Heading To Florida - On The Road Again

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It’s that time of year and we are taking a road trip to Florida! 

In the past, we always powered through with just one overnight stop, but this time we’re slowing down, taking a little more time, and enjoying the journey with two nights in hotels and less driving each day, which will give us a little more time to stretch, explore, and take in the scenery along the way. It should take us 3 days traveling to reach Florida instead of two.

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Of course, Mother Nature always likes to keep things interesting. A Nor’easter storm is moving through, and I’m crossing my fingers we can stay ahead of the rain. Either way, the open road and palm trees are calling!

Planning A Vacation

Next week I'll be leaving to take a cruise to Europe. It is a transatlantic cruise which means we will be at sea for 7 days before we begin making stops in Ireland, Belgium, and UK. 

Definitely a long time to be at sea on a ship before we make stops!  

We are leaving from Miami 

It is my understanding that the staff keeps the passengers busy and entertained with speakers, exercise classes, and many programs for a variety of interests during the many sea days.  

 I'll be taking my iPad and I have downloaded about 5 books to read.

I'm starting with one of my favorite authors: Kristin Hannah. She writes mostly historical fiction. I downloaded The Four Winds. 

I just read her new book called The Women which was about women's roles in the Vietnam War. It was excellent. Her books usually focus on people and their experiences and feelings.  Back to the cruise. 

At the conclusion of the cruise, we are planning to travel to and spend 5 days exploring London and then 5 days in Paris with family. 

We will navigate to the take a train from the cruise port in Southhampton, UK to London, UK and then 5 days later, we will take the fast train from London to Paris before we fly back to Miami. All carrying our luggage.

The dilemma for me right now it how do I pack? My inclination is to pack as smart and light as possible because we will be carrying our luggage to and from the trains. Smart and light to me means color coordinating my clothing (mostly blacks, whites, and blues) so I can cross match outfits and wear them multiple times. 

Laundry? We will not have any on the 2 week cruise unless we decide to pay an outrageous fee ($14- for one pair of jeans) or $75 for a very small bag of our clothes to send to their cleaning service. 

Hopefully when I get to Paris, we will be able to do wash at our cousin's house. In London, perhaps we will find a laundry facility. 

I am planning to wear gym clothes during the day on the cruise. The weather should be moderate with temps in the high 60's. 

In the evening for dinner, I will need to dress- but not dress up.  I plan to bring white pants, black pants, 2 dresses, 8 tops, and nice jeans. I'll repeat and mix and match. 

It will be challenging but I can't carry too much when we are navigating to and from the trains- it will be too heavy and bulky for me. 

In my next post I should be able to share how I packed. 

If anyone has any suggestions - I am open.  I would like to pack more things!!!!

I can't end without sharing a recipe . It is one of my favorites. I make it in the Instant Pot but it can be made on the stove top. 

Yellow Split Pea and Spinach Soup 

Pack in a Carry On For a 5 Week vacation

How Do I pack in a carry on for a 5 week vacation? 

Very carefully and minimally. Less is better! I am only using one carry on and a personal bag! 

My friend Noreen is a world traveler and very experienced packer. She has been coaching me about which essentials to take and how to pack most effectively, efficiently, and all in one carry on and personal bag. At first I thought it couldn't be done, but I'm now convinced not only that it can be done- I'm doing it! 

I know I always bring more than I really need yet I tend to gravitate to my favorite outfits multiple times and come home with pants I never wore but still carried for the entire trip. We will do laundry and make it work.

Neither my husband or I are in any condition to carry heavy suitcases or large suitcases, so we have to make this work.

Guell Park- Gaudi 

Our first stop will be Barcelona (we have been there before). I am spending an overnight in Barcelona and then boarding a Celebrity cruise ship for a 16 day cruise in France, Italy, and Spain. 

The cruise will end and deliver us to Rome where we will spend 3 days exploring the beautiful famous city. 

Vatican City at night

 From Rome we are flying to Israel for 2 weeks. 

 Total Trip : 5 weeks

• Underwear: Wash it every night. 
• Noreen suggests 3 pairs of underpants (2 white, 1 black) and two bras (white and black). If I wash it in the sink every night, it's plenty!

• Pants: 
• 1 white , 1 black, 1 jeans (which you wear on the plane and don't pack)
• 
  
• Dresses: 
• Only light simple material -I packed 3 which is too many I'm sure (according to Noreen) 

• 2 black and one white

 Skorts: 

• 1 black, 1 white, 2 multicolored design

       Tops: 

•  4 dressy tops for the pants for dinners 
•  5 t- shirt types for skorts for day activities

Shoes: 

• Wear my walking sneakers
•  Pair of low heals, pair of sandals, pair of water shoes

Hair Blower: 

• This is a splurge- I have a hair blower with a brush attached to it that is an absolute for me- no questions asked. I is a game changer for my hair.

Makeup: 

• blush, moisturizer with tint, mascara 

Vitamins: 

• vegan multi vitamin
• Zicam (a zinc and vitamin C supplement) that works for me at the start of a cold. Love it!!I take it before boarding a plane, cruise, or 1st sign of a sore throat or sniffle. 

Alcohol wipes, purse size hand sanitizer, Advil, thermometer, 4 laundry pods, a travel size container of liquid laundry detergent for underwear washing. 

What's your view? 

How do you pack ? Do you pack light or do you like to bring lots of stuff? 

Tips for light packing: 

Packing in a carry-on is not only convenient, but it can also save you money on checked baggage fees and prevent lost luggage.

1. Check the cruise line's dress code: Check the dress code for the cruise line you will be sailing with. This will give you an idea of what to pack and what to leave behind. Most cruise lines have formal and semi-formal nights, so be sure to pack a dressy outfit or two.However, I am finding that dress up nights also have more casual options. My husband in not bringing a sports jacket- just too bulky.

   
   

2. Stick to a color scheme: To make it easier to mix and match your outfits, stick to a color scheme. For example, you could pack mostly neutral colors like black, white, and beige, and add in some pops of color with accessories like scarves or jewelry. I'm doing black and white color scheme. 

   
   

   Jewelry: I never bring expensive jewelry. I buy a wedding band in TJ Max that I won't care if I loose and a cubic zirconia necklace for nightwear. 

3. Pack versatile clothing: To save space in your carry-on, pack clothing that can be worn in multiple ways.

   
   

4. Bring comfortable walking shoes: You'll likely be doing a lot of walking during your trip, so it's important to bring comfortable shoes. Sneakers or comfortable walking sandals are a good choice. Wear the sneakers on the plane since they are the heaviest shoes.

   
   

5. Pack travel-sized toiletries: To save space in your carry-on, pack travel-sized toiletries like shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. You can also purchase these items when you arrive at your destination.

   
   

6. Use packing cubes: Packing cubes can help you organize your clothing and maximize space in your carry-on. Roll your clothing tightly and place them in the cubes, then stack the cubes in your bag. Rolling really creates more space!

   
   

7. Laundry: If you're going to be on a 2-week cruise, you may have access to laundry facilities. If not, you could consider packing a small amount of laundry detergent and washing your clothes in your hotel sink.

   
   

8. Pack a collapsible tote bag: A collapsible tote bag can be a lifesaver for carrying items on excursions or carrying souvenirs back to your cabin. When not in use, it can be folded up and stored in your carry-on.

   
   

9. Travel documents: Make sure you have all the necessary travel documents, such as your passport, visas, and cruise itinerary

   
   

   
   

   If needed, the cruise ship and all of the ports sell clothing. My husband likes to buy a hat or t-shirt as a souvenir from the trip- so we do not pack any.

New! Beef Jerky - from Beyond Meat ( Plant-Based)

Plant-based "beef" jerky? 

My friend Jan surprised me with a new product that's on the market. It's produced by Beyond Meat (vegan and GF) and is made to taste like "beef" jerky. 

Jan attended a craft show in the Philadelphia area and the jerky was a promotional item that they was distributed at the show. She brought a package home for me to taste and since it is new, I thought I would review it on my blog.