HOW TO PACK FOR AN AWESOME CRUISE!

First of all, cruising is lots of fun and one of the last things you need to worry about is stressing over what to take and how much.

MAKE A LIST!  This little chore will take you a few minutes and will save you time and money. A list will keep you accountable of what to take but also what you really don’t need to take. I make my list up and tweak it every year with a few changes. I have my “Cruise” list for February and my “Vacation” list for July and August as I take different things on those different trips.

Each category has its sections so it’s easy to read and glance at as you’re packing. You can make up your own categories as it’s easier to do things in the order that you’re used to.

I start with my medications/vitamins/suppliments etc, then I list all undergarments. Next on the list are pants/capris/good clothes (usually two changes)/tops/evening wear (I just take one outfit for this and change-up the jewelry), purses (s), shawl etc.

Next is footwear: I wear my sneakers to the airport, pack my flip flops in my carry-on and the rest goes in my checked luggage. All my footwear has its own bag which then goes into my checked and carry-on luggage. I limit my footwear to: sneakers, flip flops, dress sandals and a pair of Crocs.

If you have a medical devic, don’t forget write down ALL that it entails. I use a CPAP so all those items have their own section on the list.

Other clothing and miscellaneous items have they’re own section:  bathing suits, hats, sun glasses, cover-ups, snorkel, fins, mask, PJ’s , jewelry etc.

You may need a section just for “other” as you think of things like: camera/batteries/notebook/pen/novels/e-reader/ etc.

Basically my list is as follows: Meds/ undergarments/ toilettes/ clothes/ footwear/ outerwear/medical device and gear/books and electronics/ miscellaneous & a special list of what goes into my purse.

We take at least a five day change of clothes with us with a few changes in tops and accessories.

Check out some of the “how to pack a suitcase” on youtube. I do the roll & fold methods & use my clothes to buffer my checked liquids. Check out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17smmlESBls. There are a lot more vids out there on packing as well

Check with your airline carrier for how to pack liquids and gels etc and what you can take on board with you and what has to be checked. Ziplock bags are your friends with these items!!! 

ALL my jewelry is packed in a special fold up case that I have in my carry-on so it is with me throughout the journey. I also take my computer, e-reader and any electronics as carry-on as well.

ALL our documentation is also with us for our flights, hotels, car rentals and cruise so we have it at our fingertips quickly if called upon.

There are lots of on-line lists that you can just print off and use but eventually you’ll have your own that you’ll practically have memorized by cruise 8….or so  :-)

Happy cruis’in!!!

Oh, and don't forget to check to see if the cat is out of the suitcase!!!!

GLUTEN-FREE BANANA CHOCOLATE CAKE (MICROWAVE)

GLUTEN-FREE BANANA CHOCOLATE CAKE

4 eggs

1 banana

1 Teaspoon baking soda

¼ Teaspoon salt

3 Tablespoons of maple syrup

¼ cup  pure GF cocoa

540 mls can chick peas (or black beans but use less cocoa then if you do). Rinse well.

¼ cup vegan/GF chocolate chips (optional but why would you?)

I use my Cuisinart food processor and add the eggs, banana, baking soda, maple syrup and salt, then process until smooth.

Add cocoa and process until well blended.

Add the beans next and process until smooth again

Stir in chocolate chips.

Lightly grease a micro-wave bundt pan with olive oil. Pour batter in and stir around pan with a spatula to evenly distribute the chocolate chips.

Microwave on high for 7-10 minutes depending on your mic wattage. Mine is 1200W. I mic mine for 7 minutes. Cake should be springy to the touch and will rise up almost double the size of the batter.

Cool in pan on wire rack for about 5 minutes, then turn onto cake plate. This cake is REALLY good still warm!!! I know as I HAD to test it and is the BEST flourless/GF cake I’ve EVER had!!! I’m going to serve it with warmed up maple syrup drizzled over it . ENJOY!!!

Notice the texture is just like flour cake! :-)

GLUTEN-FREE VEGETARIAN BURGERS

                GLUTEN-FREE VEGETARIAN BURGERS

1 can chick peas ( 540ml.)

1 cup cooked quinoa

1 large egg

1Tablespoon rice flour

1 ½ cups shredded carrot

1 slice GF bread

Dain and rinse chick peas well. In processor, add chick peas, quinoa and bread and process for a few seconds.  Add egg and process for a few seconds more, add flour & carrot and process until slightly smooth but with some texture still in mix. As much or as little as you like actually. You can add your fav spices here as well. I then hand or use a mixer to mix well and then make the patties. I use a potato scoop and then press down on the scoop with my fingers. Might want to put some rice flour on your fingers as the mixture is very sticky and wet but freezes really well!

Form into patties and put onto cookie sheet lined with wax or parchment paper. Put in freezer until frozen and then transfer to seal tight bags or container.

I cook mine in some coconut oil on med/low heat. Heat through well on first side, then flip over to just brown other side. Make sure ALL your ingredients are GF!!!! Enjoy!!!

CARNIVAL SUNSHINE CABIN 6352 REVIEW

CARNIVAL SUNSHINE CABIN 6352 REVIEW

Loved our 7 day Western Caribbean cruise on the Carnival Sunshine. We sailed Jan. 17, 2015. Our ports were Cozumel, Belize, Isla Roatan  &  Costa Maya. Our Cruise Director, Jaime was incredible! She is top notch at what she does! Our wait-staff, Saint, Alit and I Made were awesome too!

Here’s a quick run-down of our cabin # 6352.

Our room stewards Mahamed and Yoanna, were amazing. ALWAYS treat the crew with respect and use your own manners and you’ll find that your service will always be top notch. A lot of people that complain of poor service (not that there’s many of the millions of people that cruise every year) are rude to the wait and cabin staff.  Saying please and thank-you goes a long way whoever you are talking to.

PROS: larger balcony as it’s on the stern (aft) with two chairs, a table and a lounge. If you want to trade the two chairs for another lounge, the room steward may be able to do that for you. Great views off the stern.

Lots of great lighting in and out of the cabin and in the hallways. Love the new bright décor in the hallways and cabins. There are two -way lights over the bed and sofa, lighting around the vanity mirror and the main part of the cabin and bathroom. Room darkening curtains for nighttime or afternoon naps :-)

There is a flat screen TV, larger shower, great views off the stern and it is quiet as there are no cabins across the hallway, so not as much traffic. Handy to stern elevators, huge window and glass door to balcony and handy to the Sunrise Dining Room which is on the stern as well.

BEST Serenity Deck on any of the ships we’ve been on so far!!!! Three levels, one spa and adults only pool. However, the pool was cold!!!

CONS: no fridge, clothes hang up front to back rather than side to side ( I had a hard time hanging things up as I’m short. I would hang something up only to have something else fall off because of this configuration)/two less shelves in bathroom for storage (may be like that in all cabins)/balcony gets wet when it rains due to configuration of balcony (part of it is not covered but room steward squeegeed it off for us when we asked him J)/balcony not as private due to configuration of balcony(the stern is slanted so you can see your neighbours when you are near the railing.) No make-up extension mirror in bathroom. No goodie basket in bathroom.

Hope this is helpful and remember, when you get home no one is going to make your bed, clean your bathroom daily, make your meals and put your napkin on your lap for you!!!! :-)

JOHN FRIEDA SHEER BLONDE COLOUR RENEW & JOHN FRIEDA FRIZZ EASE REVIEW

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER VEGEN CAKE IN A MUG CAKE

2 TABLESPOONS BUTTER (OR VEGAN ALTERNATIVE)

2 TABLESPOONS PEANUT BUTTER OR ANY OTHER NUT BUTTER OF CHOICE  

½ TEASPOON VANILLA 

¼ CUP PLUS 1 TABLESPOON UNSWEETENED APPLE SAUCE  

1 TABLESPOON COCONUT PALM SUGAR

2 TABLESPOONS FLOUR

1 ½ TABLESPOONS PURE COCOA

1/8 TEASPOON SALT

1/8 TEASPOON BAKING POWDER

1 1/2 TABLESPOONS VEGAN CHOCOLATE CHIPS 

I used a soup cup to make this cake as it’s wider and I figured the cake would bake more evenly. I was right btw!

Gently melt butter in the mug in the microwave. You can use a vegan sub for this if you want.   Add peanut butter and stir until blended. Add applesauce and blend well.

Add sugar. Blend well.

Add flour, cocoa, salt, BP and stir well. Then add Choc chips and stir in.

Microwaves vary so check your cake after one minute. Mine is about 1000 watts. I did one minute, dug a hole in the middle to check it and allow the cooking to be more even.  Then another 30 seconds, checked and then another 15 seconds. Perfect! This was by far THE best cake in a mug I’ve ever made! SO yummy!

 Some of my fav ingredients above :-)

 Part way done with the hole I dug in the middle :-)

 Tout fine! Enjoy!