On this day, six years ago, I met a boy. A cute, smart, sweet handsome man- who made me smile and laugh - until six in the morning! We sat in a crowded room of music and people and just talked and - fell in love. He kissed me, and I knew I was in trouble!
The events that unfolded were more than I could have imagined. We have traveled the world laughing and smiling. We have been by each others side through good times and bad. We made a house into a home- you took a young "moon eyed" girl and made her your wife (wif), and a mother (ma ma).
We have loved, we have lost, we have changed (mostly my hair 💁🏼), we have stayed the same (mostly your hair 💇🏻♂️), we have fought - I have screamed, you've ignored, we make up 😜. "I won't give up on us- even if the tides get rough". You are the calm to my storm ⛈. We lost fur children, and grandparents 😪, we have watched two daughters grow into beautiful smart young women👯, and two babies be born out of our love ❤️ and grow.
Through it all I love exploring the world with you by my side- regardless of the place, language, or reason (50 + countries, countless cities, thousands of water ways, and infinite paths). You share the same spontaneity and zest for life I do to make every day an adventure and make the ordinary extraordinary 😍! We have so many memories in such a short time- a lifetime, and we are just beginning! I cannot wait for our next adventure. Or- just laying on the couch smiling and laughing.
I love holding your hand, kissing you, seeing the amazing father you are, the kind son, the loving partner, the good man you are and always strive to be.
You are the first person I want to run to when I have good news, or shoulder I want to cry on when I have the worst day ever, and everything seems to go wrong. You help make our house a home 🏡- "when you put your arms around me I am home" #WeddingSong it amazes me how we can still talk for 8 hrs on a road trip - and yet few content in silence knowing what the other person is thinking 💭 before they say it. I like you, I love you 😘💕. I will always be here for you, no matter what - you are stuck with me 💋.
Some fun memories and inside jokes for you- "never take the same way twice- assassins", "I was making dinner", "do you want some ... cheese 🧀?" "Meow", "I do, I do that!" , "Schmoo1 and Schmoo 2", from sad love songs to fist pumping anthems, "that's my favorite song", "buffer the buffers", "Roses are red, Violets are Blue", "snuffapus", "I'll always have moon 🌙 eyes for you" and love you under the stars ✨ "Up Above's".
Thank you for choosing me, for loving me, for making me fall in love with you over and over again, for keeping me sane, for loving me even when I'm insane, for opening my door, for bringing me chai tea ☕️, for going out even when you don't feel like it, for changing a diaper or two...(or thousands), for sharing your bed, your heart ❤️, your home, your love. I am blessed - you really are the man of my dreams and I will love you until my last breath! I do, I will, forever! 💗💙
Showing posts with label Life Streaming. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Life Streaming. Show all posts
Monday, November 5, 2018
Baby Mine, I will always love you
Deep thoughts 💭
I just laid down with the girls and had Alexa sing us some songs from the lullaby station. The whole album is beautiful but Nick Lachey sings a gorgeous song “Baby Mine” to his son. At 3:31 Baby Mine Song (the whole album is beautiful lullabies he dedicated to his son Camden).
I laid there, squished in the middle of Brooklyn Marie and Cali Rose and began balling my eyes out. To the point where I had to calm myself so I didn’t wake them up.
Today was a beautiful and hard day for me. I took them back with their friends to play for the last time. Not on the weekends, but with most of them. I watched them for 2.5 hours speak their own silly language and laugh and sing. I watched Emma-E (sweet Emily) take her best friends hand and sit under a tree, just the two of them for over half an hour. In toddler world, that is a lifetime.
I thought, this is what God must feel like to know a future which we do not yet know. To watch us with love and want us to be happy, no matter what.
I prayed we were making the right decision. People say, they are just kids, they are adaptable, they will make new friends. But, in that moment my heart broke. For 3.5 hours every day Brooklyn, Cali and Emily play together. They name their toys after each other. Brooklyn said she’s excited for the new school as long as Emily comes too. Also, there were new friends I met today too- so ecstatic to see our girls after a few days of their absence, (and me bitter sweet not knowing if we would ever see them again, but hoping someday we would). Although I’m pretty sure I’ll invite them all to the birthday parties, and play dates... especially Emily, and Jake (Cali’s boyfriend haha 😂).
I begin work next week, after my medical leave. I am thankful I’ve been able to rest and recover and spend the sick days together. I feel blessed I was able to work from home while they were babies...
Babies. And then it hits me, they are not babies anymore? They call themselves baby, I call them my babies... but they are turning 3 and 5 years old. It feels like I blinked and there they sit having a conversation with one another. Starting another school. I know I will blink again and there will be science projects and math homework and book reports. And then again and there will be drivers permits and proms and cheer or sports practice. And again and they will no longer want me to spend 3 hours or even 5 seconds with their friends at school (but I hope that’s not true).
I closed my eyes as I listened to the leaves 🍁 blow in that school yard. The director, Miss Wendy has been there 30 years. I wondered how many children have come and gone and grown. Our very own Emily’s daddy went there when he was a young boy. Where are they now? Where will our girls be? Where will their best friends be? Where will any of us be?
I close my eyes again and I can see myself at that age, walking to school through the changing leafs with my own grandma, Babci. I miss her more than words. She died one month before I met Jay, she never got to meet the girls... but I like to believe she was in that breeze in the trees watching over them today with me.
And my mom who has been a blessing for 8 crazy months with us this year - and we are so thankful. I am sad she is leaving in a month, I know the girls will miss her too- even more change. So much change. They miss their nanny Lori and the only home they ever knew, and all of their grandparents as we start our new life in a new state (with one permanent-season- eternal sunshine ☀️... of the spotless mind). Then of course there was my heart surgery and me being gone in the hospital and different for the past three months, no longer carrying them for a while. Now this- their first school and first friends and their first best friend ... and now a new school a new beginning, once again. 😪
So I laid there in bed, and thought about the past, and the present, and their future. I thought about how being their mommy is the best job I have, and will ever have (and how I dont want to mess it up and I want them to be eternally happy!). I thought about how much they have grown, and how proud I am of them and how much love and hope I have for their future. I thought about enjoying every second with them this week and in the weeks and years ahead. I cried, I smiled, and I cried. I kissed them on their heads, those babies of mine.
PS I have already informed Emily’s mom Cathryn she’s stuck with me 💖
Listen to the song and be reminded of that precious innocence we all once had. I hope we always do, even if only in our memories.💝🖼
I just laid down with the girls and had Alexa sing us some songs from the lullaby station. The whole album is beautiful but Nick Lachey sings a gorgeous song “Baby Mine” to his son. At 3:31 Baby Mine Song (the whole album is beautiful lullabies he dedicated to his son Camden).
I laid there, squished in the middle of Brooklyn Marie and Cali Rose and began balling my eyes out. To the point where I had to calm myself so I didn’t wake them up.
Today was a beautiful and hard day for me. I took them back with their friends to play for the last time. Not on the weekends, but with most of them. I watched them for 2.5 hours speak their own silly language and laugh and sing. I watched Emma-E (sweet Emily) take her best friends hand and sit under a tree, just the two of them for over half an hour. In toddler world, that is a lifetime.
I thought, this is what God must feel like to know a future which we do not yet know. To watch us with love and want us to be happy, no matter what.
I prayed we were making the right decision. People say, they are just kids, they are adaptable, they will make new friends. But, in that moment my heart broke. For 3.5 hours every day Brooklyn, Cali and Emily play together. They name their toys after each other. Brooklyn said she’s excited for the new school as long as Emily comes too. Also, there were new friends I met today too- so ecstatic to see our girls after a few days of their absence, (and me bitter sweet not knowing if we would ever see them again, but hoping someday we would). Although I’m pretty sure I’ll invite them all to the birthday parties, and play dates... especially Emily, and Jake (Cali’s boyfriend haha 😂).
I begin work next week, after my medical leave. I am thankful I’ve been able to rest and recover and spend the sick days together. I feel blessed I was able to work from home while they were babies...
Babies. And then it hits me, they are not babies anymore? They call themselves baby, I call them my babies... but they are turning 3 and 5 years old. It feels like I blinked and there they sit having a conversation with one another. Starting another school. I know I will blink again and there will be science projects and math homework and book reports. And then again and there will be drivers permits and proms and cheer or sports practice. And again and they will no longer want me to spend 3 hours or even 5 seconds with their friends at school (but I hope that’s not true).
I closed my eyes as I listened to the leaves 🍁 blow in that school yard. The director, Miss Wendy has been there 30 years. I wondered how many children have come and gone and grown. Our very own Emily’s daddy went there when he was a young boy. Where are they now? Where will our girls be? Where will their best friends be? Where will any of us be?
I close my eyes again and I can see myself at that age, walking to school through the changing leafs with my own grandma, Babci. I miss her more than words. She died one month before I met Jay, she never got to meet the girls... but I like to believe she was in that breeze in the trees watching over them today with me.
And my mom who has been a blessing for 8 crazy months with us this year - and we are so thankful. I am sad she is leaving in a month, I know the girls will miss her too- even more change. So much change. They miss their nanny Lori and the only home they ever knew, and all of their grandparents as we start our new life in a new state (with one permanent-season- eternal sunshine ☀️... of the spotless mind). Then of course there was my heart surgery and me being gone in the hospital and different for the past three months, no longer carrying them for a while. Now this- their first school and first friends and their first best friend ... and now a new school a new beginning, once again. 😪
So I laid there in bed, and thought about the past, and the present, and their future. I thought about how being their mommy is the best job I have, and will ever have (and how I dont want to mess it up and I want them to be eternally happy!). I thought about how much they have grown, and how proud I am of them and how much love and hope I have for their future. I thought about enjoying every second with them this week and in the weeks and years ahead. I cried, I smiled, and I cried. I kissed them on their heads, those babies of mine.
PS I have already informed Emily’s mom Cathryn she’s stuck with me 💖
Listen to the song and be reminded of that precious innocence we all once had. I hope we always do, even if only in our memories.💝🖼
Sunday, October 23, 2016
Reflections on the friends I have, and may never meet...
Tonight I looked out of our windows and saw in the darkness of 2:00 in the morning a house on the hill with lights on- and was flooded with emotions. Rewind six years ago and Jay and I had just moved in together and we would often take the fur kids on hikes. There was this one hill way atop that had this beautiful view, and a gorgeous house atop it. We sat- overlooking the house on the hill and I looked around at my "family"- Jay, my then boyfriend- Luka, our dog, Mirage - our second dog, and Austin- our cat. I never met the people who lived there- I don't know if they were old or young- if they had just moved in or lived there 20 years or more. I wondered about them, what they looked like, what their family was like...Six years later and I still have never met them; I don't know if I will ever meet them, or if our paths have crossed, will cross, or may never cross. Isn't that such a strange concept? This happens millions a times a day-throughout our entire lives- we are just going by, living our lives while people are living their own lives. Their joys and celebrations, their hear breaks and sorrows, their loves and losses- we are all just living.
My life is so different now from that first hike. Jay proposed- Danica my stepdaughter moved in, Mila - my second stepdaughter would come to visit, and since then -we have had not one but two babies- Brooklyn and Cali. We have since lost two of our fur kids. Sadly Mirage was in a hit and run on a Christmas Eve last year- the saddest christmas of my life- but four sweet days later my gorgeous baby Cali was born- and filled my darkest hour with some light. Austin, our cat got sick, he rapidly began losing weight and getting what appeared to be cancer according to one of the vets. Towards the end he did not leave my side- he even ate and drank which game me hope and then one day- he meowed to go out and has never returned. I read animals do this when it's their time- my heart breaks, but without closure of a final goodbye it does not feel real. I often think I see him in the shadows of the night, only to realize it's not. So odd how I can spend 6-10 years so intimately, working from home, seeing them every day, sleeping with them, thinking of them as my "kids"... and then one day, just like that, they're gone, and my family as I knew it just six short years ago is so different in such a short period of time.
I wonder how those people who live in that houses life might have changed- if at all. Do they ever look up at our house and lights in the night and wonder the same thing?
This area, unlike NYC and RTP is not transient. More often than not the people I meet were born here, have grown old here and will most likely die here. Very few travel outside these areas and even less have plans of moving. Jay and I are nomads, Rolling Stones. Between the two of us we have moved 20 times, multiple statues and even countries. Although I am not shy at making friends, (I always say a stranger is just a friend you haven't met yet") I often am reserved to really truly get close to anyone - - sort of unconscious affect to avoid the pain of losing friendships after I inevitably move as I always have.
I am thankful to social media - especially facebooked for this reason. So many people get to participate and stay involved in our lives and vice versa- no matter where we live.
On trips -Jay and I have been to 75 countries and countless cities and towns- we often meet people through our adventures. Jay calls these encounters- a reason, a season or a lifetime. You never know how the person you meet- albeit a fleeting period of time in the scheme of your life will impact the rest of your entire life... or, perhaps just a flickering shadow in the memories of your life.
Our most recent example would be our newest friend -Wayne; we met on the ferry from Ireland to Liverpool. He only takes that ferry twice a year- we happened to be on one of those two voyages. Out of thousands of people aboard, we happend to sit next each other. Rather then remain silent- he started a conversation about our accents and inquired where we were from. As an Irish fellow, he happened to live in the states when he was 16. We ended up chatting for the entire three hour voyage- even while Jay fell asleep in between us. I had plans of playing matchmaker with this delightful, polite single young man with the adorable accent to one of my single friends (you know who you are). He even helped me to entertain (and wrangle) some of the mischievous Irish, and UK baby/toddler girls who wandered around and became friends with Brooklyn and Cali to prevent them from waking Jay up while taking selfies while he slept with his IPAD and giggling. We became friends- and then FB friends- -and now somebody who I might never have seen again will forever be our friends.
I am also reminded of Narayan, our tour guide in Nepal- one of our honeymoon destinations. We spent three days with him and we loved it there, and being in his knowledgeable, warm and inviting company... we promised if we ever went back to scale Mt. Everest or simply eat the delicious local cuisine called MoMos- it would be with him. Imagine a few years later how devastated I was when the earthquake hit Nepal- and how relieved I was when he marked his family safe on FB (I would have always wondered and worried had we lost touch).
Perhaps my biggest reminder is my South African friend "Dad Deon"- who was my tour guide in SA the month before I met Jay. During that trip- My grandmother passed away -and I got extremely sick. Deon was more of a dad to me then my real dad ever was. He cared for me, consoled me, took me to the doctors and insured I felt loved and taken care of....even when I was all the way around the world, without my closest family or friends, I was blessed to have my dear friend Jared- as well as the new friends I made. I of course became FB friends with him and his beautiful wife Vinessa and family and think of them all often- all the way on the other side of the world- but just a click away thanks to Facebook. We are like tech savvy new version of pen pals.
Heck I even met my sister and brother thanks to facebook - but that deserves its own blog. :)
Sure, there are many more people I have met that I have not connected with and may never see again. Times like this, when I am feeing melancholy and thoughtful I think of each of them. I wish them health and happiness and hope that one day, someday our paths might cross again. I am thankful for the evolution of technology- and that people I meet along the way I can connect with and share in this crazy journey we call life. There are so many people I have only met a few times but our lives have become interwoven and they have truly earned a place in my heart (and on my newsfeed).
I am not sure if we will grow old here, or move in a few months. I don't know who will enter my life, or who will leave it... or who will cross my path along the way. I do not know when the first time I meet someone if that is the last- or the beginning of a lifelong friendship... but I hope it is. I hope to know you, I hope that my journey is filled with amazing people like the ones I have been blessed to know so far. I don't know where my destination will take me, or any of us... but I am excited for the journey (and to have YOU in my life...be it a reason, a season, or my lifetime).
My life is so different now from that first hike. Jay proposed- Danica my stepdaughter moved in, Mila - my second stepdaughter would come to visit, and since then -we have had not one but two babies- Brooklyn and Cali. We have since lost two of our fur kids. Sadly Mirage was in a hit and run on a Christmas Eve last year- the saddest christmas of my life- but four sweet days later my gorgeous baby Cali was born- and filled my darkest hour with some light. Austin, our cat got sick, he rapidly began losing weight and getting what appeared to be cancer according to one of the vets. Towards the end he did not leave my side- he even ate and drank which game me hope and then one day- he meowed to go out and has never returned. I read animals do this when it's their time- my heart breaks, but without closure of a final goodbye it does not feel real. I often think I see him in the shadows of the night, only to realize it's not. So odd how I can spend 6-10 years so intimately, working from home, seeing them every day, sleeping with them, thinking of them as my "kids"... and then one day, just like that, they're gone, and my family as I knew it just six short years ago is so different in such a short period of time.
I wonder how those people who live in that houses life might have changed- if at all. Do they ever look up at our house and lights in the night and wonder the same thing?
This area, unlike NYC and RTP is not transient. More often than not the people I meet were born here, have grown old here and will most likely die here. Very few travel outside these areas and even less have plans of moving. Jay and I are nomads, Rolling Stones. Between the two of us we have moved 20 times, multiple statues and even countries. Although I am not shy at making friends, (I always say a stranger is just a friend you haven't met yet") I often am reserved to really truly get close to anyone - - sort of unconscious affect to avoid the pain of losing friendships after I inevitably move as I always have.
I am thankful to social media - especially facebooked for this reason. So many people get to participate and stay involved in our lives and vice versa- no matter where we live.
On trips -Jay and I have been to 75 countries and countless cities and towns- we often meet people through our adventures. Jay calls these encounters- a reason, a season or a lifetime. You never know how the person you meet- albeit a fleeting period of time in the scheme of your life will impact the rest of your entire life... or, perhaps just a flickering shadow in the memories of your life.
Our most recent example would be our newest friend -Wayne; we met on the ferry from Ireland to Liverpool. He only takes that ferry twice a year- we happened to be on one of those two voyages. Out of thousands of people aboard, we happend to sit next each other. Rather then remain silent- he started a conversation about our accents and inquired where we were from. As an Irish fellow, he happened to live in the states when he was 16. We ended up chatting for the entire three hour voyage- even while Jay fell asleep in between us. I had plans of playing matchmaker with this delightful, polite single young man with the adorable accent to one of my single friends (you know who you are). He even helped me to entertain (and wrangle) some of the mischievous Irish, and UK baby/toddler girls who wandered around and became friends with Brooklyn and Cali to prevent them from waking Jay up while taking selfies while he slept with his IPAD and giggling. We became friends- and then FB friends- -and now somebody who I might never have seen again will forever be our friends.
I am also reminded of Narayan, our tour guide in Nepal- one of our honeymoon destinations. We spent three days with him and we loved it there, and being in his knowledgeable, warm and inviting company... we promised if we ever went back to scale Mt. Everest or simply eat the delicious local cuisine called MoMos- it would be with him. Imagine a few years later how devastated I was when the earthquake hit Nepal- and how relieved I was when he marked his family safe on FB (I would have always wondered and worried had we lost touch).
Perhaps my biggest reminder is my South African friend "Dad Deon"- who was my tour guide in SA the month before I met Jay. During that trip- My grandmother passed away -and I got extremely sick. Deon was more of a dad to me then my real dad ever was. He cared for me, consoled me, took me to the doctors and insured I felt loved and taken care of....even when I was all the way around the world, without my closest family or friends, I was blessed to have my dear friend Jared- as well as the new friends I made. I of course became FB friends with him and his beautiful wife Vinessa and family and think of them all often- all the way on the other side of the world- but just a click away thanks to Facebook. We are like tech savvy new version of pen pals.
Heck I even met my sister and brother thanks to facebook - but that deserves its own blog. :)
Sure, there are many more people I have met that I have not connected with and may never see again. Times like this, when I am feeing melancholy and thoughtful I think of each of them. I wish them health and happiness and hope that one day, someday our paths might cross again. I am thankful for the evolution of technology- and that people I meet along the way I can connect with and share in this crazy journey we call life. There are so many people I have only met a few times but our lives have become interwoven and they have truly earned a place in my heart (and on my newsfeed).
I am not sure if we will grow old here, or move in a few months. I don't know who will enter my life, or who will leave it... or who will cross my path along the way. I do not know when the first time I meet someone if that is the last- or the beginning of a lifelong friendship... but I hope it is. I hope to know you, I hope that my journey is filled with amazing people like the ones I have been blessed to know so far. I don't know where my destination will take me, or any of us... but I am excited for the journey (and to have YOU in my life...be it a reason, a season, or my lifetime).
Tuesday, September 6, 2016
Saturday, August 27, 2016
My Favorite Apps: From Apple to Android, #SocialMedia #Entertainment #Travel #Technology #Food and more!
I am reminded of the first time I told my mom to go to the
App Store, and she said sure- what’s the address? My, my how times have changed- most of us
could not be found without our Smart Phones (Apple, Windows or Android) permanently
affixed to our hands. I for one am a
huge fan of putting it down when there’s a place and time to be “present” ala
the dinner table- but for those times where we can explore the wonder which is
app world, my good friend Janet Schijns- Verizon's Global Channel Chief and fellow Chic and Geek #TechNerd recently posed a question on FB asking
what our fav apps are? I started to respond and pumped the breaks... I decided that I
have WAY TOO MANY many favs, I might as well write a blog and sort by category! Some of these you probably know and love, others might
be new (or present a new use for an old classic)- in any event hope you enjoy!
Entertainment:
I love a good book – a real paper book- I miss the days of sitting in the aisles of Barnes and Nobles immersing myself in reading and drinking a Starbucks smack on the middle of an aisle floor. As a technology early adopter and enthusiast I am remiss to say I have not yet fallen in love with virtual books (I have yet to give Kindle and Fire a serious try) but there is a variety of other tech ways to take in a plethora of other forms of entertainment from theatre to your home. There are a variety of apps in this category- but these are the ones that keep me entertained when not reading my legacy but oh so delicious books.
·
Net Flix-
I may never need cable or Dish- ever again.
Although I haven’t bit the bullet yet and completely severed ties- when
our cable went down I was SHOCKED as to how many of my fav TV Series, movies,
and kids shows are readily available.
Old school cartoon favs for Brooklyn and Cali, Orange is the New Black
for Mommy, and hundreds of documentaries for Daddy and I- Tony Robbins – I am
not your Guru my most recent fav. Not to
mention Cooking Shows like Cup Cake Wars, Home Shows like Property Brothers and
so much more. The only down side is they
don’t always have my classic favs- and I would not be able to watch the Oscars,
Tony’s, Super Bowl etc- #FirstWorldProblems but also a good excuse to go to a
party and make it a social event, no? Everything else gets Chromecasted or Apple TV’d from my phone to one of
our TV’s around the house.
·
You Tube-
So we have all watched it for the funny cat videos, and snickered when
Charlie Bit his Brother’s finger but YouTube is more than enjoyable, original videos
. For Jay, my husband, - it is “mr fix
it” where he can watch a how to tutorial and be a handyman extraordinaire and
save hundred if not thousands of dollars (true story from cars, freezers, to
dryers and more!). For me, it is a way
for me to watch music videos of all my fav songs – classic or yesteryear. Plus the how to’s for make up and hair are on
point! Everyone is a YouTube star, and some really make it big- such as my fav
Jenna Marbles as she shares her random thoughts- sometimes vulgar, but always
funny. Also- a great way to share our own content- so video upload your original
content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube… who
knows, you may be the next “You Tube Stars”!
·
You Tube
Kids- When you have children-
and are cautious of what they watch I would recommend You Tube Kids. YouTube Kids app is designed for curious
little minds to dive into a world of discovery, learning and entertainment; Filtered
by you, and parent & child approved.
Our personal favorite is Baby Bum videos – classic nursery songs, plus
educational learning like colors, numbers for our 2 year old Brooklyn when
alternating with Sesame Street and Elmo’s World. Plus it’s ad and commercial free.
S Snap Chat- Snapchat lets you easily talk with friends, add moments throughout your #RealLife day (exciting
or uneventful) as well as view Live Stories from around the world, and explore news in Discover. Their tag line, "Life's more fun when you live in the moment!" A super fun and silly way to send a quick photo or video to friends, and of course there are the absolutely addictive SnapChat Filters See my daughter Brooklyn and I for exhibit A. From a business perspective Snapchat is bringing behavioral targeting, or advertisement based on data gathered from user activity, to the app in the near future- creepy or helpful - you decide. Personally, if you are going to advertise to me anyway, I much rather see things I might be interested in (a win win for both of us).
S Snap Chat- Snapchat lets you easily talk with friends, add moments throughout your #RealLife day (exciting
·
IMDB-
These days as a mom of two at and under 2, I often watch more drive ins than
movies. But when I am going to the
movies, or selecting what to watch- the International Movie Data Base- is the
world's most popular and authoritative source (self-proclaimed, but I agree) for
movie, TV and celebrity content. As you
will tell throughout this blog I am a huge fan of crowd sourcing and
reviews. Removing outliers, you often receive
some great feedback, new genre fav recommendations, actor histories, and
rankings on what is worth watching when there is not enough hours in the day to
watch “all the things”. Plus, I love
watching movie trailers to get hyped up and find the closest theatre and movie
times from one convenient app.
Photography/Videography:
So it is no surprise I adore visual photo tools such as Facebook and
Instagram- which I like to think of artistic virtual scrapbooks and time lines
of my life. In fact from the second Jay
and I started dating- our first date, our proposal –skydiving video, our
engagement our world travels, our wedding, the birth of our children and their
FB pages starting from within the womb- every moment is captured. I wish I could see my grandmother or great
grandmother’s timelines from the time they were young women- their thoughts,
their life, their love story, their struggles their journey in this crazy thing
called life. My social journey is my
gift of my legacy, my children, and their children. Plus, after relocating to 7 different cities
before the age of 30, it is a wonderful way to stay connected with all of my
friends and family around the world.
My secret passion is photography- others who do it professionally, and my attempts
to do it myself with the same passion and magic. I may not always have my DSLR Camera, but I always
have the convenience of a phone handy with pretty darn good quality photos
compared to previous versions. I love apps who allow me to capture every day
moments and make them artistic, magical or just plain fun. Of those here are
some of my fav…
·
Photofy- Actually
started by my friend Hazel Flores’s husband- this has become a world phenomenon.
Photofy is a super-easy photo editing
app for consumers and businesses that combines all the features you need in one
app: Templates, Filters, Light Effects.
A great way to capture months, moments, and decorate your images with
fun flair.
·
Picstich-
Sometimes I want to upload a ton of photos, and well, sometimes I just want
one cohesive image to capture the day.
During those times- I love Pic Stitch because it quickly combine
multiple photos into one beautifully framed picture! Be creative and get all
the angles, capture all the looks, see all the faces together in one shot (And
post on Instagram and share on FB, Twitter, and Tumblr of course! ;)).
·
Flipagram-
When you want to be creative, I love
to create a Flipagram -especially for my fav people’s birthdays, anniversaries
or special occasions- Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, etc. Flipagram helps bring
your cherished moments to Life! You can create short photo video stories with
your photos, videos clips, and favorite music.
Share some memories with someone you love, extra special and customized more
than a generic Card.
·
PicPlayPost-
If you can’t decide between photos, and videos- why not do BOTH? Over 10 Million
users have discovered this simple way to create captivating stories with
photos, videos, GIFs and music. PicPlayPost
makes it easy to combine different types of media into a collage you can share
to your social networks. Share your daily workout, summarize your vacation,
video collage selfies, fashion and beauty tips, and your musical range in an
acapella collage.
·
I Movie- So
this one is strictly for fellow apple-aholics (sorry Droid fans)- Make Amazing movies.
No film school required. A great
movie is right at your fingertips. Simply choose the photos and videos you want
to use. Then tap and swipe to edit, add effects, and create a soundtrack. With
a 64‑bit
architecture and 4K support on iPhone 6s and iPad Pro, iMovie makes moviemaking
faster and more entertaining than ever. iMovie
is designed to take advantage of the beautiful 4K video you can shoot and edit
on your iPhone 6s. In fact, it is so powerful you can smoothly edit two streams
of 4K video to create effects like picture-in-picture and split screen; and 3D
Touch lets you speed up common iMovie tasks.
Than watch it all in full-resolution 1080p HD viewer. I devices- once again making the complicated
oh so simple, and beautiful. I recently made one for our Cisco Talent Show-
stay tuned for that share.
Food:
I love food- all food- from Michelin Three Stars to "questionable" Street Meat and every local delicacy in-between. Out of 75 countries I have only gotten food poisoning once- and it was a rogue ice cube that took me out. There are some great apps I rely on locally or globally to help advise, find specials, and recommendations- they are as follows...
·
Yelp- Reading
and leaving reviews for extraordinary food and services I often turn to
Yelp. Local crowd sourced user Reviews
and Recommendations of Top Restaurants, Shopping, Nightlife, Entertainment,
Services and More. I especially like the
menu recommendations and tips on child friendly (Schmoo inclusive) vs. romantic
(Schmoo Free Date Nights)- or searching a craved cuisine like Italian, Chinese
or miscellaneous a certain mileage (or what’s closest) from where we are standing when we get hangry (hungry +angry J).
·
OpenTable-
My Go To for quick and easy Online Reservations- I need a table of 4 – in this
city- what times are available and what are the reviews (but I usually check
that on Yelp first). OpenTable is an
online real-time restaurant-reservation service. Make online reservations, read
restaurant reviews from diners, and earn points towards free meals- as my uncle
Joe would jokingly say- “if it’s free, it’s for me- give me three”. According
to the company, it provides online reservations for about 31,000 restaurants
around the world and seats about 15 million diners a month. Word of warning- if you are going to cancel-
don’t forget to cancel your online reservation on OpenTable or you get
dinged.
·
Swarm – formerly
known as Four Square is the fun way to geo tag into a place – restaurant,
airport, gym and more. Swarm turns every
day into a game! Earn prizes and compete with friends based on the places you
go. Jay and I jokingly competed to see who would wear the crown by checking in
more to our home… for all intents and purposes, and a happy marriage – it was a
tie (wink wink #LonglivetheQueen). You
can also see when your friends are hanging out nearby. The reason I list it under food is a surprise
bonus that some restaurants give you a free perk just for checking in. In fact, I have gotten awesome free desserts,
appetizers and glasses of wine! Plus
some people leave funny reviews, like- make sure to check out the delish bread
pudding- you can die a happy man, or stay away from the extremely questionable “meat
loaf surprise”.
·
Pinterest-
is. Life. From DIY home
projects, motivational quotes, tips and tricks to food and drink. It could fit into many categories but my
primary use for it is recipes. As a
reformed cook book collector addict I have saved money, time, and diversified
my cooking skills by turning to pinterest for new take on classics, decadent
holiday treats, festive food art- especially Christmas and Halloween, and healthy
options such as 21 day fix meals to work it all off (wash, rinse and repeat). I love the simple steps, that every recipe
has a picture and that there are so many new and exciting uses for food. For example- every time I bought a butternut
squash my go to recipe was soup. Thanks to Pinterest I took the same ol’ and
transformed it into a delish butternut squash and spinach lasagna- a surprising
take on a classic, and a huge hit at Brooklyn’s 2nd Birthday
party! When there is a school
fundraiser, or party- this is where I turn.
I will give an honorable mention to my other favs for recipes BuzzFeed’s TASTY videos are a quick and
easy way to leave your mouth watering, and Epicurious
is delicious refined recipes- Epicurious has been the ultimate food resource
for the home cook, with daily kitchen tips, fun cooking videos, and, oh yeah,
over 33000 recipes!
·
Groupon/Living
Social- For me it is a tie between Groupon and Living Social for most
things (Dining, massages, concerts), but for some reason when it comes to food
I tend to gravitate towards Groupon- but our relationship is not exclusive. A great way to discover and save on 1000s of
great deals at nearby restaurants, spas, things to do, shopping, travel and
more. Perhaps it is because Groupon is
available in 28 countries and countless cities, and Living Social has 70 million members around
the world. Some tips and tricks, I tend
to sign up for the local deals when I have a tripped plan-for ex going to
Chicago, I sign in and cancel after trip is completed, so I can count on local deals in advance. Even if it’s a short commute away (ie NYC for
us) I always leave it populated for a good deal and an excuse to go home sweet
home. Another tip, should you find
yourself at a restaurant- type in the name and see if they have any deals… if
they didn’t require reservations in advance to use, it is often a great last minute way to save
some bucks- and room for dessert.
News & Media:
What can replace your News Paper- sans paper
cuts- check out these News Worthy Apps and never miss a thing!
·
Flip
Board- Flipboard created a new type of reading experience on mobile, one
focused on engaging the reader with the most exhilarating stories of the day
and a magazine-style aesthetic. Hundreds of publications are now available on
the news reader, and Flipboard offers a generous amount of topics, whether
you’re into technology or entertainment or anything in-between.
·
Buzz Feed-
BuzzFeed has it all: the news you want now, the stories and quizzes that our
constantly buzzing on your social networks, and the recipes – YUM- do they make
you hungry, or what? Oh, and of course the
hilarious life tips you didn’t know you needed.
·
Mashable-
THE source for digital culture, breaking news, innovation, inspiration and
entertainment. What was the most notable
things that happened on Jimmy Fallon, Sports, Media, politics- Don’t miss it
with a first glimpse and a morning read of Mashable you will have plenty to
talk about what’s trending in a variety of subjects.
·
Twitter- Twitter has a plethora of uses from social connections to business
networking- but one of my favorite uses is to see what’s trending. Today, when someone sees or hears of something
from politics to natural disasters they quickly tweet and retweet until it
becomes a trending topic. With a
click of the mouse the world’s news has never been more connected than it is
today.
Financial:
Working at one of the world’s most secure Internet working Companies, I realize the concern some people have putting their finances in the cloud. Recent events have showed certain things can be hacked (celebrity selfies and retail customers would agree)- nothing is 100 % guaranteed, but there are two tools that I personally trust for my finances, as highly safe, secure and extremely beneficial in terms of financial knowledge and planning.
·
Mint- free,
web-based personal financial management service for Canada and the US. Safe and secure Mint allows you to manage
your money, pay your bills and track your credit score. Mint takes security extremely seriously and
understands some people’s trepidation to share personal bank information. In response, Mint.com recently introduced a
service aimed at helping consumers reach their long-term goals that doesn’t
require the entering of any financial account information. I personally feel safe- and helps me keep
track of credit, loans, banking, rental properties, all in one sweet banking
stop. If you still have concerns, read
this fascinating article by the NY Times on If You Should Trust Mint?
·
Credit
Karma- Helps provide easy-to-read credit reports and personalized score
insights Tools & tips to help you understand your financial situation. Plus it gives you free credit monitoring and
can help you spot potential identity theft!
Bank XYZ- I have two banks- and two apps and honestly have non returned to a bank since getting them. Transferring money, depositing checks, paying bills are all done in a matter of seconds from my secure, and convenient mobile banking.
Pay Pal- PayPal is the faster, safer way to send money, make an online payment, receive money or set up a merchant account compared to checks and money orders. Paying my nanny, handy man, or collecting rent, or buying something on Etsy I do it all from there simply and easily.
Bank XYZ- I have two banks- and two apps and honestly have non returned to a bank since getting them. Transferring money, depositing checks, paying bills are all done in a matter of seconds from my secure, and convenient mobile banking.
Pay Pal- PayPal is the faster, safer way to send money, make an online payment, receive money or set up a merchant account compared to checks and money orders. Paying my nanny, handy man, or collecting rent, or buying something on Etsy I do it all from there simply and easily.
Travel:
Everyone who personally knows or follows Jay and I know we are huge fans of World Travel- or travel in general. After exploring 75 countries, countless states and cities- here are some of the tools of the trade we cannot live without!
·
Hotels.Com-
We use it- everywhere we GO. The
company has 85 websites in 34 languages, and lists over 325,000 hotels in
approximately 19,000 locations. Its inventory includes hotels and B&Bs, and
some condos and other types of commercial lodging. Even if it has only one apartment for rent in
Belarus- we were never disappointed in the accommodations, reviews- and for
every 9 stays your tenth stay is free based upon the average of the 9 prior
hotels. I have tried other sites – I always
come back.
·
Kayak- KAYAK,
is a fare aggregator and travel metasearch engine operated by the Priceline
Group. It searches hundreds of other travel sites at once to find the
information you need to make the right decisions on flights, hotels &
rental cars. It even tells you the ideal
times to buy or wait. The only downside is
not all airlines are on their site (IE other low fare competitors such as Jet
Blue, and Southwest etc.)
·
TripAdvisor
- World's Largest Travel Site (Made in America). 200 million+ unbiased
traveler reviews. Search 200+ sites to find the best reviews on where to go,
eat, or stay! A live interactive forum-
my fav part as we globetrot is looking at the top 10 recommended places to go! The way we travel right now is to see as much
in as many places as we can, in as little time as possible. Stack ranked we can hit off the most popular
places to visit, dine, or experience a specific place- A wanderlust dream come true!
Navigation:
Some people have great spatial relations and can look at the sun and know where to go, others get lost in the Aiport Parking Lot. I am closer to B- so when in doubt I use the following logistical apps.
Waze- Waze is the world's largest community based traffic and navigation app (More Crowd Sourcing). Join other drivers in your area who share real-time traffic and road info (construction, accidents, road work delays, police etc) , saving everyone time... and speeding tickets.;)
MapQuest- when driving, walking, or paddling across from Hawaii- I find driving (sometimes creative) directions, maps, live traffic updates and road conditions from this creative and accurate app. Plus you can geo-search and find nearby businesses, restaurants and hotels.
Tile- This is more of a Life hack but in order to drive anywhere you need to first need to find your keys! Tile app key finder tracking device used to find lost keys and locate keys, phones, luggage, ...With a melodic sense of victory you can once again find your keys and your way.
Uber- Growingup in NYC with the iconic stream of Taxi Cabs outside your door is nothing new but Uber raised the bar, and spiked the competition. They are finding better, cleaner, friendlier, nicer ways for cities to move, work, and thrive. Download the app and get a ride in minutes. Or become a driver and earn money on your schedule- without paying hundreds of thousands for a standard yellow cab monopoloy - which refuses to pick you up, or deliver you (safely), price gouges, and does all this with sub par vehicle conditions. I would happily choose an uber any day!
Retail:
I love Shopping. Cliche? Sure, but it doesn't make it any less true. I love stores, Home Imrpovements/Goods- SuperMarkets/Specialty Foods, and a vast unending array of Clothing. I love a variety of clothing and styles. Brands, No Brands - Bohemian Chic, Romantic, Sporty, DRESSES (I have a whole closet dedicated to dresses)- Shoes- All. The. Shoes. So picking one app for clothing or shoes would be much too difficult, plus I feel that all depends on your personal style...but one thing I think we can all agree on is a deal! So here are my fav tools for retail deals.
·
Amazon- Everything
I buy from tires- books, movies, music and games along with electronics, toys,
apparel, sports, tools, groceries and general home and garden items comes two
days free shipping from Amazon Prime.
There might be a slight higher cost with prime (I usually don’t notice
one) but when time is money, and shipping- especially weekend shipping cost big
bucks- I choose two days and free. This
is especially true with a busy working mom of two who remembers she has to send
last minute presents! Plus, I actively use the QR Code reader when I go to
places to price check- even Walmart!
Most of the time, people price match- so if Amazon is cheaper, I get the
same price from them; and if they don’t price match I click purchase and
anxiously await it in two days for free.
·
CartWheel
– I grew up with a great aunt who we would visit every Sunday. My job she assigned me was to scour the
Sunday Newspaper and clip her coupons.
Well, fast forward 25+ years later since Danica, my beautiful stepdaughter
became a Target Employee, I have reinvented my love of a deal and coupons.
With a Target card I get 5% off every purchase (debit or credit) +
Manufacturings coupons + Cart Wheel + in store deal discounts I on average save
$200 on every supermarket trip. Target’s
Cart Wheel App is especially helpful because you save on the things you already
buy whole new spin on coupons. Find & share the best deals in all your
favorite categories: grocery, baby, apparel, health & beauty & more - a
. You can select from hundreds of
discounts ranging from 5% to 50% off, and add them to your personalized
cart. Plus, it then uses an algorithm to
make suggestions on things “you might like” based upon previous purchases and
sends you an email weekly. Extreme
Couponers watch out, every dollar counts and 200 buck-a-roo’s is not too
shabby!
Etsy- A virtual global marketplace is a world of vintage and handmade goods. More than a million independent sellers from everywhere are right here. Etsy handles and protects every transaction, so you can shop with confidence. If you want to find something unique, and extaordinairy- Etsy is your place. Examples of things I have bought- both girls hand-made christening gowns, cake toppers, leather personalized and engraved luggage tags, birthday posters, special wedding decor, jewelery and so much more!
Etsy- A virtual global marketplace is a world of vintage and handmade goods. More than a million independent sellers from everywhere are right here. Etsy handles and protects every transaction, so you can shop with confidence. If you want to find something unique, and extaordinairy- Etsy is your place. Examples of things I have bought- both girls hand-made christening gowns, cake toppers, leather personalized and engraved luggage tags, birthday posters, special wedding decor, jewelery and so much more!
Health & Wellness:
Born with a rare heart condition I have always taken fitness, health and wellness to heart - literally and figuratively. Also having family members with depression, and anxiety I know the importance - sress relief, and endorphin creation fitness can give you to combat these things naturally. With that said, these are some of my fav fitness tracking tools.
Withings Scale- The revolutionary new scale that takes your health to heart. Get to know a scale that coaches, rewards, and records all data automatically. And with tools at hand such as trend screens and nutrition tracking, you can set smart analytics to a healthier, happier, more self-aware you. PS This was my Valentine's gift to Jay! #HowRomantic
Apple Watch/FitBit- You name it, I've worn it (Jawbone, Apple Watch, FitBit, Polar etc)..Apple Watch and FitBit are my fav because you can Track Your Sleep, Calories & Steps, All in One Device (Apple Watch being a more robust device, but JawBone being more stylish (IMO). Honestly, without a heart rate strap I have worn three at once and feel all are slightly off from one another so I am not sure who is the best source of "truth". Maybe V2 for AW and V3 for FB will be even better. The FitBit has come leaps and bounds from the fist versions which I either lost from unclipping off my clothing, or a casualty of the washing machine and forgetfulness.... I like it MUCH better as a colorful discreet bracelet, and the battery life is 3 x's as good as Apple's Watch #TheBestisYettoCome
MapMy Run/Walk GPS Running, Jogging, Walking, Workout Tracking and Calorie Counter extraordinaire. Start running/walking and track and map every run with MapMyRun. For every mile you go, you'll get feedback and stats to help you improve your performance- plus the occasional applause to cheer you on and celebrate victories.
DietBet- Perfect for anyone who needs some extra motivation to lose weight, DietBet is the fun way to get fit—and get PAID to do it. DietBet is a brand new way to lose weight and it works! Their challenges have helped 150000+ people lose weight and win over $6 million dollars- I personally have won several hundred and found it helps me saty accountable and fun to do as a challenge alone, or with my friends and family or strangers who share the same goals. #GetFitGetHealthyGetHappy
Games:
Although I do not have the time to play that often, there is a little board game lover which lingers on in each of us. Living in remote Albany, I get to play with my mom, family, friends and strangers some of my fav classics when I have the time and pick up in a day or two if I do not. I also run an Employee Engagement Quarterly Bracket competition at Cisco –friendly competition and an opportunity for people to meet new colleagues and friends no matter where in the world they sit.
·
Words
with Friends- Words with Friends is a multi-player word game developed by
Newtoy, Inc. Players take turns building words crossword puzzle style in a
manner similar to the classic board game Scrabble. It really tests and enhance your language
skills for a broader vocabulary –especially if you guess and are delightful
surprised when you come up with a unique new word.
·
Trivia
Crack- Trivia Crack is a mobile app that allows users to compete against
friends and people around the world. Modeled after popular games such as
Trivial Pursuit, Willy, the Spinner Wheel will select one of the 6 categories for
you from sports, entertainment, science, geography history, and art. Whoever has the most knowledge and useless
knowledge wins- addictive and fun.
·
Song Pop-
If you love music and/or movies this is another simple and fun trivia
game. Challenge your friends or play
with other music fans. Hear song clips
from thousands of ORIGINAL artists in over 300 genres of songs and of movies. Guess the artist or song faster than your
friends. If you unlock more songs, more
playlists open and you become a true music master (at least at Guessing if not
Singing J)! For Song Pop- Today’s Hits to Classic Rock, Country
to Rap and Hip-Hop, Young Pop Stars to Indie and Latin Hits, Collections for
every decade: 2000s, 90s, 80s, 70s, 60s and more! Plus New music & playlists added every
week to keep it fresh.
·
Movie Pop-
From the same makers of Song Pop- Fresh Planet challenges if you are a huge
movie fan. Get some buttered popcorn and turn down the lights! Guess clips from
some of your favorite movies and send challenges to your friends or fellow
movie fanatics. Choose your favorite
genre of movies with thousands of titles to play with from classics to today’s
blockbusters. Y”ou want the truth? You
can’t handle the Truth…The little things in life, there’s nothing bigger... There’s no place like home”- with this
app!
LifeStreaming:
As a fan of life streaming I love all tech apps- but especially those that make my life simpler or more memorable. There are tons to choose from, but this is my personal fav.
TimeHop- Timehop helps you celebrate the best moments of the past. It's like #tbt every day! What were you doing a year ago today? Two years? Three years? I especially love watching what I did on my birthday/holidays/our anniversary each year, remembering special moments with loved ones (and fur kids) I love and miss or have lost, Jay and my travels, and watching the girls grow before my eyes. Enjoy, re-share and celebrate the cherished memories of life. As Dr. Seuss once said, 'Sometimes you will never know the value of something,until it becomes a memory.
I hope you give some of these apps a try. Comment below and let me know what you use, like, or alternatives you might recommend. Have an App-filled day… but remember to turn it off and be present when it counts!
Thursday, July 9, 2015
A Tribute to my Mom and Our Mediterranean Cruise
My mom is my hero. She is AMAZING. She is one of six children, and grew up in poor 1st generation
Immigrant family in Brooklyn NY. My grandmother, a loving, church going, sweet heart of a woman got sick. My grandfather- not such a nice guy - decided to put his children in an orphanage rather then take care
Many of these qualities became the core foundation in our very family as well. My mom was forced to grow up at a very young age, and be a rock for her family, her mother, and eventually me...
When my grandmother got better she moved the kids back to Brooklyn. I always wondered what would have happened if they stayed in farm life (funny to think of Long Island a huge metro suberb of NYC as a farm- but those were the times). Nevertheless my mom was 13 when she met my father who was 16. He had troubles, and although she loved him and thought she could help him- he became abusive. My mom did not want me to grow up in that environment and got divorced and we moved back to Brooklyn where she raised me by herself as a single mom since I was 8 months old. I don't say this with shame, but with pride that she had enough courage and faith to leave a terrible situation to give us both a better life.
I was the first in my family to attend and graduate from College. My mom worked for the Board of Education for 24 years helping children from Pre K- HS with drug prevention, violence prevention, gang prevention etc. Recently a student of hers became a FB friend... he was a "bad kid" who always was in trouble. My mom loved him the most. She helped him, listened to him, and redirected him. He now serves in the US Military and thanked my mom. He said it was because of people like her he is where he is today, selflessly defending our country. Just one example of the thousands of lives my mom has touched.
I was the first in my family to attend and graduate from College. My mom worked for the Board of Education for 24 years helping children from Pre K- HS with drug prevention, violence prevention, gang prevention etc. Recently a student of hers became a FB friend... he was a "bad kid" who always was in trouble. My mom loved him the most. She helped him, listened to him, and redirected him. He now serves in the US Military and thanked my mom. He said it was because of people like her he is where he is today, selflessly defending our country. Just one example of the thousands of lives my mom has touched.
My mom moved to NC and has continued as she calls it, "doing God's Work" helping the elderly- especially her favorite- Mildred who is 98. My mom adores her, and the feeling is more than mutual. My mom although she no longer takes care of Mildred still visits her buddy. My mom has always sacrificed for everyone, putting herself last. Her needs, wants, and desires have been put on hold so she can help everyone else around her.
My mom has longed dreamed of going to Greece. She talks about it all the time, like some far away dream that one day... someday might get realized.
Well for those of you who follow my story, you know I have been blessed to travel to 60 countries now, most of which with my darling Husband Jay... but the first trip I ever took out of the country was with my mom and grandma when I was 13 on a cruise - 7 days at Sea and then off to Bermuda! It was a magical land of turquoise blue water, and I longed for more. At Sweet 16- My mom asked me what do you want for your birthday? A party? A car (even if she couldn't afford it... it really wasn't necessary since I was NYC kid). "No "I said, "I want to go somewhere...". "Okay" she said without hesitation- "Where?". Italy! I replied, Are you nuts she said? Well maybe, but why not. It was my 16th, my mom's 40th and my grandmother's 65th Birthday- and I was born longing to travel the world. Especially our home country! So- we went! It was the trip of the lifetime, and changed my life! I cried when I left... and I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life exploring far away lands, eating foreign food, listening to exotic new languages and music, and immersing myself in "strange" and wonderful cultures.
Well, I am super excited to finally,after all these years repeat that trip of 3 generations- but this time my mom is Grandma and Brooklyn will once again go Globe Trotting and have nothing but pictures to remember ;). I am taking my mom on her dream trip and then some!We are starting in a surprise destination, and then heading to Barcelona, Spain to being a Mediterranean Cruise!
Indeed this will be a dream vacation for all of us :)
| Sat, 08/08/15 | Barcelona, Spain View general port information Muelle Adosado Puerto De Barcelona Barcelona, Spain Www.Apb.Es Check In 1:00pm-5:30pm see Travel Summary For progressive Check In Times | – 7:00pm |
| Sun, 08/09/15 | Marseille (provence), France | 7:00am – 5:00pm |
| Mon, 08/10/15 | Genoa, Italy (for Milan) | 7:00am – 6:00pm |
| Tue, 08/11/15 | Florence/Pisa (livorno), Italy | 7:00am – 7:00pm |
| Wed, 08/12/15 | At Sea | |
| Thu, 08/13/15 | Valletta, Malta | 7:00am – 4:00pm |
| Fri, 08/14/15 | Sicily (palermo), Italy | 7:00am – 2:00pm |
| Sat, 08/15/15 | Rome (civitavecchia), Italy See Travel Summary For progressive Check In Times | 5:00am – 6:00pm |
| Sun, 08/16/15 | Naples, Italy (for Capri & Pompeii) | 7:00am – 6:00pm |
| Mon, 08/17/15 | At Sea | |
| Tue, 08/18/15 | Crete (heraklion), Greece | 9:00am – 6:00pm |
| Wed, 08/19/15 | Rhodes, Greece | 8:00am – 5:00pm |
| Thu, 08/20/15 | Kusadasi, Turkey (for Ephesus) | 8:00am – 5:00pm |
| Fri, 08/21/15 | Santorini, Greece Tender Required wheelchair Access Limited | 7:00am – 6:00pm |
| Sat, 08/22/15 | Athens (piraeus), Greece View general port information | 4:00am |
Many places I have never been to myself! It will be my first time in France, Malta, Turkey, Greece and Sicily (where my ancestors truly are from!). I am so excited to have this experience with my wonderful and deserving mom... although I will miss my amazing husband as this is the longest I would have been away from him since we got married. You know what they say- absence makes the heart grow fonder (as if that is even possible for Jay and I :)).
I cannot wait to share the food, pictures, and best of all cherished memories with my mom and Schmooberry (aka Brooklyn). It willl be an exciting journey and becomes more real the closer we get. Time to pick excursions and prepare for all the fun! Stay tuned for pics and stories :) Also, if you have been to any of the destinations please comment on any and all "must sees" :) Thanks!
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