it's the little things: January 2011

If you know anything about me, you know how I love vacations!

Maybe it is just the time of year but I find myself daydreaming once an ~~day~~ hour about cruises!

Over the years I have grown quite fond of taking cruises and I am ALWAYS searching for the next good cruise deal!

{I think my desire to cruise is even bigger because Andrea and Dave are going on a cruise next week and if I were not in school we would be going!}

So I thought I would compile a list of all of MUST DO's when it comes to cruises:

1. It is fun to go with family, good friends, or just your husband- I love cruising all of these ways!
2. You must research your port excursion options prior to departure!

My personal favorites are renting a car and driving around Cozumel
or swimming with the sting ray in Grand Cayman,
only do that there because it is on a sandbar
in the middle of the ocean and it is amazing!

3. Book an early dinner, the late dinners are too late and you always miss a show and that is a bummer!
4. Cheaper is better, rooms with no windows are the best...you can go in at 2 in the afternoon, pretend like it is 2 in the morning and take a fantastic nap!
5. Go to the planned activities! I love cruise directors and I love participating in the events. The best one's I have come across are trivia games, dance lessons, and free champagne at the Art Auctions.
6. Make your own BINGO cards and go play Bingo. This game is entirely too expensive to play on the ship but it is fun to make your own cards and go play anyway!
7. Order at least 2 lobster tails on the fancy dinner night!
8. Always order the Chocolate Lava cake for dessert {remember you can order as many as you want!}
9. Sorry Norah...but do not bring children. Vacations are really fun with Norah but I do not want to take her on a cruise. I always feel sorry for the people who are trying to push their strollers around tight spaces, and lets be honest, you don't want to be stuck in your room from 8 o'clock on because it is bedtime!

which brings me to my next point:

10. Get out of bed to go to a midnight buffet! Even if you are not hungry the table displays are amazing just to look at!
11. Remember you always have room for soft serve! Soft serve ice cream is so delicious and accessible 24 hours a day!
12. Grab a lounge chair and lay in the sun at the back of the boat! {it is amazing!}
13. Watch a sunset!
14. Explore the boat as soon as possible so you can understand the boat lay out so you are not stressed the entire trip about not knowing where things are.
15. Watch a sunrise!
16. Watch the free movies {everyday they play a different new release movie!-I think I watched The Proposal about 5 times on our last cruise!}
17. Become friends with your waiters and housekeeper staff..they are really fun and usually have fantastic personalities!
18. Don't get on the computers and do work, enjoy the fact you are in the MIDDLE of NOWHERE!
19. There is always something to do...so never be bored!
20. And last but not least...if you are not having fun it is probably your fault!

Good deals are the key to a cruise success so let me know if you need any tips!

What are you favorite things about cruising?

Christmas is over...I miss it already.

{Don't judge me but I even caught myself singing Christmas carols today!}

I just love Christmas and this year was the year of parties!!

Every time I would tell Norah we were having/going to another party she would reply,
"Another one!"

One day we even hosted 3 different Holiday festivities at our house-crazy I know!

One of the parties that I loved the most was a Girls Christmas dinner that Andrea and I hosted at our house!

Preparing for the party was half the fun!
Making the menu {we had chicken cordon bleu}, grocery shopping, using the good china, and making little gifts was super fun!
I wish I had the time/money/energy to have dinner parties more often!

Getting the table ready