Random Things To Pack (that you might have not thought of)

Yup....the title pretty much says it all. This post is going to give you a quick run down of other random things to consider packing!

THE LIST:

-Lanyard (these are great for carrying your key around...now you will have a slimmer chance of losing your ever so important key card)

-Power strip (I will bring it...but I just wanted to throw it on the list in case you ever needed to read this for future reference)

-Make Up remover (we all tend to remember the makeup....but not the face cleaning. make up wipes are the perfect way to give your face a quick clean before snoozing off to bed)

-strapless bra (we all have the bra that we are wearing, but do we have a strapless one packed away? Please consider what you will be wearing....and pack under garments accordingly.)

-door hanger (for the shower or the bathroom..I will bring one)

-Small bills when it comes to cash (when you visit the various different places, it is common to want to buy a gift/snack. However, some places will give you change back in their local currency. Small bills assure that you won't be getting some strange currency back because you are now paying with exact change.)

Re-cap of what I posted today

Hey Girls! I just wanted to let you know that I am finished posting about the cruise for the day! I covered 5 different topics today. Please scroll through my blog to learn all about different aspects of the cruise/traveling in general.

Here is what I have covered today:

-Drinks on the Cruise
-Why you need sun-block (it is a Q+A)
-toiletries (stuff for the bathroom)
-what to wear on the day of travel
-how not to overpack + how to save suit case space

What I have covered prior to today:
-traveling by plane
-the weather
-the schedule of where we are visiting
-clothing to pack
-what happens at the cruise port

What to expect from me tomorrow:
-most important random things (that you might have not thought of) to pack!
-my formal night dresses
-the issue of a billion outlets needed
-random other stuff to pack

Thanks for reading! As always, please feel free to comment anywhere or just KIK me if you want a faster response.

Drinks of the Cruise

I wanted  to dedicate a post to drinks that are on the cruise in case you have forgotten from the last time.

 Standard free drinks:

-water
-lemonade
-coffee
-iced tea
-hot tea (various different kinds of tea to choose from)
-hot chocolate
-hot water
-passion fruit juice (breakfast only)
-apple juice (breakfast only)
-orange juice (breakfast only)

Drinks that are also free, but take time to make (My favorite):

-milk tea (tea, milk, and sugar)
-chocolate coffee shake (ice cream and coffee...reminds me of starbucks)
-FRESH orange juice
-green tea shake (green tea and vanilla ice cream)
-water melon juice

Drinks w/ a cost:

-smoothies (keep in mind that we will each get one for free since we are past guests!!!!)
                    -kiss on the lips (mango w/ red cherry sauce smoothie)
                    -virgin miami vice (half strawberry and half pina colada smoothie)
                    -strawberry daquiree
                    -pina colada (coconut and pineapple smoothie)
                    -peaches and cream
                    -virgin hurricane (cherry and pine apple)
                    -chocolate getaway (chocolate shake)
                    -banana split

-soda                  
-ect, ect.

The stuff for the bathroom

Here's a list of what I suggest bringing for the bathroom. Please keep in mind that these are just suggestions. Some of these things may not seem important to you and I may have forgotten something that you need!

DENTAL HYGIENE:
-toothbrush (CINDY! Please don't forget one)

-toothpaste (must be travel size....bring the ones that they give out to you when you go to the dentist)
-Floss

HAIR:

-hair brush (Maybe we can just bring 2 between the 3 of us in order to save room)

-hair soap (they give you standard shampoo, but no conditioner. Please don't forget that your liquids cannot be over 3oz.)

-hair brush (or a comb....whatever you prefer)
-curling iron/flatiron (one or the other or both :D)
-Hair ties
-mini hair spray (it must be under 3oz)

MAKE-UP:
-eyeliner (if it is a liquid one, then it better be a part of your liquids bag)
-eye shadow (for formal nights)
-lip products (I recommend bringing a chap stick that has SPF in it)
-powder/foundation (liquid must be in the bags)
-make up wipes and make up remover

OTHER BEAUTY THINGS:
-Body sprays (mini ones from bath and body works are perfect)
-hair clips, bobi pins,head-bands, ect.
-deodorant (I don't want to be able to smell your pits)
-face wash

What To Wear On the Day of Travel

Excitement. That pretty much describes me on the day of travel.
The day of travel is usually filled with excitement and stress, but there is also much more to it in my opinion. In my opinion, I think that what you wear can make you or break you!!!!

Here is what I suggest wearing on the day of travel. The night before the trip, I will post EXACTLY what I will be wearing as well.

-The largest pairs of shoes (I am not talking about wear your size 9 shoes instead of your 8.5 sized shoes. Cool, that company runs a size too big! What I mean is that wear your shoes that take up the largest amount of space. Usually, those are your tennis/walking shoes)

-Long Pants (jeans.....or shorts if it's that warm in Michigan)
-Hoodie/spring jacket (Again, this item takes up a ton of space. Rather than putting it in your suit case, wear it. Not only will it keep you warm in Michigan and on the plane, it will save you a lot of space)
-t shirt (layers...it may be cold in MI, but it will be HOT in Florida when we arrive. Wear one so you can cool down fast!)

Keep in mind that we will have to go through 2 different security checks that day (1 at the airport and 1 at the cruise port). That means, I don't suggest wearing a metal belt or a ton of jewelry. Wearing those things just causes more work before you have to walk through the metal detectors. Do you really want to risk beeping at the air port just because you wanted to show off your new earrings?

Lastly, the most important thing is to be comfy. We will be sitting on a plane for over 3 hours, we will be walking a lot at the airport, and we will be standing in line for a while. Last thing you want are blisters on your heels because you decided to break in your ultra cute flats that day (or a heat stroke in Miami).

How not to over-pack+how to save space and more your suit case seem bigger than it really is

Over packing is a common problem that many people (including me still) find themselves doing when they travel. Here are a couple of tips I have to over come over packing (I know that I uses the word over too many times) Also, there will be some space saving tips after!!!! Read away....

-try making a DETAILED list of what you need so you don't find yourself randomly putting stuff in your bags

-when you add something off your list into your suit case, then take something out in exchange 

-pack multi purpose things (example: 1 dress that can be used during the day worn to the pool and then dressed up to be worn to dinner/show)

The above image ^^^^ depicts what I would and WOULD NOT do. I would bring a dress like that (maybe in short form...allows the easy transformation from beachy to elegant) I would bring something like the center outfit because the pieces can be mixed and matched (I could wear the tan shorts with numerous of different tops and I could wear the top under a cardigan (or with a necklace) to dress things up. I could also wear the shirt at different times with a pair of jean shorts of even with a skirt. On the other hand, I would not bring the pair of shorts shown in the first, second, or third photos. To me (personally), I think that they are too hard to wear. Yes, they make for a super cute outfit when paired with the perfect top, but that's the problem. It only works with specific shirts. Unless I have more than one that goes with the crazy shorts, then I wouldn't bring them. I would rather spend space on a pair or tan shorts and two tops. (2 outfits in almost the same amount of space)^^^^

-pack what you need, not what you THINK that you will need (do you really need to bring the same thing in two colors because you can't decide which one to bring? The answer is NOONNONONONONO)

-when it comes to shorts and shirts...mixing and matching is the way to go (instead of bring 5 shirts and 5 pairs of pants, bring less and mix and match)

-body sprays (sure it's nice to have 3 different scent choices, but is it really worth lugging around? Idea: we each bring one scent and then we can share. That way, we will all have three choices without each bringing that much stuff.)

MOST IMPORTANT SPACE SAVING TIP: coordinate what others are bringing so doubling does not occur. If I bring a blue hair flower, then do you need to bring one? NO!! I wear it one night, then you wear it the other. BAM....the same goal is accomplished and only one of us had to deal with bringing it. This rule should also apply to jewelry, clothing, make-up, hair stuff, ect (you get the point????) :)

How to make your suit case seem bigger than it really is:

-roll, don't fold when you need more space (rolling allows for stuff to be easily stuffed in the corners/sides. More stuff is usually able to be packed when tight rolling is done to clothing)

-pack shoes on the sides of the suitcase (sure it's nice to have  them all in one bag,however, that takes up much more room than the strategy that I just proposed. By placing your shoes on the sides of the suit case, less room is wasted. The typical way of packing shoes causes dead space in your suit case.)

-wear your "largest" clothing items on the day of travel (it may be hot, but boy does it save a lot of space. By wearing your hoodie/jacket instead of placing it in your suitcase, nearly half of your suit case is freed up for cute summer clothing!) 

A what to wear on the day of travel blog will be coming up in the near future!

-hidden compartments (some luggage have secret compartments that ass function without adding bulk)

*********************************************************************************

Thanks for reading! If you have any tips that you want to share with me, please feel free to comment them below, or KIK them to me!!!!!

I will also have another post on why I love dresses! 

6 Days....

Countdown....6 days!!!!

It's a countdown...now that's for sure. We are only 6 days away from the trip now. That means that you better start packing soon!

If you are not packing, then you better at least be getting excited for this spring break trip. Time is starting to wind down, and there isn't much time left to prepare for the trip! (BTW...I haven't even started packing yet either)

The Importance of Sunblock

Before you start reading....please make sure that the sun block that you intend on bringing is under 3oz (remember the TSA rules)

In this post, I will be going over why sun block is so important. In addition, I will show you guys my favorite type to bring at the very end! I truly hope that this post will help answer some of your questions of about sun block.

Sunblock Q and A:

Q: Why do I need it if I want to get tan?

A: Sunblock does not stop you from getting BURNT

Q:Will I still get tan with it?

A: Yes! However, not all people tan very easily. I suggest to try using a tanning lotion to speed up the tannign process.

Q: What is the point of sunblock?

A: The name says it all! It blocks you from the sun. The sun emits all of these harsh UV and UVA rays. These can potentially cause serious harm to your skin, and that is why sun block is needed to reduce it! (skin caner is a bad thing)

Q: Will I die if I forget to use it?

A: NO! You won't die, but it is possible (unlikely though) that you might develop skin cancer over time.

Q: How often do I need to apply sun block?

A: It all varies on the type on sun block that you use. The SPF usually determines how long your sun block lasts (every 5 SPF accounts for 15 minutes of sum exposure). In addition, other factors contribute. For example, if you swim of sweat it off, then you will need to re apply it.

Q: Where should sun block be applied?

A: All over the body! I suggest focusing a lot on the shoulders and the face as those are the most common places to burn. 

Q: Is it bad to lay out in the sun all day?

A: It's not bad as long as you take some precautions when doing it. For example, I don't suggest you do it until you look like a lobster! Remember to apply sunblock frequently!

Q: How much sun block should I bring?

A: Bring as much as you think that you will need (I am going to be bringing 5oz in total....IDK if it's enough or too much) If you were to over pack one item, I would suggest it be sun block!

Q: Should I be afraid of the sun now?

A: NO! Not at all. I am only telling you all of this scary stuff so you are aware of what the sun can do. Many people think that sunblock stops tanning, and I am here to clear the air up about that theory.

My Favorite Sunblock:

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Sunblock

I like this sunblock because of the non greasy feeling it leaves on my skin and because of the size. The normal kind (as shown below-not the spray kind) is 3oz making it perfect for air travel. I know that the retail price is kind of expensive ($10), but it is worth it. Also, you can find it much cheaper at COSTCO. I think that it is around $15 for a two pack at costco. 

What to expect next on my blog within the next couple of days!

I am done blogging for the day, but I just wanted to let you guys know what I will be talking about next.

Please scroll through the blog to find stuff that I have already talked about (I have talked about the weather, basic clothing to pack, the schedule, airport to the cruise, and carrying on luggage SO FAR)

 Below is a list (keep in mind that the stuff below might not be blogged about in the exact same order)

- toiletries bag (I am thinking about doing a basic suggestions list AND a what's in my bathroom bag post)
-an updated weather post (more accurate than the current one)
-all about sunblock
-how not to over-pack (I will go through my suitcase with you guys)
-what's in my back-pack (the stuff with me at all times on the plane)
-misc. stuff to pack (I will be talking about money, chargers, and other random things to pack)
-all about the cruise (My favorite post of course..)
-the plane ride (what we will be doing for 3 hours)
-travel size stuff
-homework (how to conquer all of it without doing it on the cruise)
-Things to do before the cruise (random stuff....such as painting nails!)
-FINAL reminders (setting alarms...and things to pack)
-a more detailed of clothing to pack (might be part of "what's in my suit case")
-the most important random stuff to pack
-what to wear on the day of travel

Do you have any suggestions on what you want to know???? Tell me in the comments or KIK me them!

The Weather

Since we will be visiting so many different places in a short amount of time, it's hard to tell you exactly how the weather will be. In this post, I will give you the forecast of the different PORTS we will be visiting since I can't tell you the weather for the days at sea!

Nassau, The Bahamas (this is the first place that we will be going to!)

This is the current weather info for The Bahamas. Even though we will not be going during that time period listed, it should give you an idea of how the weather should be when we go. Please take a look at both the high and the low temperature for all of the places. ^^^^^^^^

St. Thomas, USVI (United States British Virgin Islands.....if you were wondering)

I know that it rainy this week....but keep in mind that will not be visiting the place until the week after what is shown above. To add, the weather forecast above shows that you should pack one out-fit "in case of rain"^^^^^^^

San Juan, Puerto Rico ( I cannot wait to visit the place....fingers crossed that the weather will be nice!)

Crap!!! Another rainy place. As mentioned above, this is not for the time frame for the week we are going. I just wanted to include it so you guys can see the temperatures (on the bright side, this place seems warms even WITH the rain!) Fingers crossed that the weather is nicer when we go to visit!

Grand Turk (IDK where it is a what it is....we will all learn about this place together!)

Another warm place that we will be visiting! I cannot wait for this warm weather that we are going to visit!!!!

Overall, you can clearly see that the weather will be around the 80+ during the day and around 70- in the evenings/mornings. Please try to keep this in mind when you are packing your clothing.

I will also be making a separate post for when the new weather forecast pops up for me!!!

*****disclaimer....all weather info was obtained from google weather and I cannot be responsible if this weather info is false. I am not the weatherman....I am just an addicted cruiser! 

The Itinerary

Schedule of where we are going!!! It's an eastern Caribbean cruise in case you didn't know.

Day 1: Detroit, Michigan -> -> -> Miami, Florida (travel day!!!)

Day 2: Nassau, The Bahamas

Day 3: Day 1 at Sea!!!!!

Day 4: St. Thomas, USVI

Day 5: San Juan, Puerto Rico

Day 6: Grand Turk (idk if that is the city or the country.... :D)

Day 7: Last day at sea

Day 8: Miami, Florida -> -> -> -> Detroit, Michigan (Home.... :(  )

Clothing to pack

Here is a list of the basic clothing to pack. Please keep in mind that this is just a list of ideas and what I usually pack! This does not include any "beauty" things or stuff for the bathroom.

Keep in mind that everything needs to fit into your suit-case. If you would like, I can do a post on "How not to Overpack!"

-Underwear (obvious.....but I have forgotten it before....shhh...don't tell) The trip is seven says, so pack accordingly. Also, keep in mind that we will be doing a lot of swimming so you might shower more tan once some days)
-other under garments (basic camis, bras, socks, panty hose, ect.)
-T-shirts (to wear with shorts or even as a swim cover up!)
-shorts (may I suggest bring some that dry fast because you might get them wet after the beach. What do you think happens when you put the pair of shorts over a wet swim suit??? ::)). Just an idea though of course)
-sun dresses (these things are the perfect way to transform your look from a beach babe to an elegant lady. I like wearing dresses because I can wear them casually to the pool during the day and then to dinner on casual nights with a cardigan. I am that type of gal, but IDK what kind you are)
-Swim cover-ups (I like to bring the kind that are fast drying, flowy, comfy, and the kind that can double as a sun dress to wear to eat. That way, I am packing less dresses while still having the same results. Who doesn't love multi-purpose dresses????)
-swim suits (I suggest bringing 2 in case you lose one or the other one is wet. Rotating is the way to go when it comes to wet swim suits.)
-TWO formal dresses (there will be two full out formal nights for dinner on this cruise. I think that they will be the second and 5th night.)
-A light jacket or hoodie. (It's going to be warm, but not as HOT as you may think. The weather is around 80 during the warm part of the day and cooler in the evenings/mornings. I suggest wearing the hoodie in order to save room in your suit case)
-Jeans (it may be cold....wear them....don't bring more than 1 though)
-Pajamas (I like to bring dress ones that can be worn in public....multi tasking....gotta love it)
-cardigans (dresses up sun dresses....plus they are perfect for those chilly evenings when you decide to grab a bite to eat at 3am)

SHOES: This is the number one thing that I usually over-pack. I used to think that I would need to bring sandals, flip flops, sparkly shoes, black shoes, silver shoes, ect, ect. However, you really don't need that many! Here is my list of my suggestions:

-Tennis shoes or walking shoes (I suggest wearing them the day of travel because they are teh bggest an take up the most room in your luggage)
-flip flops (bring some that are good for the beach and walking around.....remember the whole concept of multi purposing???)
-dress shoes (heels or nice sandals.....whatever works. I think that I might end up bringing sparkly sandals since they are easier to pack anyways)

I will be doing a separate post on stuff to pack for the bathroom and what to wear on the day of travel to the cruise!
I will also be doing a separate post on the weather. I know that it should be here, but I don't have enough time for it right now :)

The Cruise Port

Info on when we get to the cruise port!

Once we land at the Miami International Airport, we will be taking a taxi to the cruise port. The port that we will be leaving from is the Port of Miami (not port everglades in ft.lauderdale). The taxi ride will take about 20-30 minutes (depending on traffic).

What exactly happens in order:

-get off plane
-use the bathroom
-go find 2 taxis
-go to The Port of Miami (if for some reason we are in different taxis, please tell the driver that you want to be dropped off at THE CARNIVAL GLORY) the port of miami has many different cruise lines and cruise ships since it is a big port. It is very important that you are dropped off at the right location (you don't want to end up on the wrong ship :))
-place luggage tags on suit cases (we will need to put them on anything that we will be checking in at the cruise port ) Also, please don't forget to put on the correct room number or else your luggage might get lost.
-give our suit cases to the dude ( this way we won't have to carry on anything big and we can get straight to the fun) I will still be carrying my back pack and purse however.
-check in to the cruise and get room cards (mine will be gold and yours will be red...hahaha.jkjkjk)
-get onto the ship and eat lunch!

The port has many ships as you can see ^^^^here are just a few ^^^^^

Out luggage will be delivered to the front of our room later in the day. It will take at least a couple of hours, and there is a good chance that our luggage will arrive at completely different times. DO NOT PANIC if you don't get your luggage right away. (once, i got mine 2 hours after everyone else even though we checked it in at the same time and place) JUST GO OUT AND ENJOY THE FUN. Plus, it will take until about 2pm for our rooms to be ready anyways!

Plane Travel

I have decided to start off this blog by talking about your luggage on the plane in general. I will be going over the carry on restrictions mainly!

Basic flight info: the flight will be just over about 3 hours. (we are flying from DTW to MIA in case you were wondering)

Plane Travel:

We are going to be carrying on our luggage, so your suit case can't be too big. In addition, you will be also allowed to carry on a separate bag such as a back-pack or tote. Please try not too bring too much stuff or else security might make an issue out of it. Below is a good example of how big your main suit case can be!

Like I mentioned before, we ARE not going to be checking in any luggage at the airport because it will save time, and a lot of money. (It easily saves at least like $50 per person) 

The second bag that I mentioned earlier should be around the standard size of a school back pack or a tote. Keep in mind that your second bag that you bring will be sitting WITH you on the plane. It will not be going above your head because your suit case will be there instead. Make sure that you are going to be comfy enough with it when you fly on the plane.

Purses: If you choose to bring a purse with you, put inside your back pack until you get past security. This way, security will not make a fuss about you carrying too many bags!

Here is what I think is the most important thing to know about traveling on a plane!!!

Many years ago, the TSA (plane travel security thingy) made a rule not allowing anybody to carry on an excessive amount of liquids. The new rule states that you are only allowed to bring liquids that are up to 3oz. You can bring as many things that are up to 3oz AS LONG as they fit into a standard zip lock bag. Also, the liquids have to be labeled as 3oz or less. What I mean by that is that you cannot bring a standard size tooth-paste even though there is technically less than 3oz left in it. Even though the near empty toothpaste tube might really only have 2oz in it left, it is not labeled that way.

I will have more info about how to pack liquids in a later blog. This is just for you to get an idea so you don't start packing a whole bottle of shampoo!

Welcome to My Blog!

Hey Girls! It's almost time for the cruise, and I just wanted to make a list or cruise packing suggestions. I have started this blog in order to share with you girls some ideas, pictures, and ect. I will try to add a new blog every time I think of something that I think is worthy of posting.