Add any travel related fun to the link up at the bottom of the post!
Saturday was World Ocean Day! I have always loved the ocean, but now that we are living by the beach I have truly come to appreciate how crucial, wonderful and expansive the beauty of our oceans is. I figured it was the perfect time to share some of my favorite ocean quotes!
"Dance with the waves, move with the sea. Let the rhythm of the water set your soul free." -Christy Ann Martine
"For her the ocean was more than a dream, it was a place she needed to visit to find herself.
And when she returned to the city, you could see the sun in her eyes, the wind in her hair, and taste the infinite salt on her lips." - Jose Chaves
Soooo, it's only been a handful of months since I have managed to get a #TravelTuesday Link Up live, but here we are... thanks for being patient!
Be sure to link all your adventures at the bottom of this post!
I'm not actually going to write a lot this month, but am going to let our newest video from our time on the road speak for me. If you've never considered paying Idaho a visit, here are our favorite reasons why you need to change that...
Idaho truly is a spectacular state; from the stunning Shoshone Falls in southern Idaho to the rail trail ride on the Route of the Hiawatha in the north Idaho had so much to offer for any outdoor lover!
Cheers to a new week {following a hopefully restful weekend}!
I'm a little late to the game this month, considering we are now almost a week into May, but I'm joining Anne for another Currently link up. Here is what is happening in my world this month and some current faves that are too good not to share...
{ADMIRING} The way my eyes feel after using my new Pare Activated Charcoal Eye Mask! We spent Saturday night in Orlando with friends and it was such a wonderful, needed time but getting home late left my eyes feeling tired and puffy when I woke up Sunday morning. I figured it was the perfect time to give these beauties a try and Pare did not disappoint! Filled with hyaluronic acid and other wrinkle fighting wonders these moisturizing eye warriors helped my eyes fill less puffy and more rejuvenated. If you love a little self-care Sunday {like me}, these eye masks are just the thing you need! Tip: stick them in the fridge before applying to add an extra cooling element for and even more eye-brightening punch!
Spa-like and RV Shower, don't tend to go hand-in-hand...
One luxury you give up when you move into an RV is a long, hot shower at the end of hard day. You can have short and hot, you can have long and cold, but you can't typically have both. Unless you are willing to load up a shower caddy and trudge through the campground to the showers, you aren't going to have an endless supply of hot water- and that's even if your campground has showers.
But, after 7 months on the road and over a year and a half living the RV lifestyle I've learned a few tricks to make an RV shower as close to spa-like as possible. It may not be easy, but it can be done. Here's how...
Here's what life is currently looking like around here as we kick off April...
{Experiencing} A little bit of road sickness! I have started working on the huge backlog of video content I have from our time on the road and it's making me miss being out there traveling. Waking up somewhere new every week was such an adventure and I miss the intentional moments it helped us create. Trying to take a little bit of that intentionality we had on the road and bring it back into our day-to-day grind.
{Appreciating} The memories! It may make me a little road sick, but it also makes me so grateful to remember all the beautiful places we saw. That smile on Babe's face towards the end of the video?! Y'all, melt my little heart... so thankful to have that captured and be able to look back on!
{Wishlisting} All the Disney and Harry Potter tees! Amazon has so many cute options and I can't stop adding more to my Amazon shop. Babe got me a Deathly Hallows tee for Christmas 3 years ago and I have literally worn it out. Now I just have to decide what to replace it with... as of right now, this is looking like the winner!
{Posting} New video content! My goal since the beginning of the year is to get one video edited and added to our channel each month... so far I am 1 for 3 haha- here's to hoping I can get caught up by adding new one this week!
I am also trying to post more to my IG stories and take a little break from feeling like I NEED to post something to my actual feed all the time. I love IG for a lot of reasons, but it has left me feeling a bit drained recently. Trying to bring the fun back into it and hoping that a little break may help!
{Considering} Which book to pick for book club! It is my month to choose a book and I just could NOT decide. I tend to pick books I have already read, that I know I like, in fear of picking something new and it not being great. This month I really wanted to try to pick something I hadn't read, so that I was reading along with everyone else. My sweet book club gals helped me try to sort through options last night and I thought I had one, but then this morning I still wasn't 100% sure... I finally settled on The Alice Network! It sounds good and not something I would typically read, so I'm really going out on a limb here. Have you read it?! Please let me know I picked a good one!
Happy Monday! Cheers to a new week and a very strong cup of coffee! Things have been crazy around here this month, but also so good. We are finally beginning to make a little headway with being able to get Crimson House open, the weather finally turned beautiful AND my bestie moved back to Florida! It has definitely been a month of favorites; here are some of them... ONE: Celebrations! I celebrated the fact that my bestie and I are living in the same state again for the first time in two years! Then we all celebrated the wedding of Blake and Christine. Babe made the most handsome of groomsmen. Typically I watch the groom at the wedding, because I love to see the look on his face the first time he sees his bride, but I do have to say I was a little distracted watching my own handsome groom up there. It was such a fun night of dancing and wedding merriment! TWO: Great Dress Finds on Amazon As someone who despises shopping, Amazon has truly been coming in handy lately. I have literally worn the exact same outfit to the past 3 or so weddings we have been to, all of which include the same people that have attended the previous weddings. I figured it was time to get a new option, but the thought of going into a store, trying something on and scouring the racks seemed so daunting. So, I scoured Amazon instead and it really paid off! I ordered two different options, in case one didn't work. I really liked this one because of the great pockets, but it ran a little long. Thankfully the second one was perfect!! I am in LOVE with this new dress and it will probably be my go-to for the next 3 weddings we attend! I love outfits with cute backs, especially when they are only $20. I grabbed an extra small, because it was cheaper than then small I would typically get. Thankfully it worked out and it's not too snug, but I would recommend going true to size {unless you're like me and would rather suck it up to save the buck lol}.
THREE: Beautiful School Bus Conversions We had sweet friends come back into Florida, after working on their school bus conversion up in Iowa. They have truly made a beautifully functional home-on-wheels for their little fam (mom, dad, 1.5 year old and two pup babies)! We spent time sharing our favorite boon docking spots from out time on the road, seeing how their solar power works and just enjoying being with people who don't think you are crazy to want to live in a small space with no settled spot to call "home". It really had us missing road life! FOUR: More Lifelong Friend Visits This month has been filled with people! Another of my best friends since childhood is visiting her parents. We got to enjoy brunch with her and her husband after their kid-free getaway and I am heading down to Orlando later today to see her sweet littles before she goes back to Birmingham. FIVE: New Yummy Places As part of the wedding weekend the bride and groom invited guests to meet them at Tuffy's Bottle Shop in Sanford the day after the wedding. It was such a good spot! They have a bocce ball court, permanent food truck, frozen Moscow mules AND a cute little camper that makes a fun spot to sit and sip with some shade (and for those that prefer life on the water, there is a dry-docked pontoon to sit in too). Tuffy's Bottle Shop is definitely an awesome vibe for anyone looking for a fun weekend spot near Central Florida!
SIX: Wine Weekends My aunt and I spent a Saturday doing some wine research for Crimson House at a fundraising event for Orlando Magic's Youth Foundation. We spent a beautiful afternoon at the Ritz sampling wine and chef-made small plates, talking through different options for the wine bar. I may or may not have geeked out over the fact that Art Smith was there cooking up grub, I also may or may not have pointed right at him trying to show Linda who he was and he may or may not have seen me... thankfully he was super cool about it and came over and introduced himself and took a picture. Y'all that man cooked for Oprah!!
I'm joining in with Anne for another Currently link up; here's a peek at what things look like for us currently...
{Scheming} To get my niece on both Tower of Terror and Rock N' Roller Coaster! Babe and I have been trying to get FastPasses for Rock N' Roller Coaster at Hollywood Studios MGM and I finally booked them two weeks out. I also booked some for my niece as well, knowing it could be risky. I called her a few nights ago to let her know we were going and that I already had FastPasses booked. I gave her the ultimate Disney ultimatum; she could either go with us, but had to be willing to go on the rides I had already booked OR wait this one out and not go this time around. Being her smart almost-8-year-old self, she asked, "what are they?" So I told her one of the rides is basically and elevator with a bit of a drop and that the other was a roller coaster. I know, I know; I might have undersold Tower of Terror by not telling her the name and saying it only had a slight drop, but she didn't even bat an eyelash at it. Rock N' Roller Coaster however she had a bit of an issue with, as her response was "well, I'm not so sure about the roller coaster." I stuck to my guns and told her that was fine, if she didn't want to do the coaster she could just come with us next time. She thought about it for a minute and said, "I guess I will come!" So we head out to tackle them tomorrow! Who thinks we will be able to make it happen? And who thinks they will be wasted FastPasses?! It's really any ones guess! Thankfully the third is Toy Story Mania; so that will hopefully be the buffer that keeps us in the game!
{Reading} I just finished The Silent Patient for book club; so good!! I usually pride myself on being able to guess what's going to happen in books, but this one had so many good plot twists it was hard to really know what the ending was going to be. I was shocked, in a good way! It was an edgy, suspenseful novel about a woman who is believed to have murdered her husband and then stops speaking- for 6 years. When a new doctor comes in to take over her care he tries to unearth what has kept her silent all these years. As he tries to unravel her story you find yourself right there with him and beginning to wonder if everything really is as it seems...
I just started The Orphan's Tale and am already enveloped in the story. I usually don't like a lot of history fiction, but I can't put it down. Following the storyline of two different woman around WWII I am only a few chapters in and already so invested in each character and so curious to see how they will intertwine in the end.
{Buying} All the Disney tees!! Now that we have annual passes again I want all the new cute shirts. {Making} A lot of to-do lists! We are forging ahead with projects with Crimson House and the to-do lists seem never ending, but we are inching closer and closer to being able to open. Wish us luck! {Accomplishing} Laundry?! Can that count? Even if I still have a whole basket full of dirty clothes?... Honestly, one of the most frustrating things with opening a business is feeling like you aren't getting a lot accomplished. I know in reality that isn't true and we have come a long way, but it seems like one step forward and two back right now. Anyways, I am counting eating breakfast and getting a load of towels done as stellar accomplishments right now... sometimes it really is the little things!
After my first Amazon clothing purchase was a success, and then seeing a group of girls wearing the cutest Disney themed F.R.I.E.N.D.S shirts in the parks a few days ago, I have been scouring Amazon for all the Disney fashion finds! There are so many great options and buying on Amazon helps save a few bucks compared to Disney shop prices once you are at Walt Disney World. These are some of my favorite Disney Fashion finds on Amazon:
Link up at the bottom of this post and let's travel together!
Most of my travel posts are going to be getting a lot more ear-shapped this year, now that we have Disney World Annual Passes. We've been a handful of times in the last month and most of them have been spent at Epcot and that's all thanks to Epcot's International Festival of the Arts!! This is the third year that this specific festival has been hosted, but it's our first time attending and I must say I think it might be my favorite!
If you had asked me before I attended I would have told you it was the Flower and Garden Festival (I prefer to spring food choices in comparison to Food and Wine), but I think the International Festival of the Arts just might have it beat and here's why:
Reasons Epcot's International Festival of the Arts is the Best Epcot Festival
Interactive Exhibits
I honestly think the interactive art exhibits is the main reason Festival of the Arts beats out the other Epcot Festivals in my opinion. I love the paint-by-number art wall! It makes you feel like you are truly apart of the Disney experience. The interactive photo spots are also so much fun! We have only done one so far, but plan to make a another visit before the festival ends so that we can hit up a few more.
Did it not seem like we somehow fit an entire year into the span of one month?
Thankful that February is here and ready to kick off a new month! I'm joining in with Anne for another Currently edition; here's what's going on in my world lately...
{anticipating} It has been a whirlwind since we got back. Trying to open a business is NO JOKE! Any time I enter a restaurant now I just can't help but think, "how did you get open?!" Even if it's subpar I just think, "kudos to you! Your burger may be dry and the drinks not so pleasant, but you are open and you are making it happen!" We have hit quite a few road bumps, but are inching closer to getting Crimson House open and ready for business. I would welcome any prayers for smooth sailing ahead!
{making} Harry Potter wine glasses! We went to a wine glass painting night last week and it was so much fun. I of course went rogue and instead of using one of the given templates decided to make my own set of wine glasses. Anyone can have a pineapple; I wanted something that actually fit my wine-sipping soul!
Hope this finds you having a great day and excited of the weekend! I just got back from a week away, so this week has been a little hectic with catch up, but it's also been a few weeks of wonderful faves! Here are 5 things I have been loving lately... {ONE} Jack Daniel's Distillery Tour We took a little detour on the way to North Carolina and made a stop in Lynchburg, TN to pay homage to the legendary Jack Daniel's with a distillery tour. It was a bit of a pricey detour ($50 for the two of us), but we had been wanting to visit ever since we tried out Maker's Mark in Kentucky. While we did favor the Maker's Mark tour over Jack Daniel's Distillery it was still a lot of fun and worth a visit once! The history of the tour was really neat and ended with a tasting. Join us for a peek inside!!
{TWO} Time with Sweet Friends
I had been trying to get away to visit friends, planning to make a road trip out of it. I kept having to put it off and then it finally worked out in the best way possible. I was able to head to Birmingham to visit with one of my lifelong friends and her sweet babies, then loop through Huntsville to pick up Babe who was there for a work trip, before we headed to western NC for a couples weekend of winery touring with my bestie and her boy.
I am kicking off the year by sharing one of my favorite spots of 2018! After spending 7 months on the road, and traipsing through over 20 different states, you might be surprised to find that my favorite one was Idaho... yes, Idaho! I was just as shocked! We planned to drive through, spending one night in Idaho on the way out west and again on the way back east. Plans changed quickly and here's why... Though there are more, here are 5 reasons to visit Idaho.
{Choosing} To be more positive! To be honest, the transition back to being settled in Florida hasn't been the easiest. We were ready to come back- to be closer to family, excited to start a new adventure- but didn't truly take the time we needed to decompress after being gone for so long. I don't handle transition well and we really didn't leave ourselves much of a buffer to ease back in to things. We just kind of jumped head first and it left me feeling moody and unfocused, which in turn made me a little cynical- which is typically not like me at all! I was all kinds of Eeyore gloom and felt a little like a failure; but we are starting to get into the swing of things, or maybe I just finally got myself into the right mindset, but either way I am trying to find my way back to my more optimistic self. So here's to positivity, even with the hard moments that may come, in 2019!!
{Tidying} Everything! I am not the most tidy of people, but I really want to get reorganized so I am trying to work through the Simplified declutter your life challenge. I saw it on my friend Jenna's Instagram stories and have been trying to keep up with her when she shares the daily declutter prompt. Day 1 was take a trash bag around your house and throw away any trash. Day two was tidy your fridge. So far I still have to do both of those things, so we see how well I am already doing at rocking 2019!!
{Resolving} Again, to be more organized!! I suck at using a planner, but with so much up in the air and all over the place the last year I have been trying to be better about using one. When I can actually remember to use it it truly does help me keep me mind less scattered. I used the Posh planner last year (about every other week) and while I loved it, I am looking for something that will be even better at keeping things sectioned this year. Anyone know of any good planners to try? I need monthly tabs and a lot of space for each day of the week!
{Exploring} All the hidden corners in New Smyrna Beach! We are trying to branch out of our usual go-to spots and it has led us to some great places. Babe also gifted us Disney passes this year and I am beyond excited to explore even more of the most magical place on Earth! So much has been added since we were last there and I can't wait to get started.
{Refreshing} My Goodreads list! Up until now I have only been using Goodreads to keep track of the books I want to read, but I want to actually set a reading goal and meet it. I met last year's gold ten fold, with all the reading I did on the road, but I never went back and recorded the books I read. As it sits now Goodreads thinks I am an epic failure. I plan to be more on top of it this year, until then I will just keep building my "want to read" list!! Help me out; what are some of your favorite reads? My most favorite recent reads were The Great Alone and Where the Crawdads Sing; if you haven't read them yet, do yourself a favor!
Here are some of my Friday faves for this week; what are you loving right now?!
{One}
We moved back into Delilah the Dream Machine this week and I am loving being back in our cozy little home on wheels! Since being back in Florida we have gone back and forth between the camper and mom’s condo at the beach. We loved being right by the ocean, but constantly packing up all our stuff every other month was making us feel a bit unsettled. We have signed a four month commitment at a little park in Oak Hill, right along the intercoastal waterway. It is a little outside of NSB, so it will be a bit of an inconvenient drive, but all the parks here are currently full with snowbirds. The added perk of being on the water makes up for it though. We are excited to be able to finally breakout our standup paddle boards again!
This month I am putting a holiday spin on things and sharing some of my favorite ways to travel during the holiday season!
Be sure to link up your travels and adventures below!
My Favorite Ways to Travel During December
{Mountain Moments} This time last year we were bundled up and checking off one of my holiday bucket list items... seeing the Biltmore at Christmas!! It was all kinds of magical! We had even had a few snow flurries to make it even more of a winter wonderland! I had been to Biltmore Estate a few times before, but was always itching to see it decorated for the holidays. While the tickets are a little more expensive, it is so worth it!
{Escape the Cold} While I think the mountains add the perfect holiday element to December, our favorite way to travel during the holidays is by boat! Two years ago we kicked off December in the middle of the ocean with a cruise on the Allure of the Seas. You would think that being from Florida we wouldn't mind a little bit of a chill in the air, but we love heading somewhere even more tropical. There is no better way to do that than with a cruise, especially during the holidays. We have cruised twice the week following Christmas and celebrated New Year's Eve on the high seas. We have also cruised during Thanksgiving. It's fun and festive, while still being warm enough to hang out in nothing but a bathing suit all day!
What do you prefer to do for the holidays?
Escape the cold or search out the best snow?!
Where have you been lately?!
Link up for this month's Travel Tuesday Link Up!
Let's explore together!!
~On the 2nd Tuesday of every month I will be sharing a new travel post and would love to see where you have been exploring!
~Any linked posts will be pinned under Travel Tuesday on my Pinterest account.
~Please leave a little love on the post directly before yours and then anywhere else you like! That way we can all grow this community together :)
~Not many other rules, as I am not a huge fan of those sorts of things! Just add any travel related link and I encourage you to peek around and see where everyone else has been.
~Feel free to grab the image from the sidebar and add it to your post so others know where to link up.
~I will also be featuring my favorite post from the month before and sharing across social media. This month I'm traveling vicariously through Intentional Travelers and their trip to Jerico, Colombia. The hiking looks amazing and I love how they immersed themselves in the local culture!
What better way to celebrate the love of all things vino than with a wine lover's gift guide?!
Got any wine lovers on your Christmas list?
Here are a few things they might enjoy stuffed in their stocking this year!
A Wine Lover's Gift Guide
{1} Reusable BPA Free Ice Cubes- Who else loves their wine chilled?! Red, White, doesn't matter; I'm a Florida girl and I prefer my wine cold, so I always have a stock of reusable ice cubes on hand.
{2} Wine Tumbler- It's like a sippy cup for adults! We tried so hard to keep our wine glasses safe while we were on the road, but sadly, glass just didn't stand up to road life. These stainless steel wine glasses are not only safe from falls, but also keep your wine at the temperature you enjoy. {3} Insulated Wine Tote- Every good wino needs an insulated wine tote with all the essentials; to-go glasses, corkscrew, napkins. You can either tuck two bottles of wine inside or safe one half for a little bit to nibble! {4} Wine Glass Holder (for the shower)- True story: I eat breakfast in the shower; no, not the tub, the shower! It's actually pretty easy- you simply sit on the floor of the shower, while the water cascades down around you. You tuck your breakfast behind the shower curtain, so that water does not reach your food and then every so often you stick your head behind there to take a bit. However, wine should be more optimally reachable, especially if you don't have time to sit. I actually don't have one of these amazing inventions yet and am hopeful that one finds its way into my stocking this year! It will also make bath time more enjoyable too; it's a pain in the butt to constantly feel like I will spill my wine any time I have to reach over the edge of the tub. {5} Wine Stoppers- One of the easiest gifts for a stocking stuffer! I really love these floral, silicon wine stoppers, because they lay flat which allows the bottle of wine to fit more easily in the shelf in our fridge door. Our other wine stoppers make the bottle too tall.
{6} Wine Markers- Hosting any fun holiday get togethers? Book club coming up?! Not only super sensible, but also a super fun way to add personal flair to wine glasses for a party!
{7} Portable Wine Bags- These are my fave! I use them all the time! Movies? Wine bag in my purse! Leaving for a cruise? Wine bag discreetly hidden in my tatas by wearing a romper with a hanging ruffle (pictured here, the romper- for example; not the tatas)! Most cruise lines allow one bottle of wine per person, but it never hurts to have an extra one... do you know how much drinks cost onboard?! Seriously, portable wine bags come in super handy!
{8} 3-in-1 Wine Chiller- It not only chills your wine, but also aerates your wine while you pour! A little wine magician!
Other Wine Gifts Over $25
Who on your gift list is a wine lover?!
Mine includes my mama and sister!
Any other wine gift ideas that I should consider?!
The gift of it is a wonderful thing; time to grow, time to love, time to mature... When Babe and I first started dating I think I gifted him at least a handful of watches during those first few years together. Somewhere along the way we moved away from that, without even meaning to. So, when JORD Watches reached out to me about a partnership I was beyond excited to bring back our old tradition! I thought, "do I gift myself a watch or find something for Babe?" It was a pretty easy decision! Their women's watch selection is also beautiful, but I think a JORDWood Watch makes the perfect giftfor the man in your life; here's why:
It's Friday and I am beyond excited for the weekend!
Who's with me?!
Five Faves!! ONE
It's date night!! Babe and I have been trying to branch out from our New Smyrna Beach go-to spots. When we were only coming on select weekends, we would stick to our favorite spots: i.e. The Garlic and JB's. However, now that we live here we have been trying to broaden our horizons a bit. Last week we tried SoNapa, which has an awesome happy hour! We loved it so much, we are heading back tonight so that I can try the margarita that I almost got last time, before opting for wine. Then we are off to explore somewhere new!
TWO
It's finally cold here in NSB, but last weekend we soaked up the last of the warmth with a visit from my youngest niece. She lives in Georgia, so anytime we get to see her is extra special! We spent the day playing in the sand and she loved following her older cousin everywhere. I love watching Babe be an uncle to all our littles!
Can't wait to see all the fun places you have been!
I'm slowing chipping away at blog posts/videos from our time on the road... for this month's #TravelTuesday I am sharing our day in Seattle! To be honest, I didn't love Seattle as much as I thought I would... don't hate me! Everyone I have met who has been to Seattle gushes about it, but it was a bit too busy for me. I think I went in expecting more of a laid back, seaside city vibe, so I probably set myself up for failure. Seattle is actually like a little New York City. Tall buildings, tons of people to navigate around and NO parking... at least if you have a big truck!
We circled the city numerous times trying to find parking. Due to our size we could not fit in any parking garages (too tall) and all of the parking lots were either full, or the spaces were too tight for our dually to fit into. We finally lucked out and found parking tucked away behind some construction just across from the Seattle Aquarium. Not just solely reserved for oversized vehicles, but big enough to allow us to fit easily, this is a great option for parking in Seattle (you can see more specifics in the video).
We spent about 6 hours in Seattle and mostly milled around. I did love Pike Place Market, but outside of that everything was a little overwhelming if you didn't know exactly what you wanted to do. Our favorite thing about our day in Seattle was definitely the "Underground City Tour" that we did. You get away from the crowds above the streets and are taken back in time to what was part of the original Seattle. We did our tour through Bill Speidel's Underground Tour; full of history and fun, this is a great way to learn more about Seattle!
We ended our day in Seattle sitting beside the water and eating oysters at Elliott's; so yum!! We definitely should have planned ahead a little more, so that we were prepared with a better list of what-to-do with a day in Seattle, but we are glad we got to check it off the bucket list. Leaving the city with the beautiful sites of Mt. Rainer against the setting sun had us wanting to go back and spend more time exploring spots just outside the city. Next time...
Any cities you thought you would love that just missed the mark a bit?
Where have you been lately?!
Link up for this month's Travel Tuesday Link Up!
Let's explore together!!
~On the 2nd Tuesday of every month I will be sharing a new travel post and would love to see where you have been exploring!
~Any linked posts will be pinned under Travel Tuesday on my Pinterest account.
~Please leave a little love on the post directly before yours and then anywhere else you like! That way we can all grow this community together :)
~Not many other rules, as I am not a huge fan of those sorts of things! Just add any travel related link and I encourage you to peek around and see where everyone else has been.
~Feel free to grab the image from the sidebar and add it to your post so others know where to link up.
~I will also be featuring my favorite post from the month before and sharing across social media. This month's feature is all things wonderful; coffee and Spain!! Memories of the Pacific shares all the ins-and-outs of energy boosting goodness in her post "How to Order Coffee in Spain"!
