 Hi guys. Yeah, where have I been? I've had a number of you actually reach out and say, Monica, where are you? What's happening? It's been a while since I've recorded. I know and I kind of hinted on my last video that some things were going to be happening some changes things of that nature and What has actually happened is that Jay and I took a we took time to come down south basically in the RV and Do something we've never done and that is to be away from home For an extended period of time But we did arrange things at home We have a whole bunch of different things set up and of course the dogs are there my son is there So you know all of that so it wasn't like we were totally leaving the house Because I would have been a nervous wreck but what we ended up doing is we decided just to come down and You know after my mom died, you know that we both needed a break and we both could work remotely So that kind of worked out really well. We ended up getting Starlink, which is a provides internet So that we can upload we can you know do things Be connected most importantly we got Starlink so that I could teach and Jay could teach from the road And that's actually what we've been doing and it's worked out really well so we thought we would take maybe four or five days to come down get to the Florida Northern part of Florida and In reality, which I kind of knew would happen and I was nervous because you guys know Jay Just had his hip replacement surgery right so it's kind of nervous of how he would handle the long ride But we left home the morning after Christmas on the 26th of December and on that day We were only going to maybe be on the road for two 200 miles maybe 250 miles, which would be Like probably three to four hours, right? I mean it was gonna be a short day December 26th, and it is a foggy morning So we're gonna hook the Jeep up Almost ready to roll Just trying to put the car in neutral tow house is set up armed dogs are fed Yeah, those dogs, oh my god, those bodies are beast So we're on 90 heading towards Albany, New York There's the Jay driving the rig The big rig A long time since we've been together driving in the ring A long time. So wish there were a star next three exits site And we've only seen one other RV That's the sky in front of us so far. We were told that we would see lines of RVs heading south I don't think we're so they're probably we're probably encounter them when we get onto a more southern, right? I think it would be the merge of two of 90 of 290 onto 90, right? Slowly. This is Hartford Hartford, Connecticut. It's gracious Pennsylvania to this we went way further than we thought so we ended up spending our first night on the road and for those of you That are really curious in this we stayed in car Bella's parking lot And as you can see from this video clip and photos that I've been insert Cabela's parking lot was empty, but for two other trucks So we were the only RV there that night. It was really it was really different and we were in a RV that was winterized. You have to imagine no running water We did have heat we could turn on our furnace, but we didn't have any running water We really didn't have any power. So for electricity, we would have to use a generator and stuff like that It was So our first day We there's the baby Wow, cool, huh? Yeah, we're in Pennsylvania. We made it to Pennsylvania. Hamburg, Pennsylvania. Holy Kamala We're spending the night So when we got there I had prepared meals ahead of time So I was able to just you know turn on our generator use our microwave Warm up a meal we ate And we went to bed. I mean we felt both of us felt really really comfortable But putting in that amount of mileage on that one day Jay was totally exhausted then we left early the next morning and We we went down towards we left Cabela's and We were going down into Virginia West Virginia and Virginia and then we were going to stop We stopped in a crack of barrel had lunch And that night we decided we're going to go into a campground and we went into a campground in Virginia And it was called Fort Chiswell RV Resort Good morning Sheila. This is the rain we're having This is Jay driving watch out object on road ahead. So yeah, we are on anyone's health And heading to the directions of Harrisburg, right? That's where we're heading right now Don't know how far we'll get today. I don't know how bad the weather will get But this is what we're facing And the journey continues. We are now in Maryland And it is a little bit heavier rain here and a little bit more foggy you're here Do you say West Virginia was 11 miles away? That's what the sign said Sign said We're together inside Wet road conditions reduced South Bay. Yes, we can see they're wet Welcome to Virginia. Welcome such our half mile So West Virginia was not really very welcoming. They were closed, but we got to stretch Use the RV bathroom Now we're back on the road So we have landed for the night. We're actually in a campground. That's why we have all the lights on And can actually plug in our electronics and we just ate leftovers We are where are we in Fort Chiswell? Virginia Virginia intersection of Interstate 81 and 77. Yeah, I mean we kicked butt today. I think Jay drove for about six hours again Yeah, at least oh my god, this is not I mean, I thought we'd be here maybe tomorrow And we're doing from 8 30 to 5 30 craziness took a couple of stops So we're just getting a little organized even though we're only here for one night You know, we able to put the slide out and you know do stuff in the cabinets and stuffing And then we're going to map out our great adventure tomorrow We spent the night there the next day. We drove down towards North Carolina And we we ended up staying in an RV park. We had such nasty nasty traffic in charlotte, North Carolina Traffic was just horrendous and but we ended up staying in an RV resort And where was the every big rig? Friendly RV resort. It was actually in columbia, South Carolina So on on day three that was where we spent the night And that's actually where we started to de-winterize the motorhome drain the pink stuff out of the pipes and Flush the system and you know and put in water so and so we could actually function The refrigerator we turned all of that on so everything was fine. We had we had a Wonderful night's sleep in that campground and then the very next day We decided which was day four. We were going to leave as early as we could We went down and we went all the way to georgia and we stayed in an RV park called coastal georgia RV We decided since we were ahead of schedule at this point in time That we would spend at least three I think two or three nights there And that's what we did and we went over to um, we went over to a little island and Oh my gosh, I'm going to insert some of the photos here We just had an amazing time in this whole area this beach that i'm going to show you is um, it was it was Actually surreal walking around a beach like that with all the trees and everything set up the way it was drift wood beach Wonder what it's going to be like Beach beautiful. We spent a few days there and um, then we left to go to to st. Augustine and We stay it was staying in an RV resort in st. Augustine and st. Augustine is really really Really pretty we've had we had a great time one night. We went out and saw The lights because they have all the holiday lights displayed. So we went out and saw that I went shopping in old town old town was full of like little cobblestone streets and It's just amazing and then we hit the beach a couple of times went to crescent beach Just really really nice and because we were there in st. Augustine We did a lot of working last week. I taught four classes Jay taught I think three classes this coming week. He's going to teach a number of classes So it's not been vacation. It's just been working differently and and I'll tell you I meant to record I meant to do an update I meant to I even have some empties back in the RV that I was going to do a little empties video And I just never did I never even went on instagram The only thing I did was I posted on my facebook page, you know, and that was just basically Updates on where we were and different things we were doing and stuff like that. It was it was really amazing. It was It's been a fun fun time And it continued we went on a day trip we went over to Well, we actually went away for a couple of days. We went over to the villages and Just we have friends that are there and they they invited us to stay for a couple of nights They're renting a property there and we stayed for two nights and It's a whole different type of a ball game the villages I think Very very big. I know some of you know, you've been there. You probably know exactly what I'm talking about Very very big a little bit too big for me I think that I would do much better in a Perhaps a smaller community, but the things that I really liked about the villages Was all the different events they had going on one night. We went to one town square paddock I'll enclose the pictures and another night went to another town square. They had musicians It was just really really lovely And they had a big fair going on a craft fair and I did that Jay golfed a couple of times and It's a nice place just Really huge and crowded You could not at a last minute decide to go into a restaurant without having a long long way very very crowded And I felt sort of like I'm not too sure how easy it would be to feel connected and I know I think is it pretty over 50 lives in the villages and she does a ton of videos in the villages And she's always talking about how much she likes it and I did like it. I like the activity level But I didn't feel of course. It's only two days. So, you know, you can't really judge But I didn't feel that it would be easy to connect with people. It was just so big, you know And that's I think what I would be looking for if I was going to be coming down to florida To stay or to retire or to even winter. I'd be looking for some sort of community So while we were here every single day, but maybe four I have hit my goal of 10,000 steps. I've been trying really hard to You know to lose weight to get healthy to find my My motivation, you know, when you lose your motivation, it's so hard to get your motivation back so I've been struggling with that and Jay because he had this hip replacement surgery He had when he was before his surgery He'd gained a lot of weight especially in his stomach, which is not healthy for a guy at all And he'd gained a lot of weight because he couldn't do certain things. So he's walking with me now We walked the beach. We walked a neighborhood. We walked with the campground So every day Jay and I go out for walks and it's just been really lovely And he finally did something I've been after him to do for a long time Which was to get a pedicure. I actually made an appointment for him Because, you know, guys don't take care of their feet like they should. His nails were horrible And I didn't want to be Doing anything with his feet Until he got someone else to do it for us trying to find a thing So he got that all enclosed some pitches and he absolutely loved the experience. So He's trying to get healthy. I'm trying to get healthy and just trying to wrap our head around We've both had a Year, you know, it's been a year with my mom passing And my brother and my father it's just been one thing after another and then My most recent lumpectomy and most surgery and then his hip replacement. It's like, oh my gosh We just made a break. So this is I probably going to be a little bit longer because um I'm gonna this is going to be part one. I'll do a part two But before I kind of um pause here I want to just say that I am wearing Montecito, which is a new release From bell trust and this is part of their city collection Oh my gosh, do you guys like this on me? What do you think this is in the color? raw sugar blonde are I really think this looks good on me. I like it It kind of reminds me of some of my favorite wigs, but the density is a lot lighter And I really like this. So This is from Shirley's wig shop. I'll make sure to link her shop You'll find her right here on facebook too, but oh my gosh. This is just so pretty. So In case you're wondering, I'm not inside my motorhome here. I'm actually somewhere else So in a moment I'm going to shut this off and in a moment when you next see me I am going to be with someone extra special So sit tight Yep, come on in. Here she is Hi everybody. How are you all doing? I I'm sure they guessed by the background Did you guys guess where I was say yes or no in the comments below? I know the comments below Yeah, probably they did guess that. Yeah, they probably guessed by by the background Yeah, and then the different hair. I know So it was a year ago that Jay and I came down to florida And we flew that time And we actually stayed with Marlene here. I don't even remember three or four days. It was a long time We went out it wasn't long enough But it was it to just you know, I mean to disrupt your We're all in your house and all that but anyways, she's just been absolutely fantastic Wonderful hostess tonight. We're going to go to dinner. So we are And Jay scoffing and I'm filming and we're going to film a little bit more We are but for those of you that don't know which I know you all do know This is Marlene the fab and the lamb for your beauty channel And Marlene's week in chat studio for your week channel. It is and Marlene has graciously Gifted me this beautiful. It doesn't it look beautiful on her. It just looks too beautiful on her not too For her not to have it. I think it looks beautiful So I've been wearing this all morning in my video. I fell in love with it. I fell in love with the color I fell in love with the style. It's beautiful And I did mention earlier what it was but I think she's going to the color a little bit more Okay, this is a money is wearing Montecito. This is from the bell dress from the new collection The city collection and it's in the color raw sugar blonde are This is a light The lightest brown and if many of you turn around a little so she's got the lightest brown here with a dark blonde And we have some pale golden or very pale neutral blonde and then we have a Kind of a a brown root and it's a it's a I think it's a really pretty neutral color leaning warm I think it's really really I really like it I fell in love with it. I put it on I said, oh wow Because I I have other wigs in this style And I love them and I've worn them often, but um The density is so much lighter on it. It is it's a really light density, which I think gives you a more Natural and now and I love the part, you know, it's very very nice. So this is part of their what city this is from the city collection and um Beltra's has felt right and and they're all heat friendly Yeah, that I like I do too because there it doesn't happen as much shine Yeah, I really like that a lot. So yeah, I'm not going to stylus in any other way because I love the way this style is I just think it's beautiful. Thank you. What a wonderful gift and this came from shirley's that Yes from shirley's wick shop. Um, I review for shirley. So Uh, she sends me wigs to review and I'm always happy to review them and when I need to purchase wigs I purchase them at shirley's and what do you have one? I have on also from the city collection This is newport and this one is in the color mocha maple brown And the thing with mocha maple brown, this is a very warm brunette If you like shaded hazelnut from rakel welch or toffee truffle From john rinnell. You'd probably like mocha maple brown. It's a really pretty warm brunette There are some highlights am I talking about the right way? Yeah Yes, I am uh, so you do have some of that Auburn color running through we have uh, like an eight route We have like an eight route on here. So we have a dark brown and and then the caramel highlight or the Auburn highlights, I think it looks beautiful. I love this one. I I love newport I think I think bell trust really did a good job with the city collection Yeah, I I will have to agree. I think it's it's really awesome. I have on order the um The oh gosh, los angeles los angeles have just drawn a blank and um, I'm hoping I'm hoping that I get that soon So I saw that because you have you have yeah looks really pretty. Yeah, los angeles is very similar To newport, but it's stacked. It's the same length up here on the front and then stacked on the back That looks gorgeous So I love visiting you marlene because I always learn something more about wigs and You know and if you I think if you look at marlene's makeup your makeup is always awesome I always have been so envious when she used to do a lot of get ready with me And she would do her eye shadow and I would be like Zooming in trying to learn from that because you do a great job with your eye shadow I don't know what you're talking about. Yeah, not really not like you. You're like your eyes are always beautiful Absolutely beautiful. Thank you. So here we are in florida or here. I am in florida. You have been in florida Because you live here, obviously, but finally we've been here Jay and I've been here since january 1st when we arrived up in st. Augustine And I packed my winter boots. I packed two winter coats And I did that because as we were coming down we were in a Winterized RV and it was cold leaving home, right? So I never expected that Three weeks into our trip in florida. I'd still be wearing winter boots. Yes, but here we are today And what is the temperature? It's gonna be 80. It's 82 degrees today But you are also in northern in northern florida. It's usually in the 30s in january And then and you are in up there somewhere So that area of the the panhandle in northern florida will have Very low temperatures in january and february. I'm in central florida So it's about I don't know. It could be 20 degrees higher here than it is up there Well, it is absolutely beautiful here We are going to explore a little bit tomorrow And I don't know if we're going to be going home going back up to st. Augustine tomorrow night or saturday morning But saturday night we have a boat ride in st. Augustine and it's the last night of their holiday life So I'm hoping it's warm up there because I don't want to be out freaking my buns off up there In the boat, you know, I know but tonight we're going out on a pier or something We're yes. It's um, it's a restaurant that's on the dock. So it's supposed it's really good I haven't been there in years, but I thought um, monnie and jay would like it So we're going to have a little chick night out with me the two of us and jay will be us Asher for right. He'll be he'll be our driver And um, you and I could just have fun and make Monday pamphlet times I was telling him how we went out of pedicure. He's telling you about it last night So it's like I can't believe he's he's openly talking about it. So very very cool. I know that is so cool Yeah, so anyways, um, I'm going to end this as part one Of this will be a part two and there will probably be a part three and a part four of our continuing adventure So malina and I are going to record a video with you wake talk And then I'm going to upload this and hopefully this will be uploaded for saturday morning. I hope But thank you guys for watching. If you're new to my channel, please subscribe I'm going to link marlene's two channels below as well as surly's. Yeah, and uh, yeah And just let me know what you think of the video and thank you for watching. Yes. Thank you. Bye. Bye