Happy Mother’s Day with Jodi Avery

Happy Mother’s Day with Jodi Avery

Jodi Avery and her familyMother’s Day is just around the corner. I love my mom dearly and know what a joy it is to be a mom. I am truly blessed with four wonderful children, Hunter, Victoria, Elizabeth and Lily.

This year mother’s day is Sunday, May 10. On Mother’s Day it’s important to celebrate your mom. If you can’t be with your mom this year, call or write her to let her know how special she is and how much you appreciate her.

I know I am always looking for ways to celebrate Mother’s Day. Here are a few ideas I came up with after doing a little research for fun activities and events in the Tampa Bay area.

I love being pampered especially after a long week. Maybe your mom is the same. How about a little pampering this Mother’s Day by giving you mom the gift of a massage or spa day? Even a manicure or pedicure would be fun!

One thing I love, love, love from my kids are sentimental gifts like photos or artwork they give me. If you are looking for unique gifts, you can make a nice photo of your mom’s favorite picture of the family framed. There are actually tons of gifts you can make from photos and it’s easy to do. Just upload a photo and turn it into a mug, clock, puzzle or blanket. Check out Walgreens, CVS, Sam’s Club or Shutterfly for ideas and gifts.

I love candy! Don’t forget flowers and candy for mom. Looking for beautifully decorated and delicious chocolates? There are several places in the Tampa Bay area that make and sell artisian chocolates like William Dean in Belleair Bluffs and Mari Caron Chocolats sold at the Empress Tea Room in Tampa.

Maybe you are planning on taking your mom out to eat for Mother’s Day. Here are a few of my favorite places. For breakfast, I love La Creperia Café in Ybor. Chef Dino has perfected the French art of crepe. Croque Madame #68 is my personal favorite, which is a La Parisienne sandwich with ham and an egg on top.  My daughter Lily’s favorite is Marie Antoinette #21. It is a sweet crepe that has nutella, banana, fresh strawberries and Bailey’s. Yummm!  www.lacreperiacafe.com

If looking for a place to go for lunch, try my favorite Italian restaurant Casa Ludovico  in Palm Harbor.  Make sure you order the tiramisu, with it’s luscious ladyfinger in whipped cream, mascarpone and bittersweet cocoa. It is to die for! www.eatatcasa.com

One of my favorite dinner places is Red Mesa Cantina in Downtown St. Petersburg. Their Mexican-Southwestern cuisine is always authentic fresh, fun, and flavorful. I love the hip ambiance on the outdoor courtyard and fountain and of course their live music.  www.redmesacantina.com

Another place I love going is a Vietnamese restaurant La V in downtown St. Petersburg. I have an addiction to the distinctive Boba Tea which consists of black tea, condensed milk and sugar. Boba Tea has the tapioca balls, which have a consistency like gummy candy balls that are made from the potato cassava plant that sit at the bottom of the cup. There are over 60 flavors with Taro being my favorite. Yummy! La V spring rolls have fresh ingredients, minimal use of grease, as they rest on herbs and vegetables. You must go to!  www.lavfusion.com

If you like going to entertainment venues here are some offering free admission for mom. You can go to the Florida Aquarium May 9-10 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and mom is free with a full paid general admission. www.flaquarium.org  Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo is also free for mom the weekend of the May 9-10 with the purchase of a son or daughter’s full-priced admission ticket. www.lowryparkzoo.com The Glazer Museum is also offering free admission on May 10 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. www.glazermuseum.org

If you are still looking for ideas….one of my favorite place to see unique gifts is on Pinterest. Just type in Mother’s Day gifts and you will see plenty.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there!

Deuteronomy 5:16 NIV “Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”

The Best of the Best Service Providers at Your Fingertips with Jodi’s A-list

The Best of the Best Service Providers at Your Fingertips with Jodi’s A-list

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What is Jodi’s A-list? It is a list of first-class service providers in Tampa Bay that I personally endorse and refer to my friends and clients. It started back 2010. My clients were asking me for home inspectors, termite exterminators, roofers and plumbers. I would hand write the numbers on a piece of paper the businesses I recommended.  After awhile the few names turned into one page sheets and the list started growing and became a book.

I had a contest to name the book and Tracey Metzger from For the Girls International came up with the name. She liked the idea of using my first name Jodi and the “A” representing my last name Avery, as well as symbolizing “A” as being the best…so that’s how Jodi’s A-list started.

To be a part of my A-list, you can to fill out the vendor form in the back of the Jodi’s A-list book or simply make an appointment to meet with me for 15 minutes to chat, so you know what is expected. When I recommend a vendor, I want them to give excellent service, be the best in their field, be honest, have integrity and really care about the client. I want the vendors I endorse to give my clients the same service I provide.

Jodi’s A-list comes out once a year and I promote it on radio and television. My recommendations have been so popular that I now have expanded it to my favorite restaurants, which are in the center of the book. What’s exciting is that I started tracking my referrals and I give out about 50 a week. I am proud of the great team of people that are on my list and the outstanding service they provide to my clients.

Here’s a sneak peak of some of my wonderful service providers on Jodi’s A-list:

-Bob Symanski with Smanksi & McKnight. Bob is my personal accountant. Tax season is right around the corner and he provides expertise, great service and makes tax season feel a little better.

-Chuck Philips with Law offices of Charles S. Philips, PLC. He is a fantastic personal injury attorney.

-Wendi Braswell. She is my phenomenal personal stylist. She dresses you for success! She can do everything from closet makeovers to personal shopping.

-Patricia Rossi is the world’s best etiquette coach and speaker in the Tampa Bay area. It is a joy and honor to know her.

-Joe Staltare with Complete Care Systems, Inc. He is my carpet cleaner and one of the nicest guys around. His service is simply outstanding and he is reasonably priced.

-Janet Tatum with New Foundations Counseling. She is a great prayer counselor. She also does inner healing. Her counsel is God centered. She can change you and your family’s life. Love her!

-Bill Christian with Two Guys and a Van. I have been using him for more than 20 years. He has never broken anything and does a meticulous job and is very fairly priced.

-Rich Weinberg with CCI Painting. He is my outside painter. He is truly the best at what he does and I am proud to have him as part of my A-list team!

-Brice Bittner with Countryside Water Conditioning. He is a phenomenal guy with years of experience and expertise in his business. The best service I have ever had!

There are so many more people I would like to share with you. If you would like to see the rest of Jodi’s A-list, email me your address at Jodi@JodiAvery.com  or call me at 727.238.9660.  I would love to send you a Free copy of Jodi’s A-list in the mail.

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Jodi Avery’s Top Picks for Mouth Watering Restaurants in Tampa Bay

Jodi Avery’s Top Picks for Mouth Watering Restaurants in Tampa Bay

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Are you looking for some fantastic restaurants that will make you want to lick your plate? I love going out to eat and finding places my family and friends enjoy, and that have the best food around.  I thought, I would give you a sneak peak of seven of my favorite restaurants from St. Petersberg to Tampa. These are part of a group of restaurants featured in my latest version of Jodi’s A-List.

Here they are:

Favorite Breakfast Place

La Creperia Café in Ybor – This is our family favorite place to go after Sunday morning church. Chef Dino has perfected the French art of crepe. We watch as he pours, twirls, flips using the freshest ingredients, which are cooked to perfection. Croque Madame #68 is my personal favorite, which is a La Parisienne sandwich with ham and an egg on top.  My daughter Lily’s favorite is Marie Antoinette #21. It is a sweet crepe that has nutella, banana, fresh strawberries and Bailey’s. Yummm!  www.lacreperiacafe.com

Favorite Food Truck

Wicked Wiches – I love everything pumpkin and that is why I love the Pumpkin Spiced, Maduro-Battered Monte Cristo. Literally and actually a mouthful, this pumpkin battered sandwich with turkey comes with cranberry sauce for dipping. This is definitely a coma-inducing treat for me!   www.wickedwiches.com

Favorite Romantic Date Place

Ciro’s Speakeasy and Supper Club in Tampa – This restaurant atmosphere is discreet, romantic and trendy! You feel you are in a time machine to the 1920’s with it’s private cozy booths and curtains. Don’t forget your password! Perfect restaurant for celebrating a special occasion!  www.cirostampa.com

Favorite Italian Restaurant

Casa Ludovico  in Palm Harbor – One of my favorite places to travel is Italy because of it’s cuisine. This authentic Italian restaurant makes me feel I am back there. Make sure you order the tiramisu, with it’s luscious ladyfinger in whipped cream, mascarpone and bittersweet cocoa. It is to die for! www.eatatcasa.com

Favorite Mexican Restaurant

Red Mesa Cantina in Downtown St. Petersburg- Their Mexican-Southwestern cuisine is always authentic fresh, fun, and flavorful. I love the hip ambiance on the outdoor courtyard and fountain and of course their live music.  www.redmesacantina.com

Favorite Vietnamese Restaurant

La V in downtown St. Petersburg- I have an addiction to the distinctive Boba Tea which consists of black tea, condensed milk and sugar. Boba Tea has the tapioca balls, which have a consistency like gummy candy balls that are made from the potato cassava plant that sit at the bottom of the cup. There are over 60 flavors with Taro being my favorite. Yummy! La V spring rolls have fresh ingredients, minimal use of grease, as they rest on herbs and vegetables. You must go to!  www.lavfusion.com

Favorite Bakery

Pane Rustica Bakery and Café in Tampa- I love to go to Pane Rustica! They are a wholesale retail bakery and restaurant specializing in traditional, hearth baked artisan breads of Italy and France. They make 7000 pounds of bread a week. My favorite bakery items are their blueberry scones, chocolate croissants and oven roasted vegetable sandwich.  www.panerusticbakery.com

These are just a few of my favorites. If you want to see the rest grab a copy of Jodi’s A-List. You can also log onto my website at www.Jodiavery.com or give me a call at 727-238-9660!