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The Ultimate Guide to Packing for a Caribbean Cruise

August 20, 2015

My family and I went on a 4 night cruise to the Bahamas on Royal Caribbean’s Enchantment of the Seas Cruise Ship. After taking my family (including my toddler), I wanted to share what you should and should not include on your packing list.

First off – the bags. It is always a good idea to pack as light as possible. Cruises can be tricky because you need so many clothing items on a large spectrum. Fancy dresses and heels as well as flip flops and swimsuits. There is no right or wrong way to pack, but I will share my advice on how to pack efficiently for your cruise with young children.

Bags: Bring one suitcase for clothes, shoes and hygiene essentials. Bring one bag that can be used as your beach bag/diaper bag that you can take onto the beach with you and around the ship. Bring your purse. I recommend a small crossbody purse to keep your passports I.D.s, etc in.

Documents:
Passports
Birth Certificates for the kids
Photo I.D.

Clothes:
Swimsuits
Swimsuit cover-up
Casual Shorts and Tanks/Shirts
Dresses (for dinner)

Shoes:
Flip Flops
Dressy Sandals or Heels for dinner
Tennis Shoes for working out

Hygeine:
Shampoo, Conditioner and Soap (our ship only offered complimentary bar soap s don’t forget your shampoo)
Razor
Lotion
Sunscreen
Make-up
Medicines (for everything, especially if traveling with kids)
Hair Straightener or Hair gel/mousse/product

Helpful Hint: Pack hygiene items in a hang up bag so you can hang it up in your bathroom. It will save a ton of space.

Accessories:
Camera
Chargers
Hat
Sunglasses
Book
Batteries
Hair Bands

For the Kids:
Sound Machine
Favorite Stuffed Animal/Blanket
Pack n Play (some ships have cots that they offer, but I felt better taking my own bed for my son)
Snacks
Zip Lock Bags (to pack snacks in for the beach and put wet things in)
Sippy Cups or Bottles
A Couple of Toys (to play with while in the room)
Wipes/Diapers

Things I Wish I Had Taken:
A Small Float (for beach days) They have floats you can rent but they were pricey. My dad rented one for $18. No thanks.
Inflatable Tub for Hamp (ships don’t have tubs)
Waterproof Camera
Bug Spray (for some weird reason, we all got mosquito bites on the ship)
Surge Protector (there were not many outlets in the rooms)

Things I Should Have Left At Home:
Hair Dryer (They had them in the rooms)
Towels (They have them in the rooms and at the pool and beach for you)

Have you been on a cruise? What are some other things you would take with you? Do you have any tips of hacks to share?

Cruise Fashion: What To Wear On A Cruise

August 19, 2015

Resort Maxi: Pink Stitch via Shopbop // Sandals: Gianni Bini (old)

It’s no secret my entire family went on a cruise last week. All 33 of us (minus my brother and his wife who stayed home to have my niece). The weekend before we left, I battled in my head over what to wear on the cruise. You go from one extreme to the next between laying by the pool in your swim suit to formal dinners in fancy dresses. You feel like you have to bring your entire closet. That is just simply not the case.

I obviously grabbed a couple of swim suits and cute cover ups, shorts and tank tops and then it came down to what to wear to dinner.

I decided dresses were obviously the way to go. They are comfortable and super easy. I took one pair of nude wedge sandals that went with all 4 of my dresses. For the casual nights, I wore what I would call sun dresses or cocktail dresses. They were dresses I would wear to church.

On Formal night, I went with a super comfortable and flowy maxi dress. It is actually called the “Resort Maxi!” Perfect for this vacation. It was great because it also hid my growing food belly. All. That. Food. It’s what I like to call a win-win. 😉

Check back tomorrow for my Cruise Packing Checklist!

Have you been on a cruise? What did you wear to formal night?

Cruisin’ the Bahamas

August 18, 2015

Last week, my family took a week long vacation to Florida and then on a cruise to the Bahamas! The Royal Caribbean’s Enchantment of the Seas cruise ship did not disappoint. We had so much fun! I was so worried about Hampton’s cast getting wet or worse – sand in it. Luckily, my husband is a Jedi Google Master and found an amazing cast cover at a surgical supply store in Jacksonville! Hampton was able to swim, and take baths. He was so happy and it made the trip really enjoyable!

Our ship had a splash pad for the kiddos and kid-friendly pools. The babies had so much fun and the adults had a blast. The shows at night were very entertaining and the early shows were very kid-friendly.

Our cruise ship made two stops – The Bahamas and Coco Cay Island which is a private island owned by Royal Caribbean. Ryan and I went on this cruise back in 2012 for our 1 year anniversary and the island was just as I remembered it. It is so relaxing and peaceful. My sister and I booked an excursion to swim with Dolphins off Balmoral Island located just off of the main island of the Bahamas. Swimming with dolphins has been on my bucket list for as long as I can remember. I have always loved them and while I have seen and pet them many times, I had never actually swam with them. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life.

I was very nervous to take our toddler on the cruise with us, especially after he broke his ankle, but if I could, I’d do it a million times over. Hampton did great and even cried when we had to leave the “ba-boat.” My grandparents are talking about taking the entire family on another cruise or vacation again next summer and I will be thrilled to include SR on that vacation. I missed her so much while we were gone, but she stayed at my grandmother’s house in Florida and it worked out perfectly because she had 5 people swooning over her and spoiling her rotten for only 4 days. It was hard being away from her, but it was also really nice to spend one on one time with my boy.

Have you ever been on a cruise? Did you travel anywhere this summer?

3 Cheers for Breakfast + Giveaway

August 17, 2015

This post is sponsored by Cheerios but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

I used to never eat breakfast. Give me a cup of coffee and I was good to go. Lately, however, I have been eating breakfast and lighter dinners since I have been trying to lose my baby weight. I have grown so used to eating breakfast that when I don’t, I am starving and grumpy by the time lunch rolls around. When we went on our cruise, we ate really big breakfasts. It was amazing and I was in heaven.

Aside from the delicious French toast, scrambled eggs and bacon that was given to us on the cruise in unlimited quantities, my go-to breakfast is usually cereal. I have even passed this habit down to my son who loves his Cheerios. When I say love, I mean it! “Cheerios” was one of Hamp’s first words. As soon as he could talk, he found a way to ask for his Cheerios. He prefers them to waffles and almost any other breakfast foods (other than fruit and yogurt).

Cheerios are the perfect snack for kids. They taste great, come in so many delicious flavors now and have wonderful health benefits. Guess what!?! Publix is even offering a BOGO coupon for Cheerios!! Be sure to snag it while you can!

I recently discovered that people make so many other delicious recipes using Cheerios that go far beyond cereal! I’m talking muffins, ice cream bites that are making my mouth water and so many more! Check out all these delicious recipes here! Talk about mixing up your breakfast!

Giveaway Time!! Win $10 by:

1. Visit Cheerios and leave me a comment telling me which new flavor or recipe you’d like to try!

2. You even get a bonus entry for printing the BOGO coupon! Just leave me a separate comment letting me know you did!

I will pick one winner in 3 weeks! Good luck!

What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?

4 Books Releasing This Fall: To Add To Your Reading List

August 14, 2015

The other night, it hit me that I have read most of the books I REALLY wanted to finish this summer and that fall is coming in a hurry. In about a month it will technically be “fall.” It’s hard to believe, I know. I want to start getting a fall reading list together of books I really want to read. I started looking on Goodreads and was so excited to find that Kate Morton has a new book coming out in October! I am beyond excited. As I mentioned here and here, she is one of my favorite authors.

I also saw that Nicholas Sparks has a new novel coming out! I have been a NS fan since A Walk to Remember! His books usually end sad, but they are always so good and well worth the read. I wanted to share the 4 books that are coming out this fall that I am looking forward to reading the most (as of now ;))

After You (Sequel to Me Before You) by Jojo Moyes – September 24th
See Me by Nicholas Sparks – October 13th
The Lake House by Kate Morton – October 22nd
Shopoholic to the Rescue by Sophie Kinsella – October 27th

What is on your fall reading list? Have you checked out this year’s new releases?

3 Ways to Prepare Your Toddler For The New Baby

August 13, 2015

I was so worried about preparing Hampton to be a big brother before Sophie-Rae arrived. Looking back, it’s silly because I know now (and I really knew then) that it would take time and experience. However, I still tried to do a few things to prepare him as best I could. He was only 18 months old when she was born, so it was difficult to explain to him that a baby was coming and would be staying. He did get to where he would rub my stomach and say “baby,” but he didn’t fully understand until she was here.

Here are a few tips on how to prepare your toddler for the new baby:

Before the baby gets here:

Read them books about becoming a big brother/sister.

Talk to them about the baby often.

Let them help you set up the nursery and prepare for the baby.

Once the baby gets here:

Let them help with the baby by bringing you diapers/lotion etc.

Spend quality one-on-one time with them every chance you get.

Buy them a special older sibling gift.

Do you have any advice to add? How did you prepare your children for a new sibling?

Book Review: Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dave

August 12, 2015

Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dave

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 260

Synopsis from Goodreads: There are secrets you share, and secrets you hide…

Growing up on her family’s Sonoma vineyard, Georgia Ford learned some important secrets. The secret number of grapes it takes to make a bottle of wine: eight hundred. The secret ingredient in her mother’s lasagna: chocolate. The secret behind ending a fight: hold hands.

But just a week before her wedding, thirty-year-old Georgia discovers her beloved fiancé has been keeping a secret so explosive, it will change their lives forever.

Georgia does what she’s always done: she returns to the family vineyard, expecting the comfort of her long-married parents, and her brothers, and everything familiar. But it turns out her fiancé is not the only one who’s been keeping secrets…

My Thoughts: Eight Hundred Grapes is one of the best novels I have read in a while. It was on my Summer Reading List and it definitely did not let down my expectations. Bonus points for being a shorter book to help me through my reading list! For the last several years, Ryan and I have had a big California trip all planned out. We just haven’t quite found the time to go yet. This book made me want to visit northern Cali SO much more. It sounds so beautiful. I loved the way all of the relationships panned out in this book ans the story gripped me from the first page. It was an addictive book that I couldn’t wait to read every night. I would definitely recommend it to women of all ages! Oh, and I gave it 5 stars which I haven’t done in a while. 🙂

P.S. Be my friend on Goodreads!

My Morning Routine

August 10, 2015

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SchooledByBeauty #CollectiveBias

Mornings are always so busy around our house. Both of my babies are very awake when they decide to wake up – which is usually around 6:00 a.m. With me being in charge of diaper changes and breakfast in the mornings, I have to be awake and alert. I have a really simple morning routine that always helps me jump start my day. If I’m really lucky, I get to take a shower in the morning. Most of the time, however, I take mine at night right before bed. If that is the case, I head to the kitchen and make myself (and my husband) a cup of coffee. I am not a morning person. I don’t know if I ever will be. I definitely function better if it is later in the day. This reminds me so much of my college days. It is officially back-to-school time and I have been nostalgic and reflective on my time in school. It felt similar to how I feel now – running on little sleep.

What helped me through college and is helping me now as a new mother was a simple morning routine. After I enjoy some coffee, I head to the bathroom and wash my face with Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Scrub Pink Grapefruit. My grandfather always taught me to wash my face every morning and every night before bed. He drilled that in my head and I will always remember that. I’ve done this for as long as I can remember. I then use Neutrogena’s Pink Grapefruit Oil-Free Acne moisturizer to make my skin baby soft! I love soft skin and I am kind of a lotion hoarder. I put lotion on multiple times a day because it feels so good.

After cleaning and moisturizing, I then begin to apply a light layer of make-up starting with Neutrogena Skinclearing Mineral Powder. I love this product and have been using it for years. It is so affordable and great for your skin. My dermatologist actually recommended that I used this when I was a teenager and having problems with my skin. I have loved using it since. It is light and airy and offers the perfect amount of coverage without feeling like you’re wearing a mask.

Now through September 9th you can purchase three Neutrogena facial products and get one free! You can also get 10% off all Neutrogena cosmetics when using Target’s Cartwheel app through August 29th!

Be sure to check out more Neutrogena beauty products here! Which would you like to try?

Birthday In Lilly

August 7, 2015

Romper: Lilly Pulitzer Shoes: Gianni Bini (old)

I can’t believe tomorrow is my birthday! I will be a whopping 27 years old! I’m super excited to be spending my birthday weekend in one of my favorite cities – Jax Beach – and with my family who I don’t get to see very often. My husband spoiled me with some goodies from the Nordstrom Sale, but he REALLY surprised me with this Lily Pulitzer romper! I love LP but it is so expensive. I couldn’t believe he bought it for me even after I thought he was finished with my gift… or technically gifts. He is way too good to me. I am wearing this little number on my birthday tomorrow for sure! What better place to wear it than Florida?

And now, we will be cruising away and vacationing for an entire week! I couldn’t be more excited and this could not be a better time. I just wish my little man were feeling up to it a little more. We will still have a good time and spoil him with a lot of quality one-on-one time. He definitely needs it right now.

I’m off to celebrate my birthday weekend, so peace out for now! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Comfy

August 6, 2015

This post is sponsored by U by Kotex® but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

What does comfy mean to you? To me, “comfy” means leggings and an oversized sweatshirt on a cold winter day. Snuggling by the fireplace with a cup of coffee and devouring a novel. It means cuddling with my babies on the couch and going for long walks around the neighborhood in my worn sneakers. Comfy is my husband and our home that we bought and created together.

When I am having my time of the month, the only thing I want to be is…you guessed it – Comfy! I can’t always wear sweatpants and lay around, in fact I hardly ever have time to lay around these days, but U by Kotex® Curves Liners keep me feeling comfy no matter what clothes or undies I am wearing. They keep me from being paranoid and make me feel at ease throughout my day. I feel like I can tackle anything and not have to worry about an embarrassing situation. They are now offered in bright bold colors and the designs are so fun!

This week, I have been laying around with SR and Hampton since he broke his ankle and can’t walk on it. Ryan has been out of town all week and just got back in late last night, so we have been pretty lazy and pitiful. Being comfortable has been key. For me, and especially for my boy!

Be sure to enter the #BringComfyBack Contest, by visiting bringcomfyback.com and upload your creative pic or gif showcasing your best uncomfy face! Each month, one winner will receive a $200 Urban Outfitters gift card, a Go Pro Hero 3 white camera, a $100 Sephora gift card and some U by Kotex products.

At the end of the contest, the most creative selfie will be chosen and the winner will receive a trip to L.A. with a friend, an exclusive U by Kotex photo shoot and $2,000 cash! Good luck!

Be sure to stop by and get your FREE SAMPLES of U by Kotex® Curves Liners!

What is your favorite “comfy” item?