Grace over Guilt

The last several days have been a whirlwind, and I’ve officially fallen behind on my “daily” journal. Yes, the one I promised myself I would never fall behind on. Cue the dramatic music. At first, I started stressing—because obviously my five loyal followers (LOL) need their updates. And no, that number doesn’t include my parents, daughter, granddaughter or sister… they’re contractually obligated to read this anyway 😂.

But then it hit me: this isn’t supposed to be stressful. This little blog was meant to be an outlet, a reminder to find something good in each day—not a deadline-driven job. I’ve already lived that life. Back when we had the coffee shop, it was 4 a.m. alarms, frantic baking, and racing to open by 6:30 a.m. Our “day off” was spent running errands, grabbing supplies, and trying to keep our heads above water. From the outside, it looked like we had it all together. On the inside? Not so much. So when we closed the shop, I promised myself I wouldn’t go back to that place.

So yes, there are a few missing days in this “daily” blog. And you know what? That’s okay. I’m giving myself grace—something I should’ve done a long time ago. Consider this my official catch-up post, and then we’re moving right along.

RV Life Update

We’re all settled into our new campground, and for the most part, we love it. It’s definitely an adjustment after the peace and beauty of Maine, but it’s a huge step up from the first spot we landed in. We’ve done a little exploring, including a trip to the Pawleys Island Hammock Shops (home of the original hammock). We may not have a southern front porch yet, but we definitely daydreamed about one while we were there.

Foodie Adventures (and Misadventures)

Here’s the deal: we’ve eaten out way too much lately, and it has not gone well. Yesterday was the final straw. We went to a local spot on the river, waited an hour for food, endured a server who clearly hated their job, and then left most of the food untouched because it was… well, bad. Really bad.

We love trying new restaurants and coffee shops, and after being in the middle of nowhere for so long, we got a little too excited about having options. But after this string of disappointments, we’ve vowed to cook at home for a while. Honestly, that’s our specialty anyway, and our health will thank us for it.

Business Front

The new window tint shop is almost ready for its debut. Supplies are purchased, and we’re itching to get started. The only holdup? Bureaucracy. Apparently, in this county, you need approval from both the county office and the fire marshal just to transfer the electric and change occupancy. So we’re waiting on that. Fingers crossed we’ll be able to open in the next week and finally reveal the new space.

Coffee Chronicles

We’ve found one good coffee spot here—bonus points because it’s mobile! Definitely worth chasing down when the craving hits. On the home-brew front, Chris and I finally agreed on an espresso machine for the RV. I wanted simple; he wanted big. (This is the same couple, mind you, who once had a toy hauler RV with a commercial espresso machine in the garage. Yes, we’re that kind of crazy.)

We compromised on a retro blue beauty that’s small but mighty, with rave reviews for both espresso and milk steaming. The only catch? It’s a pre-order from Italy and won’t ship until next month. So for now, it’s Aeropress life. But hey, good things are worth waiting for.

Wrapping It Up

So there it is: the recap, the catch-up, and the reminder that grace is better than guilt. Life is busy, messy, and sometimes disappointing (looking at you, riverfront restaurant), but it’s also full of little joys—like hammocks, retro espresso machines, and the freedom to laugh at ourselves along the way.

And if I had to pick my “something good” for these last few days? It’s all of the above. The RV settling, the hammock daydreaming, the lessons from bad meals, the excitement of a new business, and the promise of great coffee ahead. All of it together is the good stuff—and that’s exactly what this blog is meant to capture.