaiian makes it easy to start your vacation right away with Vault-At Home Testing kits with expedited results in 24 hours. Check website & @gohawaii ⠀
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✈️ Hawaiian’s Airbus A330 offers comfortable design with 18 fully flat Premium Cabin leather seats arranged in a 2-2-2 configuration, 68 Extra Comfort seats with more legroom and enhanced amenities & 192 Main Cabin seats. ⠀
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🌸 Experience Hawaiian hospitality the minute you step inside with a friendly “Aloha” from the Hawaii-based crew. ⠀
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🍹Sip signature Hawaiian cocktails by @otrcocktails @cruzanrum Mai Tai, Moloka'i Mule & Tropical Landing complimentary for First Class & Business, for purchase in Main Cabin⠀
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🍽 Exec. Chefs Wade Ueoka & Michelle Karr-Ueoka of Honolulu’s MW Restaurant oversee meal program featuring Island-inspired meals, complimentary for all passengers. First Class menus by award-winning local guest chefs. Currently Robynne Maii, Owner/Chef at @FêteHawaii ⠀
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🌸In-flight amenities by @kealopiko are fantastic!
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Ready for Hawaii? #MakeSomedayHappen⠀
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Thanks @TasteCookSip for my photos! #GOepicOrlando #GoHawaii
"I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose I w "I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose I would always greet it in a garden." - Ruth Stout⠀
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Spring in the garden is the best place to be! Would you love to enjoy great food and drinks in a beautiful garden setting? ⠀
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Edible Education Experience @EdibleEdExp at the Emeril Lagasse Foundation Kitchen House & Culinary Garden in College Park is launching a new event series called "IN THE GARDEN" and you don't want to miss it! ⠀
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Each event will give us a tour of different food cultures around the world in a safe setting. The first event on Sunday 3/21, "IN GIARDINO" is all about Italy! ⠀
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Hosted in collaboration with award-winning Chef Kevin Fonzo of La Tavola, the event will feature a distinguished group of local chefs and artisan vendors, each preparing Italian regional specialties which you can learn more about as they prepare your dish. ⠀
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Here's a bit of what will be available for purchase at the event:⠀
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🌱 @cheffonzo scrumptious Porchetta Sandwich⠀
🌱 @itsthepizzaslut famous pizzas made with fresh ingredients from the EEE garden ⠀
🌱 @chefjasonwolfe PASTA! and goodies from @tornatorespizzeriaorlando Shop to take home.⠀
🌱 Chef Erica Asti's fresh Mushroom and Celery Salad ⠀
🌱 @mhulbert22 Michelle, Maker of Sweet Things - Traditional desserts including cannoli and tiramisu⠀
🌱 @palatecouture Charcuterie and Cheese boards! ⠀
🌱 @cuisiniers Beer and Wine ⠀
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Admission ticket is only $5 per person and all food and drink items are affordably priced a la carte to be purchased at each vendor. ⠀
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Event is expected to sell out so get your tickets ASAP! Two event times offered: 12pm-3pm or 3pm-6pm⠀
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Visit www.edibleed.org/payforclass to purchase. ⠀
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Future events will focus on a different country, so whether it's “sa hardin” (Philipines), “bageeche mein” (India), or “bageeche mein” (Germany) - we will get a chance to embrace different cultures in the garden! ⠀
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#GoEpicOrlando #MakeSomedayHappen #EdibleEducationExperience #LoveOrlando
“I wish that more women realized that helping an “I wish that more women realized that helping another woman win, cheering her on, praying for her, or sharing a resource with her does not take away from the blessings coming to them. In fact, the more you give, the more you receive. Empowering women doesn’t come from selfishness but rather from selflessness.” – Selene Kinder⠀
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Cheers to all the strong and powerful women whom I've had the privilege to know. Those who've cheered me on and those who've inspired me with their wisdom and passion. ⠀
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This year, I've turned to women entrepreneurs and chefs for inspiration and I've been so lucky to share their stories on GoEpicurista.com ⠀
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👉🏼 Check out "Women Chefs Who Rock Orlando’s Food Scene" post and read all about some of the amazing women led restaurants, bakeries and food shops in town. The list is far from complete though! I would love to get your recommendations on who I should feature next.⠀
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P.S. This photo is in one of my favorite Spanish restaurants in town, @tapatoroorlando which is local owned and led by the talented Katerina Coumbaros and her husband Vassilis. ⠀
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#GOepicOrlando #MakeSomedayHappen #IWD2021 #WomenSupportingWomen #WomensDay #LoveOrlando
“The soul becomes dyed with the color of its tho “The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts.” - Marcus Aurelius⠀
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It’s #NationalCerealDay and time for colorful treats and happy thoughts! 😃⠀
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What was your favorite cereal as a kid? ⠀
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I still remember sitting in front of the TV watching Saturday morning cartoons with a bowl of Fruit Loops, Frosted Flakes or Cinnamon Toast Crunch. It was a weekend treat!⠀
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Nowadays, I get my breakfast cereal fix as a topping on donuts and pastries. No spoon required. Here’s a few fun ones: ⠀
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🥄 @dochi.fl in @eastendmkt Taro Pebbles donut is light and airy with a taro glaze. Yum! ⠀
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🥄 @everglazed_fl in @disneysprings Fruity Pebbles donut or Cinnamon Toast Crunch are both yummy. Pair it with cereal milk! Sweeeet! ⠀
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🥄 At @choulalapastries in Park Avenue and 436, Winter Park the Fruity Pebbles chou cream puff is delightful. @chefstephsteph also added a Lucky Charms chou just for March! Classy & gorgeous! ⠀
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Did you know Fruity Pebbles cereal rolled out nationwide in 1971? It turns 50 this year! ⠀
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Have a colorful day. You deserve it! ⠀
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#GOepicOrlando #MakeSomedayHappen #CerealDay #FruityPebbles #LoveOrlando
“I want adventure in the great wide somewhere! I “I want adventure in the great wide somewhere! I want it more than I can tell!” - Belle, Beauty & The Beast ⠀
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I’m craving adventure and my favorite giant chocolate macaron lollipop from EPCOT France pavilion. How about you? ⠀
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The Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival kicked off this week! All the Outdoor Kitchens and beautiful topiaries are back! Some new as well as returning favorites. Sadly I no longer have my Disney Annual Pass so I haven’t had a chance to go check it out, but since the festival runs thru July 5th, I’m hoping to go for a day. ⠀
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I’m so happy this “Macaron au Chocolat en Sucette” is back at @artisandesglace and all the gardens are in bloom! It’s such a beautiful festival which last year was abruptly cut short due to the pandemic. ⠀
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This photo is a throwback from those carefree pre-pandemic days when we took so much for granted. I can’t believe it’s been a year already. Don’t forget if you plan to go that Disney is still restricting capacity, reservation is required and you must wear a mask at all times, except when stationary while eating and drinking. ⠀
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Will you be going to Epcot for Flower & Garden this year? What’s your favorite dish and topiary? ⠀
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#GOepicOrlando #MakeSomedayHappen #FreshEpcot #GOepicDisney #LoveOrlando
"Your mission: Be so busy loving your life you hav "Your mission: Be so busy loving your life you have no time for hate, regret or fear." - Karen Salmansohn (hosted)⠀
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"Busy Busy Busy" - Story of my life! But I'm so grateful and it's important to take time out to enjoy it. Couldn't think of a better way to do that than with these gorgeous sweet treats from @choulalapastries . ⠀
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The coffee lover in me wanted the Tiramisu entremet made of fluffy mascarpone mousse with a creamy mocha coffee center, dark chocolate crisp pearls, and an espresso-soaked ladyfinger cake dusted with cocoa powder. Dreamy!⠀
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The caramel lover in me wanted Crème brûlée chou puff. And of course, one must always get macarons. The Perfect Trio!⠀
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Don't forget to take a break from your busy schedule and treat yourself today. What tasty treat do you crave for the perfect coffee break? ⠀
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#GoEpicOrlando #MakeSomedayHappen #ChoulalaPastries #LoveOrlando #WinterParkFL
“If you are cold, tea will warm you; if you are “If you are cold, tea will warm you; if you are too heated, it will cool you; If you are depressed, it will cheer you; If you are excited, it will calm you.” - William E. Gladstone (hosted)⠀
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Hello March! Happy Monday! 😃 I feel like I need all the caffeine today and while I tend to go for lattes, I love all different kinds of teas. If you do too, you’ll love the article Lisa Wilk and I wrote for HistoricDowntownSanford.com featuring all the best places to get caffeinated in this charming town. ⠀
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Stop by @rosieleeteaco, the quaint shop with an old fashioned European feel on South Park Avenue is known as Historic Downtown Sanford’s tea lover’s utopia! A vast selection of over 100 teas from around the world are showcased in the fragrant tea bar to enjoy there, at home or gift to the tea lover in your life. ⠀
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Try the “Rosie Love” Iced Tea, the perfect sipper for a warm day of #sanfording around @historicdowntownsanford ⠀
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It has a subtle blend of strawberries, cherry and roses. When you order it iced, they add a dash of rose & strawberry syrup and a splash of lemonade. So refreshing! ⠀
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If you prefer your tea hot, order a soothing classic London Fog Latte with Earl Grey Creme tea. It was perfect to enjoy while sitting in their funky high back chairs. ⠀
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If coffee is your thing, you’ll love they now feature local artisan @wavelengthcoffee and don’t miss getting some sweet treats from my favorite @choulalapastries ⠀
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👉🏼 Check out the article! I’ll add the link in my stories. ⠀
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“Come, let us have some tea and continue to talk about happy things.” - Chaim Potok⠀
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#GOepicOrlando #HistoricDowntownSanford #CoffeeandTea #RosieLeeTea
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