There is something about fall that makes me want to spend more time in the kitchen. Between the cooler weather, cozy recipes, and all the seasonal flavors, it's the perfect time to pull out your favorite baking dishes and make something homemade. I recently visited an apple orchard while on our babymoon, and let's just say I came home ready to put those apples to good use! I made a ton of apple goodies, including apple cider, apple butter, apple pie, and cooked apples. It was such a fun way to enjoy the season, and it reminded me that some of the best fall treats don't have to come from a bakery or require an expensive shopping trip.

If you’ve been following along, you probably know that I love a good farmers market. A few weeks ago, I decided to turn one of my market trips into a little summer challenge: how much of an entire dinner could I make using ingredients I found there? I shared the process in a reel, and it ended up being such a fun way to shop, cook, and make an ordinary summer evening feel a little more special. It also got me thinking about why I enjoy farmers markets so much in the first place. It’s not necessarily about getting the lowest price—it’s about the experience, knowing where some of your food comes from, and supporting the people in our community who grow it.

If you've been waiting to make a larger purchase, this weekend might be the perfect time.

It's hard to believe we're already talking about the end of summer. It feels like Memorial Day was just a few weeks ago, and now school supplies are filling the aisles and everyone's already counting down to fall. While I love a good pumpkin spice latte as much as the next person, I think August deserves a little more credit. There are still plenty of warm evenings, beautiful beach days, and local events to enjoy before summer officially comes to an end.

If you know me personally or follow me on Instagram at @successinthebag, you probably already know that I love a good thrift find. Some of my favorite reels to make are my thrifting videos, and there’s just something about finding exactly what you were looking for—or something you didn’t even know you needed—for a fraction of the original price.

I know... it's only July. The kids are still out of school, it's 95 degrees outside, and the last thing most of us are thinking about is Christmas. But between "Christmas in July" sales popping up everywhere and retailers already advertising holiday deals, it got me thinking about something else—the holidays have a funny way of arriving much faster than we expect.

There's just something about the Fourth of July on the Grand Strand. Whether you're spending the day on the beach, grilling with family, or out on the boat, it always seems to end the same way—looking up at a fireworks show. One of my favorite things about living here is that you don't have to travel far to find one. From North Myrtle Beach all the way down to Georgetown, there are plenty of places to celebrate Independence Day, and many of the events are completely free.

If you've opened your email, scrolled social media, or turned on the TV lately, you've probably noticed one thing: everything is on sale. Between Prime Day, the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, Fourth of July promotions, and countless "Christmas in July" deals, it's easy to feel like you should be shopping. Retailers know this is one of the biggest shopping seasons of the year, and they're very good at creating a sense of urgency with countdown clocks, flash sales, and "today only" pricing.

Summer has officially arrived on the Grand Strand, which means beach days, boat rides, and long evenings outside. Unfortunately, it also means the start of hurricane season.