Travel: River Ridge Retreat in Guntersville, Alabama

We had such a great time at River Ridge Retreat outside of Guntersville, Alabama! It’s just far enough out of town to feel secluded and peaceful, which made it the perfect getaway for our family.

The campground has large pull-through RV sites, and we stayed on the lake side. Each site has a gravel pad, a large concrete patio, a picnic table, and a fire pit. The boys loved the small camper-themed playground, and one of our favorite parts was walking down to the boardwalk every day to fish and watch the sunset.

It’s also dog-friendly, so our pup got to join in on the fun!

We used the online check-in, which was super convenient. A helpful tip for anyone planning a trip: there’s an ice box by the welcome center, but there aren’t any gas stations or convenience stores nearby, so stock up on anything you need while you’re in the main part of Guntersville.

We did venture off the campground once to eat at the famous Top O’ the River seafood restaurant on the lake, and that was an experience all on its own!

Overall, River Ridge Retreat was a wonderful time, and we will definitely be back. If you’re looking for a peaceful lakeside camping getaway with room for the family and your four-legged friends, this one is worth checking out!

Party Theme: Fondue Bridal Shower

I FON-DO 🤎

When our bride asked for this theme, we ate that up and left no crumbs! If you’re unfamiliar with Gen Z slang, that means we did really well… but it also feels pretty literal because, well, the food was GOOD. lol

We had a station for chocolate fondue (accompanied with marshmallow, strawberries, pineapple, pretzels, cream puffs, and cakes), a station for cheese fondue (accompanied with bread bites, sausages, potatoes, and pretzels), and a coffee punch drink fountain (accompanied with water as a second choice). If your mouth is starting to water at this point, I don’t blame you.

This fondue theme was a first for me, but I have a feeling it won’t be the last! If this is your first time using a chocolate fountain too, here’s a little tip! We ordered chocolate online that is specifically made for fondue fountains, and it tasted great and worked like a charm. It comes in little chocolate pellets, which makes the melting process super easy. The cheeses we blended tasted SO good, but I need your recommendations for how to get that perfectly drizzly, dippable consistency.

Fun fact: The bride specifically requested pineapple to go with the chocolate fondue. I’m not going to lie, I was skeptical. But LET ME TELL YOU. I have a new favorite! Dare I say it was even better than chocolate-covered strawberries?

Yes. Yes, I do. 🍍🍫

As far as decor goes, we went for a simple, vintage, formal aesthetic, using all glassware, crisp white tablecloths, a brown velvet runner, and satin ribbons tied around gold candlesticks. We carried the satin bows throughout the space with large bows on the wreaths, signs, and mantle.

Naturally, her favorite color is brown, so I really feel like all of those little details came together to encompass our bride’s vibe to a T. Elegant, vintage, a little romantic, and completely her!

Shop our Love is Sweet Fondue Bridal Shower must haves on Amazon!

JOINING JORDAN || ATTACKING BEACH PACKING

About to take a trip to the coast? Packing can feel overwhelming and you don’t want to forget anything. I get it and want to help, so here is my packing list from our most recent beach trip! All you have to do is click on the category you want, so you can browse and shop my favorite products!

Clothes:
-Swimsuits
-Coverups + Sandals
-Lounge Sets + PJs
-Meals Out

Beach Day:
-Sunglasses
-Sunscreen + Skincare
-Towels + Floats
-Chair + Umbrella
-Hats
-Cooler + Portable Speaker

-Sand Wagon + Sand Games

Beach House:
-Makeup + Hair Products (for dinner nights)
-Games + Movies (for rainy days)
-Phone Charger (no need to shop.. I know you have one of these bad boys)
-Groceries
-Extra toilet paper, paper towels and garbage bags

Pro Tip: When you get to your beach town destination, grab your groceries. Save the grocery bags to put your dirty clothes in! Your dirty clothes won’t get your clean clothes dirty, any wet swimmies you have will be contained, and it makes is SUPER easy to unpack when you get home!

xoxo Joining Jordan

JOIN THE JOURNEY

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Hi y’all, Madalyn Jordan here. I hope you join in on all the fun as I share trends and recommendations for fashion, food, decor, and travel!

I have been wanting to start a blog for a while now but haven’t had the courage to do it. Thanks to some inspiring and supportive friends & family, I am going out on a limb and giving it a try!

I by no means have everything figured out, (let’s be real, adulting is hard) but I’m hoping to share some things I learn along the way to make life easier for others!

Thanks for joining in- xoxo
joining jordan