Highlights from My North Carolina Road Trip & #SpreadTheKindness Link Up On the Edge #694
I had the most wonderful road trip but it completely exhausted me. I logged 2,957 miles in the car despite my perpetual driving anxiety and I did it with grace and dignity and very little anxiety at all. Yay me! I got home last Tuesday and have been basically sleeping since then. All that driving and the late nights pooped me out right good.
Since I spent most of my vacation living in the moment, I didn’t take very many photos. Again. But I will share some quick highlights with you before we head into the weekend. I will probably sleep through the weekend, too!
On my first full day with Becca, we drove to Knoxville, Tennessee, for some lunch and shopping. I can’t remember the restaurant where we ate, but I had the most delicious fried green tomatoes.
We stopped in this adorable bar/gift shop called Alice in Appalachia which I think Sally would love. There were so many cute things that I had to leave and process it all before coming back to make my purchase!
I ended up buying this amazing hat and a really cute necklace that I will share soon. Then off to the next shop, Earthbound Trading Co., where I found these ridiculously wonderful crocheted sunflower earrings and a super colorful jacket made from upcycled blankets which I will also share later.
The next day, Becca took me to visit her school and meet some of her co-workers and students. She works in a project-based alternative school and helps a lot of children with trauma that many of us could not even comprehend. My mother worked with a similar demographic of children up until her death and she adored those kids so much.
As I was packing to leave for North Carolina, something kept tugging at me to bring my Unicorn Tears Raggery Wall Hanging with me. It was a strong message saying that it belonged in North Carolina but I wasn’t sure where exactly in North Carolina. So I asked my mother’s spirit for guidance and she came through loud and clear. “That unicorn belongs at Becca’s school.” So I had the opportunity to deliver it myself and I was met with so much love and joy from staff and students alike. They all loved it so much that I am going to help Becca teach her students how to make their own raggery art. I find it very therapeutic so hopefully they will find some healing in the process as well.
After dropping off the unicorn, we headed to Cherokee, North Carolina, so I could acquire one of these amazing super soft blankets that Ralph has become obsessed with since I bought him one on my 2022 road trip. He now has three of these blankets and I finally got one for my bed. They are double plush and so incredibly soft and warm. I was looking for blue and gray and I found this beautiful one.
On Friday night, we went thrift shopping before heading into Asheville to see Roots of Creation and Grateful Dub at Salvage Station. (See cover photo above). We had so much freaking fun. I danced and laughed until I pulled muscles in my back and hips, but it was worth every ounce of pain. Those big belly laughs are so good for the soul, aren’t they? And I found this awesome trench coat at a local thrift shop for just $10.
And you may have already seen my new cowgirl boots that I scooped up at a Boot Barn just down the road from my hotel in Martinsburg, West Virginia. I can’t wait to style them for the next SIA challenge.
That’s all I’ve got for now, y’all. I hope you have a beautiful weekend!
Featured Favorites
Reader Favorite: Di of Di-Alog
Fashion Favorite: Gail of Is This Mutton?
Other Favorite: Michele of Coastal Bohemian
Keeping it on the edge,
Shelbee
Joining these Fabulous Link Parties.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.
27 Comments
Gail
Very honored to be featured fashion favourite!
Nearly 3,000 miles! You did amazingly well. Very much like the hat and trench!
Thanks for the link-up.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Gail! I am very proud of myself for driving almost 3,000 miles, mostly solo. I definitely relied heavily on prayer and spirit guides to calm my anxiety and make me feel safe though! Have a wonderful weekend, my friend.
xoxo
Shelbee
Sally in St Paul
OMG the Alice store! I could spend a week in there; definitely going on the list! The Unicorn Tears raggery at that school is just so perfect. I think that creating a thing of beauty from things that are older, damaged, well-loved but past their prime, “trash,” “junk,” etc. is such a balm for the soul. I can’t imagine how doing raggery art, which seems like a creative meditation practice that results in a gorgeous finished piece, would not be beneficial for those students.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Oh my goodness, Sally, I immediately thought of you when we walked into that store! It is the only shop I took any photos of and it was all with Sally in St. Paul in mind! We were there before the bar and restaurant areas were open so I have no idea what they serve. They let us walk around and take pictures of those areas anyway which was cool because there were no people photobombing us! Haha. You might want to start an Alice in Appalachia savings jar before you go because you are going to want to purchase everything! I agree with you completely about upcycled art projects. It is so healing in so many ways! I hope you are having a most wonderful weekend!
xoxo
Shelbee
Di
Oh Shelby, it sounds like you had a magnificent time on your southbound vacation! All the best freinds, food, shopping and entertainment! That little shop, Alice in Appalachia looks absolutely magical. And I love the fact that your raggery wall hanging found a perfect home. Thanks for the favorite shout out this week, and I hope you have a wonderful quiet weekend of rest and recovery!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thank you so much, Di! It really was a most wonderful time! I came home with such a happy and full heart. I think that is the ultimate goal of a vacation! Recovery time is always long for me though after all that driving, but I am blessed to be able to nap for two weeks! I hope you are having a wonderful weekend, my friend.
xoxo
Shelbee
Jacqui Berry
Looks like a super fun time Shelbee. Have a great week x Jacqui.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Jacqui! I hope you are well and enjoying a beautiful weekend as well.
xoxo
Shelbee
Joanne
It sounds like such a fabulous trip and well worth the exhaustion upon returning home. I love that your rag art found such a wonderful home!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Joanne, thanks so much, my friend! It makes my heart so happy when my rag art finds the perfect home! I hope you are enjoying a lovely weekend.
xoxo
Shelbee
Melynda Brown
Shelby great features this week, thank you so much for hosting and letting us share with your readers! Have a great week ahead, and take care! Melynda @scratchmadefood!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Melynda! I really appreciate that. I hope you are enjoying a wonderful weekend!
xoxo
Shelbee
Jeanne
Looks like a great vacation! Enjoy a good rest this weekend… 🙂
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Jeanne! I slept all day yesterday and plan to do lots of couch sitting today! I hope you are enjoying a lovely weekend as well.
xoxo
Shelbee
Marsha Banks
I am so impressed by your solo driving journeys. I get so flustered in big cities and knowing which lane to be in. But, Asheville is God’s own country! How I envy you and Jeff for your plans to retire there.
Your purchases look fabulous, and that Alice store looks like so much fun! I probably would have driven Mike crazy bouncing from one display to the next. That trench coat is amazing! You have the gift of finding just the best things.
I cannot wait to see your SIA look…those boots are everything! Thanks for the link party, too!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Awww, thanks so much, my friend. I definitely have to battle my anxiety every step of the way when I travel alone, but it really is worth it! I pray, a lot, to keep myself calm and to feel safe and protected the whole time I am driving. And it makes a world of difference! I photographed my SIA outfit yesterday just in time before a winter storm hits us today. I absolutely love what I came up with but it is not a snowy weather outfit at all! I wish I were back in snowless North Carolina. Ha.
xoxo
Shelbee
Nancy
What a amazing trip and what a amazing miles! My goodness, I admire you for that! You made some fabulous purchases. And I think, although you are tired now, you will be full of energy again from all the experiences.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, my friend! It really was an amazing trip! It always takes me about two weeks to recover after this trip but I seem to never be prepared for that long of a recovery time. Ugh. I am still so tired.
xoxo
Shelbee
Michelle
It was so good seeing you again! What an amazing afternoon. I’ve not been able to wear that cute turquoise jacket I bought when we were out that day. The weather has been too nice. LOL! Unicorn tears is perfect for Becca’s school. I’m sure her students will benefit from learning to make their own knotty artwork. Rest up my friend!
xoxo
Michelle
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
It was so great to see you, too, my friend! And I realized after I posted this article that I didn’t even mention our time together. I was so focused on sharing the things I had photos of and once again, you and I forgot to take photos! LOL It cracks me up. We forget every darn time! But that does not take away from how much fun we have and the memories we create! Looking forward to seeing you again on my next trip!
xoxo
Shelbee
Michelle
No worries about the lack of mention! I know I’ve done that before too – focused on the pics. LOL! It was so great to see you. Already looking forward to the next time!
xoxo
Michelle
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Love you, my friend!
xoxo
Shelbee
Michelle
Love you too!
xoxo
Michelle
Patrick Weseman
Looks like a super amazing trip. Looks like you had a lot of fun and truly enjoyed yourself. Happy for you.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
I really did, Patrick! Thanks so much!
xoxo
Shelbee
Emma Peach
How lovely that your unicorn tears artwork is now at Becca’s school! The thrifted trench coat is stunning! Such a bargain too. I hope you’re feeling rested now.
Emma xxx
https://www.style-splash.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Emma! I am definitely styling this coat for our Thrifty 6 post on Monday! I just need to get dressed and take the photos this weekend!
xoxo
Shelbee