Sunday Selfie: Bonding

Finally ... South Carolina!

We finally made it to South Carolina!  Specifically, Ocean Lakes, in Myrtle Beach.  This is our Happy Place!  The girls loved it as much as we did as they can go with us anywhere...even on the beach!  We go early enough in the season that they are allowed on the beach.  I believe from May through October...they change the rules and do not allow them to go on the beach.

Most of the pictures are just random pics of the park...this place is HUGE!  That is why a golf cart is needed!!  Unfortunately, my biking days are over and I do need a way to get around.  Many of the resorts we stay at allow my scooter.  Ocean Lakes does not...because it is a gas scooter.  If it was an electric scooter, then they would.  Of course, the girls prefer we have a golf cart anyway so that they can come along for the ride!  They just LOVE golf cart riding with the wind in their hair!   

Admittedly, I took a little time out to shop at the Hammock Shops in Murrells Inlet...another one of my favorite places!

Chloe much prefers lounging on her chair...rather than going to the beach.  LadyBug, on the other hand, truly LOVED the beach.

Miss Chloe is always fascinated with the ducks and geese and swans....and turtles!  So much for her to see!  She would spend all day just watching them!

And...Chloe is ALWAYS the first one to go to bed at night!  She has a little internal clock...

What To Wear????

What is a girl to wear???

That is the question!!

We are in full blown packing mode!!

Housesitters have been briefed and are in place, all RV Park reservations, and all Enterprise car rental reservations have been made and confirmed.  RV has been inspected and all new tires have been put on.

Food shopping is a work in progress as some of it comes from BJ's and Sam's and some of it is from Wegmans.

Amazon orders were placed for other miscellaneous "stuff" that we needed for the trip.

REALLY hope that the storms are GONE before we get there!!

LadyBug is really having QUITE a time picking out her wardrobe... :)

Road Trip Preparation: Essential Apps!

As most of you know, we are in preparation mode for our annual RV southern trip and I thought it might be helpful if I shared with you all some of the apps that I use...and have been gathering for the past ten years!  I should mention that these are iOS apps...not sure if there are Android versions.

*  CardStar - Grocery Chains change from state to state and I had to sign up for a new card each time.  With CardStar...it will search by location and you can add the cards that way...so much easier!

* Coverage - Gives you the coverage maps by cell phone provider.  For instance, my husband has Verizon and I have Sprint...which has saved us a few times...when he doesn't have coverage and I do or vice versa!  Also has AT&T and T-Mobile.  Except in Wyoming...NOBODY has coverage there!! It drove my nuts!!

* Free Wi-Fi Finder - Does exactly that!  Will find you the closest free wi-fi.

* Gas Buddy - Gives you gas prices at individual stations nationwide.

* Google Earth - A godsend!  Navigating a big rig to a new destination or RV park when you have no idea whether there are low bridges or very narrow roads.

* History Here - Places of historical importance near you...my husband likes this one (I would rather be shopping!)

* My Radar - Weather is a BIG concern for Rvers.  Animation depicts how storms are moving...so we can get out of the way!

* NOAA Radio App. - Must manually input your location, but does help with tornado sirens!

* Roadside America - Explore the fun stuff while you are on the road...like Wahl Drug!  In case you happen to be in the area of South Dakota! :)

* State Lines - VERY helpful in assisting with all the different laws BY STATE.  This includes:  taxes, seat belt laws, helmet and motorcycle laws, cellphone bans, rest area stay lengths, towing speeds, right on red laws.  

* Tune-In Radio - Find a favorite radio station you like to listen to...even if you are not there!

* YELP - Looking for local places to eat or shop, laundromats, RV Repair Shops, or Car Rental...this will help you!

* Trucker Path and Trucker Tools - Very accurate for Big Rig and Truck Stop information.

* KOA App - We are not fans of KOA's, but if you are a member, the app will come in handy.

* IExit - Fabulous Interstate Exit Guide shows what is available at exits...for example...fast food choices...like Arby's, Wendy's, Starbucks, etc. and also what the gas prices are.

* AllTrails - Browse 50K trails for hiking trails near you.  View maps for routes and track your own activities with GPS.  This one is a favorite of my husband's as well.

* SaniDumps RV Dump Station Locator - The largest listing of RV dump stations in the U.S.  Since we stay at RV Resorts with full hookups and do not boondock, we rarely use this, except at the end of the season when we do our final dump before winterizing.

* Roadtripper - Discover best scenic spots, diners, attractions, hotels.  I believe this one may require an upgrade to Pro and the cost varies.  I haven't used it in a while.

* RV Checklist - Be prepared and don't forget important tasks!!  This is a GO TO app as it is a really good idea to double and triple check before heading out on a month (or longer) road trip!

Day Trippin' in the RV

This is Chloe's face when I tell her we are going for a ride in the RV!

It is her most favorite thing to do!  She absolutely LOVES it!!

We were not going anywhere in particular...we were just taking the RV out for a drive...we live in the beautiful Finger Lakes Region of NY so there are plenty of lakes for us to drive around, explore, and charge the battery!

Since we are seeing a lot of houses around here...they know what that means...a food stop!!

LadyBug was a little over-anxious to get to her favorite place...she loves it when we pull over to eat!

Chloe was really missing her car seat...I had just moved them from the RV in to the Jeep in anticipation of driving up to the cottage the next day.  

Chloe is helping Ben with the directions!  BOL!

Are we there yet??

OK, now that we drove around and ate...let's go home ...we need our sleep for the long drive to the cottage tomorrow!!

Now We Wait...

The girls were not happy that they had to stay on the inside...

While we maneuvered the RV so that the tow truck was able to hook it up to haul it to the shop where they will determine whether it will cost hundreds or thousands to repair.

And so...

We wait...

Hopefully we will hear something by Friday evening.

Have We Turned A Corner?

Chloe simply could not wait to get IN the RV and make sure that everything was still in order after the winter...she is sitting in one of her favorite places!  

We would all like to THINK we have turned a corner...the temps here were almost 70 yesterday and we are all tired of the dreary winter and ready to get going on our spring activities!

The girls have been longing to go out and explore in the yard...and they finally got a chance to.  

We were able to get the RV uncovered FINALLY.  Tomorrow, the real test...to see if it actually will move!  When we winterized it, it would start, but would not MOVE.  Ben ran the codes on it and it could be anything from not too expensive to REALLY expensive to fix.

Another thing we were able to accomplish is...getting my scooter started!  I have been waiting for the start of Scooter Season!!  Ben took it for a quick ride to make sure it was working properly...it certainly should be...it is still under warranty as I just purchased it in June of last year.

I rode it around the yard about a zillion times...I think I put about five miles on it! Ha!

The World Would Be A Better Place If...

We followed ...

The Native American Code Of Ethics

1. Rise with the sun to pray. Pray alone. Pray often. The Great Spirit will listen, if you only speak.

2. Be tolerant of those who are lost on their path. Ignorance, conceit, anger, jealousy and greed stem from a lost soul. Pray that they will find guidance.

3. Search for yourself, by yourself. Do not allow others to make your path for you. It is your road, and yours alone. Others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you.

4. Treat the guests in your home with much consideration. Serve them the best food, give them the best bed and treat them with respect and honor.

5. Do not take what is not yours whether from a person, a community, the wilderness or from a culture. If it was not earned or given, it is not yours.

6. Respect all things that are placed upon this earth - whether it be people or plant.

7. Honor other people's thoughts, wishes and words. Never interrupt another or mock or rudely mimic them. Allow each person the right to personal expression.

8. Never speak of others in a bad way. The negative energy that you put out into the universe will multiply when it returns to you.

9. All persons make mistakes. And all mistakes can be forgiven.

10. Bad thoughts cause illness of the mind, body and spirit. Practice optimism.

11. Nature is not FOR us, it is a PART of us. They are part of your worldly family.

12. Children are the seeds of our future. Plant love in their hearts and water them with wisdom and life's lessons. When they are grown, give them space to grow.

13. Avoid hurting the hearts of others. The poison of your pain will return to you.

14. Be truthful at all times. Honesty is the test of ones will within this universe.

15. Keep yourself balanced. Your Mental self, Spiritual self, Emotional self, and Physical self - all need to be strong, pure and healthy. Work out the body to strengthen the mind. Grow rich in spirit to cure emotional ails.

16. Make conscious decisions as to who you will be and how you will react. Be responsible for your own actions.

17. Respect the privacy and personal space of others. Do not touch the personal property of others - especially sacred and religious objects. This is forbidden.

18. Be true to yourself first. You cannot nurture and help others if you cannot nurture and help yourself first.

19. Respect others religious beliefs. Do not force your belief on others.

20. Share your good fortune with others. Participate in charity.

Wouldn't this be a much happier world if we could all live by this code?

Have a great weekend!!

My Dogs Get Wild with #Natural Balance

~This post is sponsored by Natural Balance® and the Blog Paws Professional Pet Blogger Network.  I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Natural Balance Wild Pursuit™ but Bichonpawz only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers.  Natural Balance is not responsible for the content of this article.~

I am so excited to spread the word about Wild Pursuit™, which is a new line of premium high protein food, formulated by expert nutritionists, that is also grain-free!! Natural Balance® developed this natural pet food to celebrate the ancestral diet that our dogs crave.  The product line was introduced in May of 2015 and there are 35 products including dry food and wet food for both dogs and cats.  The treats are for dogs only.  The Wild Pursuit line products are for all life stages and breeds from puppies and  kittens to adult dogs and cats.

As most of my readers know, we always have Chloe and LadyBug with us when we are traveling...that is the reason we bought the RV!  The girls just LOVE going out and getting WILD exploring all there is to see and do at all the parks that we visit.  They sure do show their own distinct personalities when we are on the road!  Chloe is usually quiet and keeps to herself while LadyBug could win an award for Miss Congeniality!!  Here are a few photos of one of our recent trips to Connecticut and Rhode Island.

  There are a variety of treat flavors including Natural Balance Wild Pursuit Venison or Lamb Lung Bites.  They are an authentic and absolutely IRRESISTIBLE high protein, grain-free and gluten-free treat with less than EIGHT calories per piece.  Yes! You read that correctly...less than 8 calories per piece!  It is just fabulous that we can reward our pets with low calorie, nutritious, and healthy treats!

Natural Balance Wild Pursuit resembles the diet that they would have eaten in the wild so it meets the nutritional needs of both dogs and cats!  The products (with the exception of the treats) contain a balanced blend of three protein sources.  Chloe and LadyBug are currently enjoying the Lamb, Chicken, and Guinea Fowl.  The kibble is a mixture of small crunchy bites with freeze dried raw pieces in it as well.  There is a selection of protein sources including trout, salmon, and walleye.  Let me mention again that this food is 100% GRAIN FREE.  Natural Balance Wild Pursuit is also backed by their Buy with Confidence guarantee.  

As a pet parent in today's world, it is extremely important to pay very close attention to what we are feeding our furry family members.  I love to show my girls just how much I love them each and every day...and feeding them the very best pet food I can is just one way of showing them!

Here is a list of the ingredients in the Lamb, Chicken and Guinea Fowl kibble that Chloe and LadyBug are currently eating:

Lamb, Chicken Meal, Dried Peas, Dried Garbanzo Beans, Pea Protein, Dried Egg, Chicken Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols), Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Chicken, Guinea Fowl, Brewers Dried Yeast, Natural Flavor, Menhaden Oil, Chicken Liver, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Cranberries, Blueberries, Apples, Zucchini, Dried Kelp, Minerals (Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Sulfate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Sodium Selenite, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Calcium Iodate), Taurine, Inulin, Choline Chloride, DL- Methionine, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid), L-Lysine, Montmorillonite Clay, Mixed Tocopherols And Citric Acid (Preservatives), Dried Yucca Schidigera Extract, Rosemary Extract.

The new line of Natural Balance Wild Pursuit can be found online, at independent retailers, and at Petco and Petsmart stores!

You can find out all the latest news about Natural Balance on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube.

So, tell me...how do you get wild with your pets??