How To Cruise Like Pro {My Insider Tips}

Cruising is one of our favorite ways to vacation and see the world.  And while cruising is not for everyone, if you want a low-key, fun vacation, a cruise is a great option.  One of the best things about a cruise is you decide how active (or not) you want to be.   If you want to explore each port of call and see how the locals live, you can do that.  If you want to sit back and soak up the sun (cocktail in hand), that’s an option too.

My first cruise was 26 years ago  when we went on our honeymoon. I now have about 12 cruises under my belt, my most recent cruise just a few week ago. With every cruise, I learn new ways to make the most of my cruise experience.  Today I’m sharing loads of valuable cruise information plus my Insider Tips For Cruising Like A Pro!

How to Cruise Like A Pro (Insider Tips) by ConfettiStyle

Planning Your Cruise

  • Research different cruise lines and think about the type of cruise you want to take? Do you want a family vacation that offers activities for the kids? Or are you looking for luxury and fine dining? Maybe you want a romantic escape? There are cruises designed to fit any type of travel experience.
  • Look at each ship within a cruise line fleet to see what each one has to offer.  While there are commonalities on every cruise ship, each cruise line will have some signature elements that only they offer.  Check out this summary on the most popular cruise lines.  insider tip:  Carnival and Disney are definitely more family friendly cruises and Norwegian and Royal Caribbean tend to lean more adult.
  • Consider the time of year you want to sail and what type of weather you want to enjoy.  The Caribbean and Bahamas are ideal if you like the sun and warm weather.  Or Alaska might be more your weather style.  insider tip:  sailing around Labor Day is a great because kids are back in school and prices are a bit lower.
  • Consider your budget. Cruise prices can vary greatly depending on when you travel, where you’re going and the type of accommodations you choose.  And if you want to enjoy excursions off the ship, those are an additional cost. Water, tea and lemonade are available for free on the ship, but drinks (alcohol, bottled water and soda), spa services, childcare (outside of kids’ club activities) and tips are all extra.  You’ll also want to consider how you will get to the destination port and weigh the cost of driving (and parking fees) against the cost of flying (and luggage fees).
  • Pick your room style.  There are several different styles of rooms available on most cruise ships. Inside Cabins, Ocean View, Balcony Rooms and Suites.  I don’t recommend inside cabins for the mere fact that the rooms are tiny and don’t have any windows.  All of the other room types will give you more room to move around and have windows.  insider tip:  you can often upgrade your room a couple of weeks before you sail for a small fee.  Call your cruise line one week before you sail and see if upgrades are available.  We recently upgraded our room on cruise three days before we sailed and it only cost us $80.

How to Cruise Like A Pro (Insider Tips) by ConfettiStyle

 

Determine Your Cruise Activities

  • Research your cruise destinations for the top attractions and any travel advisories and alerts.  While it is safe for tourist in the shopping areas near port, venturing out into some cities on your own can be risky.  insider tip:  If you want to tour the area on your own,  hire a taxi or van for a few hours.  And where possible, have 4 or more people in your group. 
  • Plan your shore excursions and on-board activities.  All cruise lines will have a comprehensive list of excursions available for each port.  You’ll also see ratings and feedback from other travelers but take all of that information with a grain of salt.  Many of the reviews are paid reviews and may make an excursion look more glamorous than it really is.  insider tip: a good way to find out the real scoop on excursions and travel destinations is to google travel blogs and read what they have to say.
  • Select Your Dining Option.  All cruise ships offer reservation dining options and free-style dining where you can eat at select restaurants whenever you want.  If you plan to attend the nightly shows, request an early dinner seating so you’re not eating at 10 pm.

How to Cruise Like A Pro (Insider Tips) by ConfettiStyle

Pack Like A Pro

  • Ok ladies, this one is for you.   My first piece of advice is try not to over pack.  I still haven’t mastered this but I get better with each cruise.  The reality is that you will spend a lot of time in your swim suit or shorts so you don’t need to pack many dressy pieces.  If your cruise ship has a formal night you can take a  formal dress but don’t be shocked to see other people’s concept of formal which might be a dress with flip-flops.
  • Pack a carry-on bag that you’ll take directly on the ship with you.  The bag should hold a few essentials including a change of clothes, your medicine, sleepwear and bathing suits.  Your other luggage will be checked before you board the ship and won’t be delivered to your cabin until after the ship sets sail.  insider tip:  make sure you have luggage tags on the outside of all your bags.  Also place a label with your name, cabin number and cell number on the inside of each bag.  I’d also recommend that you take a photo of your bags on your phone in case they get lost.

 

  • Here’s a summary of essential items you’ll want to pack for your cruise:
  1. Swimwear and Swimsuit Coverup.–Take at least two or three so you don’t have to wash them out at the end of each day.
  2. Tennis Shoes–I definitely recommend a pair of sneakers if you want to do any adventurous exploring off the ship.  And note that many excursions actually require tennis shoes.
  3. Sandals–Keep comfort in mind.  Remember that you’re vacationing to relax, not put on a fashion show.  insider tip:  the decks and floors on cruise ships can be slippery at times so I recommend rubber bottom shoes over hard soles.
  4. Sunglasses–Take two pair of sunglasses with you in case you misplace or lose a pair.
  5. Baseball Hat or Sun Hat–This is essential, especially in the Caribbean or Bahamas where the sun can be brutal.
  6. Light Jacket/ Sweater–The inside of cruise ships can be cold so take a jacket, light weight sweatshirt or sweater to keep cozy.
  7. A pair of jeans or long pants–You may want to wear jeans if going horse back riding or taking a 4-wheel excursion.
  8. Nice Clothing For Dinner–Some restaurants will require a suit coat for men and dressier clothing for women. One or two dressy outfits will suffice.
  9. Insulated Water Bottle–Don’t forget this!!!  You’ll want to keep yourself hydrated during the cruise so make sure everyone traveling has an insulated water bottle to keep cold water close at hand.  insider tip:   buy a water bottle holder to hold  and carry your insulated water container around the boat and on shore.
  10. Hand Sanitizer–It’s very easy to catch a cold on a cruise given the number of people confined in such a small space.  Most ships have sanitizer stations around the boat so you’ll need your own when you’re off the ship.
  11. Lanyard (neck card holder)–Once you board the ship you’ll be given a sail-and-sign card.  This card opens your cabin door and allows you to purchase anything you want on the ship.  Make it easy to keep track of your card by hooking it on a lanyard and wear it around your neck.
  12. Backpack or Beach Tote–You’ll want a bag if you plan to get off the ship to go to the beach or sightseeing.
  13. Book/Magazines/Headphones–Pack these items to relax and enjoy while sitting out on the deck.
  14. Small Packets of Laundry Detergent & Dryer Sheets–Some cruise ships have laundry facilities on board and you can purchase packets of soap and wash and dry clothes if needed.  Insider tip:  save a little money, and carry your own packets of Tide soap that can be purchase in the travel toiletries section at Target.
  15. A laundry bag–You will accumulate dirty laundry on your cruise so a laundry bag will make it easy to your keep dirty clothes contained.  When you pack to come home just toss the full laundry bag in your suitcase.

The Comforts Of Home

  • Clear the refrigerator–Most cabins will have a small refrigerator in the room filled with soda, water and small liquor bottles that you can purchase.  insider tip:  have your room steward clear out the refrigerator so you can use it to hold your water bottle and any wine/beverages you take on board.  You’ll want to check with your cruise line to see what you are allowed to carry on. In most cases, passengers can bring a limited amounts of soda or juice onboard, as long as the drinks are packaged in cans or cartons–a 12-pack per person is the current allowance on Carnival. 
  • Medication–Take enough for a few extra days in case you don’t dock back at your home port as scheduled.  (Last year our ship was caught at sea trying to avoid a storm and we ended up being on the ship 4 extra days.)
  • Cold medicine–Just in case you get the sniffles or catch a cold.  You can buy cold medicine in the gift shop but you’ll pay a premium for it.
  • Extension cords–Extension cords are hard to come by on a cruise ship.  If you or someone you are traveling with uses a CPap machine you’ll need a cord so bring your own.  On some cruise lines if you alert them that someone has a CPap they will provide a gallon of distilled water for free.
  • Alarm clock–Good to have for days when you are docking at a port and need to wake up early to head to an excursion.  insider tip:  can you request a wake-up call from the guest services desk just like you do at a hotel. 
  • Extra hangers–There are never enough hangers in the closet so tuck 6 to 8 lightweight plastic hangers in your luggage.  insider tip:  buy colorful hangers so you’re less likely to forget them when packing to go home.
  • Ironing your cloths–Most cruise ships have an ironing board and iron in each of the laundry facilities so you can iron your clothes.  insider tip:  if you need to iron, make it one of the first things you do after you board and unpack.  Iron all your clothes at once so you won’t have to wait in lines during the cruise.  FYI–the Norwegian Getaway that we just cruised on did not have laundry facilities.  Your only option for washing clothes was to let the cruise line wash them for $19.99 a bag.
  • Speciality food items like your favorite tea or coffee creamer. If you use a special brand, you’ll want to bring it with you.  Make sure to check with your cruise line to confirm the food product can be brought on board.

Organize and Maximize In-Room Storage

  • Unless you have a suite, most rooms on a cruise ship have relatively small/limited closet and shelf space.    insider tip:  Take an over-the-door shoe organizer to hang on the closet or bathroom door and use it to hold toiletries, sandals, sleepwear and such.  I purchased one from TJMaxx that stays in my suitcase for traveling.
  • Store your empty suitcases under your bed.  The beds in each cabin are designed with open space underneath just for this purpose.  With your luggage tucked away, you’ll have more room to move around in your cabin.

 

 

Be Tech Saavy

  • Cell phone roaming charges and the price for shipboard Wi-Fi can take a bite out of your travel budget. Check with your cell phone provider to see what settings your phone needs to be on to avoid excess charges. Set your phone to airplane mode whenever you are in open waters.  insider tip:  download the cruise lines’ free App as a way to stay connected with the people you’re traveling with.  Most Apps allow you to chat with other people you know that are connected on the App during the cruise. Check out this list of 8 Free Phone Travel Apps for Cruisers.
  • Bring your own phone charging station and power strip (check to see if these are legal on your cruise line) to ensure you have plenty of outlets to plug your electronics in. insider tip:  sometimes there’s an extra outlet hidden behind the TV or under the bed–just ask your room steward. 

 

How to Cruise Like A Pro (Insider Tips) by ConfettiStyle

 

Take Advantage Of Everything The Cruise Ship Has To Offer:

  • You are not limited to one of each appetizer, entrée and dessert in the main dining room. You can order two entrees or three desserts if you choose. Or you can also order a few appetizers for your main meal.
  • Room service is generally free, except for service charges on certain lines.
  • Don’t think your only option for breakfast is the main dining room.  Many of the speciality restaurants on the ship will also serve breakfast.  Check your daily newsletter to see which restaurants are open in the morning.
  • All you can eat ice cream.  Most ships have soft-serve machines on the buffet deck that are operational into the wee hours of the morning.
  • There’s no “open beverage” rule onboard. You can bring drinks from a bar or buffet to your cabin or elsewhere on the ship. (Same goes for food.)
  • Groups of beer drinkers can save by ordering buckets of beer. You get four or five beers in a souvenir bucket at a per-beer cost slightly cheaper than ordering individual bottles.
  • If you’re feeling sea sick, don’t run to the pharmacy to buy meds.  insider tip:  you can often get seasickness meds from the purser’s desk for free.

 

We’ll friends.  I think I’ve covered just about everything.  If you’re cruising for the first time this year I hope these tips come in handy.  And if you’re a seasoned cruiser like me, I’m hoping you learned something new.

If you have a cruise tip I need to know about, leave a comment.

 

Our Norwegian Cruise (and unexpected friendship)

Cruising With Norwegian Cruise Lines--Getaway by ConfettiStyle

Hi friends and happy Friday.  We’ve been back from our cruise for 2 weeks and I’m finally getting around to sharing a recap of our travels.  Hold on tight because this is a photo heavy post but after seeing all the beautiful images, I’m sure you’ll want to book a cruise vacation.

Cruising With Norwegian Cruise Lines--Getaway by ConfettiStyle

I mentioned in a previous post that we traveled with three other couples on this cruise.  Here’s a photo of all of us together at dinner one night. We’re all wearing matching t-shirts that Marie made for us.

Cruising With Norwegian Cruise Lines--Getaway by ConfettiStyle

left to right:  Jack & Dorothy (from Ohio), Sal & Marie (from Florida), and Roberto (front) and Eileen (next to my hubby also from Florida)

Looking at the photo you might think that we’ve all been friends for years but believe it or not, we met each other for the first time, 2 years ago on a Carnival cruise!

Cruising With Norwegian Cruise Lines--Getaway by ConfettiStyle

Whenever the hubs and I cruise, we always request to be seated at a large table for dinner.  We love meeting people and making new friends is always fun when you’re cruising.  We’ve met lots of couples over the years but meeting this group was different.

 Two years ago, on the second night of our cruise, we headed to dinner and were the last couple to arrive at the table.  We introduced ourselves to the other couples and it was non-stop conversation and laughs the entire night.  Over the course of the cruise we hung out together, played cards and got to know each other.  We all became instant friends!

After our first cruise we kept in touch and the hubs and I spent a few days in Florida with Sal and Marie.  We took our second cruise together last year and traveled together again on our most recent cruise.  We’ve already started talking about a cruise for 2019 and are looking at Alaska or the Panama Canal.

Sometimes it can be hard to make new friends as adults but I truly believe meeting these guys was meant to be.  All I can say is…there are friends, there is family and then there are friends that become family!  We love these guys to pieces.

***

Ok, enough about out little travel group, now it’s time to share photos from our trip.  I’m going to keep the verbiage to a minimum so you can enjoy the photos.

Cruising With Norwegian Cruise Lines--Getaway by ConfettiStyle

This year we set sail on a 7 day cruise with Norwegian Cruise Lines, on the ship the Getaway.  We left on a Sunday afternoon from Miami and enjoyed the beautiful Miami waterfront before we hit the open waters.

Cruising With Norwegian Cruise Lines--Getaway by ConfettiStyle

Our first day was spent at sea and I enjoyed lots of time soaking up the sun.

Cruising With Norwegian Cruise Lines--Getaway by ConfettiStyle

Cruising is a little bit like being in a casino in Las Vegas.  There were lot of neon lights, music blasting and this stunning chandelier hanging in the lobby of the ship.  Each night of the cruise the lights changed to a different color.

Cruising With Norwegian Cruise Lines--Getaway by ConfettiStyle

The Norwegian Getaway has an impressive line-up of restaurants on the ship and we dined at a different spot each night.

Cruising With Norwegian Cruise Lines--Getaway by ConfettiStyle

 

Cruising With Norwegian Cruise Lines--Getaway by ConfettiStyle

There was a comedy club on board with both family friendly and adult comedy shows.  The only downside was that the same comedians and shows repeated throughout the cruise.

Cruising With Norwegian Cruise Lines--Getaway by ConfettiStyle

Our first port of call was Costa Maya, Mexico.

Cruising With Norwegian Cruise Lines--Getaway by ConfettiStyle

Cruising With Norwegian Cruise Lines--Getaway by ConfettiStyle

 

p.s. I’ll never get tired of seeing the beautiful blue Caribbean sea.

Cruising With Norwegian Cruise Lines--Getaway by ConfettiStyle

We spent a few hours lounging on the beach and relaxing in the water. The water was a little muddy from the recent storms that had moved through but it was still blue, warm and tropical.

Cruising With Norwegian Cruise Lines--Getaway by ConfettiStyle

Cruising With Norwegian Cruise Lines--Getaway by ConfettiStyle

Cruising With Norwegian Cruise Lines--Getaway by ConfettiStyle

Fresh coconuts were just a few dollars along the beach.

Cruising With Norwegian Cruise Lines--Getaway by ConfettiStyle

Cruising With Norwegian Cruise Lines--Getaway by ConfettiStyle

Beautiful pink flamingos!

Cruising With Norwegian Cruise Lines--Getaway by ConfettiStyle

Our second port was Harvest Caye, Belize.  Harvest Caye is a private island/resort area owned and operated by Norwegian.  It was truly breathtaking with lush tropical greenery, a massive pool area and a large beach front lounging space!  I waded in the ocean and worked on my tan while the rest of the group explored the area.  #myhappyplace

Cruising With Norwegian Cruise Lines--Getaway by ConfettiStyle

Cruising With Norwegian Cruise Lines--Getaway by ConfettiStyle

Cruising With Norwegian Cruise Lines--Getaway by ConfettiStyle

Cruising With Norwegian Cruise Lines--Getaway by ConfettiStyle

Cruising With Norwegian Cruise Lines--Getaway by ConfettiStyle

Cruising With Norwegian Cruise Lines--Getaway by ConfettiStyle

Cruising With Norwegian Cruise Lines--Getaway by ConfettiStyle

The third port of call was Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras.  This was our first time in Honduras and all I can say is it was hot!!!

Cruising With Norwegian Cruise Lines--Getaway by ConfettiStyle

Cruising With Norwegian Cruise Lines--Getaway by ConfettiStyle

Cruising With Norwegian Cruise Lines--Getaway by ConfettiStyle

Once you leave the ship you enter a small shopping area in Roatan.  We decided to stay in the area and shop rather than take a taxi to another part of the island.   The hubs always buys small gifts for his team at work so we had fun picking out handcrafted pottery pieces and trying what little Spanish we know.

Cruising With Norwegian Cruise Lines--Getaway by ConfettiStyle

Cruising With Norwegian Cruise Lines--Getaway by ConfettiStyle

 

Cruising With Norwegian Cruise Lines--Getaway by ConfettiStyle

Cruising With Norwegian Cruise Lines--Getaway by ConfettiStyle

Cruising With Norwegian Cruise Lines--Getaway by ConfettiStyle

Day 6 of the cruise and took us to Cozumel.  We’ve been to Cozumel several times before and wanted to do something different this time.  The group decided to hire a van and driver to take us around the island.  We had a great time and learned so much about the area that you typically wouldn’t be exposed too.

Cruising With Norwegian Cruise Lines--Getaway by ConfettiStyle

The unspoiled coastline was just stunning.

Cruising With Norwegian Cruise Lines--Getaway by ConfettiStyle

Cruising With Norwegian Cruise Lines--Getaway by ConfettiStyle

Cruising With Norwegian Cruise Lines--Getaway by ConfettiStyle

Cruising With Norwegian Cruise Lines--Getaway by ConfettiStyle

How fun is this wall of fishing buoys? When I saw it, I immediately starting thinking about DIY Christmas ornaments that looked like these.

Cruising With Norwegian Cruise Lines--Getaway by ConfettiStyle

We also stopped at the local ruins and did some shopping there.  Dorothy is a master negotiator when it comes to jewelry so after she did all the hard negotiating, I jumped in on the deal and purchased a beautiful ring.

Cruising With Norwegian Cruise Lines--Getaway by ConfettiStyle

 

Cruising With Norwegian Cruise Lines--Getaway by ConfettiStyle

We also found a new friend. My hubby loves wildlife so he was excited to come upon this creature.  I went running and screaming the minute it moved!

Cruising With Norwegian Cruise Lines--Getaway by ConfettiStyle

Like most cruise ports in Mexico, alcohol is a hot commodity and was abundantly available for purchase at every turn.

Cruising With Norwegian Cruise Lines--Getaway by ConfettiStyle

All in all, we had an amazing time.  Despite some predictions of rain, the weather was spectacular the entire cruise.  We relaxed, ate way too much and enjoyed another adventure on the high seas with our dear friends.  I’m already looking forward to our next cruise.

Cruising With Norwegian Cruise Lines--Getaway by ConfettiStyle

 

On Monday I’ll be sharing my Insider Tips For Cruising Like A Pro so be sure to stop by and check out the post.

Happy weekend!

**all photos taken by me

Life Lately: A Little Of This and A Little Of That

Hi friends.  We returned from our vacation a couple of days ago and life has been a whirlwind ever since.  I had every intention to hit publish on  two new blog posts earlier this week but that didn’t happen.  Catching up on work, dealing with a broken garage disposal and mounds of laundry has gotten the best of me.  Why is it that when you come back from vacation you feel like you need another one just to unwind.

Things are slowly getting back to normal and I have good things on the blog horizon that I’ll be sharing in the coming weeks.

Today I wanted to pop in a share a bits and pieces of what’s been happening in my world to get you caught up.

VACATION IN PARADISE

The hubs and I went on a Carnival Cruise when we got married 26 years ago and fell in love with cruising.  We’ve been on about 12 cruises, all of them on Carnival until our most recent which was on the  Norwegian Getaway.   The ship sailed out of Miami and our 7 day cruise included a couple days at sea plus stops in Belize, Honduras and Mexico.

We traveled with three other couples that we met 2 years ago on a cruise.   We all became instant friends and enjoy cruising together.

 I’ll be sharing more about the cruise and the story of how we met our friends next week so stay tuned.  I’ve also got a blog post planned where I’ll be sharing my tips for cruising like a pro.  I’ve had several readers mention that they will be taking their first cruise this summer so I wanted to share my insider secrets.

So I don’t leave you hanging high and dry regarding the cruise, here are a few photos I snapped during our vacation.

Life Lately: ConfettiStyle On Vacation

Beautiful Miami…

Life Lately: ConfettiStyle On Vacation

Somewhere in paradise…

Life Lately: ConfettiStyle On Vacation

Design inspiration abroad the Norwegian Getaway…

Life Lately: ConfettiStyle On Vacation

I spent a lot of time in this spot soaking up the sun and living my best life!

DESIGN LIFE

Before I left on the cruise I did an install in a clients’ master bedroom.  We’re in the process of transforming the room from rich, earthy colors to soft, sophisticated hues.  There are still a few things to do before  the room is done but here are a few grainy iPhone pictures of the space so far.

 

 

OUT & ABOUT IN ATLANTA

I’ve been spending a lot of time accessory shopping for clients lately.  One of my favorite stores in mid-town Atlanta, Bungalow Classics  is stocked full of amazing pieces right now.  If you live in Atlanta and are looking for unique accessories, furniture or lighting you’ll definitely want to check the store out.

 

FAMILY LIFE

In really exciting news, my mom will be moving to Atlanta in about a month.  She currently lives in Oklahoma so this move is going to be a big change for her. I know she’ll make friends fast and have me taking her to Lenox Mall in no time flat.  Her new digs are in a high-rise senior living complex in the heart of Buckhead with amazing views.  I’m going to be decorating her unit and will share the plans once I have the all mapped out.

It’s going to be great that now my mom, brother and I will all be living in the same city.  That hasn’t happened since I was in high school.

 

AROUND THE HOUSE

Believe it or not but I’m still decorating and getting settled.  We’ve only been in the house for 10 months and I keep reminding myself there’s no need to rush things.  I’m a few projects aways from finishing my office and I’m still on the hunt for a living room rug.  There’s so much I’m planning to share with you but I’m just not ready with it all yet.

Here’s a sneak peek of the new credenza I bought for my office.  It’s a beautiful furniture piece and the price is pretty amazing too!

Lainey Credenza

And a look at the new knobs I purchased from CB2 for our kitchen cabinets.  These beauties are under $5.

brushed brass hexagon knob

I’ve also managed to get our dining chairs re-upholstered. The old fabrics was a light green leaf pattern that was on the chairs when we bought the set.   I had a hard time picking a new fabric so I played it safe and went with a neutral animal pattern. I love it!

The next two moths are going to be super busy getting my mom settled, attending the Atlanta Gift & Home Furnishings Show and working on a new design project.  I’m already thinking about our next vacation and it might have to happen sooner rather and later 🙂

Essentials For a End-of-Summer Road Trip

SUMMER ROAD TRIP ESSENTIALS

Road Trip via Blissfulb

via

Summer is slowly coming to an end and although I love the long, sunny days, I’m really looking forward to fall and cooler temps.

We still have a couple of road trips on the schedule before summer is officially over including one we’re on right now, so I thought I’s share a few of our summer road trip essentials in case you’re planning an end of summer get-away too!

◊◊◊

*  A PLAN–no matter whether it’s a weekend trip or something longer, I always create a plan and outline the details of our trip.  I include spots to eat, major attractions we might want to visit and of course a list of antique stores and flea markets that are on our route.  Buy or make a notebook like this cute one that from Ruby Murrays Musings made to keep all your notes close at hand.

Road Trip Planner via Ruby Murrays Musings

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*  MUSIC & READS:  For short road trips we always have our favorite blues and R & B tunes on hand and often hold our own American Idol contest right there in the car.  For longer trips, books on tape really help the time pass quickly and help us keep you on our favorite authors.

**Cracker Barrel has a great selection of books on tape that you can rent, listen too and then drop off at the next restaurant you come to.

BB Kings

image source unknown

*  TRAVEL BLANKET & THROW:  since the hubby does most other driving on our trips, I make sure to take a cozy blanket and pillow with me in case I want to take a snooze or get a little chilly under the air conditioning.

Travel Blanket and Throw

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*  SNACKS & WATER–I make sure the car is stocked with water and snacks no matter the length of the road trip.  I hate stopping at an out-of-the-way gas station and having to pay an arm and a leg for bottled water.  And even worse is when we’ve craving our favorite treat and it’s 200 miles to our next stop.  My days as a girl scouts taught me to be prepared at all times.

Picnic Basket

via

CAMERA–I always travel with my camera to capture beautiful scenery or special moments.

Fountain 1 (2)

photo by me

And the best thing you can take with you on a road trip is a sense of adventure and a relaxed state of mind!

Road Trip Relaxation via Shape Magazine

via

I’m signing off for the week and will be back Tuesday with a fun project I recently completed.  Have a terrific weekend my friends.

Shelly

Let’s Get Crafty–DIY Luggage Tags

Do you remember years ago when everyone had black luggage and how everyone tried to come up with a clever way to identify their bags?

GTY_baggage_claim_jtm_140114_16x9_608

Like many of you I tied ribbon to the handle in an effort to distinguish my bag from everyone else.  Most of the time the ribbon would come back tattered or missing off my luggage.

avoid-lost-luggage-vacation-1_1-800x800

I’ve also tried wrapping yarn around the handle (although it didn’t look as pretty as this) but that was a failure too.

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How about identifying your bag with tape?.  How many of you have tried that trick?

4. Long strips on long sides

Adding washi tape to your bag would definitely give it some style but I don’t think it would stand up too well against those baggage carousels.

Washi-tape-luggage

Since I’ve been doing a fair bit of traveling this year and will be heading out for my final trip of the summer, I decided it was time to come up with a stylish and effective way to identify my bags.  In addition to the traditional luggage tag I have on my bags, I wanted to create a tag that would stand out and be easy to identify.

DIY Bag Tag by ConfettiStyle (1)

Here are the supplies you’ll need to make your own bag tags:

*  Wood Shapes (about the size of a traditional luggage tag)
*  Decorative Scrapbook Paper
* Gold Spray Paint  
* Mod Podge
*Mod Podge Spray Sealer
*  Grommets
* Large Jump Rings
 
How To:
 
1. Drill a hole into the top of each wood piece
2.  Spray paint the front, back and sides of all your wood pieces
3.  Cut your scrapbook paper to fit your wood pieces
4.  Paste paper to each side of your wood piece using your Mod Podge.  
After you have placed one side of paper, punch through it so that you know where the hole it.  Attach the other piece of paper and punch through that so the hold is open on both sides of your tag.
 
IMG_9583
 
5.  Once your Mod Podge has dried, spray each side of the tag with your sealer and let dry
6.  Add the grommets to the holes in your tag
7.  Add large jump ring and attach your tag to your luggage.
If you’re looking for split rings in colors other than silver, I found this shop on Etsy that has a great selection.
 

DIY Bag Tag by ConfettiStyle (2)

I can’t wait to take my tags on the road.  As you read this, I’m on my way to Washington, DC  for a mini family vacation.  It’s going to be a fun trip because my mom is coming in from Oklahoma and this will be the first time my hubby has ever visited DC.  I’ll see you back here next week.  

Have a safe holiday weekend!

Shelly

Longest Yard Sale 2014–900 Miles of Bargain Hunting

Happy Monday!

Longest Yard Sale

We’ll we made it back from the World’s Longest Yard Sale in one piece and with some money still in our wallets. The trip was great despite the hot temps, major down pours of rain and humidity like I’ve never felt before.
This is our 4th year going to the yard sale and every year the trip is filled with adventure, interesting sights, great bargains and a few regrets.  So as not to overwhelm you in this post, today I’m giving you the highlights of our trip and some of the great things we spotted.  Tomorrow I’ll be back to share what we bought and a few ideas we’re already thinking about for next year!

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We’re Off…

Longest Yard Sale

Today’s the day that the hubby and I are off to hit the longest yard sale.  This year we’re starting in Alabama and making our way north.

Follow me on Instagram and Facebook for all the thrifting madness and roadway adventures.

I’ll see you back here on Monday with a full recap of what I found and what we did!

Shelly

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