Carry On Everytime-A Must Read!

Believe it people. This princess only packs in a carry on for EVERY vacation, from 4 quick days in Mexico to 11 days train hopping in Italy! No lost luggage, no fees, and no waiting at baggage claim. I just walk right on by everyone scratching their head, hands on hips waiting, and trying to figure out which luggage belongs to them on the big conveyer belt. Yes, it can be a hassel trying to find that perfect spot above your seat for your luggage but if there is no more room they will check it for free. So with a rolling bag and a large shoulder bag to fit under my seat, we are ready to go! But packing for our upcoming trip was seriously a challenge and I was excited to tackle it. Pack for me and my baby in 1 lonely carry on and 1 shoulder bag. Don't ever challenge or doubt me, I will prove you wrong :) So this post is with baby things, whatever room she takes up, just think you have that much more space if you are traveling alone. I have a cheap bag from Khols and it seriously is the best, good pockets, expands, and it has been many places. I can't part with my dirty old bag...yet!1.) Pack clothes and shoes in the same color palate or neutrals. Try to pick outfits and shoes you can wear with just about every outfit. 2.) Pack sample size items and travel items such as perfume samples, toothpaste from the dentist, small deodorant and such. I take small shampoos, my toothbrush, and travel toothpaste and leave it there. (Of course remember if you carry on it can only be 3.0 ounces anyways.) Who wants to take your dirty toothbrush home and most of the time I use up my shampoo/conditioner. You can bring the bottles home because you have room and reuse them if you would like, but at .99, I buy new! 3.) Go light. Like makeup, jewelery, and hair accessories. Bring things you can mix and match. You do not need every color eyeshadow you own or every necklace, you should bring a color or piece that matches all outfits. 4.) Start with a good list. See previous Blog post for my Vacation Packing List. I love a list...for everything :) 5.) Condense. Majority of you probably have an iPad or some gadget, so use it wisely. Upload movies, games, newspapers, magazines, and books all on one source for more room in your carry on bag. If you don't want to buy books and magazines, borrow them from your local library using Wilbor.lib.overdrive.com/. Simple. My make-up bag inside my luggage has all essentials that are not liquids. Duh. *see Vacation Packing List blog post

</a Most people find it hard to take only 1 ziplock bag full of their stuff but here I have a few tips for you. Here's mine (with baby): Neutrogena sunscreen (my fav), California Baby sunscreen, shampoo, condtioner, hairspray, 3 perfume samples, lotion ( The Body Shop has awesome travel size body butter in tons of scents), toothpaste, 2 sample size Johnson & Johnson shampoo/body wash combo, baby lotion, and baby Tylenol. * Pack this near the top of your luggage for easy access when going through security. Nobody wants to wait for you to dig it out while your underwear is flying out in the process.

Now let's talk your carry on bag/purse. This should fit under the seat in front of you. If I am not taking my baby, I throw my purse into the bag, but for this trip I am not taking an actual purse. I put things in this bag to keep me busy, full, clean, and organized. Kleenex, hand sanitizer, passports, wallet with id's, credit cards, money, sunglasses, hat (if I am taking one), snacks, iPad, camera, and slippers for when my feet get cold :). This trip I am adding a baby "bag" that I put in my blog post, My Baby Must Haves. Life saver, and it's cute. In this bag for my baby is: extra outfit, teether toy, book, sunnies, wipes, 4 diapers, rice cereal (I poured it into a milk storage bag, folded it over and put it inside a Gerber bowl with lid), spoon, bib, paci, comb, 2 formula packets, bottle, and a blankie. Note: I do not have my electronics in my bag yet in the photo because I use them daily...okay, hourly :)

Here is what I am packing for myself, 5 days to Mexico, all inclusive. We go to the Riu Palace often and so there is no need for us to venture out on excursions. 1.) White/Navy striped maxi dress

</a 2.) Tunic and white shorts. My tunic matches my baby's dress :)

</a 3.) White wrap top with skinny jean/capris or wear with khaki shorts from another outfit. 4.) Pink dress

5.) Khaki shorts and t-shirt

6.) My outfit for the plane is comfy linen pants, easy tank for nursing my baby and wear one of my cardigans.

Shoes I am taking are a flip flop, sandal, and a wedge. All the same color family. Each pair works with every outfit and I am taking 2 cardigans because I am a grandma in disguise, I get cold. Don't forget the essentials, bras and undies.

Now for my darling child. Yes, it was hard not to pack extra because every outfit looks cute on her! I used a Pinterest idea and packed her things in Ziploc bags, then I manually ( with my own mouth) sucked the excess air out of the bag to condense it down. Who needs those vacuum sealed bags anyways when I have the biggest mouth?? Haha Each number refers to each ZipLoc bag. 1.) 2 blankies, 3 pairs socks, 2 pj's, 3 bibs, and 1 onsie 2.) Rash gaurd (aka swimsuit), yellow dress with bloomers, hair bow, coverup, and foot sandals. 3.) Cream hat, cover up, rash gaurd, foot sandals, and pink dress with bloomers 4.) Flamingo shirt with ruffle bottoms, hair bow, pink hat, and rash gaurd 5.) Dress with bloomers, white hat, rash gaurd, cover up, blue hat, and hair bow. I am taking 2 re-usable swim diapers and 25 regular diapers with me as well. Who knew it was so hard to get baby sized disposable swim diapers?! Call me crazy but I am also taking a blow up pool canopy floatie.

So start with a list, colors you want to wear, and go from there. For example, in Italy, I took comfy walking shoes and 2 pairs of boots, brown and black boots. Wear one pair of boots on the plane to make more space in your carry on. I am also notorious for making a graph of the days I am there for mixing & matching outfits. Whatever works for you do it, but take the challenge and pack in a carry on, the airline will love you for it! HaHa Happy Travels! *After we go on our vacation I will make sure and report back with you on what worked and what didn't work when traveling with a baby. To be continued....

Vacation Packing List

If you don't know me, I make a list for everything, even for just 3 items at the grocery store. Now with having a baby, I swear I can't remember anything for the life of me....until I get home. Annoying. With vacation on my mind, I decided to share my go-to packing list for every vacation. Depending on the location, I add/remove a few items. I print this off of my computer, saved in my email for each vacation, and check it off as I go.*I make a pouch in my purse/bag with my meds, chapstick, mini nail file, band aids, hair tie/bobby pin, hand lotion, perfume sample, and feminine products. ( exclude perfume if flying)

Bathroom 🛁🚿 Shamp/conditioner Razor  Face cream Lotion Chapstick Nail file Makeup Flat iron Curling iron Hair dryer Bobby pins-hair ties-headbands Toothbrush & paste Brush/comb Nail polish Perfume Contacts/glasses Sunscreen Deodorant  Tampons Meds: Motrin, BC, Tums, band aids Clothing👗 Dresses Shorts Shirts Tanks/Tees Sandals/shoes Slippers Flip flops Bras-strapless & sports bra Running gear: shoes, tanks, shorts Underwear Pjs Jewelry-watch-necklace-earrings Socks Swim suits Coverups Hats Sunglasses Scarf Belt Stuff👜 Ipad Phone Chargers Books-magazines Passport Itenirary Money ID & Credit card Snacks Water bottle Mints/gum Beach towel Neck pillow Ipod & ear buds/headphones Camera-chargers Beach bag MIO for drinks Arrange dog sitter Have neighbor get mail Stop paper delivery Turn down heat/air Set light timers Movies on ipad Kindle & charger

Let me know if I am missing one of your "essentials"! Happy Travels.

Travel Belize

I can't help but to dream I am on a flight to someplace warm with these crazy Iowa temperatures lately. One of my favorite vacations is...Belize! It's okay if you just Googled where Belize is :) If you are looking for someplace warm with sand, beach, and sun? Ding ding ding, Belize it is! Aside from a snorklers and scuba divers paradise, their laid back lifestyle and friendly people make this place a real gem. No hasseling or begging from the locals, English is their primary language, and they take the dollar! It all started for me too with a google search for "great place to vacation." I love to try new places, while my husband would go back to the same place everytime, so when I suggested Belize, he wasn't sold. After all, it was a trip to celebrate his birthday. I did my research, scowered my go-to travel sites and ended up finding a ridiculous deal with an even better flight. For those who hate wasting a day traveling, this may be your next vacation! A normal connection is typically from Des Moines to Houston onto Belize. Now please don't stay in Belize City, not so good. Once you land in Belize City, you catch a puddle jumper (don't freak out) to Ambergris Caye which takes about 15 minutes and flights run all day. If you are a chicken, you can take the water taxi which takes anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours....it was the worse thing ever and at the end of this post I will do my best to explain why. Book your mini flight through Maya Air or Tropic Air, which is what we used. Make sure to get a roundtrip ticket.

After you land, pick up your bags at the very confusing and huge baggage claim. Haha kidding. Another reason I love this place.

You can take a land taxi to the water taxi station which is totally unnecessary because it is less than 2 blocks away from baggage claim. I consider myself the carry-on queen, so it's easy for us to walk the 2 blocks. Yes, this princess seriously packs everything, everytime into a carry-on. Once you are at the water taxi place, it is best to buy a week long pass for the water taxi, which allows you roundtrip rides all week. It's worth it.

After a 5 minute water taxi ride, you are at your home away from home. Everytime we go, we stay at the same hotel, Coco Beach Resort. We will probably never stay anywhere else. Although it has no all inclusive options, there are plenty of other options available. You can have them stock your room with food you have choosen from a list, to be in your room when you arrive. Room service and poolside service are another option as well. Last year they added a brand new restaurant onto the property which is stunning, and they also have another more relaxed restaurant next door on their sister property. Drinks are pricey at the swim up bar but here is a tip: buy your booze at the duty free shop in the airport. Problem solved. Two different pools to choose from, one has a slide and the other is for wading or cooling off. The rooms are stocked with everything you need to make meals and free coffee as a perk! They know the way to my heart :) This will not be your typical over crowded beach resort. <

Things to do: These are my suggestions! 1.) Day trip to Belize City for cave tubing and climbing the Mayan Ruins. This is a long day but a lot of fun. Ask for George!

2.) The Chicken Drop at Wahoo's Lounge. Yep. Just like bingo but you win if the chicken poops on your number.

3.) Snorkel (because I don't scuba) Hol Chan Marine Reserve. A half day was plenty for me. 4.) Eat at Wild Mango's. Get their fish tacos and a local brew. br />
5.) Try a Johnny Cake at Ruby's cafe. If you go on the day trip, one of these are included. It's your breakfast. Ham and cheese is best :) br />
6.) Rent a golf cart and drive into town instead of taking the boat. Hilarious. Walk the streets and explore. There are 3 streets, Front, Middle, and Back street. You can't get lost. 7.) Enjoy The Palapa. Aka the bar. Write your name in marker on the deck ( you may find mine), float in an inner tube in the ocean water, and watch your drinks be lowered to you in a bucket. Heaven.

8.) Try the local cocktail, Rum Punch. Watch out, they pack a mean punch! 9.) Feed the Tarpon at Sunset Grill. WARNING: throw the fish in, do not hold it! That dumb Tarpon ate my whole hand and left me bleeding for lunch. Not cool but we still get a good laugh when we talk about it. 10.) Finish off your vacation with a romantic dinner in the property's restaurant. Delicious food and wine.

Needless to say, at the end of our trip my husband said hands down, it was his favorite vacation. Score! Pack your hat, sunnies, and some flip flops. This is what you will live in 90% of the time while in Belize. Safe travels! P.s. This picture is the best explanation of why you should choose the flight over the boat ride. It was this scene for almost 2 hours. Never again!

Bacon Fest-Viva Las Bacon

Bacon Fest virgin no longer! Yesterday was Des Moines, Iowa's 7th Annual Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival. Yes that's right, a festival dedicated to "ohhhh bacon!" Tickets sold out in 42 minutes, all 12,000 of them. That is up from the nearly 10,000 last year. I was not really ever interested in going but a co-worker happened to be selling her tickets and I thought, what a great "date day" for the hubs and I. We have never been and it's in our own backyard! All of a sudden you start to feel like part of the "in" crowd because you are going to THE Bacon Fest.We didn't know what to expect so I looked it up on the website blueribbonbaconfestival.com. I had no clue what the website was talking about so we just went in completely blind, which can be good sometimes when you have no expectations. I mean, how can bacon fail you? Same brown, marbalized, long strip of flavor it has always been. Hard to change that! The recommendation we got was to go at 11:00 a.m. and leave by 3:00p.m., so we did. Maybe not the best time to arrive. We left our house at 10:45 after prepping my Mom & Dad on how to get the baby to take a bottle and me squeezing in a quick feeding to tie her over longer in hopes of not receiving any "get home" phone calls. We should've left our house at 12:00 as we did not get into the actual fest until then. That was traffic, parking, and the line to get in. Yes, I said line. I have never seen a line that long, even for the fair, and are you sure only 12,000 people went? Did everyone drive seperate? This genius, yes me, decided not to wear a coat for the fear the bacon smell would never come out of it. Not sure if that was the smartest decision on a day that was 18 degrees and a line that took over 30 minutes to get through. A drone was flying above the line we were waiting in and all I wanted was for it to drop something warm, perhaps a slice of bacon?

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After waiting in line we were shuffled into the Elwell building where we were carded and tickets were scanned. Ahhh warmth. We are IN! Well, not yet. Grab your goody bag (5 food tickets, 2 drink tickets, t-shirt, lid loosener thing, pamplets, and a coozie of course,) buy more tickets, and then head back outside to either the Varied Industries building or the Jacobson building. The VI is closer so we are going there following a herd of bacon lovers. We entered by the craft beer station and by looking around, you better stop there first. One of my favorite local breweries was there serving up my favorite brew, PeaceTree's Blonde Fatale. Homerun. If you are ever in Knoxville, Iowa check them out!

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Next up is food! Free slices of bacon tied us over while waiting in line for more bacon. No one should ever leave this place hungry! We stopped over to say hello to our Templeton Rye buddies ( if you like whisky, buy a bottle of this,) then we started with La Mie bakery. A bacon and cheddar croissant kicked off the party in my mouth! It was heavenly, but would've been more heavenly if they added eggs and served it warm!

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The only thing I could not wait to try was the cro-nut ( croissant/donut) from Zombie Burger, so over to the Jacobson building we went. Another large dwelling packed with bacon lovers drinking and eating, oh and a wedding complete with a bacon bouquet. I can't make this stuff up people. I love donuts and right there at the entrance it was. Dipped in a chocolate bacon glaze, topped with crumbled bacon and chocolate sprinkles for fun. It was a good thought and needs some perfecting. All I could taste was the bacon grease it was fried in :( Sad day for me. But it did look pretty.

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We ran into a few friends, shared a few laughs, and headed back over to the less crowded VI building, if that was even possible. I checked my phone to see if I had any messages from Mom, and nothing. Whew! Our last food tickets were burning a hole in our pocket so naturally we needed to eat again. My husband chose the Bacon Explosion from the guys at BBQ Addicts and I chose HyVee's bacon bread pudding after drooling over someone else eating it. This is seriously a tribute to each of our personalities. He picks the salty food and I go straight for the sugar! Both were delicious and worth the wait!

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We officially felt like if we ate one more thing we would barf. After watching a butt quarter contest ( I can't even begin to explain,) and some great music from Rumble Seat Riot, a Rock/Rockabilly/Road House group, we decided to call it a successful day. Walking the mile back to the car felt great, as if we were working off some of the lard we just consumed. A quick text to Mom stating we were on our way home and a text back saying that the baby was sleeping. All is well.

All in all it was about the experience. Will I sit at my computer for next year trying to beat out thousands of people for tickets...probably not. There are a few kinks that need to be worked out and if it keeps expanding, why not just make it a summer event? Seriously, just make it a bacon fair. This is Iowa ya know :) And for all of you that read my blog post Breast & Bottle, my child did not eat for my parents, she kindly waited for me to get home. Diva. We will just keep working on it. Until then, I have a baby and will keep living! Ohhhh Bacon :)