Carnival Inspiration

I wanted to give a fair review of my first cruising experience. I’m an inexperienced cruiser, but I’m pretty positive I will be experienced in just a few more years because I am hooked on cruising. I’m drawing from Caitlin’s review post of her stay at a resort in the Dominican Republic to give this review. Ratings are as follows:

1 - Lamesauce

2 - Fair

3 - Good

4 - Great

5 - Awesomesauce

CABIN (4 - Great)

I really, really loved our cabin. It was small, but not as small as I had imagined. There was plenty of space for us to put all of our clothes and girl junk. Everything was up-to-date and clean. My only problems lied in the bathroom and outlets. The bathroom was tiny. I think my walk-in closet at my apartment is bigger than the bathroom was. There wasn’t a lot of space to put anything, especially in the shower stall. (I had to balance my shampoo and conditioner on the soap/shampoo dispenser located in the stall, and put my body wash on the floor. Ick.) And there were only two outlets to use in the entire cabin, one of which was in the bathroom on the ceiling. Because it was on the ceiling, it was hard to get a true charge. Luckily, we didn’t use our phones enough but it was tough when we were getting ready.

But the ocean-view made up for everything. Nothing is better than that view. I miss it.

AMENITIES (INCL. DECKS/ 3 - Good)

My favorite deck by far was Serenity Now, which was for 21+ adults. It was the quietest part of the ship and felt so peaceful and, well, serene. The lounge chairs were a million times better and it was close to the food. Always a plus.

The other decks weren’t as amazing. I really hated the Lido deck, because it was so loud and the lounge chairs cut into my back. It was always filled with people and loud music. (Yes, I’m on a cruise ship. No, I’m still not going to enjoy loud music. No, I am not 70 years old.) The pool was tiny and always filled with boisterous kids.

The gym was pretty sweet, I must say. I only went once but it offered some great views and up-to-date equipment. They even offered classes like spin and boot camp for a price.

FOOD (3 - Good)

We ate in a fancy dining room every night that served some of the most delicious meals that have ever graced my lips. I didn’t even try to go fancy but stuck with the meat and potatoes option almost every time. The appetizers weren’t amazing, but they were decent. Of course, I am not a foodie so my opinion has no real bearing on the quality. I was also impressed at how easily one could eat vegetarian and/or healthy on the trip. Every meal featured at least a few vegetarian sides and it was entirely possible to lose weight on this trip. I just chose not to.

The food at the brasserie was meh. It was buffet-style so you can’t expect much from that anyway. There were some delicious meals, but most just ok. Nothing spectacular that stands out. I will not say, though, how many cookies my mom and I ate during our five days on the ship. It’s kind of embarrassing.

My mom and I both purchased a soda card ($36) which gives you an unlimited amount of soda refills whenever you want them. For us, it was the best decision because we didn’t drink too much alcohol. We both only had two drinks at our last two dinners. (I heard one lady ordering her THIRD drink at 10:00 a.m. one morning! I wish I could have seen her bill at the end of the cruise. Yowza.)

ENTERTAINMENT (3 - Good)

Because of our late dining time, we missed a lot of the good entertainment. There were some late night comedy acts, but it’s always uncomfortable watching R-rated comedy with your mother. We went to a performance one night, got professional pictures taken twice (the first time had a photographer putting us in weird couple-esque poses that I swear she thought we were together), and just generally enjoyed being on the ship.

There was always a lot to do on the ship so it’s impossible to be bored. While we didn’t take advantage of a lot of it, it was a good experience to see what’s available and give us a taste of cruise life. We may be apt to do more on our next cruise.

EXCURSIONS (5 - Awesomesauce)

The variety of excursions offered for this cruise was pretty vast. I don’t have anything to compare it by, but there were so many amazing things to do. Prices were anywhere from $30 to $300, depending on what you’re doing. We tried to to keep it in the $70 - $90 range when searching for excursions. Generally, anything involving dolphins or scuba diving cost the most, whereas snorkeling, tours of the city, and swimming with turtles/stingrays was in a reasonable range.

Since we are not the most adventurous type, picking an excursion was the best option. It allowed us to see the city while being in a controlled environment where we didn’t have to find our own taxi or restaurants or beaches.

It was also easy-peasy to switch excursions when ours was canceled. All around, a very positive experience with excursions!

AMBIENCE (5 - Awesomesauce)

This was the perfect setting for me. Nothing is more calming than the ocean and it was exciting being around a slew of people you’ve never met before. Sleeping was never easier than on a cruise ship, being lulled by the soft rocking. It was the perfect mixture of fun and games and peace. I felt at home while on the ship and totally relaxed and happy. I never wanted to leave.

CARNIVAL INSPIRATION ITSELF (4 - Great)

I would totally ride on this ship again, because the experience was fantastic. Service was great, food was delicious, and the stops were fantastic. There is so much to do in both stops that I could probably ride this ship again and again and never have the same experience or adventure. The ship was big enough that I never noticed a lot of rocking or swaying, and never once felt seasick. (One of my biggest fears.)

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All in all, I would completely recommend Carnival for cruising. The process of booking the trip was simple and we were able to do it all on our own. I loved the service I received on the ship, always feeling like these people were happy to help and not annoyed with their job. My mom and I will be back, Carnival. Hopefully before next May.

Dining with Joy by Rachel Hauck

Dining with Joy was about cooking show host Joy Ballard who can’t cook. She inherited her show from her father and her executive producer knew about her lack of cooking abilities, as well as a lot of the staff. The producer then sells the show to Allison Wild, who believes she can make Joy an even bigger star. Only problem? She doesn’t know Joy can’t cook. Enter Luke Redmond. Successful chef, owner of a failed Manhattan restaurant. During one failed live cook-off, Luke steps in to help her and saves the day. They begin working together. While Luke is a master at cooking, he is terrible on screen. (Joy is the opposite.) He soon finds out about Joy’s lack of cooking ability and proceeds to help her learn, keeping her secret. But sooner or later, the cat has to come out of the bag, right?

This was a sweet love story, with Christian themes. The main character was strong and someone I could identify with. Joy had a hard time trusting people, especially men. She had a hard time defining her worth, especially as she is a fraud in the foodie world. She doesn’t exactly know what she wants out of life, but wants to make her father proud, since she never seemed to connect with him while he was alive. There was something about Joy I deeply connected with, and was just rooting for her to take a chance on love. And Luke. Oh, Luke is one of the good guys. Another strong character with his own hang-ups, but someone who strives every day to make something more out of his life. I was incredibly sad when I finished this book because these two characters wouldn’t be a part of my life anymore.

This book is centered around Christian themes, such as what God has called you to do. But deep down, it is a love story. It’s one of those sweet love stories that makes you fall back in love with the process of falling in love. Character development is strong, as well as plot. While it wasn’t a book I couldn’t put down, it was one of those that sucked me right back in when I started reading it again. Rachel Hauck is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. A part of me wishes there was a sequel, just so I could get a taste of Joy and Luke again.

Has there ever been a main character that you closely identified with?

Book Review: Your Money, God's Way by Amie Streater

I chose this book because I feel as if my finances are in a state of disarray. I want to get my hands on any book that opens my eyes to handling money and this one did the trick! I really had no previous thoughts going into it. It was the first book on money I had ever read and I was just looking for something to help.

This book was exactly what I needed. At the beginning, Streater tells you her story: how she was living above her means and using credit cards to help whenever needed. How a sermon on a CD opened her eyes to the way she was living. She, along with her husband, began taking steps to become debt-free and are now there. But it was a long process, and through it she became an associate pastor of financial stewardship for a large church.

The book emphasizes 7 "counterfeit convictions", alongside "timeless truths". The counterfeit convictions are the things we tell ourselves about why we're in debt (i.e., "It is my Christian duty to be at the beck and call of everyone who wants me to help them out of a jam."). The timeless truths showcase how we should be living (i.e., "You have to take care of yourself first if you're going to be in a position to help anyone else."). The book was packed with stories of how other people got into debt and how their reasoning was wrong. At the end of the book was a great little budgeting lesson. Streater broke the budgets into three groups: Level 1 (people with debt who can't afford to tithe 10%, save 10%, and use the 80% for living expenses - which is the formula Streater says is best.), Level 2 (people not in too much debt and can live out the 10-10-80 plan), and Level 3 (the most fun level - no debt at all!) Streater also mentions writing out a Level 3 plan, even if you're at Level 1, to give you something to look forward to. She emphasizes that you have to constantly go back to your budget and rework it to account for pay raises, bonuses, and other expenses.

After reading this book, I am now even more focused on getting out of debt, saving money, and beginning to tithe 10% again. I need to know exactly where each dollar of my paycheck is going and stop lolly-gagging around with my money.

I also want to reference two quotes from this book that really stood out to me:

"In Luke 16:10, Jesus said, "He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in least is unjust also in much." In other words, if you can't budget, plan, save, and give on $35,000 a year, you won't be able to do it on $350,000 a year either." (p. 118)"

"...[W]e didn't talk much during dinner, which was Mexican food capped by chocolate sundaes for the kids. The kids were just picking up their spoons to dive in to the gooey goodness when Addision, five, demanded, "Hey, shouldn't this sundae have a cherry on top? Where is the cherry?"...I wonder how often God watches me and has the same reaction I had to Addison. I wonder if He ever thinks, Hey woman! Look around you. So, things aren't perfect. How about expressing a little gratitude for the sundae? Not everyone has a sundae, you know."

If you want a faith-based answer to why you are in debt and how you can be free from it, I would recommend picking up this book. I'm so glad I picked this book because now I'm even more excited to work on my budget.

Have you ever read a book about money? Did you get anything out of it?


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am diclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising".

REVIEW: CSN Stores Sauder Orchard Hills Open Computer Desk

A few weeks ago, I was given the opportunity to review a product for CSN Stores. To say I was excited was putting it mildly and it took me forever to find something I wanted. I searched. And searched. And searched. There is so much to choose from! I looked at dressers and book shelves and mixers and pet supplies and purses and shoes and patio furniture and knick-knacks. It was incredibly fun!

But I knew what I really wanted to purchase. You see, I've been living the past year without a desk. When my mom and I moved last September, my old desk basically fell apart after trying to move it from my room to my brother's truck. I bought it at Wal-Mart quite a few years ago and it was never good quality. It also didn't give me a lot of writing space. For the next 6 months or so, I had to do all my schoolwork and blogging either on my bed or on the couch. (Oh yeah, we didn't have a kitchen table either!) In any event, it wasn't very comfortable or conducive to schoolwork. Remember, this was the semester I had to design an 18-page magazine! In the Spring, my brother brought over his kitchen table for us to house for a while and I was super happy - it meant I would have some workspace!

But I still wanted a desk. Something for me. Something to have in my room where I could house my ginormous printer, school supplies, and laptop. Plus, it would give me a stable environment to work in my room! I've had my printer sitting on the floor of my room since I moved and it gets really annoying to print things since it's quite a process!

Lo and behold, I found a desk through CSN Stores. In fact, I found a variety of desks with great prices! I slept on the idea for a few nights but couldn't get the idea out of my head. I needed a desk. So I purchased this one. Simple and clean design. No fussing with shelving and looked pretty easy to put together.

I ordered it on Sunday morning and it arrived at my doorstep Friday afternoon. I commissioned my brother to come and help me put it together - since he basically puts furniture together as his job. I knew it would be relatively easy for him. And it was. It took him a little over an hour, mainly because a few screws weren't cooperating. I just sat around, looking pretty, and helping whenever he asked for it.

He was able to easily put it in my room and I went to work, organizing my printer, desk organizer, and laptop on it. While there's not a ton of room to work with after all that, it's the perfect size for me. I don't really require a lot of room. Everything fits perfectly on it and I just really love the clean design of it. I plan on adding a few shelves above it to house schoolbooks and other knick-knacks, but I am really, really pleased with this purchase. The wood feels smooth and strong and it's the perfect height for me.

I would definitely recommend checking out CSN Stores for your next purchase, especially if it involves furniture! They have such a huge array of choices, in almost every style you can think of. My next big purchase for my room is a dresser and you can be sure I'll be scouring their site in the near future for one!

Disclaimer: CSN Stores gifted me with a certificate to put towards this purchase, although I did have to pay some money out of pocket. They did not ask me for a good review, but rather a fair and honest one. 

50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind, Part 4

Before I began Part 4 of this series, I want to talk about an exciting opportunity that has come my way involving CSN Stores! I've been given the chance to review a product for them, but can't tell you much more yet - so keep your eyes peeled! In case you're wondering what CSN Stores is, they are a online retailer with over 200 stores. (That's one giant shopping mall, if I do say so myself!) Redoing your bedroom? They have everything from nightstands to shoe racks! I would definitely take a peek over there, but beware: it's a little addicting!

Onto the questions! Check out previous installments here.

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16. How come the things that make you happy don't make everyone happy?

Simple - because we are all different. What makes me happy doesn't make everyone happy. Spending an entire Sunday watching football makes me happy - for others, this is torture. Reading, writing, and playing board games make me happy but for you it might be golfing, fishing, and going to bars. We all have our own likes and dislikes and the trick is surrounding ourselves with people who have some of the same hobbies as us, but also make us broaden our horizons and find new hobbies through them.

17. What one thing have you not done that you really want to do? What's holding you back?

I really want to be able to run a 5K in under 30 minutes. I think this is one of my biggest goals right now, especially since it means I would cut 15 minutes off my time. And that would be an incredible feat. I would feel amazing! What's holding me back? Not having proper running shoes (remedying that this weekend!), not being consistent at exercise, and not believing in myself. When I tell myself it's too hard, I'm losing the mental game - and we all know running is 90% a mental game. The day I cross the finish line and the clock hasn't hit 30 minutes will be the best day of my life.

18. Are you holding onto something you need to let go of?

I'm holding onto a lot of things I need to let go of. Insecurity, weight, past experiences, doubt. I want to be able to let go of the past and start trusting in myself. I let things my dad has said and done to me affect me and really, pave my path. I believe in the lies he said about me and it causes me to doubt that anyone could ever like me or that I'm meaningful. While I know he's wrong, it's hard to let go of it when you hear lies again and again during your formative years by the one man you should be able to trust.

If I could afford it, I would see a therapist because there are issues that I haven't dealt with, mainly because I don't want to and because they are ingrained so deeply in my core that it's going to take some work to get them out. I'm beginning to realize what I'm doing to myself, but it's definitely a work in progress.

(And wow, didn't mean to make this so deep and personal. But there it is.)

19. If you had to move to a state or country besides the one you currently live in, where would you move and why?

Gosh, I have no idea. I know I wouldn't like a fast-paced city life like NYC or Chicago. I'm not afraid to say that I like the suburbs and I like the calmness of small-town life! I absolutely adore the city I live in and would gladly live here forever. But if I had to choose somewhere else, I would probably choose Georgia. Mainly, because I could raise my kids there and they would have the cutest Southern accents.

20. Do you push the elevator button more than once? Do you really believe it makes the elevator faster?

I only press it once. Although I'll usually press it multiple times if the light isn't lit. But no, it doesn't make the elevator go faster, just makes you look impatient.

Book Review: Outlive Your Life by Max Lucado

The tagline for this book is "You were made to make a difference." Honestly, it's not a new concept and there was no ground-breaking information in the book. The book talks about how we can make a difference, be it on a grand-scale in other countries or a smaller scale right in our home. The book is chock full of biblical and modern-day examples of how powerful our actions can be if we just take a step out of our comfort zones and show love to the world.

I was a little wary about the book because I've read books with the same type of message before and am always left feeling like I don't have enough money, time, or resources to truly make a difference. Max Lucado does something totally different with this book. He gives big examples and small examples, biblical and modern day. Things that can help a tiny village in Africa and things that can help a single woman, alone in a brand-new city. Instead of feeling like the problems are too insurmountable for me to fix, I am left feeling like there are numerous ways I can make a difference that don't include shoveling what little money I have at an aid organization.

Instead, I can pray. I can volunteer. I can invite a friend to coffee and let her have a listening ear if they need it. I can make people feel valuable and loved. I can pool all my talents and resources that I already have (such as, compassion and a big heart) to make a difference. Maybe it's not on a large-scale and maybe I'll only affect a small minority of people. Maybe I'll only affect one person. But it's still making a difference because that one person is just as important to God as an entire village.

So, no. The message isn't any different than others I've read. I don't have a bigger itch to do missionary work, or even to start volunteering at a soup kitchen. But I do realize that I can make a difference now. It can be as small as praying for a lost friend, or as big (to them) as inviting them over for dinner. And I will make a difference. I was made to.

I would recommend this book for anyone seeking to learn more about the message of Jesus, what He stands for, and seeking opportunities to make a difference. The examples will amaze you, and sometimes may bring tears to your eyes. It's proof that there are still good people in this world and we have plenty of opportunities to show those less fortunate what it means to be love.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am diclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising".

Review: The 30-Day Shred

Well, guys. I did it. I made a goal and stuck with it until the end. Even on the days I was exhausted, I did it. For 30 days straight, I had a date with Jillian Michaels, whether or not I liked it. I'm actually pretty surprised I completed this because I'm not the best at month-long challenges, especially regarding my health.

Let me just say that I totally recommend this workout for anyone, even if you don't exercise a lot. You don't have to do it for 30 days straight like I did, but it's an insanely good workout for anyone. In each level, she increases the intensity, switches up which muscles we're using, and you begin to feel your body change and become stronger.

Obviously, I did Level 1 for the first 10 days and then switched over to Level 2 for the next 10 days, finishing up my last 10 days on Level 3. While I loved the new routines on Days 1/2, I began to dread this workout by Day 7. It got very repetitive, especially doing the same exact routine for a week straight! I'm a girl who needs variety when exercising so this was tough for me.

While I'll be happy for this DVD to now cover itself in dust, I'm so happy I did this challenge. Not only did I show myself that I have the focus and determination to complete a challenge of this caliber, I also showed myself how strong I really am. I couldn't do every move in the high intensity, but when I was able to, it made me feel awesome.

And now I have a whole bunch of new moves to add in to the strength-training program I'm developing for my mom and me. I love how she managed to hit just about every muscle in your body. And a big plus? I CAN SEE MY ABS! I can't see a six-pack (or even a two-pack), but there's a definite definition in my stomach where my abs will someday be.

Now, let's talk about results. (Insert eye roll.) Weight-wise, I did horribly. I've been up and down all month and can't seem to get over this 145-lb hump. All in all, I gained half a pound this month. And I know the whole "muscle weighs more than fat" argument, but seriously, I should have lost some of this fat, ya think? I'll deal with my muscles when I don't worry about people asking me if I'm pregnant, capisce?

Luckily, I did manage to lose some inches this month. Here's the rundown:

Arms: No change. At all. None. Zero. Zip. Zilch. Nada. (A.K.A. BOO!)
Thighs: Lost 1 inch. (YAY!)
Upper waist: Lost 1 inch. (Abs, baby!)
Lower waist: Lost 1.5 inches
Hips: Lost half an inch (Seriously? Seriously?!)

I'm just have to keep on pushing and challenging myself. I know I haven't been perfect at eating this month so I want to really get focused with that in June, as well as doing more intense exercises.

*I'm starting my media fast tomorrow morning, but I do have one post scheduled for later in the week. So be on the lookout for that!