About
Hi there!
My name is Shannon and I’m a 23 year old Florida beach bum living & working it up in NYC.
Yup, that’s me in the lifejacket.
My family thought I was nuts when I moved to the arctic after college without a job (or sweater). It took 2 months of Craigslisting, dog walking and interviews before landing a Marketing/ Social Media position for a Travel & Tourism Company. I work in Times Square which means I have the pleasure of darting between wide eyed tourists, men in white button downs, one legged pigeons and the occasional lifesize Elmo figure.
And guess what? I love it!!!
For now, this is my new home:
But I ain’t givin’ up my boat shoes.
Fitness-y things!
Hiking, biking, running, basketball, volleyball, football, swimming with sharks, rolling around in the mud, crawdaddy diving… you name it, I love it. Except for golf. Hate golf.
Currently training to run my hiney off in the Fall.
During my first weekend in the Big Apple, the ING New York City Marathon happened to be going on and I got majaaaaly lost in Central Park trying to find a fellow bloggie. Fast forward to today- I live 6 blocks from the park and am currently training for the same (my first!) marathon on November 6, 2011.
How does this happen? (New life motto.)
My family and I have a thing for summer camping trips in the Georgia mountains. We’ve hiked a few parts of the Appalachian Trail, but one day we’d love to complete the entire thing!
My favorite place is to be near the water. Growing up on the Gulf Coast, skimboarding quickly became a hobby of mine.
Overall the great outdoors play a huge part in my life.
Food
For the most part I try to whip up something healthy, but fried chicken, cornbread and sweet sizzlin’ barbecue sauce are more my thing.
I think buffets are God’s gift to mankind. Golden Corral and Sonny’s BBQ are seriously 2 of my favorite restaurants.
Chicken nuggets, onion rings, and coconut shrimp are also wonderful.
A Few Fun Facts:
- I only like salad if it has bacon bits in it.
- Sometimes I can be found at weird times of the night looking for mermaid necklaces on Etsy. Don’t ask.
- High School Musical > Glee. (Don’t hate me! Zac Efron is my soulmate.)
- I also have a crush on Justin Bieber. There, I said it.
- Happy Hour in NYC is basically mandatory.
- In high school I saved up for a $300 skimboard. I can’t do any tricks on it…fail.
- I’m 5’9.25 to be exact. Yes, I have tall parents. Baddabing!
- I can outsing you in any Sublime song. Thank you, Spring Break ’09.
- Honey mustard is the key to happiness.
- I’m on Chicken McNugget probation.
Thanks for stopping by my blog!
Please free to contact me at tropicaleats@gmail.com if you have any questions, tips, or exciting adventures you’d like to share.
Great layout again, I’ll be adding you to my blogroll!
Thanks so much Nicci! I LOVE your site.. yours is definitely a blogger’s dream layout!
Just wanted to say hello and love your blog!! Im new to the food blog world!
i LOVE the new site and layout. you know im considering a move to wordpress too. they just look more fun. i’ve updated you on my dashboard
I just found your blog, so I wanted to stop by and say hello! I’ll be checking back to read some more
Hey Shannon! I’m so glad you stopped by my blog! I absolutely love your blog, the header/layout is so cute! I love your energetic upbeat attitude! Adding you to my blog roll!
Hi Shannon! I found a link to your site from Jen, a priorfatgirl. Congrats on winning her contest!
Where about’s FL are you? I’m in Sarasota County. I’ll be bookmarking your blog!
I linked the giveaway on my blog as well:)
Hi Shannon!! I can’t wait to read more. You seem like SUCH a positive, sweet girl and your blog is really really cute. (fabulous choice of colors and the design!!) I’m jealous of your Floridian weather…that is for sure!! (I’m a 3-miler type of girl too!)
I see your link around the blogosphere alll the time, and finally, thought to check it out.
Shannon, I look forward to reading more of your posts, you seem really cool! And as a newborn college student myself, I love blogs like these.
just found your blog and i really love it! you’re super pretty and i love your attitude on health. 3 miles is definitely my style too…maybe 6 but never more lol. cant wait to read more of your posts!!
Hey Shannon! My name is Tara I just found your blog and I L-O-V-E IT!!! I visist FL (Gainsville to be specific) every 6 months, I visist friends I have that moved out there.
Again I love your blog its adorable and I cannot wait to keep reading more and Im definitely going to be checking out your articles for college lifestyles!
I must comment because my name is also Shannon! Love your blog and your layout as well. I’m new to the blog world and I’m looking forward to keeping up with tropicaleats!
I am new to the food blog world.. and I ran into your page! I saw the word tropical and I had to go to it. I am complete beach lover and you are so lucky to live by the beach. I spent five summers in Dewey Beach, Delaware and now I live in Baltimore. I miss the beach living so much!! I am very excited to check out your future outdoor adventure pics! I saw the nature trail ones..they are amazing!
omg i try to live by the same saying! i actually have a mug that says that, from the “life is good” company. or maybe it says “do what you like, like what you do,” but close enough right? i love your blog and just added it to my reader so i can see all of your adventures
Thanks girly! “Life is Good” is one of my favorite companies
Need to get me one of their mugs asap
Hi Shannon, just found your blog and it’s great!
Thanks so much Madelin!
Hi Shannon. I just found your blog through Caitlin at HTP. Glad I found it
I recently started health blogging myself as I try to eat and be healthier to lose weight. You’ve got a great blog. I’m adding you to my blogroll 
Thank you so much Susan! Welcome to the blogging world
You’re going to love it!
Hi, Shannon! Thanks for commenting on my blog…so glad it led me to yours! You have such a positive outlook; it’s really inspirational! I’m looking forward to following you!
Just found your blog, will be visiting frequently!
Dana
http://happinessiswithin.wordpress.com/
Love your blog! I’m excited to be roommies at HLS
Hi Shannon!!! Just saw that you commented on My Story and I am very excited to start following your blog. I must admit, the day I started reading food blogs was the official beginning (or end) of my productive life as we know it. I could read for days straight and not even glance away from the monitor. I can’t wait to catch up and follow you on your adventures! I can’t wait to see you at HLS too…I’m going alone, eeek. What are you doing for accommodations? Gimme a shout if you or anyone needs a roomie
Thanks again for stopping by my blog…oh and one more thing, ha…if your friend has ANY questions about JET, I’d be MORE than happy to answer them!
thanks so much girl! I showed him your blog so he may be stalkin your pics during JET
random facts are always fun : )
Thanks for the Twitter follow!
I can’t wait to read more of your blog
Thank you! I found your blog last night and was hooked after 2 posts. Consider yourself Google Reader subscribed
Hi Shannon!!! Just saw that you commented on My Story and I am very excited to start following your blog. I must admit, the day I started reading food blogs was the official beginning (or end) of my productive life as we know it. I could read for days straight and not even glance away from the monitor. I can’t wait to catch up and follow you on your adventures! I can’t wait to see you at HLS too…I’m going alone, eeek. What are you doing for accommodations? Gimme a shout if you or anyone needs a roomie Thanks again for stopping by my blog…oh and one more thing, ha…if your friend has ANY questions about JET, I’d be MORE than happy to answer them!
+1
just found your blog…. love it!
Hey Girlie!
I tried to add you to my LinkedIn contacts. Not sure if it worked? Did you have to get a degree in Business? As in stats courses etc? Thanks!
Barbara
Added you!
I got my degree in Business Administration with a specialty in Marketing. Had to take classes like Stats, Finance, Accounting, etc. Let me know if you have any other questions I’d love to answer them!
I have a question! How long have you been blogging?
Your blog is great! You have such good energy!
Thank you! You’re great! I started blogging in June 2009 and have loved it ever since.
Just stumbled upon your blog from Lynn’s blog! You have an awesome blog here! Loved reading the little details about you. When I watch TV, I normally stick to food network or reality TV.
Adding you to my reader.
You are the only person i have ever heard of that purchased the Harry Potter soundtrack, besides me of course… There is something pretty amazing about John Williams and those songs. I have them on my shuffle for long runs! And honey mustard/discovery channel are definitely gifts from god.
You have a great blog with original images. Best.
Just wanted to say I really enjoy your blog! I just started blogging myself and your site is def an inspiration.
Thanks so much girly! I LOVE the title of your blog.. and the story that goes along with it too
Oh so exciting! NYC will be an experience of a lifetime! Just found your blog through Dorry. We will be in Clearwater in a few weeks for a race, looks like I would have just missed ya!
Cheers,
LC
Hey girl! Love that you are a fan of some of life’s more fattening foods! Glad that I’m not the only one who enjoys some fried chicken from time to time.
I especially love that you were raised in a family that spends so much time being active together. I wish my family had been more like that. My husband and I hope to raise our family in an active way. Fewer movie nights and more camping trips, etc. 
just found your blog – you are too cute!
I love that you’re so adventurous and risk-taking Shannon! Have you done rock-climbing or anything like that? I’d love to try something life surfing or skimboarding someday!
Your blog is so cute! I just started blogging and yours is one of my favorites to read! I can’t believe you moved from Florida to NYC with $200. That is seriously awesome! When I graduate I want to move to Florida and probably will only have $200 so I’ll take any advice I can get =P
Love your new “About Me.” I was laughing out loud the entire time! “Buffets are God’s gift to man kind.” ROFL … Have you been to the buffet @ the Hard Rock, Fresh Harvest? do it. But don’t stand in line for hours, it’s not that great. I’ve always wanted to try skimboarding, but I’m afraid I’ll bust my head! Boogie boarding is fun though! Sweet boat shoes! I love my boat shoes!
Haha, I love the new facts! I am ridiculously jealous of the fact that you are running NYC in November! Maybe I can convince my sister to put me up for a few days so I can at least come and pretend I am running and cheer everyone on!
Nice to meet you, Shannon! My name is Shannon, too!
I love your blog!
Nice to meet you too, Shannon! Gotta love finding other Shannons in the bloggy world.
Looking forward to reading your blog!