Summer Happenings

Alright so obviously this post is super late, I've been crazy slacking on blog posts and I had this one semi finished so thought I would go ahead and share our going-ons from the past couple of months.

As we just moved and are getting settled in I decided to paint some pieces of furniture that have been on my to-do list for years!  I love how they turned out and am planning a blog post on them soon!

Our move has brought us so much closer to our families which has been wonderful!  We are so lucky to have access to a lake house on Lake Lure.  We have been there maybe 3 times in five years.  Since we moved I've been there twice and we are already planning a hopeful third trip. 

So nice to relax and get away from everything!

We were able to walk around the Flowering Bridge.  Every time I go back they have added something new!  This mirror wall was so cute!

Necessities: magazine (I love Our State), cold drink and beach bag, also LOTS of sunscreen!

Pretty much unpacked all the boxes and getting semi-settled.  South Carolina is finally feeling like home.

Exploring our new town, we walked around the cutest little park area and will definitely be back!  We've really been enjoying taking walks and exploring parks around town.

Also so excited that we have a Brusters nearby!  So So So good!  This flavor was Blueberry Cobbler and it was delicious!  I still want to try the wedding cake flavor!

We celebrated 6 years this year and are so incredibly blessed!

Work has definitely kept us both busy, enjoying time together and this new adventure.

Hope you all are doing well and staying safe! 

What to bring on your Cruise

Travel Mug: Coffee, water, lemonade and juices are provided on the ship free of charge.  The cups they provide are pretty small so a travel mug is perfect for getting a normal amount of liquid and you can carry it around with you.  

Cardigan: I freeze in air conditioning so a cardigan was a must for me!  I brought one to dinner every night and it definitely came in handy.  You would be surprised how chilly the decks can get at night with the breeze as well.  

Wristlet: I carried this guy with me all week.  On the ship they give you a card that is your room key, payment info, and your way on and off the ship.  This is obviously something important to hang onto and something you will need on a daily basis.  I kept mine in my wristlet along with my id, phone and Chapstick.  

Water Bottle: Again small cups are the only things provided and sometimes your spot for the day is far away from any sort of refreshment.  A water bottle is great to carry with you and stay hydrated.  

Plastic bags: I stuffed a couple of these in my suitcase and was so glad I did.  They came in handy for keeping our passports together and clean, keeping sand out of my phone and also storing things like bathing suits and such in larger ones.  

Beach bag: On excursion days we brought one beach bag with our ship towels, sunscreen, books, and whatever else we needed for the day.  I love a big bag with comfy handles and a cute design.  

Floppy hat: I almost didn't wear my floppy hat but was so glad I did.  I wore the stank out of mine.  It was so nice to wear around and keep the sun off my face and shoulders.  

Sunglasses: These are an obvious must-have.  They are great for lazy days when you don't want to do your makeup but still want to look semi cute.  

Powerstrip: Little known fact of cruise ship rooms: they have about two plug in spots, not even kidding.  We survived because we really weren't using our phones and didn't have a lot of electronic devices to plug in.  If you have more than two appliances to plug in bring one of these suckers.  

Sunscreen: Again this is a no brainier but make sure you bring it!  My husband got burnt in less than thirty minutes in the sun.  Trust me that sun is intense! 

Highlighter: You might think I am crazy but we actually used ours.  Everyday you get a ship itinerary for the day.  There is a lot going on in a day and you want to make sure you don't miss things.  We used highlighters to go through the list the night before and mark what we liked. This helped to keep track of what we wanted to do.  

What are your must-haves, tips and tricks?

*Some links are affiliate*

Cruise Tips

1. Take full advantage of the provided entertainment- There is never a lack of things to do on a cruise ship.  We went to a few comedy shows, a magic show, a tea party, heard live music and that was only a few of the options.  Make sure you go to at least one!   

2. Bring a bottle of wine- Check your cruise lines policies but most will allow you to bring one bottle of wine per person (over 21 of course) on your cruise at no charge.  If you want to bring it to dinner make sure you pour a glass before you go or they will charge a bottling fee.  We enjoyed a glass in our room after dinner with a cheese and fruit plate to go from the dining room.   

3. Go ahead and order two entrees, appetizers...or dessert- It's your vacation so enjoy yourself.  My favorite part was dinner in the main dining room every night.  They had different options every night and it was fun to get dressed up and enjoy a nice dinner.  Almost every night I ordered two or either an appetizer, entree or dessert (sometimes all three).  It was fun to try new things!

4. Check the ships schedule online for free- If you turn on your wifi on your phone and bring up the ship's wifi option it will open up a browser window.  Scroll down to the bottom and it will have a few options for free use.  One of these is the daily schedule for the ship.  This is an easy way to see what's going on throughout the day without having to bring your big paper schedule.  

5. Always use the stairs!- Trust me you are eating delicious food pretty much all day, you want to do something to counteract all that indulgence.  The stairs are a great way to burn some extra calories, you get there quicker and you're not waiting on the elevator with all the other people.     

6. Order room service- Room service is one of my favorite things.  I love being able to pick out breakfast and have it delivered to my room.  On a cruise room service is a provided service that they offer free of charge, we still like to tip for their effort.  (You can order more upscale items for an additional fee but the basics are free).  We had room service delivered on the last day for breakfast to avoid the long lines at the buffet (which is another tip).  It was really nice to be able to relax and have breakfast while we finished packing up to leave.  It was a little celebration of our last day.  You also don't have to do room service for a meal they will deliver desserts to you anytime of day or night (not even kidding, cookies and milk, cheesecake, and more).     

7. Be prepared for tipping- Cruises are an all-inclusive endeavor (food, room, entertainment).  You do pay extra for drinks, certain restaurants and excursions but still.  Even with all the inclusiveness there are a few "hidden" fees.  Tipping is something you should be prepared for.  You can prepay for this when you book or you can pay after your cruise.  The estimated cost per person is about $12 a day.  If you have any questions or discrepancies make sure to visit the guest services desk.  

8. Look for smaller hidden restaurants- Most cruise ships will have one or two main dining rooms for dinner and then a very large buffet style area for breakfast and lunch.  Ships may also have small lesser known restaurants around the ship.  Ours had a small Italian spot that was free for lunch.  It was a make your own pasta dish that was absolutely delicious.  I loved the atmosphere with it being more quiet and hidden away from all the crowds. 

9. Make sure you use your onboard credit!- When you check in you will be notified that you have onboard credit in your account.  This is money that you can use on the ship for anything you would like.  (Souvenirs, drinks, tips, etc).  We didn't use ours by the end of the trip and instead of blowing it on a bunch of things we didn't need we made a trip to guest services and they cashed it out for us.  

10. Change your phone to NOT change time with location time zones- We traveled with a group and made plans to meet for dinner.  The rooms don't have clocks so plan accordingly.  We were using our phones to check time.  I had an alarm set on mine but little did I know it was switching between time zones as we were traveling.  We ended up late for dinner and very confused about the time.  So make sure your phone is set to stay in one time zone, you can configure that in your settings.  

11. Put your phone on airplane mode!- To avoid any unwanted fees for roaming and data charges make sure your phone is on airplane mode before you set sail!  Trust me you don't want that bill! 

I would love to know your tips for cruising, leave a comment down below! 

Carnival Magic Cruise

My husband and I were lucky enough to go on a cruise last month with my sweet in-laws and their friends.  We had a great time relaxing, getting away from the world and disconnecting from social media.  

I loved being able to read, nap, eat and just hang out for a week.  It was heaven!  

We cruised on Carnival Magic and made stops in Cozumel, Costa Maya, and Belize.  It was so beautiful! 

Enjoy some pictures from the trip: 

Beach Bag Essentials

My husband and I are going on a cruise at the end of the month and I couldn't be more excited!  I have never been on a cruise or to the Bahamas and I can't wait!!  In preparation for this I have gathered my beach bag essentials: 

Monogrammed Canvas Tote: You need a bag to hold everything in so it might as well be a cute one!  This one zips and is machine washable so it's perfect for tossing all your stuff in sandy or not.

Sunscreen: As a ginger my skin is constantly being burned by the sun, so 30 SPF and up is my BFF.  But seriously pale or not get yourself some sunscreen, cancer isn't a good look for anyone.

Swimsuit: If you're going to the beach you need a swimsuit.  One piece, two piece, whatever you wear make sure it fits you well and makes you feel great!

Hair ties: Sand, wind and salty air can result in great texture but also some serious mess.  I always have hair ties in my bag to throw up my hair when it is getting a little out of control.

Chapstick: Sunburn doesn't just happen on your skin it can also damage your lips.  Make sure you have a chapstick with sunscreen!

Towel Clips: These little guys I picked up on eBay and are awesome!  They are for clipping your towels onto your beach chair so they don't blow away, also for staking your claim on your perfect spot.  These guys are cheap and super easy to throw in a bag.

Book: I love reading on the beach, the sound of the waves, warm sun and no worries.  I always save my best books for reading on vacation, I think it makes it a little more special.  Mary Kay Andrews is one of my favorites and I can't wait to start this one!

Sunnies: This is a no-brainer, if you are going to be out in the sun you have to protect your eyes!  These are one of my favorites I picked up at Ross for less than $5!  I don't buy expensive sunglasses since they always end up broken or lost.

Hat: I love throwing on a hat and sunnies for a relaxed beach day.  This is one of my favorites to rep my home state.  Hats are also great for a no-makeup, messy hair coverup.  

Brush: Like I said before the beach can give your hair great texture but it can also give it some great tangles.  A brush is a must-have for taming those major tangles.

Tumbler: I always get super thirsty at the beach so I love to carry a cute cup!  This one from Ellie Belle has my monogram and holds a lot of water!  Use coupon code "erinssharings" for $2 off drinkware!