Hey, hey!
My husband and I have long debated on when the best time was to have a baby. We've gone back and forth between now, a few years from now, in our thirties, etc. Babies are a huge blessing from God, and I want to be able to welcome that {non-existent} kid into our life with zero reservations. To me, it is an injustice to your child if you are constantly dwelling on what you missed out on because you became a parent. I don't want that for myself or my family, so that means we have a lot to accomplish before the time comes.
Disclaimer: I am by no means hating on people who do have kids, nor am I stating that you can't still accomplish your goals with a child. This is just a fun blog post, y'all!
1. Travel to Europe -Leaving in September!
2. Reach "Platinum" status at Carnival - AKA go on more than 76 days of cruises
3.Visit New York and California again
4. Pay off our house
5. Establish a set work out and healthy living routine
6. Speaking of "healthy living," learn how to cook!
7. Try a Michelin star restaurant in Japan
8. Learn how to play guitar - yes, I want to be Taylor Swift sometimes. or Joan Jett, actually.
9. Plant and maintain a garden
10. Adopt a primarily vegetarian/vegan diet
11. Find my "niche"...and hopefully said niche will provide a paycheck :)
12. Gain a larger audience for my blog
13. Learn to like black coffee
14. Travel to Alaska
15. Grow my monogramming/vinyl business
16. Participate in a marathon
17. Develop a steady base of friends in Georgia
18. Learn to rely on my bike and two legs more than my car
19. Live in a Spanish speaking country for an extended period of time
20. Develop some passive income for my family
21. Start a business that allows Kyle and I to work from home
22. Become fluent in Spanish
23. Volunteer regularly at the local animal shelter
24. Go on another ridiculously expensive trip abroad - for free. Blog post on that here.
This list is only going to continue to grow I'm sure, but it's good to have an idea on paper (or blogger) of what I would like to do, experience, and accomplish. :)
What are your goals?
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Thursday, April 16, 2015
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
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!
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.
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!
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Goals for 2015
Hey everyone!
So I'm typically not one to make New Year's Resolutions - to me, if you want to change your life, you don't need a certain day of the year to make it happen. However, even I can admit the old adage of "new year, new me!" is something that really excites me nowadays! My life is wonderful in so many ways, but there will always be room for improvements. Check out a few of my goals for the new year (and no, "getting in great shape" isn't one of them!):
1. Trust God wholeheartedly
Y'all, I make a ton of mistakes when I don't ask God for help. I can't see the future or where I'll be in ten years, so why would it make sense to think I could make good decisions for my life without seeking God's wisdom? It's not possible! Though it's hard to let God have the steering wheel, I have found that I am more at peace after doing so. Relying on him has taken so much pressure off me, and I only expect even greater things to come from trusting in him.
2. Travel A LOT
I'm young, I have few responsibilities (aside from my dog and being a good wifey), and I live a very frugal lifestyle with my husband. We can afford to see the world, and now is the time to take the opportunity! Besides, if we have kids in a few years, we can kiss all the fun vacations good bye (for a while, at least). So far, we're planning to travel to Honduras, The Bahamas, Mexico, Las Vegas, Paris, and Rome. I'm definitely looking forward to putting even more places on that list as the year progresses!
3. Make Unapologetic Choices
Do you hear that? It's opinions, EVERYWHERE. Your family, friends, acquaintances - they all feel like they've earned the right to say whatever pops into their heads about your life. Though those opinions are usually valued, you cannot let them dictate how you live. Looking into the new year, my hope is that I make decisions based on the wants and needs of my own family. I'd hate to look back and realize I made major life choices based on what other people told me to do. Feeling guilty about living life our way ends now!
4. Get comfortable in my new town
I've been living outside of Atlanta for a little over a year now. Despite that, I still refer to Gastonia as "home." It's time to create a new home for myself, here in Georgia. This means getting out of my shell, making friends, and getting involved with organizations that inspire me. Of course I'll never take for granted where I came from and the friends I made while living in North Carolina, but it's time to make a new life in the here and now!
5. Make my home feel more like a home
My husband and I built our own home about a year ago. It's a huge blessing and certainly something we're proud of, but right now, it still looks like a "cookie cutter" house. The walls are white, decorations are awkwardly hung (Lord knows I'm not an interior designer), and there's a pile of unused frames and portraits sitting in our "junk room" (yes, there's a whole room). This year, I want to make our home a reflection of our taste and personalities. If that means painting the dining room bright red and having a giant elephant statue sitting in the corner, so be it! It's our home and it will be beautiful.
What are your goals this year?
XOXO,
So I'm typically not one to make New Year's Resolutions - to me, if you want to change your life, you don't need a certain day of the year to make it happen. However, even I can admit the old adage of "new year, new me!" is something that really excites me nowadays! My life is wonderful in so many ways, but there will always be room for improvements. Check out a few of my goals for the new year (and no, "getting in great shape" isn't one of them!):
1. Trust God wholeheartedly
Y'all, I make a ton of mistakes when I don't ask God for help. I can't see the future or where I'll be in ten years, so why would it make sense to think I could make good decisions for my life without seeking God's wisdom? It's not possible! Though it's hard to let God have the steering wheel, I have found that I am more at peace after doing so. Relying on him has taken so much pressure off me, and I only expect even greater things to come from trusting in him.
2. Travel A LOT
I'm young, I have few responsibilities (aside from my dog and being a good wifey), and I live a very frugal lifestyle with my husband. We can afford to see the world, and now is the time to take the opportunity! Besides, if we have kids in a few years, we can kiss all the fun vacations good bye (for a while, at least). So far, we're planning to travel to Honduras, The Bahamas, Mexico, Las Vegas, Paris, and Rome. I'm definitely looking forward to putting even more places on that list as the year progresses!
3. Make Unapologetic Choices
Do you hear that? It's opinions, EVERYWHERE. Your family, friends, acquaintances - they all feel like they've earned the right to say whatever pops into their heads about your life. Though those opinions are usually valued, you cannot let them dictate how you live. Looking into the new year, my hope is that I make decisions based on the wants and needs of my own family. I'd hate to look back and realize I made major life choices based on what other people told me to do. Feeling guilty about living life our way ends now!
4. Get comfortable in my new town
I've been living outside of Atlanta for a little over a year now. Despite that, I still refer to Gastonia as "home." It's time to create a new home for myself, here in Georgia. This means getting out of my shell, making friends, and getting involved with organizations that inspire me. Of course I'll never take for granted where I came from and the friends I made while living in North Carolina, but it's time to make a new life in the here and now!
5. Make my home feel more like a home
My husband and I built our own home about a year ago. It's a huge blessing and certainly something we're proud of, but right now, it still looks like a "cookie cutter" house. The walls are white, decorations are awkwardly hung (Lord knows I'm not an interior designer), and there's a pile of unused frames and portraits sitting in our "junk room" (yes, there's a whole room). This year, I want to make our home a reflection of our taste and personalities. If that means painting the dining room bright red and having a giant elephant statue sitting in the corner, so be it! It's our home and it will be beautiful.
What are your goals this year?
XOXO,
Thursday, December 4, 2014
A few of my favorite things...
Christmas is just around the corner, you guys!
If you're anything like me, you had your Christmas list sent out to all your relatives within the first week of November (I might have been a little over eager). Usually I'm pretty indecisive about what I want from dear old Santa, but there are some awesome products out this season that I am dying to get my hands on! This year, I tried to focus more on products that I could use throughout all seasons: flats, necklaces, tumblers, and more! Of course, I couldn't resist a few seasonal styles, too. :) These are a few of my favorite picks for Christmas:
1. Leopard Tassle Flats from Target
2. Mary Kay Brush Collection
3. Reversible Quilted Vest from Macy's
4. Kate Spade Book Tumbler
5. Seaside Blue Traveler from Lori Leigh Designs
6. Pop The Champagne! Graphic Tee
'Tis the season!
XOXO, Bailey
If you're anything like me, you had your Christmas list sent out to all your relatives within the first week of November (I might have been a little over eager). Usually I'm pretty indecisive about what I want from dear old Santa, but there are some awesome products out this season that I am dying to get my hands on! This year, I tried to focus more on products that I could use throughout all seasons: flats, necklaces, tumblers, and more! Of course, I couldn't resist a few seasonal styles, too. :) These are a few of my favorite picks for Christmas:
1. Leopard Tassle Flats from Target
I snagged a pair of leopard loafers from Target a few seasons ago, and I definitely got a lot of wear out of them! I'm one of "those girls" who believes that leopard is a neutral that can be paired with just about anything! When I saw this pair come up this season, though, I knew it was time for an upgrade. And at only 22 bucks, I think they are absolutely worth the investment.
2. Mary Kay Brush Collection
If there's anything I will splurge on, it's a nice set of make up brushes. You can't help but notice the difference in quality! And with Christmas right around the corner, I knew it was the perfect time to ask Santa for a new set. I've trusted Mary Kay with a ton of my skin care needs, and they have never let me down, so I knew the brushes would be awesome!
3. Reversible Quilted Vest from Macy's
I know, I know. The second a piece of clothing is called "reversible," I instantly imagine either an elderly woman or a toddler wearing it. But this vest is actually so cute! I'm a big fan of leopard print, so I love that it's an option when I'm feeling extra sassy. Plus, it's only 30 bucks. I'm hoping to find it under the Christmas tree this year!
4. Kate Spade Book Tumbler
This gift combines three of my favorite things - Kate Spade, books, and tumblers! I've always been obsessed with tumblers (I'm weird, I know), and I couldn't help but fall in love with this one. Plus, I'm a big reader, so that means I just need this cup, right? Santa? Are you listening? Although this item is currently sold out, they have a few other options! P.S. - Only eighteen bucks! Yay!
5. Seaside Blue Traveler from Lori Leigh Designs
OMG, I fell in love with this jewelry traveler from the moment I saw it. Kyle and I are on the go pretty regularly, so I've been looking for the perfect case to transfer all my jewelry in without having to worry about it getting tangled. It has an earring tray, pouches to hold your necklaces and bracelets, and hoop earring adapters. With three major trips planned in the next year, I knew I had to add this to my Christmas list.
6. Pop The Champagne! Graphic Tee
Have I mentioned lately how much I love a good graphic top? They're such an easy go to when you're planning a last minute outfit. I completely fell in love with this tee - I'm already planning a cutey New Years Eve outfit with it, assuming my handsome, smart, wonderful husband gets it for me (hint hint!).
7. Monogrammed Blanket Scarf
As a southern girl through and through, I can't help but want to monogram everything I own! This scarf is no different. I've already spent time imagining what I plan to pair with this piece, and let me tell you, it will go with just about everything! Obviously blanket scarfs are very trendy this season, so adding a monogram is my way of making it a bit more unique.
XOXO, Bailey
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Cruise Recap
Hi, strangers!
How was everyone's turkey day? I went on a cruise with my husband and his family, and we had a GREAT time. I can't even begin to tell you how nice it is to disconnect from the stresses of day to day life and reconnect with the people who mean the most. You'd think not having access to a phone for five days would drive you crazy, but it is actually so freeing and relaxing. I definitely recommend it!
On our cruise, we travelled to Nassau and Freeport - both in the Bahamas. Although I've been to these ports plenty of times, I still manage to be amazed at how beautiful they are! The sparkling turquoise waters, white sandy beaches, and amazingly friendly locals always leave me coming back for more. Pictures simply don't do them justice.
How was everyone's turkey day? I went on a cruise with my husband and his family, and we had a GREAT time. I can't even begin to tell you how nice it is to disconnect from the stresses of day to day life and reconnect with the people who mean the most. You'd think not having access to a phone for five days would drive you crazy, but it is actually so freeing and relaxing. I definitely recommend it!
On our cruise, we travelled to Nassau and Freeport - both in the Bahamas. Although I've been to these ports plenty of times, I still manage to be amazed at how beautiful they are! The sparkling turquoise waters, white sandy beaches, and amazingly friendly locals always leave me coming back for more. Pictures simply don't do them justice.
Before we left for the cruise, I was researching local places to explore at the ports. You'd think after a dozen cruises I would be a pro at navigating these places - but nope, I'm still as lost as a cruise newbie. In Nassau, I discovered Junkanoo Beach, a local spot only a short walk away from the dock. It had stunning views, friendly locals, and oh, did I mention it was free to go to?
The following day, we arrived in Freeport. As we stepped off the ship, we saw a wide array of stands selling unique goodies while a reggae band played Bob Marley classics in the distance. We definitely were feeling like islanders! The closest beach we could find was a taxi ride away, so we decided to stay near the ship and take a closer look at the local venders. One of the cool things about the Bahamas is that there are plenty of homemade goods to bring home to your loved ones. The people there are usually very kind and are always willing to negotiate a good price. We had a wonderful time!
Here's to many more weeks of family, friends, and fun!
XOXO, Bailey
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
How to travel to Europe FOR FREE
Have I mentioned how awesome my husband is lately? Seriously, y'all, he is SUCH a smart guy, and because of his creative thinking, we have now booked a trip to Paris and Rome for absolutely free. I know a ton of my friends are interested in seeing the world on a budget, so I convinced him to tell his secrets! Read below and take notes (believe me, you'll want to!):
About 6 months ago, Bailey and I decided that we wanted to
look into going to Europe. We had never been out of the western hemisphere and
wanted to visit two different cities while we were there. After looking through our options, we ended up deciding on Paris and Rome. It sounded like a great idea -- until we saw the costs. The
hotels in both of those cities were very expensive, as well as the flight over
there, between the two cities, and on the way back. After seeing the total bill of our dream vacation, we knew that we couldn't afford such an extravagent trip out of pocket. I did a bit of brainstorming and decided to make it a goal to fly to Paris, stay 4 nights, fly to
Rome, stay 5 nights, and then fly back completely free. A pretty lofty dream, right? Thankfully, it was possible because of credit card rewards. While we used these rewards to get
a free Europe trip, they could also be applied for a trip to any part of the world.
Note: The main way for this to make financial sense is to pay
these credit card bills off each month. You do not want to be incurring
interest charges from this! Also this will slightly hurt your credit score in
the short run (So you might not want to do it if you are planning on buying a
house in the near future), but after about 1-2 years it will actually
strengthen your credit score.
Most of these cards carry an annual fee, but the credit card
companies waive it the first year! You just need to cancel the card
before a year is up to avoid paying the annual fee (Around $60 for most of
them). With the right offer, credit card companies will pay for
large portions of your trip! Below are a few credit cards that you can use, and gain rewards from, with minimal
effort.
1.
The Hyatt Credit Card
The first credit card that we applied for was
the Hyatt card from Chase. It only takes spending $1,000 in the first three
months and you get two free nights at any Hyatt hotel in the world! We used
ours on the Park Hyatt Vendome in Paris, which typically goes for over $1,100 a night. We both got this card, so we recieved four nights free in total.
Total trip perks – 4 free nights
in Paris
2.
Marriott Credit Card
https://creditcards.chase.com/a1/marriottpremier/elitehppermv1/
The next card each of us applied for was the
Marriott Card. Using the link above, you can get 70k points per card if you
spend $2,000 in the first three months.
With both of us getting this card, it was enough for 20 free nights at
their lowest level hotels. However, the hotel in Rome that we wanted to stay in is extremely nice ($600+ a night), so we used our entire combined 140,000 points to stay for a total of five nights. Note- If you book consecutive nights with your Marriott points,
they only charge you for four nights!
Total trip perks- 5 free nights in Rome
3.
United Airlines Card
For our flights we chose United Airlines.
For us to fly from Atlanta to Paris, Paris to Rome, and Rome to Atlanta it
would cost us 60k United miles. (This is booked at their saver rate, which
needs to typically be booked in advance to avoid it being filled up).
We each signed up for the card in the link.
It will give you 30k United miles for spending $1,000 in 3 months. It will also
give you an additional 5k miles if you add an authorized user to your account
(we added each other to our accounts).
Total trip perks- 70k points out of our 120k points
needed for our flights
4.
Chase Sapphire Preferred
For this particular card, only I signed up. If you
spend $4,000 in 3 months, you get 40k points. Also, you get an additional 5k points for
adding an authorized user (Which I added Bailey). You also get a point for every
$1 you spend. All in all, we spent $5,000 on the card. The nice thing about the
Chase Sapphire Preferred card is that you can transfer your points to many
different awards. We transferred ours to our United accounts to reach the
remaining miles that we needed.
Total trip perks –Remaining 50k points of our 120k points
needed for flights
As you can see, these cards require you spend in the thousands to get the
bonuses. Below are a few ways you can reach that spending without buying things you don't actually need:
1.
Use your card for all of your spending- Use your
new cards for all of your day to day spending (Getting gas, groceries, or
going out to eat) Also look into paying your electric or water bill with a
card. It all adds up!
2.
Use your credit card for any big purchases- We
purchased our new fence using a credit card. If you have any big purchases
coming up, I would definitely consider putting it on the card to gain the rewards.
3.
Pay your taxes with a credit card- We were able
to pay our city and county property taxes with a credit card. These are usually
large dollar amounts, so if you are able to do this then it really adds up.
Also, the IRS allows you to pay taxes owed after you file with a credit card.
4.
Prepay your insurance or utilities- You can go ahead
and pay for your car or home insurance for the year with a credit card. Not
only do you get the spending for this, but you also usually get a discount for
paying in full up front! Also, some utilities companies will let you prepay
your utilities.
5.
Buy giftcards- If you are getting close to the
time frame that you have to reach your minimum spending by, you can buy giftcards to
reach it! You can buy gas station or grocery giftcards and use them throughout the year. You can also buy Visa or Amazon Giftcards. This gives you a way to extend the time frame for your
spending. If you still have $400 left to spend on a card and you are at the end
of your three months, you can buy a Visa gift card and spend it whenever things
come up and not have a time frame.
Our European adventure ended up being worth the
estimated value below:
Flight from Atlanta to Paris for two ~ $4,000
Flight from Paris to Rome for two ~ $500
Flight from Rome to Atlanta for two ~ $6,000
4 nights in Park Hyatt Paris Vendome ~ $4,500
5 nights in Rome Marriott grand hotel ~ $3,000
Total ~ $18,000
$18,000 trip COMPLETELY FREE with only three months of minimum work?! I'll take
it!
All in all, with a little planning and organization on what card you use on your spending, you can get any trip for free.
Happy traveling, readers!
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