10 Years of The Breakfast Club

About this time ten years ago in August 2004, six ladies from Lady Spirithunters (later to be eight) met at Andrews 228 for brunch to celebrate a birthday (Melissa's). They had so much fun one of them (Dana) said we should do this every month - "we'd be like The Breakfast Club." The name stuck.

These friendships have meant so much to me. Some of us met through LSH, while others, like Natalie & Laura, Courtney & I met in high school. Many of the first meetings I remember vividly - Cara I met at orientation (and suggested she sign up for some of the same classes - she did!). Natalie I met at the first LSH mixer (I heard her laugh, walked right up to her and said - we're going to be friends). Laura I met at the banquet - we sat next to each other at our table. I admired she wore an "R" necklace even though her name was Laura. It did confuse me a little. Cara, I remember, introduced me to Kelly right around the time it started. Melissa, I met at Lip Sync. Kristy I met in fall 2004 through a mutual friend in the dorms. I'd already started following her around at that point. By the end of Spring 2005, we were a solid group of eight - and we still returned to Andrews 228 for brunch!

Not all of us graduated together. Cara did degree in three, graduating first in Spring 2006. Kristy followed soon after, at the end of summer 2006. Courtney also graduated early - Fall 2006. By Spring, there were five of us left and we went out in style! Natalie, Laura, Kelly, Melissa, and I did a photo shoot the day of graduation and took some of the best pictures that I still treasure to this day:

The Breakfast Club is the most amazing group of friends I made in college (who I've now been friends with more than twice as long as we were in college... oof!). We've celebrated six weddings and had additional mini reunions - and in most cases at least 7-8 of us were there! Here are a few of my favorite memories:

Can't wait to see what the next 10 years brings this fantastic group of women and friends. I love you all!

FSU - BCS National Champs!

Monday night Florida State played Auburn in the last BCS National Championship Game out in Pasadena California. I was proud but nervous to cheer on my noles - and it was definitely a close game! FSU scored the winning touchdown under a minute left! When it was finally over Nate and I danced around the apartment - so proud that my Seminoles finished an absolutely incredible year 14-0, unconquered both in terms of record and spirit.

FSU gave me four of the best years of my life. I made life-long friends and countless memories tailgating and cheering for the Seminoles. While 2003-2007 certainly weren't flagship football years they were special nonetheless. And, even though I couldn't be in Pasadena, it was no less special thinking about all my friends and reminiscing over old memories.

It also was a great way to kick off what will surely be one of the most memorable years of our lives! UCF also beat Baylor in the Fiesta Bowl which was awesome for me and Nate, who is a proud Knights alum! And in happy losses, we were pleased Urban and Saban lost their bowl games ;)

Some favorite FSU football pics below:

So proud of my team... 2014 is off to an amazing start!!!! 

Celebrate Good Times

Wow. WHAT A WEEK! This week two of my friends from college (and the same fabulous group of ladies famously known as The Breakfast Club) announced their engagements.

Melissa, Me, & Natalie at FSU Baseball Spring 2004

I first met Natalie at a Lady Spirithunters mixer in February 2004. I heard this loud, energetic, hilarious voice and I immediately walked up to her and said "hi I'm Dana, nice to meet you, we're going to be friends." And although she admittedly thought I was a bit crazy we have been friends ever since! Almost ten years later, she has been a true friend. This summer when I was visiting my family in Florida for a couple weeks, Courtney and I took a trip down to visit Natalie in Sarasota. There I met Zack - Natalie's (at the time) boyfriend and now fiance. I could tell immediately this was it for her - she was absolutely glowing! I could not be happier that she has found the love of her life and I wish her all the happiness in the world!

The Breakfast Club at LSH Initiation February 2006

Melissa and I met at some point during spring 2004 also through Lady Spirithunters - although our first meeting could have happened earlier, we really met the night of Lip Sync when Lady Spirithunters came in first place! It was Melissa's birthday in August 2004 that led to the creation of the Breakfast Club - me, Natalie, Kelly, Kristy, and Cara took Melissa to Andrew's downtown for brunch for her birthday. We had such a blast Natalie suggested we do it once a month and I said "yes and we could be the Breakfast Club!" I didn't expect it to stick, but it did. Laura and Courtney were soon part of the gang and throughout the years we've all managed to stay close. I met David, Melissa's now fiance, on a double date in Chapel Hill in February 2010. I brought Nate and she brought David to the West End Wine Bar. When she told me about this adorable dentist who shared her love of board games I knew he was a keeper. I'm so excited for their future together!

Melissa & David at West End Wine Bar Winter 2010 

Zack & Natalie in downtown Sarasota Summer 2012

Congratulations to the happy couples... I'm so excited for you both and wish you a lifetime of happiness!!!

Breakfast Club Reunion: The Return to Tally!

At the end of October I brought Nate to Tallahassee for a true FSU football weekend! We are both from Gainesville but he went to school at UCF, so he's never been an FSU fan... but all that changed this weekend! I think it helped that FSU was playing NC State, a UCF rival, but I'll take what I can get! He even wore garnet :). I was also reunited with my best friend Courtney, who like me grew up in Gainesville but went to FSU, and the rest of the Breakfast Club - our group of friends from Lady Spirithunters. Lady Spirithunters was the first club I joined at FSU and it changed my college experience. Without it I wouldn't have met these amazing women, and it helped me truly feel at home at FSU. I still remember seeing the FSView with my name as a new Spirithunter... and the way I felt a year later when I saw my best friend's name in the paper (I may or may not have delivered a paper to her that morning at 6am... haha!)

Our first night in Tally we returned to an FSU favorite - MASA Japanese restaurant. Great sushi! After that we headed to Finnegan's Irish Pub - I went there first when I was in town for Mallory's wedding. It has a really cool vibe. And I got to see Anna, one of my friends from when I was an intern in Rome! She is from Tallahassee and lives here now! It was so great to see her.



The next morning we were up EARLY (noon kickoff, thus an early tailgate). But we made the best of it! We were reunited with Laura, Kelly and Natalie for our early morning tailgate. We had Sam Adams Octoberfest, seven layer dip, free sandwiches thanks to Jimmy Johns, Publix subs, and more chocolate chip cookies than we could count! We had GREAT seats at the game thanks to Natalie, and it was a clear and beautiful gameday. It was the perfect day!

The Breakfast Club Girls: Melissa, Courtney, Me, Natalie, Laura, & Kelly

Me & Nate in Doak Cambell Stadium

After the game we walked campus for an hour, everywhere from Courtney's ADK house to the PiPhi house, and the College of Ed and the College of Social Science. And of course, we had to take a picture at Westcott. We even returned to Bullwinkles! It was an amazing weekend!

Me & Nate at Westcott

Top 5 Friday: Things to Look Forward to this Fall

I should have posted this ON Friday... but here are some things I'm looking forward to RIGHT NOW!

1.) Erica Visits! - this has been in the works literally since the beginning of 2011! We planned a weekend in June and then Erica's flight was cancelled. We rescheduled for Labor Day weekend, and then in August some Verizon employees were on strike and Erica had to cover emergency duty! Luckily she was able to return to her normal job last week and she's able to come this weekend! We've already got some things planned, like taking in a Yankees game, going to my favorite Mexican restaurant Rosa Mex, and lots more!

2.) Our Birthdays - Nate and I were born just two weeks - and two years apart. He turns 28 on September 13th and I turn 26 on September 24th. Last year we went to Boston, and this year we're staying in the city but doing two special things! First, we're doing a wine and cheese pairing class at an artisinal cheese center. It teaches you which wines and beers to pair with which cheeses! Second, we're doing a really nice dinner at Chef Mario Batali's restaurant in the Village, Babbo. We are so excited to celebrate - and we'd rather have experiences than presents :)

3.) The Breakfast Club Reunion - the one and only Breakfast Club ladies are reuniting in Tallahassee in October for an FSU football weekend. So excited to see the girls, and cheer for the Noles! Can't believe it's been 5 years since I went to a game at Doak Campbell stadium. I cannot wait!

4.) Christmas at home - we're planning on going home for Christmas which will be so much fun! Jenni leaves for Peace Corps in February so this will be a special Christmas with the family. Nate and I are both so close to our families that going home is always a treat. It will also be awesome to see my close friends, with Courtney living at home, Janeen and Ryan and baby Chloe not far away, Jessica and Austin will have their baby girl by then, and Ashley always comes to town to see her family! I can't wait to catch up with friends!

5.) 2012 - I know it's a few months away still, but the promise of the future is always exciting to me. I mentally plan trips and adventures, think about the possibilities, yet recognize there's so much you can't foresee!

AMENDED: #5 should be beach weekend with Nate's family! It wasn't set in stone when I made this so I decided not to post it, but it's definitely on the list! Can't wait to be at St. Augustine Beach with his awesome family and sweet little Tanner!

Decade in Review

So... apparently... the decade ended this year! I feel as though last year was all about the end of the decade, but it was not! So in light of the end of the decade, and my love of summarizing with pictures, here is a short summary of the decade!

2001 – Sophomore in high school, became a Drum Major, Sonlight ended, became a Junior, September 11th, my grandfather died.



2002 – Junior in high school, became Student Body Vice President and a Senior, worked my first summer job at RTI.






2003 – Graduated from high school, moved away from home, started college at FSU in Tallahassee.




2004 – Became a Lady Spirithunter, returned to Gainesville for the summer, joined Pi Beta Phi sorority, founded the Breakfast Club.




2005 – Finished sophomore year of college, spent 2 months studying abroad in London, England. Witnessed the bombings. Traveled to Paris, Rome, and Brussels. Started Junior Year at FSU.




2006 – Finished junior year at FSU. Spent final college summer in Tallahassee. Started Senior Year, and turned 21!




2007 – Most eventful year of the decade, has to be broken into first and second half. First half - finished senior year! Awarded Panhellenic Woman of the Year and Senior Hall of Fame. Graduated from FSU Summa Cum Laude.





Second half - moved to Italy to start internship for the UN World Food Programme. Traveled all over Italy and to Spain, France, Switzerland, Germany, Czech Republic and the Netherlands.






2008 – Lived in Gainesville. Celebrated Janeen & Rachel’s weddings. Family went on a cruise! Got into grad school, moved to North Carolina. Started master’s at Duke University.





2009 – Finished first year at Duke. Spent summer in Tanzania. Returned to Duke for final year of grad school.



2010 – The second most eventful year in the decade! First half - Nate and I started dating. Spent two weeks consulting in India. Graduated from Duke with Master’s in Public Policy.



Second half - Nate and I moved to NYC. I started working at UN World Food Programme. More friends got married! Spent first Christmas outside of Gainesville.