Gahhleee. The last 6 months have been a blur, primarily because everything has been back to back to back and I’m constantly on the go, go, go. It really feels like it only ought to be March!
To make up for neglecting this puppy for almost an entire month, I’ll start with updating you guys on all the bigger events that have gone on recently since my Bachelorette! First up: FLORIDA WITH HALEE! Also, forgive me for my grainy, crappy photos – I had to screenshot stills of stories for most of them because I literally took no photos (I know, how unbloggerly of me).
As many of you know, I visited Halee in Florida shortly after she was in LA. She isn’t able to make my wedding due to already-booked family travels, so took a trip out to hang with her one last time before who knows when I’ll see her again. I left Wednesday morning and spent 5 days in Santa Rosa Beach, a beach 40 minutes west of Panama City. Ya’ll, it is incredible out there, I felt like I was in a movie. The towns are truly picturesque. I love my SoCal beaches, but these are incomparable. The towns and communities are so adorable, they resemble beach homes I saw in story books as a child. Everyone rides bikes or walk, and even walk barefoot! Yes, they walk barefoot on their streets and concrete.. something only about 15% of people do here because the streets are so rough and the pavement is so hot. Everyone is also only in their swimsuits. Rarely did I see folks wear any additional clothing. It’s probably because that area is more of a vacation home town and also very humid, so everyone fully embraces their vacation life.
In Halee’s neighborhood, every home has what you call a ‘tower’. Below is a snapshot of their tower view. In simpler terms, it’s a real life modern Tarzan lookout LOL. The towers are built so high that they sit above all of the homes and trees. You’re left only with a straight shot view of the water. You also drive your golf cart to the sand where there is, in fact, a golf cart parking lot. Haha, I died. I was like, “This is another world out here”.
Their beaches are also SO incredibly clean. It may also be because the beach in their community is private but still, there was not an ouch of random debris, trash, or seaweed. You leave your belongings unattended for hours (which we ended up doing) without second guessing that they’ll get stolen – not a thing in SoCal. The sand is fine and soft, it feels as if you’re walking on baking flour. It doesn’t get hot unlike at our beaches here where half way to the water you begin running because your feet are burning. The floor of the ocean is very shallow and extends out that way for almost 45 yards before it begins to get deeper! Halee kept walking further out and I was thinking.. this girl is CRAZY, not knowing the shallow element, because 15 yards at our beaches and you’re neck deep in water! Well, enough about their ahh-mazing beaches – but don’t you want to go now?!This trip was probably my first real “vacation”. By that, I mean we did absolutely nothing, and it was one of the best trips I’ve taken in years. We slept in, laid out, worked out, shot just a little, and simply relaxed. I now understand why my parents never wanted to do anything when we went on vacation as a little girl. I’m only 26 and waking up with no agenda and only laying on the beach for hours was the most divine thing ever.
Speaking of shooting, we were able to squeeze some in out at Seaside. It’s more of a casual laid back crowd. They have this bowl area where there’s tons of food airstreams set up and a stage where they hold concerts at night. SO CUTE.
One place I do recommend to visit, for those of you who are ever in that area, is Alys Beach. I was virtually speechless as Halee drove me through their town. The style, size, and architectural elements of the homes… out. of. this. world. I was so lost in gazing that I forgot to take photos, so here are my only two.. both of which are of the same home. Haha, sorry. I also just wanted to take full advantage of my ‘do nothing vaca’ so I failed to take photos of the towns.. but these two alone should tell you how crazy the homes are there. Easily 4000 square foot per home if not more.
We wrapped up our trip Sunday afternoon and drove back to Birmingham. The drive was about 4 hours or so and so.. green. We definitely weren’t on the west coast anymore. As soon as we got back, we went to dinner at this trendy Mexican joint, Babalu. You need to order their chips and guac. The chips are freshly made, and not oily (PTL!), and their guac has bacon bits! Their signature margs were also very signature and very tasty. We capped the evening with a mini tour through her town, loaded up on insane amounts of candy, and watched The Kissing Booth on Netflix for the 4th time that trip. If you guys are ever bored, watch it. It’s such a cute rom com. It’s not lame and cheesy like your usual ones – clearly as we watched it four different times during the trip!
Overall, it was one of the best trips I’ve taken in a very long time. Every single thing about it was perfect, and Halee and her family were the best hosts. It’s insane to think I’ve met a true & life-long best friend through blogging and Instagram. I have aways thought, starting out, that it was weird for people to meet over social media. However, that has entirely changed since. I now absolutely believe in the power of meeting others through social media. I am eternally grateful for what Instagram has provided for me and will never ever take advantage or get ‘comfortable’ with the lifestyle it has blessed me with. I truly believe that I don’t deserve what I’ve been given but always give all glory to God for all the experiences and blessings he’s bestowed upon me and my career as a blogger & influencer!