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I Love It When We’re Cruisin’ Together

Included in the Travel list on my Bucket List Blog Post is

Go on a Caribbean cruise

Last week LB and I did just that!

We headed for Tampa on Thursday and sailed out of Port Tampa Bay later that afternoon.

Bon Voyage!

After an assessment of our room, and a moment to enjoy our private balcony, LB and I began to plan which events we most wanted to attend.

Carnival makes it easy to keep up with cruise activities by using the Carnival HUB app.  Some of our favorites were trivia,  live music, and productions such as the “Welcome Aboard Show” performed by the ship’s exceptional dancers who had some degree of vocal talent.

We decided not to dress up but keep it casual and enjoy dinner at the Italian buffet on the Lido deck. Prime Rib, Eggplant Parmesan, and baked fish

Low Carb

👍🏻

~

Friday was a day of indulging as I began my first full cruise day with a cup of very good coffee and an excellent eggs Benedict breakfast.  It was also very relaxing as we basked in the sun on the top deck And later enjoyed music trivia and the sing-a-longs that ensued. 

Having spent my teens in the eighties makes me quite a contender for 80’s music trivia

but it doesn’t make me a good singer.Yes, that pencil is my microphone.

On Friday night LB and I dressed up and took advantage of the photo opportunities in the atrium and on the promenade deck.It is fun to doll up and be fancy.

Dinner was excellent every night

but dessert was the best.  If you’ve never tasted a Chocolate Melting Cake you should take a Carnival Cruise just to try one.

~

Saturday was excursion day.

Our ship docked at the port in Cozumel and we set out to explore.

LB and I spent time at Dolphin Discovery.We enjoyed time on Chankanaab Beach

and visiting with the locals

LB planned a day of fun and adventure with opportunities to cross items off of my bucket list.  Posing with a mariachi band was not one of those items, but it was fun nonetheless.

Saturday was also my birthday.  More about the Birthday Adventure here.

After dinner Saturday evening, LB and I went to a showing of the movie Bohemian Rhapsody which premiered in 2018 and apparently won Academy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Awards.  The story was sad, but the music was good.

It was a relaxing way to end an exciting day!

~

Because I left home without packing sunscreen, by Sunday I was pink.  LB was too.  Henceforth, we remained in the shade to avoid further exposure to the sun

While indoors, LB thought it would be a good idea to experience one of the hamburgers from Guy Fieri’s grill aka Guy’s Burger Joint

Cruises are notorious for causing weight gain.  Believe it or not, LB managed to evade added poundage

but Kim did not.  [She didn’t do well against the Dealer either]

 

 

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

A Week to Remember

Friday

May 24th at 4:30 PM could not come soon enough.

But it finally did and I was ON VACATION!

LB and I had planned to take a western Caribbean cruise beginning on May 30th, however my plan was to enter Vacation Mode as soon I left the office on the Friday before.

And so I did.

I came home that afternoon, made my customary Friday night little pizzas for LB and began my plan to

DO WHAT I WANT

for the next ten days.

Sunday

LB and I went shopping.  Because we had planned a BIG Memorial Day Celebration, we headed to the grocery store to pick up necessary party essentials and prepare for the coming day.

Monday

was a Memorial Day family gathering.

I was so happy to be able to spend time with my kids, my Mama, my sister, and the precious little ones that call me Glammy.

There are two of them and they are adorable.

One has a Glammy persona at times, and prefers to not be caught on camera doing “her thing” unless adequately planned.

Being that I could not help myself, despite her protests, I snapped Lydia’s picture as she conquered “Sunny the obnoxious swan” with the help of Aunt Manda.

Tuesday

I met Demetra at her salon on St. John’s Avenue to get her help bringing my grays under control.  While I was there Demetra told me about a cupcakery that is for sale.  Silvada’s is looking to franchise and sell the St. John’s Avenue location.

LB and I checked it out.

The Creme Brûlée cupcake was delicious and I believe it can be easily duplicated.

I would love nothing more than to bake cupcakes and feed people every day.

Later that evening, we enjoyed Disney’s new production of Aladdin on the big screen at EPIC Theatres. On

Wednesday

LB and I took part in St. Augustine’s weekly event

Music by the Sea

The last dinner in May was catered by Purple Olive.

LB and I shared a plate.

Since I don’t eat shrimp or blatant carbs, I enjoyed a plantain for dinner.

(not a word)

Thursday

was the big day.

Cruise day

to be continued…

 

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

 

Another Birthday

Yes it is another birthday…

happy birthday 3d GIF by Michael Shillingburg

but not merely another Birthday

This is an

EPIC Birthday

For starters I am

ON A WESTERN CARIBBEAN CRUISE

No cooking, No laundry, No WORK…

behaving like a Birthday Girl should.

The [birth] day begins with breakfast.  And though on this day breakfast is not eggs Benedict or pan-seared steak with béarnaise sauce, it is a treat, it is low carb, and it provides the necessary fuel to launch me into the excursion that LB has planned for the day.

It is scrambled eggs and sausage

[while he enjoys pancakes]

🥞

The adventure began at the Puerta Maya Cruise Ship terminal in Cozumel Mexico this morning

After which we took a taxi to Chankanaab Beach

🚖where a visit to the Dolphin Discovery would introduce us to a new friend

Marina

She allowed us to pet herto give her kisses

and go for a swim with her.

Marina gave each of us a dolphin propelled boogie board ride across the cove.

LB tried to get her to come home with us

But she had other obligations.

After our visit, as we climbed back up to the boardwalk, I was amazed to see that there was a baby dolphin following close by her side.  Marina’s trainer explained, “Oh that’s just Chico” as if it was no big thing.

🐬

And if that wasn’t enough of an adventure, in a separate area at Chankanaab, LB and I were able to go snorkeling [that’s right people… no makeup] We saw different forms of ocean life and a statue of the Virgin Mary.

🐠

There was more swimming involved than I am used to and I was happy to have a break lounging on the beach.LB enjoyed it just as much, if not more.It was very relaxing

Soon Carmen was standing before me asking if I would like to visit her spa.  She insisted that I allow her to give me a two minute sample of the deep tissue massage that I would receive.  How could I say no?

But alas, there was not enough time for more; LB and I would need to be heading back to the Carnival Paradise.

🛳

Just in time to get dressed up for dinner show off my new jewelsand blow out the candle on a tiny cake after enjoying an international serenade

Thanks to Imade and Richmond.

🎂

 

 

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

 

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday!

Time for

Friday Favorites

Favorite # ONE

A Long Weekend

Now if I had my way, every weekend would include Friday and Monday.  The work week would consist of Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  We need to get our priorities straight!

However, since it is what it is, I am thankful, on this weekend, to have an extra day away from the office to relax.

And it is important to remember the reason for the day…

Amen!

~

Favorite # TWO

During a recent visit to Old Navy, (to return my too skinny jeans), LB came across this

Fun Tee Shirt

OH HEY VACAY!

I’ve been saying it all day and getting on the nerves of my coworkers.

 

Speaking of fun tees

 

Favorite # THREE

I received a 30%-off-everything-Memorial-Day-Sale email from ModCloth which featured

A Woman’s Place Ringer Tee

This tee shirt made me think of Amanda.  I always imagined she would take Washington D.C. by storm!

~

Favorite # FOUR

An early Birthday Surprise!

Although I didn’t realize it at the time, Wendy and Kathy were chomping at the bit to get me away from my desk this morning.  When I returned they were both sitting there attentively, anticipating my reaction to the cards and presents that decorated my desk.  I would love to have been able to capture the moment with a photo because they were so cute.

Since I won’t be there on my birthday, they surprised me with a birthday presents: a beautiful bracelet and cute coffee cup.

 

~

Favorite # FIVE

Preparing for a Pool Party

pool party swimming GIF by Timeflies

we’ve done it before, but this year it is going to be even bigger!

Last year it was just me, LB, and Mama.

I wrote about that adventure here.

This year we are planning to have approximately 17 adults and 7 babies join up.  We’ll be enjoying cheeseburger sliders and hotdogs/sausage dogs.  I’m looking forward to the chaos.

~

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Friday Favorites

Because I told Wendy I would do so, this morning I stopped at Walmart to pick up donuts for breakfast.She likes the Bavarian cream filled kind.

(Wendy is a bad influence)

I parked the car, grabbed my purse, and stepped out onto the parking lot to be greeted by

 A mama duck following her three ducklings.

YES it’s true!

All four paraded right up to me like I was there just to see them.

(this is the stuff that happy dreams are made of)

Sadly I was in a hurry and did not have time to stop for long to visit with them.

But What a nice way to start a nice day!

Speaking of nice days…

Its Friday GIF

And as usual, I have favorites:

Favorite # ONE

Today is National Pizza Party Day.

Every Friday is National Pizza Party Day at my house!

~

Favorite # TWO

Mother’s Day Presents

From my girls a couple of

Giraffe Vases.

to add to my giraffe collection.

And a trendy little crossbody bag from my son and daughter-in-law.

We know who picked this out!

~

Favorite # THREE

Mother’s Day Fun

Amanda captured a Mother’s Day selfie and shared it on Instagram:

Amanda, Emily, and I went to get Mother’s Day pedicures.

While we were enjoying a nice warm foot soak, Lydia was getting a manicure.

~

Favorite # FOUR

New Summertime Shoes

It is an illness.

I have already collected 3 pair of summer shoes and it isn’t even summer yet!

Wedge Sandal // Heeled Mules // White Leather

~

Favorite # FIVE

I’ve always liked

Boys Bands

This week LB discovered a song that I had not heard before and shared it with me.  Today I was watching the official video during lunch when I realized someone had pulled her chair up behind me.  Apparently Wendy loves Donnie Wahlberg.

  New Kids on the Block recently released a video to pay tribute to

“The Boys in the Band”

You’ve got to watch this!

~

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

What’s Up Wednesday

Happy Wednesday GIFAnd to tell you What’s Up!

What’s Up Wednesday is a monthly compilation of

What’s Up

 posted on a Wednesday.

Although the month is at the halfway mark, it has been a long time since I’ve published a WUW post.  It way overdue!  Here goes…

~

What we’re eating

For the past two weekends LB and I have enjoyed fajitas at Salsas Mexican Restaurant.  We love the new location and the fun décor.

~

What I’m loving

My new bird feeder!Elvis loves it too!

~

What we’ve been up to

Sprucing up the back patio.  On Saturday, armed with a bucket of soapy water and a Swiffer, I washed the pool enclosure screens.

Then I gave Fergus, Sunny, and the other floats a good scrubbing. LB did a good deal of pressure washing and chemical balancing to get the pool ready for swimmers.

It took most of the day, but was well worth the time spent.

~

What I’ve been working on

My philosophy course [PHIL380].

It has been NOTHING BUT PHIL380 for the last 8 weeks.

My final assignment was submitted last Friday!

~

What I’m excited about

Finishing PHIL380!  Also

I got an A!

~

What I’m dreading

It is time for Elvis to have a checkup. 

I’m not looking forward to this because there is always drama involved.  I shared some of our experiences here and here.

~

What I’m watching/reading

Netflix has produced a series called Dead to Me.  LB and I committed our first Netflix binge last Friday, watching six of the newly released episodes.

Regarding what I’m reading, I just finished Bioethics by Gilbert Meilaender.

This was a course requirement, nevertheless, it is the most recent book I’ve read.

~

What I’m listening to

LB will often say “Alexa, play some music” to which she replies “playing your most played and favorite songs”

Cue Michael Bublé

I’m not sure if Michael Bublé is Alexa’s favorite or LB’s favorite, but apparently we listen to his music quite often.

~

What I’m wearing

Remember that Old Navy outfit I mentioned last Friday?

Tah Dah

~

What I’m doing this weekend

What AM I doing this weekend?

Last weekend was dedicated to Mother’s Day and involved baking a cake and going to the nail salon for a pedicure.  The seven weekends prior to that were dedicated to PHIL380.

LB has been very patient.

I should probably let him decide what I’m doing this weekend.

~

What I’m looking forward to next month

costa crociere fun Sticker by CostaCruisesOfficialGoing on a 4 Day Western Caribbean Cruise with LB.

I’ll be enjoying a much needed vacation while crossing a few items off of my bucket list!

~

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

Happy Mother’s Day

Here’s another poem to tell you
(just in case you haven’t guessed)

Of all the Mamas in the world
You’re the sweetest and the best.

You’ve been there for your daughters
through the laughter and the tears

Throughout the years your patience
has continued every minuteYou sweeten up our family,
I’m so glad to have you in it!

A finer model for “that quote”
in all the world there never was
What you’ve always tried to teach me…

Pretty is as Pretty Does

On this day I wish you gladness,
just like what you pass around.
May your joyfulness continue,
And your happiness abound.

You are a lovely lady and forever you will bethe greatest Mama in the world

you mean everything to me!

 HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY TO THE BEST MAMA EVER!

 

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.

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