Day-By-Day Trip Details!

Hey hey hey everyone. Back in SoDak after a fun-filled week in the Caribbean. Sorry I haven't written sooner -- this gorgeous weather combined with being back at work has left me with no time to write!

Last night's South Dakota sunset was WAY prettier than any of the sunsets we saw on the boat.

It (and spending time with my amazing hubby) made me so happy to be home.

I said before I left that I was hoping to bring back a suntan and some of the Caribbean sun and warmth for you guys – although there's rain in the forecast, it is slowly but surely starting to warm up… so you can thank me for that. ;)

 

Anyway -- I'll post lots of pictures in the next week or so! We certainly took a billion or so. I'm only gonna post a couple today as a "preview," haha. You'll just have to be patient for the rest ;)

Speaking of pictures... I actually managed to forget my digital camera on its charger on my nightstand. It took a LOT of self-control (and a very short phone conversation with Preston) for me to not buy a digital camera when I got to Miami and realized my mistake. I was so bummed.

Thankfully my awesome friends took lots of pictures and are good at sharing

(yeah, they're pretty awesome.)

Overall, I had the best time. At our first stop in the Bahamas, we were wading in the beautiful, clear, ocean water and my friend and I looked at each other and said "Wow. I needed a vacation." at pretty much the same time. There is something so revitalizing about ocean water.

I love visiting new places, and I had never been to Miami, the Bahamas, or Turks & Caicos. So it was quite an experience! By far my favorite thing about the trip (other than spending time with my amazing friends, naturally) were the 3 stops we made - - - on land.

Several people have asked me what I think of cruises and/or whether or not I would do another cruise. The answer to that is a very shaky maybe/more than likely probably not. 

I feel ‘at home’ sitting on a beach or swimming/snorkeling in the ocean or hiking in the wilderness.

I just don’t feel at home living on a ship for a week.

It took a good day and a half of being off the ship before I felt like I had stopped swaying back and forth. I didn’t sleep well, because the rocking and noise of the ship was too much and woke me up consistently – and I’m usually a very heavy sleeper. A couple of my friends hardly got any sleep the whole time – which made it hard to have energy during the days. At one point we had to change course, because apparently they were getting lots of complaints about the swaying.

We were on the Carnival Victory, so who knows, maybe other cruise lines or ships would be better.

That being said, I don’t want to say I would never, ever, ever go on another cruise. It’s just at the bottom of my list as far as traveling is concerned. I’d take a hotel and rental car over a cruise any day.

Here's my further explanation:

 The size of the room didn't bother me (we had 4 of us in the same room -- so bunk-beds that folded down from the wall.) We actually were pleasantly surprised at the amount of closet space and the overall size of the room.

The service was phenomenal the whole time and the value seriously can't be beat. Entertainment aboard (like the shows/comedy acts wasn't good) BUT, the deck party with a dj they had one night was super fun and we liked the piano bar and some of the other entertainment available.

BUT -- it came down to the food.

My friends and I were all really disappointed in most of the meals on the ship.

Which is kind of a big deal. Since it's all you eat for a week.

Everything we ate was very "blah" at best.

And to only make matters worse -- the ship smelled like dead fish the whole trip – seriously disgusting. And definitely didn’t make the food more appetizing.

And last (and least), the ship décor was really outdated and the bathroom/shower in our room was really gross -- none of us would set foot in there without flip-flops on.

Back to the food ---- I think the McDonalds we picked up on the way home from Omaha was better than any meal I had on the ship. And I’m not a big fast-food lover.

 

SO, other than the not-so-great food, smells and a bout of seasickness toward the end, the trip was AWESOME. Haha, but really, it was.

I loved every one of our stops and excursions we went on. And it was such an awesome once-in-a-lifetime chance to spend some quality time with some of my favorite girls, which meant so much to me. It was an awesome reunion :)

Anyway, here's the day-by-day rundown of our vacay:

Day One:

Left Sioux Falls around 8:00am for Miami. Flights went smoothly, and we arrived in Miami around 2:00pm. Once we got all checked in to our hotel, we grabbed a taxi and headed to Miami Beach/South Beach/whatever you wanna call it. More specifically we were at Lincoln Road, which was a fun area with lots of unique restaurants, cute little shops, and some truly unforgettable people-watching. We ate supper, did a little souvenir shopping, grabbed some ice cream at Haagen Dazs and then went for a walk on the beach right around sunset -- truly the longest stretch of continuous beach I've ever seen -- it was endless. And very picturesque with the skyscrapers just off the water.

 

Day Two:

After having the best free hotel breakfast I've ever had (we stayed at the Hampton Inn & Suites Airport South- Blue Lagoon), and making a couple last-minute stops for disposable waterproof cameras, gummi bears, and some other necessities we headed to the ship!

The embarkation process was SO quick and easy!

I was extremely impressed at how smoothly it all went.

It seriously was only 15 minutes from the time we arrived at the port to the time we were eating lunch on the deck. Couldn't have been any faster.

After a day of bumming around the ship, getting settled and waiting for the ship to set sail, we ate supper, went to the "opening night" show in the theater, and then we went to the piano bar. This was SO much fun. It had a great atmosphere, and since there were less than 10 of us there -- the musician would play any request we would shout out. Super fun first day/night aboard. :)

Day Three:

Rise and shine! We woke up bright and early, rolled out of bed, put our swimsuits on and got off the boat to spend the day in Nassau. Our catamaran sail and snorkel excursion started at 8:30 that morning ---- so it was right off the cruise ship on to the catamaran boat -- no time on land for us. The snorkeling was fun, but the waves were HUGE and I struggled more than I ever have while snorkeling. It was the first time a couple of my friends had ever snorkeled, but even with the waves we had fun. We all managed to smile for a picture once we made it back to the boat. :)

Definitely drank a lot of salt water on this excursion. I also fell head-first on the boat while trying to climb up some steps with my fins still on. Not my best moment -- bruised both my knees and my ego a little. And it took me a good 2 minutes to actually get up after I fell -- I couldn't maneuver with those darn fins. After the catamaran brought us back safely to land, we took some pictures (naturally), walked around Nassau and checked out a few shops -- then we headed to the beach! At around 5:00 we headed back to the boat, showered, and got ready for the evening! As I mentioned before, none of the food was very good ---- but there was SOOO much of it. You could order as many appetizers, main courses, and desserts as you wanted to! None of us tried some of the more daring menu items -- like escargot and frog legs. They had unlimited water, iced tea, lemonade, and plain coffee. It was $32/week for unlimited pop/juice options. The "specialty drinks" like Pina Coladas and margaritas were between $7.50 and $10.00 -- so not much different than you would pay in South Dakota. Every staff member we encountered was so kind- they really work hard to make sure everyone's having fun.

Day Four:

For me, this was probably the highlight of our trip. Carnival cruise lines own the private island of Half Moon Cay, and holy cow is it gorgeous. Amazingly white, soft sand and clear water as far as the eye can see. The island is extremely well kept -- there wasn't a bunch of litter and broken glass everywhere like we experienced at the beach in Nassau. After a very relaxing day and lots of picture-taking, we headed back on to the ship and got ready for supper.

That night, I randomly decided I wanted to do karaoke (something I've never done - ha!) and so we headed to the karaoke club. Oh boy - I was so nervous! And turns out this wasn't your normal karaoke where people all sing off-key and sound terrible together -- everyone who went before me sounded like they walked off the 'American Idol' stage. ugh. But I survived! And didn't set foot back into that club the rest of our trip, haha.

 

Day Five:

Turks and Caicos! More specifically, we stopped in Grand Turk. Right when we got off the boat, we did some shopping in the nicely-landscaped, open-air restaurant and shop area. The prices there couldn't be beat and we all found some fun souvenirs. After about an hour, we were scorching hot and needed to head to our excursion. We went kayaking, in 2-person, clear-bottom kayaks through the mangroves (which I learned way more than I ever needed to know about from the tour guide -- very educational.) Our tour guide was also a trained rescue diver, which was great, because the water was like 2 feet deep (haha, seriously.) But it was a very low-key and relaxing day. We walked along the shore searching for sea shells and took a little 'nature walk' -- I even got to hold a mangrove jellyfish (they don't sting) and a sea urchin. I've got pictures to prove it! :)

Day Six:

This was supposed to be our "Fun Day at Sea." I got a little seasick, which made it a "Not-so-Fun Day at Sea."  At this point, I was sunburnt, exhausted, totally sick of cruise food, and really feeling the swaying of the boat worse than ever. After a little nap and a glass of Coke (a great remedy for sea-sickness), I was feeling better and ready to go enjoy the last night on the ship with my friends!

 

Day Seven:

aka longest day ever

We were on the very bottom level of the ship, so we had to be OFF THE BOAT by 7am.

That was really great, because our flight left at 6pm that night.

We timed that really, really well. ;)

After hours at the airport trying to get an earlier flight outta Miami, we gave up, ate some Quiznos and gummi bears (once again, WAY better than any of our meals on the cruise ship) and then I took a nap on the floor of the airport (much better sleep than I got on the ship.) We didn't arrive into Omaha until 11pm --- and then we still had the 3-hour drive back to Sioux Falls. We got back home around 2:30ish – so just in time to be at church at 10:00. :) Thought about sleeping in but so glad we didn’t – it was a great service and felt so good to be back at church after 2 weeks of not being able to go. 

So that's that! Beautiful beaches, perfect weather, fun snorkeling, kayaking, exploring new destinations, lots of laughing and laying in the sun…… and just some not-so-amazing food.

I would TOTALLY take great experiences and so-so food over amazing food and so-so experiences.

 I would love to go back to the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos! Just via plane rather than boat. :)

Wow -- this took me FOREVER to write. Stay tuned for a photo album within a week or so. :)

Praying that you're having a good start to the week, everyone. So long for now!

xoxo,

Em

Homemade Oatmeal Cream Pies

Happpppppy Tuesday you guys,

This has been one of those weeks that has made me count my blessings over and over (and over) again.

Thanks so much for all the prayers this past week. I'm starting to feel a little better every day --- there is nothing on my face anymore, other than some redness, which is a big relief to me. I was especially worried about that, because that's where the Steven Johnson's syndrome can do the most damage/spread fastest (around eyes/mouth.) Those soft-tissue areas are more prone to infection.

My advice to you from my experience with this is if you think there's the remotest possibility you may even possibly be having an allergic reaction to a medication ---- even if you've been on it several weeks --- go in IMMEDIATELY. If they don't do anything about it, ask to get a second opinion. My reaction went from slightly noticeable and uncomfortable (when I went in the first time and wasn't given anything) to extremely dangerous in just a week. 

I had to wear a short sleeve/baggy shirt at school yesterday and today, because having material over my arms irritates it more, and some of the kids thought they were going to "catch it" from me. I tried to explain that if I was contagious I wouldn't be at school -- but I can see where they were coming from -- it isn't pretty, haha. I considered staying home, but I needed something to take my mind off of it. 

We're still having a lovely, snowy, windy, freezing, icy spring. Emphasis on the icy today. Yikes. I drove about 5 mph the whole way to school and then about fell 4 times in the parking lot. Just the kind of spring we all love, right? Looks like warmer weather is on the horizon, though! 60s and 70s this weekend?!? I'll believe it when I see it. ;)

I have another recipe I want to share with you guys. I haven't made these for a couple years, because I always forget about them, but last time I took them to a potluck they were a HUGE hit. I found the recipe and picture on the blog, "Baked Perfection." If you enjoy baking, you'll love her blog!

Here's the link: http://www.bakedperfection.com/2012/01/homemade-oatmeal-cream-pies.html

The recipe is amazing as is. One minor change I made was DOUBLING the amount of cream-filling that they call for. If you want a nice, thick, fluffy layer of cream, like it shows in the picture, you need much more than the recipe makes.

Small little change to an already amazing recipe!

You could also make these using other types of cookies, if you don't like oatmeal. Chocolate chip cream pies? Peanut butter cream pies? Double chocolate cream pies? Monster cookie cream pies? Snickerdoodle cream pies? I absolutely LOVE oatmeal, but with or without, the options are endless.

Like I said, I've personally tried these and approve them! I know trying new recipes can be daunting, because you don't want to spend time and money on something new and have it flop.

These won't disappoint.

Prayers that you have an amazing day,

Emily

Bahamas Cruise Itinerary!!!!!!!

So, like I mentioned a few weeks ago -- less than a week and I'll be on a cruise with my friends. Who cares that I look like I have the chicken pox mixed with a sunburn with all the spots/redness all over my arms, legs, stomach, back, and now my face (my face!) I have from my allergic reaction? I went to the emergency room yesterday, and they explained to me the reaction had progressed into the beginning of Stephen Johnson's Syndrome.

Then, the other doctor said:

"It's good this is happening now, when it's cold out, so you can wear pants and long-sleeve shirts, and it's not 80 degrees outside. And you need to stay out of the sun."

Yes, that would be good. Except in 6 days I WILL be in 80 degree weather or hotter. And it will be impossible for me to stay out of the sun.

Oh well, I already have a guy who thinks I'm beautiful anyway and don't think my friends will care. That being said, it would be nice to at least have this rash get a little (or a lot) better by Sunday...

Working today - Friday, packing Saturday, and plane leaves early Sunday morning.

I've had a few people ask me "What do you actually do on a cruise?" haha. If you're wondering what we'll be up to, here's a sneak peek into our itinerary:

Day 1: Arrive in Miami

We'll land around 2pm -- run some last-minute errands before cruise departure/hang out at the pool/stay overnight in Miami

Day 2: We set sail!

Up bright and early to head to our port! Although the process of getting on the ship is kind of long and not super fun, it will still be a great day -- just exploring the different areas of the ship and our first dinner and show aboard. I'm pretty sure we'll be up all night sitting outside feeling the warm, Caribbean, ocean breeze and talking in the tiny room we're all sharing. Yes -- there will be 4 of us all in one room! We're really going to get some great bonding time in on this trip. ;) But I'm sure the only time we'll really be in our room is to sleep and shower. There's always a show to go to or karaoke or something to do while onboard -- no reason to stay in your room.

Day 3: Day stop in Nassau, Bahamas

We're up bright and early again on Day 3! We're doing a catamaran sail and snorkel excursion right away in the morning when we arrive in Nassau. All four of us are so excited (and a little nervous) for this, but I think it will be awesome. I've never been to the Bahamas, so I'm excited to see what it's all about!

When Preston and I went on our honeymoon to Jamaica, we signed up for a similar activity to this -- and although I LOVED the boat ride to take us deep into the ocean where we were supposed to jump in and snorkel, I ended up too afraid to get off the boat and just took pictures of Preston snorkeling. I felt SO lame. So last year, when we went to Hawaii, I redeemed myself. I snorkeled multiple times and LOVED it. There was a really nice couple from Canada who patiently taught me, and I'm forever indebted to them.

I've got my waterproof camera ready and snorkel gear all packed! When we were in Hawaii, one of our only regrets is that we didn't have a waterproof camera to take pictures when we were underwater.

Here are some pictures from the description of this excursion:

I love how the name of the boat is "Sweetie Pie." :)

After that adventure, we still have 4 or 5 hours in Nassau. We haven't really talked about what we're going to be doing, but I'm guessing we're going to spend the rest of the day exploring Nassau a bit, maybe doing some souvenir shopping from some of the local vendors (much more affordable than the gift shops on the ship and cooler stuff in my opinion), and most importantly laying on the beach.

Then, at 5pm, we're back out to sea! I'm so excited for the unlimited food and getting to dress up for fancy dinners. :) I know these days you don't really have to get dressed up for dinner on most cruise ships -- but what girl doesn't like an excuse to dress up? There's no better time to put on a cute dress than when you're in the middle of the ocean. And I know we're going to take lots of pictures and would MUCH rather have my picture taken in a pretty dress than in my swimsuit! ;) 

Food-wise -- I know the suppers especially will be amazing. The last cruise we went on with Preston's family, practically everyone ordered chocolate melting cake for dessert every night (even though there were other options) and he and his family still talk about that dessert to this day. This cruise was after we got engaged/before we were married -- so over 5 years ago. I wonder if they'll still have chocolate melting cake now?

Day Four: Day stop in Half Moon Cay, Bahamas

I am sooooo excited for this stop. As far as I know, we're going to spend our 8 hours in Half Moon Cay laying in the white sand with fresh, cold, fruity drinks in our hands and periodic dips in the beautiful, clear water to cool off.

No fancy excursions planned for this stop, so it'll be fun to just wing it and see what we feel like doing. I would be totally great with a beach day, though!

Pictures of Half Moon Cay:

I very likely may never leave.

Day Five: Day stop in Grand Turk

We only have about an hour to wander around Grand Turk before we head off on our Clear Kayaking and Eco Safari excursion. I am a little nervous that the website says the intensity level of this activity is: "difficult." The kayaks have glass bottoms, which will be so cool! And it sounds like the 4-hour excursion is really well planned out and will be amazing. Here are the details from the website:

"Enjoy the natural beauty of Grand Turk as you kayak along the mangroves and explore the coast on foot. Take in the beauty and tranquility of nature as you paddle through gentle, shallow waters surrounded by mangroves.  Explore small coves and learn about the importance of the mangroves to the ecological system.  

Along the way, your guide will point out various plants and birds, an impressive Osprey nest, and answer any questions regarding the mangroves.  The clear bottom kayak will allow you to see the marine life that lives in the beautiful Caribbean Sea.  

After kayaking, follow your guide on an eco-adventure walk along the coastline giving you the opportunity for bird watching, to search for shells, and soak up the beauty of Grand Turk."

I'm in!!!!! I don't have any idea what a mangrove is (which is very sad I'm sure) But kayaking in a glass-bottom boat, exploring coves and whatever mangroves are (apparently something very important. Ok, I've heard the word before but if you asked me to draw a mangrove I wouldn't know how), walking on the coastline searching for shells........ paradise.

Pictures below are from the website's description of this activity:

maybe a mangrove?? we'll see I guess!

Day 6: Free day at sea!!!!

I can already hear the pool beckoning me and the deck chairs calling my name. The ship we'll be on is the Carnival Victory, and it looks nice! I'll be happy to call it home for a week. :)

Here are some pictures from the website/google: I apologize for many of the cheesy, posed shots -- that's pretty much all I could find. I would've preferred just pictures showing all the rooms and pools -- guess I'll just have to wait until we're on the ship for that.

coffee bar

atrium

stage shows

fitness center/yoga and pilates class

art gallery

mini-golf

pool and deck parties

Seaside "dive in" theater

24-hour room service

casual dining

chef's table - good thing about a cruise is that if you HATE your meal, you can go grab a cheeseburger and some ice cream later :)

Serenity Adult Retreat - no kids allowed!

Really, the food and entertainment options are ENDLESS. They have a piano bar, comedy club, BINGO (seriously, hahaha), nightclub, live music, shows, arcade/casino, spa and fitness center with a jogging track/yoga and pilates classes, shopping, sushi restaurant, casual daytime dining options, fancy evening dining..... just to scratch the surface. It's your own fault if you get bored on a cruise I think -- there is more than enough to do!

Day 7: Arrive back to Miami

Flight to Sioux Falls leaves around 6pm that night. I have a feeling I will be completely exhausted (in a good way) by the time I hop on the plane home.

Anyway, there's what we'll be up to during our week floating around the ocean. If you've never cruised before -- I would highly recommend it! It is the most affordable way to travel in my opinion -- and much more stress-free because you pay for everything before you go on the trip, so you don't have to worry about how much you're going to spend on food, etc. It's especially fun when you can make multiple stops throughout the week and explore different places. Having the day excursions and nights on the ship is perfect.

Got any cruise tips/suggestions?! Let me know! I'll be sure to let you know how our experience goes when we get back to SoDak.

We're all keeping our fingers crossed that we aren't on one of those boats that you see in the news that gets stuck in the middle of the ocean. Although that would be a good story to tell.

Congratulations if you actually made it to the end of this long, LONG post! If there is anyone who did -- I am proud to call you my devoted reader. ;)

Have a great Monday, everyone!

xo,

Emily

the funniest/saddest thing you'll ever watch -- all rolled into a 2 minute video

You guys are the BEST. Thank you all for the nice messages and encouragement from my last blog post, and my blog in general since I've started it.

I know yesterday's was kind of a serious one, and not everyone agrees with me on everything I wrote or whether I should have written it, but either way I sincerely appreciate and welcome your feedback.

I really love hearing from you guys!

On a lighter note, last night I watched a video from last Easter of one of my nephews that ALWAYS makes me laugh (and a little sad too.) Let's just say, we did NOT put any chocolate bunnies in his Easter basket this year. But seriously, watch this!! You won't regret it - hilariously heartbreaking.

I've had a lot of people tell me that they have thought about starting a blog but haven't gotten around to it, and my advice is: Go for it! I'll read it! :) You'll find it really isn't about who agrees with you or likes what you're reading, it's just fun to write what's on your mind. You may find it's not for you, but you may find yourself looking back on previous blog posts and being happy you wrote them. Almost like a journal. :)

Anyway, went on a little trip to the ER today, since Friday's trip to acute care didn't help. The adverse reaction to my medication has gotten worse.


So now, (you'll need to pay attention here) I just have to deal with the side effects of the steroid I'm on to cure (what they originally thought was) the allergic reaction to the antibiotic I was on for my sinus infection that wasn't really the cause of my adverse reaction at all. I found out today it was a different med. that caused the reaction, so I have to start all over now and try a new medicine that hopefully won't give me another adverse reaction.
Did you get all that? ;)

Hope you're having a better weekend than mine.

xo,

Emily

From Victoria's Secret models to C.S. Lewis

I'm currently feeling sorry for myself, because I had a terrible allergic reaction to the antibiotic I'm on for a sinus infection. As I sit here pitying myself, I feel ashamed, knowing how blessed I am and how petty I'm being.

 

I most recently read The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis. I sat down and read it in one sitting, in about 3 hours. I'm not bragging -- I'm just trying to tell you that so often "religious novels" seem daunting and hard to finish to me. But this, fictional, tale had so many truths woven in.

 

The main lesson it taught me is you can't hang on to earth or its harmful pleasures if you want Heaven and Jesus.

 

It reminded me of something my pastor recently said at church. He said "Christians want to have their cake and eat it too" when it comes to Heaven -- they don't want to give up their earthly sins and lifestyle, but they want the rewards and eternal happiness of Heaven too.

 

I don't know about you, but lately my Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest home page, even national news websites have been full of people that are SOOOO INCREDIBLY, CAN'T STOP TALKING ABOUT IT, EXCITED about their new "diet plan" or "healthy lifestyle" or "weight loss shake," etc.

I read these posts and think, "WHAT IF EVERYONE GOT THAT EXCITED ABOUT JESUS AND ETERNAL LIFE?" 

We have something so much larger (no pun intended) to be excited about. 

 

Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge advocate of living a healthy lifestyle -- but there are much greater things, including eternal life, than looking like a Victoria's Secret swimsuit model.

Unfortunately, I think too often trying to change our appearance becomes an 'unhealthy obsession' instead of a 'healthy life change.'

 

Oh how easy it is to get caught up in this. Trapped in worldly body image nightmares and struggles with how I look led me to a battle with an eating disorder last year. I can personally sympathize with worldly pressures put on appearance. I write that in case anyone reading has felt the way I once did.

 

But from an eternal perspective, how we look is irrelevant, and what is in our hearts is what matters.

 

Rather than give a lengthy review, I'd rather have you pick up the book and read it for yourself. I have it and would be absolutely thrilled if you asked to borrow it from me -- I'll even drop it off at your house for you! That's how much I want you to read this book.

 

Here are five of my favorite quotes, and boy was it hard to only choose five.

“And yet all loneliness, angers, hatreds, envies, and itchings that it contains, if rolled into one single experience and put into the scale against the least moment of the joy that is felt by the least in Heaven, would have no weight that could be registered at all. Bad cannot succeed even in being bad as truly as good is good.”

“I believe, to be sure, that any man who reaches Heaven will find that what he abandoned (even in plucking out his right eye) has not been lost: that the kernel of what he was really seeking even in his most depraved wishes will be there, beyond expectation, waiting for him in 'the High Countries'.”

“If we insist on keeping Hell (or even earth) we shall not see Heaven: if we accept Heaven we shall not be able to retain even the smallest and most intimate souvenirs of Hell (or even earth.)"

 

“Reality is harsh to the feet of shadows. But will you come?”

 

"I wish I had never been born," she said. "What are we born for?" "For infinite happiness," said the Spirit. "You can step out into it at any moment...”

 

Those are only 5 short quotes from a short book that can make an eternal difference for you. This would be a great introduction to reading Lewis, if you haven't in the past, because it's short and 'fiction.'

Most of Lewis' books are nonfiction, which I also love but I know can be daunting or unappealing to people who are new believers or non-believers. Lewis says himself in the prologue -- this is just a fictional tale with eternal lessons.

 

Whether or not you believe in Heaven and Hell, you're missing out if you don't take a couple hours to read The Great Divorce.

 

 

 

It's at Barnes and Noble, so you can pick up a caramel frappucino with whipped cream while you're there (or whatever your fave is.) Have a maaah-velous Saturday night! Talk to you soon.

 

xo,

Emily

quick, easy, & delicious

Alright my blog-reading peeps. I don't have much time to write today. But I was thinking about you guys and didn't want to leave ya hanging... and I have a few minutes. ;) So -- I want to share a recipe with you that totally changed my life. No exaggeration.

You see, my track record with Pinterest recipes/crafts/ideas in general is awful. I've heard similar complaints from other people and have seen whole blogs/webpages devoted to revealing major Pinterest fails so others don't repeat the same mistake.

Although my "Pinterest failures" have come in many forms....... chalk-like hard-as-a-rock cookies, a melted-crayon-splattered-disaster all over my parents' beautiful tile floor, crockpot recipes that went immediately from the crockpot to the trash can (some that were so traumatizing I have never spoken of them since) -- I could go on and on and on.

But, like I said -- not a lot of time to chit chat today. So, let me share with you the recipe that redeemed my faith in Pinterest. I have made it several times for us and for others, and I can tell you that it gets my personal seal of approval. So, if Pinterest has let you down before --- try this recipe and maybe it'll make you a believer again.

Rather than re-typing the whole recipe, I will give credit where credit's due and redirect you to the blog where I found this recipe! It is quick, easy, and delicious crockpot cream cheese chicken chili. We like to eat it as a dip with tortilla chips too. It also would be a yummy enchilada filling. I use the "Fiesta Ranch" seasoning packet instead of plain ranch -- either would be fine.

So, without any further ado, here's the recipe folks:

http://rita-may-recipes.blogspot.com/2011/11/crock-pot-cream-cheese-chicken-chile.html

This rainy/cloudy/possibly snowy weather makes it a perfect week to get out your crockpot and make some good ol' comfort food. Enjoy!

xo,

Emily

new topic

Ok... so I realized my last few posts have ALL been about reading. Since I'm working in a library and read a lot in my spare time, I'll say it's ok. But time to move on already, sheesh.

Other than reading, what have we been up to lately? Working!!! We're young and capable and like to work, so it's good. Especially when the weather forecast continues to NOT reflect spring (more snow tomorrow? Some rain would be nice instead.)

When (or if) the nice weather finally does arrive, I've decided I'm going to just live outside in my backyard in a tent or something. That's about how sick I am of being inside.

A few weeks ago, I wrote that Preston and I were trying to decide where to take our vacay this summer. We had kinda narrowed it down to five options, and this past weekend we decided for sure.

We'll be off to Mallorca, Spain July 20th until around July 30th. So we'll leave exactly a month after our 4th wedding anniversary (absolutely crazy we've already been married for almost 4 years!)

I keep looking at pictures of Spain and can't get over how beautiful it is. But I have a little 'problem' some may call it with beautiful places. I take pictures constantly.

I think Preston would prefer for us to go somewhere really, really ugly --- because he gets SO SICK of taking pictures. He told me that taking pictures is the only thing he's dreading about our trip. I guess I'll need to cut back on the camera time... or maybe not. We'll see.

It's so hard for me NOT to take pictures of everything, because who knows the next time we'll go back to Spain? Unless we completely fall in love with it, this will more than likely be the only time we go there. It's not on our list of places we must go to more than once (that list is pretty short!) And my memory's not good -- it's awful. So, pictures are good, right?! ... RIGHT?!?

Anyway, we're trying to decide what activities we want to do while we're there. So today while watching (cough) "Dancing with the Stars" (cough) and then "Django Unchained" we both were online researching. We know where we're staying for sure and when we're going for sure, and absolutely nothing else.

I found this article on the 14 biggest tourist traps in Mallorca, which was helpful. http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Spain/Balearic_Islands/Majorca_Island-261896/Tourist_Traps-Majorca_Island-TG-C-1.html

I feel like I might blink and it'll be July already. So, I'm trying to use this dreary weather as a time to get some planning in. I've been researching my little heart out and feeling overwhelmed with the number of activities available. So when everything gets overwhelming and out of control, I do what I do best: make a list. Well, two lists, actually in this case. And I'll include some pictures to make it more interesting for you. :)

Can't-Miss Activities:

(this is our no exceptions, won't get on the plane back home until we do all of these, can't-miss list)

1. "deep water soloing" in the sea near Santa Ponsa

It's ok... they have boats ready to swoop you out of the water if you fall and are knocked unconscious. Totally safe.

       

2. Valldemossa Tour (famous for inspiring Chopin during his stay there)

3. Hiking (and maybe horseback riding?) in the Serra de Tramuntana Mountains

4. Visit the 14th Century Castell de Bellver

5. Visit the Fundacio Joan Miro

6. Snorkeling -- we do this at every possible opportunity!

7. Eat popular local foods, such as Ensaimada and Coca de Patata 

8. Visit the Cathedral La Seu

 

9. Day spent walking aimlessly around town, just seeing the sights

I read an article that said, "There are many things to discover here  (Mallorca) like its Gothic architectures, hilltop villages, olive groves, hidden beaches and coves, castles..." Sounds good to me!

 

10. Day spent exploring our resort grounds/pool/beach area/spa

11. Visit Sa Calobra

Maybe Activities:

(would be fun, but wouldn't break our hearts completely if we don't have time for them)

1. Tour of Santa Catarina Winery in Andratx

2. Tour of La Petra and Montuiri Pearl and Leather Factory

 

3. Cave exploration -- they look amazing, but I've read they take huge groups and really rush you through them

4. Shopping

5. More museums (Es Baluard)

6. Golfing at one of the many courses

It is going to be the longest plane ride either of us has ever been on --- and I'm not completely sure weather-wise what to expect. My research says it'll probably be hot, but you never know. So I have a feeling I'll be packing a ton.

Been there, done that? Please be a dear and tell me if we're currently overlooking any can't-miss activities.

My hope is that the summer goes reeeeaaaalllly slowly, and it takes forever for our trip to get here. Because by that time we only have a couple months or so of nice weather left. If the nice weather ever gets here, which is doubtful. ;)

Are you taking a vacation this year? Where is the best place you've ever traveled?

xo,

Emily

new job

Far too often the following statement is true for me.

There have been many, many nights where I've been up until 4am, unable to break myself away from the last few chapters of a book -- and then the next day is spent in a half-awake daze -- but I still justify my decision as being the right one.

Here's another totally relatable cartoon:

Right?!!?

Ok, now on to my point. I've been substitute teaching since last fall along with giving piano lessons after school. I completed a 3-month position as a middle and high school Spanish teacher, and a couple weeks ago I started my next adventure as the librarian at the Intermediate School (grades 3-6) for the rest of the school year.

 

As an avid reader, this has been so fun for me.

Substitute teaching in general has been quite the learning experience! If you would've told me a year ago, that I'd be substitute teaching full-time right now I never would've believed it. It's unbelievable how God provides new opportunities for us and opens doors that we never would have imagined opening.

I have absolutely zero prior experience working in a library, but I do have lots of experience spending time in libraries. :)

 

Especially when I was growing up. Some of my best summer memories were the days when it was way too hot to be outside. We'd head to the library and get to pick out a bunch of new books in the nice, air-conditioned building. I felt like a kid in a candy store and always picked out way more than I could ever read before the next time we went to the library. Then on the way home we'd stop and get some ice cream, and then literally read inside in front of the fans blowing, drinking ice water and iced tea, all. day. long.

 

I know that's a tradition my parents keep going with my little sister -- and all the librarians in town know her by name and love her. :) She's definitely more likable than I am -- and more responsible. She never gets late fees or loses books, so no wonder they like her better than they liked me.

 

Although I have a local library card, now I tend to go to Barnes and Noble and buy the book more often than checking it out -- because I get fairly attached to a good book and sometimes hate having to return it to the library.

It's a little ironic that I'm working in the library, because there was a period of time when I aspired to be a librarian. Part of the reason I changed my mind on that, is because I was really scared of some of the librarians at our local library. Looking back, they were perfectly fine. It's probably because I had those previously mentioned bad habits of getting late fees and losing books.

I especially like children's books. I still read them now. I love giving books to my nephews and little sister, so I always check out the children's section in the library/bookstore just to check out what fun new characters they're introducing and what's popular.

My faves were Boxcar Children mysteries, Nancy Drew mysteries, Pippi Longstocking, Little Critter, Clifford, Dr. Suess, anything by Louisa May Alcott... man, I could go on and on.

 

It's seriously SOOOO cool to see kiddos STILL reading the same books I did when I was their age and getting excited about them. Clever, new books are constantly coming out, but I think those classics that can stand the test of time are so amazing.

I've especially noticed Boxcar Children and Nancy Drew to be two of the most popular series to get checked out!

I've never had lofty career goals to be a doctor or actress or Olympic snowboarder (ha, ha, and HA) 

But I think one of the all-time coolest jobs would be to write children's books -- especially chapter books. I loved"Anne of Green Gables" and Louisa May Alcott. And who can forget Laura Ingalls Wilder's books?

Without those books, I know I wouldn't have ended up having the love for books I do now.

 

Maybe someday.

 

xo,

Emily

To see what I'm reading now, click here :)