An overcast day in Florida can only mean one thing: exploring the hidden treasures of bookstores, antique stores, and art museums the Tampa area has to offer. Martin and I found a gorgeous gem adjacent to the University of Tampa, a bookstore/restaurant/gift store/event space combo called the Oxford Exchange.

I’m the type who romances a bookstore, that nerdy comfort of diving into a story and emerging in an Indian jungle or at the base of the Eiffel Tower or aboard a west-bound train. To read is to export yourself, expand your knowledge of the world, and to push your imagination.

I also appreciate the beauty of a hardback book. Not the loose paper cover, but the shining embossed hard cover. So when I entered the Oxford Exchange and discovered their collections of first editions, signed copies, Penguin Hardcover Classics, and leather-bound classics, I melted!

AND if that weren’t enough, they have a restaurant (#omnomnom), a coffee bar, and a selection of hundreds of teas. We sat for a small bite – I had an apricot and brown sugar scone with clotted cream and fresh raspberry jam and ordered a mint julep tea, which had hints of peppermint and rose petals.

I found two wonderfully perfect books. First, “A Guide for Grown-Ups: Essential Wisdom from the Collected works of Antoine de Saint-Exupery.” It is a book of quotes from the author’s collection of writings. If you haven’t read any of the works of de Saint-Exupery, run (don’t walk) to your nearest bookstore (or Amazon) and order “The Little Prince.” Read it. Then reread it. Then dive into each purposefully written word and discover it’s true meaning. I promise, it’s worth your time.

Full confession: A high school English teacher assigned a book report, and with all I had on my plate, I chose the shortest book from the approved list. That book was “The Little Prince.” It was seriously one of the most enjoyable projects I did during my high school career and made me look at the world in a completely different way.

Favorite quotes from “The Little Prince”

• “The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched, they are felt with the heart.”
• “Well, I must endure the presence of a few caterpillars if I wish to become acquainted with the butterflies.”
• “You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.”

The second book I purchased is “The Joys of Travel” by Thomas Swick, a retired professional travel writer (hello, dream job). What drew me to the book was what Swick identifies as the seven joys of travel: anticipation, movement, break from routine, novelty, discovery, emotional connection, and appreciation of home. As I reflected on my travels, these seven concepts resonated with me completely, and I think those of you who have traveled will relate to several of these. I’ll be sure to report back after I’ve read it.

It’s fascinating that in the entire bookstore, I found two books that personally called out to me, reflecting where I am in my life. In times of stress, I turn to quotes for motivation and wisdom. And as I stand on the bank of my time in another continent – one that makes international travel so easy – my wanderlust is high. I’m excited to dig into these books and see what inspiration they provide.

Jacket from J.Crew. Striped fringe shirt from J.Crew, similar here. Tortoiseshell necklace from Charming Charlie, similar here. Jeans from Vineyard Vines. Selma handbag from Michael Kors. Same color and shape, smaller size here. Same size and style, in black here. Shoes from Coach, similar here.