Cruise Recap

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

I apologize for being MIA this week, but I've been so busy relishing these past few {nearly snow-less} snow days! Seriously, y'all, Atlanta got 5/8 of an inch of snow, and school has been cancelled the past two days! It's crazy how the south reacts to this kind of weather, but I'm not complaining. :)

Anyways, on Sunday, Kyle and I got back from a seven day cruise on the Carnival Dream. In short, it was an amazing ship! If you're considering taking a cruise in the near future, I absolutely recommend this one. The rates are fairly inexpensive, it's the biggest ship in the fleet, and you leave out of an amazing port, New Orleans. For our cruise, we traveled to Costa Maya, Mexico, Cozumel, Mexico, and Roatan, Honduras. All ports were lovely and the locals even lovelier. Here are a few of my favorite parts of the trip:

The Entertainment

As y'all know, I've been on my fair share of cruises (11 or 12 at this point). Despite that number, I can say with complete confidence that this ship had the best entertainment I have ever seen with Carnival. The dance team was top notch, the comedians were hilarious, and they even had a break dancing team, The Fun Force. It is completely evident that this team takes a LOT of pride in their work, and it's reflected in their enthusiasm during every show. They even had a Motown singer flown to the ship who performed all of my favorite classics. I danced in my seat and sang as loud as I could; Kyle looked at me like I was a nut!

Some people weren't quite as entertained! Haha

The Food

It's sad at this point, but one of my favorite parts of cruising is the limitless food. I've always joked that getting off a cruise after a week of gorging yourself is basically the equivalent of detoxing. I wake up in the morning, groggy-eyed and confused, wondering why a waiter hasn't hand delivered me waffles, fruit, assorted bread, and a cup of coffee. During our time on the Dream, we had lobster, prime rib, escargot, sushi, assorted soups and salads, pastas,crab cakes, etc. Oh, and don't get me started on the dessert selection. Here are a few dinner menu choices:

The Ports

I loved most of the ports. Cozumel has the bluest water I have EVER seen and plenty of things to keep you occupied if you didn't book an excursion. Roatan, Honduras, however, was easily my favorite port. What I love most about Roatan is the scenery. When you go to a typical beach town, the scenery, though beautiful, is limited. There's an ocean, a few palm trees, and that's about it. In Roatan, they have not only a beach right by the cruise port, but also lush greenery and stunning mountain views. If I could sum up paradise in a single place, it would take the cake for sure. We also went to Costa Maya, which is largely a cruise port and nothing more, and I wasn't a big fan. Aside from souvenir shops and overpriced bars, there wasn't much to see, although I have heard there is a quaint fishing town a short drive down the road with beaches and much more affordable prices if you're wanting to drink a few daiquiris.

Overall, we had a wonderful time and can't wait to book our next cruise. What can I say - We're obsessed! 

Ladies & Gentlemen...

We're Cruising. 

See ya in a week!

Thursday Thoughts...

Happy Thursday!


Today, I'm linking up with Meagan at Beautiful Things to share a few of my random Thursday thoughts! Enjoy!

I think....

*I am SO flippin' excited to get on this cruise ship. Seriously, y'all, I'm getting to spend an entire week away from work, stress, technology, the works. I'M READY!

*The new Walking Dead episode should start working...right.meow.

*Speaking of t.v., I cannot believe Netflix aired season 3 of House of Cards for a full thirty minutes...and then took it down. #whyGod

*My coworker told me my pants looked appropriate for spring time. It's still winter...#oops

* Sushi sounds glorious right now. And chickfila. and movie theater popcorn.

*You shouldn't let your 9-5 get in the way of your dreams!


Hope you all have a wonderful day!

Thoughtful Valentine's Day Gifts

Let's get real, people. 

Valentine's Day is known as the most cliché holiday of the year. Most cynics (I prefer to call us "realists") think V-day is a socially constructed holiday to push people to spend money they don't have on gifts they don't actually want - think teddy bears or heart shaped balloons. To be honest, I kind of agree with them. Chocolate covered strawberries, though delicious, do not scream "I love you." A bouquet of roses, though kind, do not say "I put a lot of thought into your gift."  Thankfully, it doesn't have to be this way! Maybe my expectations are a tad too high, but if you're going to celebrate a holiday about love, let's tailor it solely to the one you're celebrating, shall we?

If you really want your significant other to know just how much they mean to you, get creative and try one of these ideas instead: 

Write a Heartfelt Letter: I think love letters are the kindest, most romantic thing you can do for another person. It's easy to throw an "I love you" at the end of a Hallmark card and call it a day, but taking the time to truly express what you love about your significant other has incredible value. Let me assure you, putting your heart and soul into a love letter will not soon be forgotten.

Make a Soundtrack: Think back to all the wonderful times you've had together. What songs remind you of those times? Maybe there was a tune playing in the background when you first met, or perhaps you two had a favorite song that completely defined a portion of your relationship. Whatever the case may be, take a stroll down memory lane and put these songs into a playlist for your significant other. Earn bonus points if you write down why each song represents the relationship!

Cook their favorite dessert from scratch: Cooking anything from scratch is a tough mission - everyone knows that. However, there is something incredibly admirable about taking on a difficult, time consuming task to show how much you love a person. Kyle could attempt to make me a homemade butterscotch pie and fail completely, and I would still think it was the sweetest thing ever because he did it knowing it would make me happy. Sure, it would be easy to go out and buy the pie at Publix, but that act isn't nearly as sincere. If you really want to "woo" your loved one, you gotta put in some effort.

Take care of all the chores that week: As a newlywed, I cannot even begin to tell you how happy I am when Kyle takes care of the dishes or vacuums without being prompted to do so. It's very thoughtful to take that burden off your loved one, even if it's only for a few days. It takes a little effort on your end, but it will really reflect how much you care for them! Light their favorite candle for added effect.

A "I listened" gift: This is one of the few "buyable" gifts that I actually support. Spend some time listening to your significant other; I mean really listening. Did they mention a book they had been eyeing? What about a shirt he/she pointed out while you were out shopping last weekend? In my opinion, there is nothing more thoughtful than showing your girl/guy that you listen to everything they tell you - even stuff that may initially strike you as insignificant. Opening a gift that you were sure your husband wouldn't remember is the best feeling.

Coupon Book: If you're looking for something not quite as serious but still thoughtful, try making your own coupon book. The coupons can range from anything such as "You can pick where we eat," "I'll give the dog a bath," or "One free massage." I made one of these for Kyle last year, and he had the best time looking at all the coupons I made especially for him. It's an easy craft project that your significant other will enjoy for the next year (yes, only a year, because I put an expiration date on my coupon book - HA!).


Love you forever. and ever. and ever. and ever.

Spring Wish List

So I realize it's still winter, and the north is dealing with an INSANE snow storm right now, but I can't help but daydream about warmer weather! I'm leaving on a cruise to Mexico and Honduras in less than two weeks, so I am definitely on the lookout for spring outfits and accessories to accompany me on the trip. Here are a few pieces that I'd love to add to my closet:

1. High-Neck Halter Bikini

Get it here!

2. Floral, Flowy Romper

Get it here!

3.  Boho Off the Shoulder dress

Get it here!

4. Sheer Lace Maxi

Get it here!

5. Diamond Print Joggers

Get them here!

6. Baby Doll Dress

Get it here!

7. Ankle Strap Sandals

Get them here!

Believe me, y'all, this list could go on for days. There are SO many cute things I want to get my hands on for this spring, but we will just have to wait and see...


XOXO,

The best drug store mascara EVER (that you've probably never heard of)

As a full fledged girly girl, I can admit that I have always had a major love affair with mascara. I literally can't walk into the local Walmart without walking out with a new one to try! I've found a few over the years that I loved, but the one I am about to show you is, by far, the best I've ever tried. And even better, it's a cruelty free brand! Hooray! Ladies and sassy gentlemen, may I present to you...

Jordana Best Lash Extreme Volumizing Mascara!

Price: $2.99 (no, that is not a typo!)

What I love most about this mascara is that it gives me that falsies look with little effort. One coat of mascara on each eye leaves my lashes looking so long and thick; and since I have naturally blonde lashes, the black color makes them look even more striking. It's definitely my go to eye product, both for a night on the town or when I'm just in a rush to get to work on time. And in case you were wondering, yes, it does last all day with minimal smudging! In the pictures below, I compared my drug store mascara with the well known Urban Decay Perversion mascara. For each eye, I applied only one coat. Check out the results (and excuse my awkward eyeball pictures):

Perversion

Jordana

 As you can see, Jordana gives a much longer lash with its first coat. Don't get me wrong, Perversion does awesome work, too, but Jordana takes it to a new level! Check out my lashes from another angle...

Perversion

Jordana

With Perversion costing twenty two bucks and Jordana only costing three, I think I know which one will be my go-to mascara. :) You can pick it up at your local Walgreens!

What do you guys think?!