Replacing a Dometic RV AC Unit

Replacing an RV AC Unit

Summer is upon us and here in Florida it is already H-O-T, HOT! 

Knowing that and getting ready to plan more adventures makes me all the more thankful for our new AC unit in the RV! Replacing our RV AC ourselves was actually a lot easier to do that I thought it would be, so here are a few tips if you are looking at a Summer filled with warm blowing air from your own RV AC unit. 

We spent the beginning of our full-time RV adventure in much cooler weather, so we did not need to use the AC in our 2011 Keystone Cougar. The previous owners had taken great care of it, but it spent most of it's time in Florida and that takes a toll on a rooftop AC unit trying to cool a 34ft 5th wheel. We were in Kanab, Utah when things started to heat up and we realized our Dometic AC unit just wasn't keeping up and was mostly blowing warm air through the rig. We looked into all kinds of options, but found out that ultimately it would cost just as much to recharge the current one (and may not even work) than it would be to just replace it. Trying to wait for an RV repair man can take a long time and we were not staying in one place; we couldn't take it anywhere and leave it, because where would we live. So, replacing the ac unit became our first big RV DIY project- you can see an in-depth walk through in the video below with step-by-step ways to replace it or read through some of our tips to tackle it too! It definitely saved us a ton of money doing it ourselves than if we had paid to have it done. 

How to Replace a RV Dometic AC Unit

Equipment Needed:

- New AC Unit 

- AC Duct Tape (HVAC silver tape) 

- Screwdriver 

May Currently & a Wonderful Reads During Quarantine Giveaway

Happy May Everyone!

At this point though all months are kind of running together for me; anyone else?! Basically I am just going off of my email reminders that it's time for another Currently Linkup with Anne in Residence to remind me which way is up- haha! Anyways, here is what life looks like around here this month...

{Making} Cocktails; is that allowed to count?! I found some cucumber lime vodka in my mom's fridge and used it to make a quite delectable concoction that may have just become my new drink of choice. It is: 

- a 6 second pour of Smirnoff Cucumber & Lime Vodka

- a splash of tonic water 

- two splashes of San Pellegrino Aranciata

- one small squeeze of simple syrup

Stir and viola! Yumminess! I put it over ice in a highball glass and it was delightful!

Personalize a Furnished Short-Term Rental Apartment with a Photowall Custom Canvas

Easily personalize any space with a custom canvas print from Photowall!

Happy Wednesday Friends! 

Another quarantine week has come and gone and we are halfway through another...

We spent the weekend enjoying a little time in the sun and then yesterday I finally took a few minutes to assemble our new canvas print from Photowall! For those that don't know we have moved out of the camper, for the moment, and are currently renting a place in New Smyrna Beach from a friend of my moms. We feel very blessed to have been able to stay as long as we have after thinking it would only be available through February. We rented the place from her when she was planning to be gone for 4 months visiting her kids and grands, but now she will be staying there longer which in turn means we get to stay longer here. Couldn't have come at a better time, right?! Though of course now that Babe's job is solely remote for the time being it wouldn't be too hard to hit the road again for a bit. Except of course, you know, shelter in place!

April Currently Amazon Finds for Quarantine

Howdy Friends and Happy Quarantine April!

Since we are all pretty well sequestered inside right now, this month's Currently edition with Anne in Residence looks a little different, but here is April in my world...

{Sharing} Adventures from our time on the road! It only took me about 2 years {and a quarantine} to finally get back to finishing up our videos from our 7 months on the road in our RV. Today's journey takes us back to Zion! The crowds at Zion were crazy, but once we looked past that it was so worth fighting for a parking space.

{Writing} To-Do lists to try to keep myself focused during the day! Otherwise I will be doing puzzles so long my back hurts from bending awkwardly while I watch old movies on Disney+; Zedis Lapedis {just in case you were curious what my recent binge was}.

Replacing our RV Slide Weather Stripping

Replacing RV Slide Weather Stripping

Well, we made it 7 months on the road and had quite a few adventures before we had any issues with leaking in the RV. Once we were back in Florida though and the rainstorms came in daily we started noticing a small drip in the living room slide. Our 5th wheel is a 2011 Keystone Cougar and we weren't sure if the weather stripping had ever been replaced (by the looks of things it hadn't). So we took on the task of replacing the RV weather stripping ourselves! Thankfully replacing the weather stripping on the RV was a good bit easier than replacing the RV ac, just required a little elbow grease and a few screws. Here is how it went:

Supplies for Replacing RV Weather Stripping

- Screwdriver

- Scissors 

- Primary Seal (check your camper model to see which primary seal will fit your unit)

- Secondary Seal (the smaller seal that goes on the slide itself)

- Paint Scraper (not needed, but makes the job a whole lot easier)

- RV Rubber Seal Conditioner (for maintaining seals)

March Currently & Amazon Finds of the Month

I'm beginning to sound like a broken record...

 yet again, here we are two months later and finally a new blog post. 

Hey y'all! Thanks for sticking around! I am wanting so badly to get back to this space, but time has just been flying and days so crazy and this keeps taking the backseat. So I'm trying again, again, and kicking it off with my favorite monthly linkup. Here's what life looks like around here currently:

{Fixing} My routine; so that I make more time for the things I enjoy, like this space! I have so much I want to share including my mother-daughter trip to Israel and Egypt and my thoughts on tour group travel. 

{Hearing} My current book club's pick of the month on Audible, The Giver of Stars by JoJo Moyes. Has anyone read it/listened; thoughts?! I'm a few chapters in and thinking this may be one I need to physically read, because I am having a tough time with the audio.

January Currently

Happy 2020, January (and November & December), New Decade and All The Things!

I have been quiet around here and when I came to start this post I realized my last one was in October; it's crazy how two months can seem like the blink of an eye. The end of the year was a hard one, the holiday season just had a way of feeling heavy and with our lives in a bit of a new season the transition hit me and I spent a lot of time in a fog. I realized that not prioritizing time for the things that bring me joy (like keeping up with this space, even if it's just once a month and even if it's just for my own personal documentation of life and feelings and memories) isn't a good way to walk through tough/busy chapters of my life. I'm planning to get better about prioritizing my days, taking time off when needed and not forgetting to the it all with a grain of salt! So here's a little January (or life lately) catch-up with January Currently link-up with Anne to kick-off 2020... 

{Resolving} To be more positive! I have been in a really weird place lately and it has left me feeling further from the positive, glass-half-full person that I typically am. Transition periods are hard for me and the last year has seemed like one endless transition. Instead of focusing on the positive aspects of this season of life we are end I have found myself obsessing over negative aspects or things I can't change. For my own mental health and the health of my marriage I want to find a way back to the positive person I used to be. 

{Reading} Woven in Moonlight! My friend Isabel is an amazingly talented author! I met her through book club and have now been part of a sweet group of ladies for over 2 years now. It's been an incredible thing to watch as her dream of becoming a published author comes to fruition in just one day. Woven in Moonlight releases tomorrow and it is pure magic! It is currently an Amazon #1 best seller and is on sale for the lowest it's been. If you preorder a copy Isabel also has a wonderful preorder campaign going on. Just send her an email with your preorder receipt to receive beautiful gifts inspired by the story {details here}! 

{Cleaning} up my eating habits! The end of the year yumminess got us good; between Babe and mines birthdays {two days apart}, all the Christmas goodies and trying to close out our Disney annual passes foodie style we have been eating {and drinking} wayyyyy to much junk! Yummy junk, but none-the-less it is is time to get back to better eating! We are doing a soup and salad cleanse for the rest of the month... we shall see how far we get! 

{Creating} my 20 in 2020 list! I've never done one of these {or if I have I've forgotten} but I think my brain needs that this year; working on it this week and hope to share it if I can get it finished! I'm not the best on the follow-thru when it comes to lists. 

{Planning} The Crimson House GRAND OPENING! After a year and a half {plus some} we are finally ready to open the wine bar. If you've been following here you know that we took life on the road for a while and then came back to help my aunt open a wine bar in New Smyrna Beach {she had been working on it for a year prior to us joining}. The process has been anything other that what any of us expected and took a lot longer than we were imagining. It has stretched me way outside of my comfort zone and challenged me more than any other job I have ever taken on. To see if finally opening and to be behind the bar is a a surreal experience. We have two more weeks until the grand opening and I know it will be a whirlwind, but we are excited for what we have lined up and to see how it all comes together! 

Cheers to 2020!

How did 2019 end for you? 

What are you looking forward to in 2020?

Great Reads of the Month October Link Up

Happy Wednesday!

It's starting to "feel a little cooler" here in Florida (and by cooler I mean low 90s as opposed to high), but I am not letting the heat stop me from pretending its fall which is my favorite time to cozy up with good book. With the stack I made it through this month I feel like I may as well have been holed up in a cabin with its own personal library. I am considering starting a reading round up, because I would love to see what everyone else is reading. Want to link up what you've been reading lately? Join in using the "add link" button at the bottom of this post for any book related blog posts you have and let's read together!

Where She Went | Saint Anything | One of Us Is Lying | Woman in the Window | The Last Mrs. Parrish

Saint Anything

I had forgotten how much I loved Sarah Dessen books when I was in high school. I had read her well into my early 20s as well and at some point fell away from it, completely on accident. When a friend mentioned one of her books the other day I decided to see if there was anything I hadn't read from her available when I went to the library. Saint Anything reminded me of everything I enjoy about Sarah Dessen and her writing. Not only that but Saint Anything is a book that hits very close to home for me...

Visiting Crescent City California and Battery Point Lighthouse

Happy #TravelTuesday Adventurers!

For the first time in what feels like forever I am sharing more of our time on the road and getting back  my monthly travel link up- so be sure to add any of your own recent adventures at the bottom of the post. Today I'm heading back clear across the US to our time along the California cost... most of the fun is in the video, but here is what we did and where we stayed!

RVing The California Coast

We entered into California and headed straight for Redwood National Park. While we didn't have time to do the full park, we started at the northern tip near Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park.

October Currently

"Oh my gah, 

We're back again..." 

One month later, one new post, same monthly link up with Anne; I am really doing well at this whole goal of getting out more regular blog posts! Here's to trying again next month, but for now here is what October is looking like currently... 

{Arranging} Schedules and permits and licenses, oh my! We are finally getting closer to being able to open the wine bar. Crimson House is starting to move forward, without the backwards steps we seemed to keep tripping over. It feels so nice to see a year and a half of waiting begin to pay off! 

{Loving} The sweet time that we got to spend with our nieces and nephews this past weekend! 

{Embracing} The fact that right now we aren't really sure what life is going to look like in the coming months. For a while I was having a very hard time with that- to be honest, a lot of days I still do, but I am trying to just let this season play out however God is intending it to. 

{Purchasing} ALLLLL the beautifully illustrated wonders of the Wizarding World! The newest Harry Potter Illustrated edition comes out on the 29th and you best bet that I have had it preordered already. I am beyond excited for it to arrive! Do you own any of the illustrated editions? They bring Harry Potter to life in a whole new way! I love seeing the creativity and imagination put into setting the words to illustrations. 

{Sharing} Favorite books to read in October over on Pinterest! I created the light last year and have added a few that I have read since. I love reading spooky stories to get me in the halloween spirit! What are some of your favorite October reads?! 

Short and sweet, but that's October here currently! 

What is life looking like for you lately?! 

September Currently Amazon Finds of The Month

September Currently  

Hello September! 

I feel like I say the same thing this time every year; maybe it's just the cycle of life, but it seems like I can only keep up with a monthly post these days! And so, now, one month later it's time for another Currently link up with Anne. I have set goals for more regular posting though, because I have trips to catch up on and things to share from our current little beachside town. Now to just see if I can actually follow through! Anyways, here's what things are currently looking like around here... 

{Making} Plans for where we will be parking our little home-on-wheels for the next two months. We weren't planning to leave our coastal campground for another month, but thanks to Hurricane Dorian we made a quick exit Sunday morning and came inland to my parents in Orlando. Once the storm passes, we are thinking we might actually try to find a park near Disney for the rest of the month to get good use out of our annual passes and go to Epcot Food & Wine as often as possible. Not going to lie, I'm not side about that aspect of the quick changes Hurricane Dorian brought us. It also gave us a good excuse to give the camper a good deep clean! 

{Discovering} All the great Amazon finds!! Here are some of my favorite Amazon finds of the month:

Amazon Finds of the Month

The Missing Years- I stayed up until 1am finishing this last night; something I haven't done in a long time! Set in the Scottish Highlands The Missing Years by Lexie Elliott is the perfect read as we head into fall. It's got such a spooky edge to it without being scary and will have you questioning everyone in the book. When Ailsa Calder inherits half a house she moves into it with a half-sister she hardly knows and begins to try to piece together what happened to her father, who disappeared when she was only a child and who owns the other half of the house. However, when strange things begin happening at the house she will start to question if she should be staying at all. If you like family mysteries, Scottish accents and houses that go bump in the night you will want to grab The Missing Years! 

August Currently || GIVEAWAY

Happy August! 

We spent the past weekend ending out the summer Georgia style with our annual Aunt Mel and Uncle Andrew trip to Big Canoe with our nieces and nephews. We are in the car on the way back to Orlando and the kiddos are well worn-out and ready to start a new school year. Linking up with Anne for another Currently edition; here's how our August is looking right now! 

{Ordering} A new one piece bathing suit from Amazon! Considering it was under $15 I got a lot of life out of this one, but I stretched the back of it going on the rock slide this weekend. I really want a one shouldered suit, so I am snagging this one and crossing my fingers it fits as well as my last Amazon suit find! 

{Watching} We've been watching Dexter on Netflix. We are on the 5th season and it's starting to get a little repetitive for me. Babe still likes it so we are sticking it out, but we've started mixing it up with Redbox movies we haven't seen yet. 

{Cooking} Our HelloFresh meals! We had it a long time ago and I recently decided to try it out again when we got a coupon code for joining up again. While I do think it's a little expensive if you are paying full price it's so convenient and you have most of your meals planned for the week. We also had Blue Apron last month, but we have been much more satisfied with the HelloFresh meals, so I canceled the Blue Apron subscription. If you have been wanting to try HelloFresh I have 2 free boxes left to give out and am happy to share (email me at lifessweetwords@gmail.com), once those are gone you can also save $40 off your first box here. 

{Wondering} What in the world our next life step will be: between Crimson House, online teaching and another job possibly in the works it will mean juggling a lot, but I tend to typically have a few different jobs I am doing at any given time and I like the variety. It does lead to rethinking where we may continue living though; do we stay in the camper? Do we move the camper closer into Orlando instead of staying at the beach? Do we move back into our house that we are currently renting out? So many things to process in the next month... 

{Savoring} My last few bottles of Vital Proteins collagen water! I received these to try out and really like them. I love Vital Proteins collagen peptides, so I was really excited when they came out with collagen water. I really do feel like my hair and nails are a lot stronger since I started using collagen and my face seems a little more dewy. The collagen waters are also just a nice way to add flavor while I try to stay hydrated. I will typically pour half of a bottle into my Yeti and top it with regular water. Makes each bottle last longer and also helps me drink more water during the day. 

I tried the Blackberry Hibiscus and Blueberry Mint flavors. Both are good, but I definitely preferred the Blackberry Hibiscus (I can be weird about mint) and I am going to grab the Strawberry Lemon to try next. I have a few more bottles left, so I figured I would let one of you do the taste test and try them for themselves. I am giving away two bottles of Vital Proteins Collagen Water (one of each flavor)! Enter below to win the chance to try them for yourself.

**Rafflecopter Giveaway is now closed: Congrats to the Winner, Rebecca!**

Happy entering! 

What are you doing to wrap up summer?!

Friday Favorites || Ways to Get More Protein in Your Diet

Happy Friday Friends! 

Life has been a little crazy this past week, so I am really looking forward to some fun with my little loves this upcoming weekend! Here are a few favorites from the last few weeks... 

{One} PlantFusion Plant Based Protein

I have been trying to get more protein into my diet and when Babe started looking for a organic protein powder we stumbled across PlantFusion; an organic, plant-based protein company. I was super curious to see how a plant protein would hold up and I can say I am very happy! Not only is it non-GMO, but it's filled with so many good for the belly ingredients that I can feel good about what I am eating. I know there are tons of great ways to use protein, but I am usually looking for something easy and on-the-go. Here are some of the ways I fit extra protein into my diet... 

Mayfield Ice Cream at Publix

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ScoopSummerSavings #CollectiveBias

Every scoop of Mayfield ice cream starts with fresh cream from their own dairy, for a genuine Southern homemade taste. For over three generations, Mayfield has used family recipes, fresh cream from their own dairy, and ingredients sourced from only people they trust. All part of their promise to provide only the finest quality ice cream to you and your family.

Celebrate this summer with Mayfield Creamery ice cream and novelties and save when you shop at Publix in Florida!

#ScoopSummerSavings for a limited time at Publix in Florida with the below two offers:

• Save $1.50 on any ONE (1) Mayfield Frozen Novelties 
• Save $1.50 on any ONE (1) Mayfield Ice Cream (48oz or larger)

 Offer valid with digital coupon. 

SAVE NOW: Click here to clip your offers on Publix.com

*Must clip coupon by 9/7/19. Coupon Expires 9/21/19

Prime Day Deals Under $30 Stock Ups, Online Teaching & RV Living

Happy Prime Day Friends! 

I am not after many big ticket items this year, though I am considering getting the Kindle Paperwhite for $85. I always swore I would never read books digitally, but since downloading the Kindle App on my phone when we were on the road it is been so easy and convenient to download something new if I don't have time to run to the library or bookstore. Anyways, this year I am mostly snagging smaller items that I need and use regularly, along with a few little happies that I couldn't pass up. Here's some of the fun I've found for: 

Stock Up Items 

Temptations Cat Treats Super Size Tub- $8

KIND Bars 32 Count {Nut Butter Filled Bars}- $25

VitaCoco Coconut Water- $19

Fun Finds

Summer Romper {shorts}- $19
One Question A Day Book for Couples {3 year journal}- $11
Motivational Water Bottle {1 Gallon Daily Goal}- $12
Echo Dot- $22
Harry Potter Wooden Spoon Set {well, just take my money}- $15

VIPKID/ Teacher Items

*Curious about online teaching: find out more in this video or use my referral link to apply

Expo Dry Erase Markers {my most utilized tool as an online teacher}- $11

Amazon Basics Laminator- $16
Storage Box {for book and props}- $9

Teacher Medicine Wine Glass {because we all know it's the best cure after a long day}- $12

RV Living 

Brita 5 Cup Water Filter {fits perfectly in milk spot in standard RV fridge, we put milk in door}- $14

Double Hammock- $27

RV Throw Pillow- $10

**Prices are rounded up to the nearest dollar. Don't forget to snag something you like, as the price may change back to normal pricing once the items are sold out! 

Happy Shopping! 

Any fun items you've found this year?! 

July Currently

Happy 3rd of July! 

Hope you are getting ready for an exciting 4th and that you're off until Monday!! 

We are in route to Tennessee and I am linking up with Anne to share some July Currently fun. Here's a peek at life currently:

{Reading} SOOOO many good books!! I just finished reading The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton and it is my favorite of hers so far {I have read 3 total}. I am listening to The Price of Paradise on Audible and it is also very good. Set in Cuba (and partly in Spain), during the 40s and 50s, it was originally written in Spanish before being translated into English. If you liked Next Year in Havana this is another one to grab!

5 on Friday and June Amazon Finds

Happy Friday Friends! 

I hope the week has been good to you! We have been busy over here, but excited for a break soon when we head to Tennessee for the 4th of July. I am looking forward to some time away with Babe, a 10 hour road-trip (no, there is no sarcasm in there), mountain-air and time with family! Until then though, here are some of the thing I have been loving in June... 

{ONE} WOVEN IN MOONLIGHT BOOK CLUB AWESOMENESS 

I am in a wonderful book club with some amazing ladies! We are truly a hodgepodge group of this person knew this person and somehow we became a group that just seems to gel really well. I feel like that doesn't always work out that easily, but I am so thankful this one did. I treasure each night with them, but this book club was extra special. Not only did we call get fairy hair in honor of our book club pick for the month (The Cruel Prince), but our own sweet Isabel is officially an author!! Her book WOVEN IN MOONLIGHT will be released on January 7th, 2020, but her ARC copies have come in so we got to see her book in the flesh. Seeing all her hard work displayed on printed pages was so awesome! I can remember when she first started pitching her book around 2 years ago. I never knew it could be such a long process to go from acquisition to print and she has poured her heart into every piece of it; she even got to use her design background to illustrate the cover and it is pure magic.

Source: Isabel's Instagram {she will be hosting ARC giveaways; so be sure to follow her}

10 Beautiful Ocean Quotes // #TravelTuesday Travel Blogger Link Up

Happy #TravelTuesday! 

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 

Why You Need to VISIT IDAHO // A Travel Blogger Link Up

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!

May Currently

Happy Monday! 

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!

5 Ways to Create a Spa-Like Experience in an RV Shower

Ok, let's face it! 

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... 

{ONE} Get a Good Shower Head 

April Currently

Hello friends! 

It's a new month, which means another Currently link up with Anne! 

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!

What is life looking like for you currently?

March Favorites

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}.

black high neck dress with cute back

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!!

March has definitely been good to us! 

Hoping the same for you! 

What were some of your favorite moments recently?