Atlantis 2018

Atlantis seems like the rage with families!

Alex and I thought it would be interesting to check out, so we opted to spend our day in Nassau there. 

We'd been to Nassau several times before, so we were ready to try out something new!

We took what looked like a taxi bus there. 

I was one of the last people on, so I got to hop up and sit on the left-hand side beside the driver!

We made it to the resort around 10 am. 

It was super quiet and sparse at the beginning of the day. 

We ventured around to explore and get our bearings set. 

Watching another cruise ship head to port!

After exploring we set our things down and went to the rocky river. 

The water was super cold, so I was a bit anxious for the ride. 

It was super fun, and I maybe wish we had gone on it again!

It's just like a lazy river, but there are rapids that push you along. 

Sometimes you end up nearly right on top of someone else. 

Alex and I opted for two individual tubes, and I wish we had a double one together.

I'm not going to lie, I got real freaked out by the water slides. 

After waiting in line and hearing little kids scream I opted out of all but one. 

I went down the one that takes you into an aquarium where you can see sharks and fish right beside you. 

It was a neat slide. 

Its a tube slide, so Alex and I got to go together. 

There are sharp twists and turns at first, and then you drop down into the aquarium where you go super slow before finishing out the slide. 

The line wasn't too long, so we did that one, and then I chickened out for the rest!!

The only problem we had was that we couldn't use our phones, so when Alex went on a slide I had to try to find the exit. 

The exit was rarely near the entrance. 

One time we had to resort back to our meeting spot and wait on each other there because we just couldn't find one another. 

We spent the afternoon falling in and out of sleep right here!

We stayed as long as we could and then headed back to our shuttle!

The middle of the day was super packed. 

I think there were 5 cruise ships there that day. 

Everyone says it's much nicer in the morning and the evening because there's simply not that many people there!

We made it back to the ship and were ready to depart!

We love traveling, so this was a great way to break up Christmas break. 

In the future I would opt to not travel until December 27 or preferably 28. 

This would allow us to enjoy Christmas dinner leftovers and not be so rushed. 

I, also, was so surprised with how cold the ocean water was. 

If we were going on another tropical location, I think I would opt for Mexico or another island because the water temperature just seemed too cold for me.

The drink package on Norwegian was great for our friends. 

I'm really not much of a drinker, so the drinks don't really tell me anything. 

I'm still a Royal Caribbean girl!

Royal is my favorite!

I'm anticipating booking our summer cruise on Princess this week!
I'm super excited to see what Princess has to offer and see where it ranks in my personal cruise line ranking!

Norwegian Sky 2018

Hey There, Monday!

Today I'm dreaming that we are still on our after-Christmas cruise!

I'm thinking about the sun, warm weather and tropical views!

Last summer Alex and I had been thinking about going somewhere after Christmas.

We mentioned going on a cruise because we thought that would offer sunshine and heat!

Our friends heard us talking about it and said that they would be interested too, so I set off to find the right cruise for us!

We opted for the Norwegian Sky because Alex and I had never been on a Norwegian cruise before, and it had an included beverage package, which would be enjoyed by a lot of our friends!

Ideally, we would have loved to depart a couple of days after Christmas, but this cruise depart on December 26.

I made sure that everything was packed a couple of days before Christmas because Christmas tends to be busy.

I wanted to still host Christmas dinner at our house, so that meant lots of people in our home only a few hours before we would leave. 

We hosted Christmas dinner a bit earlier in the evening, so that we would have enough time to clean up and get ready for our 3 am departure. 

Our friends picked us up and we headed to the airport. 

The airport was busy, but it wasn't crazy. 

TSA moved fast, and it seemed like just another ordinary day. 

I was amazed at how holly-jolly one day can be and then the next it's like back to normal. 

I was a little sad that everyone didn't seem to be in the Christmas spirit, but we were ready to depart. 

We made it to Miami about a half hour early. 

That put us there nearly at the same time that the rest of our friends were landing. 

We met up and caught an Uber to the port. 

It was raining, one of our friends got sick in the Uber, one of our friends left her phone in the Uber, so we were really glad to say good-bye to Miami!

The next morning we made it to Key West!
Key West gives me all of the happy feels because that it where we got married!

I was up early eating my breakfast and looking for the sun to rise. 

Do you see that fancy ship down there? 

Someone said it was Kenny Chesney's!

We never saw him but it could have been!

We were set to snorkel in Key West, but the water was so rough. 

The Christmas trees on the ship were swaying back and forth. 

They actually met with us and said there was an advisory and that they wouldn't recommend small children going out. 

They gave us the option to cancel and get our money back. 

We were very pleased with this option and didn't figure we would see much with how rough it was. 

We cancelled our snorkeling adventure and went to find our friends!

I always love this view!

We walked around and then decided on visiting a local beach. 

We laid out for a while-the water was freezing!!

Then, we ventured to lunch and I had to have some chocolate covered key lime pie!

Before long we were back on-board and enjoyed the views as we headed out to sea!

I always love seeing the towel creations and the Daily for the next day!

The next morning I was up early and decided to find a spot to read.

I was sitting here when they came on and broke the news that it was too rough to visit Norwegian's private island. 

They wouldn't be able to get the tender boats out with how high the waves were. 

I was SO bummed that our friends would not get to see a private island. 

The private islands are always my FAVORITE!

Since we couldn't go to the private island, I went to the spa!

We over-nighted in Nassau. 

When we arrived, we got off and explored a little bit of evening life in Nassau. 

Enjoying the Christmas views!

The next day we were heading to Atlantis!

I'm going to give Atlantis its own blog post on Wednesday!

After Atlantis we returned to Miami, and I read beside the ocean as we waited until it was time to head to the airport!

Come back later on in the week to see more about our trip!

Business Boutique 2018

Happy Valentine's Day Week!

We don't really celebrate V-Day much, but I think it's exciting to have something to look forward to. 

The winter days are long and dreary, and I'm itching for spring. 

Today I'm going to share lots of pictures from the Business Boutique conference I attended in Nashville, Tennessee last November. 

It was AMAZING!
If you are thinking of starting your own small business or are in the process of building and developing one, you should definitely check out Christy Wright and the whole Business Boutique brand!

Christy is so passionate and energetic!

We had a Dave Barnes concert!

Annie F Downs was rocking it with the DJ!

Planning and preparing! 

Some more Christy and Dave Ramsey on Day #2!

Christy and Megan Tamte from Evereve.

Christy and I!

This was SO much fun!

It was inspiring and motivating and encouraging!

I might say that it's the best thing I've ever gone to!

Enjoy your Monday!

NYC 2017-Live with Kelly!

I love me some Kelly Ripa!

She just makes me laugh. 

I loved Regis, was a huge fan of Michael Strahan, and now have grown to enjoy Ryan Seacrest as well!

This has been a Bucket List item of mine for some time, and this summer I made it a priority to watch for tickets, so that I could request them during the right time to hopefully make it on the show during our Fall Break. 

Luckily enough I was sitting in my travel agency classes when I pulled up the ticket schedule and saw that the date during Fall Break was current accepting ticket requests!

Yay!

I immediately requested them, and within an hour they had been confirmed!!

Woot! Woot!

We stayed in Staten Island, so it was a bit of a trek for us to make it clear up to the upper west side by 6 am. 

We made it nonetheless!

Here we are waiting in line. 

We were #5 and 6. 

It wasn't too chilly outside, so we enjoyed watching people walk/run by and kept our eyes glued inside. 

The balloon man showed up. 

We came to find out that this day was Kelly's Birthday!

They couldn't even fit all of the balloons in the elevator, so they had to take them a different route on the stairs.

Around 8 we went inside, and from there we waited until 8:30 to go into the studio.

I was expecting the studio to be small, but it seemed a lot smaller than I really expected. 

We were fortunate enough to get to sit down front; however, I expected that the first in line would get the best seats and that wasn't the case. 

Our seats were good, but there were people we came in after us who got to sit in front of us. 

Checking out the wheel before the big spin during trivia time!

All of the above photos were before the show started. 

They shared with us when to clap and when not and what to expect during the show. 

This morning was the morning after the Las Vegas shooting. 

The show started our extremely somber. 

I can't even imagine having to host a show on Live TV when 58 people were just innocently killed at a concert. 

The hosts did a great job, and at the end of the show Ryan left the studio running because he had to broadcast some interviews of people at the concert on the radio.

Kelly seemed like the same person in person as on TV. 

Like I said it was her birthday and lots of people brought her gifts. 

If only I had known, I would have brought her something, and then I'm pretty sure I would have been able to give it to her and get a picture taken with her. 

Most of the people who brought a little gift gave them to her and took pictures with her during commercial breaks. 

Ironically enough, the trivia caller for that day was from Morrow, Ohio. 

When Kelly announced the trivia caller was from Morrow, Ohio I yell "Wooo!!" 

I sat nearly directly in eye contact with Kelly. 

She heard me yell, and looked right at me and said "Are you from Morrow, Ohio?"

Of which I was star struck and didn't say anything, and then said "No, just Ohio!"

My parents were watching the show at home and my dad actually texted me to see if I was the one who yelled. 

And it sure was!!

After the regular show they taped another segment and then recorded Kelly. 

Kelly said goodbye and that was a wrap. 

The show went crazy fast!

Kelly and Ryan talked to people during the commercials. 

I was even more surprised at how fast the commercials went. 

They would start counting down, so that Kelly and Ryan knew when to make it back to their seats, and I swear Kelly made it back to her seat every time just when they were saying 3-2-1.

I'm so glad Alex and I had the opportunity to go, and I would definitely go back again!

We headed back to Central Park for a final stroll and then to Carmine's for lunch before heading home. 

Stuffed mushrooms!

Yum!

Have a great Tuesday!

I hope it is as great as my Monday at Live with Kelly!