{How To}: Pack a Carry-On

Hey everyone! :)  Hope you all had a wonderful Sunday!  

I thought I would squeeze in one last post before we leave for the sunny Caribbean on Tuesday morning.. or rather, I was guilted into doing one last post by my dear cousin Leeann, (haha, jk, Lee, you know I love you)... 

Yup, we are headed south for about a 13 days!  We are going on cruise with my dad's side of the family.  It's for my grandparents 65th wedding anniversary!  I know, 65 years!  Definitely worth celebrating!  We are so excited as this is our first cruise!  :)  

Needless to say, my days have been filled with lists and packing and more lists and more packing, so I thought I would give you my rendition of what my carry-on is going to look like this trip. 

I was going to do everything.  Like a guide on how to pack a suitcase for sunny climate and also my beach bag.  But then I laughed at myself in the face and realized there is no humanly possible way to get all of that done, so a "how-to" guide on packing a carry-on it is!  

I'm normally the kind of person that jams in a magazine, a few other essentials and some gum last minute.  Then I'm sitting on the plane, sighing and huffing that I didn't pack this or pack that in my carry-on. 

Well, NO MORE! haha.. I decided to organize my contents into "sections", if you will, and then that way I could keep better track of what I was taking and if I thought I was missing anything. 

I got lots of inspiration online and here's what I came up with!

 The actual bag: 2008 Spring faux-snakeskin oversized weekend bag 

I will store my cross-body bag inside when we board, but through security I will have it on me.  I don't have it pictured, but inside will be my "essentials"... Passport, drivers license, credit card, some cash, cruise documents, boarding passes, lip balm, sunglasses, iPod and camera.  That way the stuff that I will want access to the quickest will be available in one swift motion and I won't be rooting through a massive bag for my teeny passport.  :)

Oh and also, pictured are the shoes I will be wearing on the plane.  Aren't they pretty?!  :)  Yes, they are sparkly.  Yes, I am still an eight-year-old.

 Health:

- Giant bottle of Advil

- travel size bottle of Advil (for day trips and excursions)

- Gravol

- Transderm-V

-Tums

The husband is prone to motion sickness, so I will keep the Gravol close by during the flight and the Transderm-V patches close at hand for the cruise.  The patches are little circle patches the adhere to the skin right behind the ear and it's suppose to help with motion sickness on the boat!  :)  Tyler thinks he'll be fine on a bigger ship, but you never know... and the last thing I want is a poor hubby that can't enjoy his trip due to motion sickness! 

 Personal Cosmetics:

I promise you I won't bore you with the (most likely) endless list that would be my lip balm/gloss collection.

As long as you promise in return not to judge me for having... *counting them* 9 different tubes in my little cosmetic pouch. Yes, I'm addicted.  I know.  But... you just never know what colour you might need!  

Also on hand is a Tide pen, hand cream, travel size sunscreen (for day trips), nail file and compact mirror.  

Not pictured are ear plugs and individual teeth floss thingies.  I know, it's totally the technical term. 

 Electronics:

- Camera

- Camera battery charger and extra battery

- iPod and earbuds

- iPod charger and docking station

All very self-explanatory, I'm sure. :)

 Eyewear:

- 2 pairs of sunglasses (best deal ever.  Buy 1 get 1 free.  They were marked down to $8.  Score).

- Eye glasses

- Case, cloth and lens cleaner

 Reading Material:

I brought a lot of reading material.  Two magazines and three books.  I'm so excited.  Plane ride, lounge chair on the deck, in our room at night, on the beach, etc, etc... Oh bring it on!!  I can't wait!

Magazines are Renovation Style (yeeeeee!!!) and Shape.  The book are Jillian Michaels Master Your Metabolism (so lame, but I love her and heard great things about this book), Tina Fey Bossy Pants and I'm starting the Hunger Games series!  Whooooo!

Snacks:

We're too cheap to buy airport snacks behind security.  And it's way too much temptation to buy some junk food, so we're improvising.  I wanted to pack fresh clementines and some carrot sticks, too, but I'm not sure if you're allowed to bring fresh fruit/vegetables into the US from Canada.  So we won't even go there.  So, fruit bars, granola bars, 100 calorie packs and gum it is!  Oh ya, and I'm going to pack some protein bars for Tyler, too.  And another tip I learned?  Take an empty water bottle with you and once you're through security, fill it up at a water fountain or washroom sink!  Love it! No more paying $5 for a bottle of water!

So that about wraps it up!  I know, I don't have a change of clothes or my toothbrush with me... if I were a true seasoned traveller, I would know how smart it is to pack those things in your carry-on.  But I'm too lazy to even go there... So, ya, knock on wood, we won't have any luggage troubles....... 

Oh ya, I just wanted to mention to about what to wear... I read a blog post about wearing your bulkiest clothes and shoes on the plane!  What a smart idea!  That way, they won't take up room in your suitcase!  So, my outfit for the plane is as follows..

- black slim dress pants

- long denim button down 

- light pink skinny belt

- floral scarf (with tan, turquoise, light pink and purple in it)

- sparkly loafers

- light black trench coat 

The trench coat is 3/4 sleeves and light enough to come with me on our trip.  Plus, you never know when a light jacket might come in handy.. :)

Alsoooo.... I have this crazy idea... I may (MAY) take outfit pictures while on holidays and do a wee series on what I wore. I kind of applied the whole 30x30 challenge to this trip, so I thought it might be fun to blog about it when I get back.  I didn't bring exactly 30 items though. I can't remember what the number is, but I gave myself a limit and forced myself to work with what I had.  I'm hoping this means a suitcase full of victory, but we'll see. Haha.. planning it on paper is one thing.  Executing it is another. :)

Well, that about wraps it up!  I'll see all you lovelies in the beginning of February!  :)

Be sure to keep winter good company while I'm gone. (ha! One last jab. Couldn't resist!) ;)

Until then!

xo ~ Jessica

Life Lessons Through ChopSticks

Hey everyone... So, this post is going to have no pictures, so just to warn you now... haha.. It's a more ramble-y, "I felt inspired" type post instead, so I hope you'll bear with me... I promise I won't be offended if you click out of this post now... :)

If I'm being really honest, I guess I'm writing this post for myself.  I had an "ah-ha" moment last night, when I was at Wok Box for supper and I want to make sense of where my thoughts are really headed with this... :)  So, read along if you want....

As I mentioned, I was at Wok Box for supper last night.. I love their food.  It's fresh, tasty and fairly healthy.  When my order was ready, they called my number and I proceeded to the pick-up bar to get my order.  It's the same place where the napkins, chop sticks and other utensils are located.  I grabbed my usual: a napkin, a set of chopsticks and a fork.  (Oh yes, and my food).

And then I stopped.

And I asked myself this question: "Why do you need a fork, Jessica, if you're going to use chopsticks?"

Yeah, Jessica!  Good question! Huh? Huh? Why do ya?

I have been doing that for years.  Grabbing chopsticks and a fork.  Just in case.  Just in case chopsticks get uncomfortable or I can't pick something up with them and... well, there ya go.. I have a fork just in case!

I would say it's been about 5 years of me trying to learn to eat Asian cuisine with chopsticks.  And it's true... 5 years ago I resorted to switching to a fork about half way through my meal.  

But that was five years ago.  I have, in the past few months, been able to finish a whole meal (I know! Gold star for me! haha!) with chopsticks alone... 

So. Why. Do. I. Keep. Reaching. For. A. Fork., Too?

Here's the ah-ha moment:  because it's safe.  because it's there.  because it's assessable.

Just like everything else I choose in life.  The safe option.  The non-risky option.

It doesn't seem to matter what I'm doing, I always choose safe.  

At the gym.

In my job.

My spiritual life.

The kitchen.

You get the point.

I should back up though.  There is nothing wrong with safe.  (Obviously).  And safe is necessary in every aspect of our life.  But I am STUCK in safe, it seems.  I'm not reaching, stretching, eager to learn and whatever other cliche you'd like to add in there.  

So here's my 2012 (and the years to come, too!) challenge to myself.  

STOP CHOOSING SAFE.

For example, when I'm at the gym, I need to stop wimping out.  I need to STOP telling myself I'm not a runner.  I need to STOP telling myself I can't lift that much weight.  I need to STOP telling myself I will never be able to do that yoga pose.  

No one at the gym is telling me I can't do this.  In fact, I'm sure if people could read my thoughts, I would have a flood of support.. no, Jessica, you can do it!  Keep going!  One more rep!  Yes!

I AM telling myself I can't do this.  I'm choosing safe.  I'm choosing the fork.

Over the summer, my mom and dad went on a (pedal) bike ride with some friends.  Mom probably hadn't been on a bike in a few years.. but she's capable and active enough, she picked it right back up again.  She told me a little story that came back to me last night, about this said bike ride...

The trails they chose that day were hilly and wound down by river.  She told me she came to one big hill and before she even started the hill (she knew it was coming up), she had her mind made up that she couldn't make it up the hill.  Sure enough, half way up, she convinced herself she had to hop off and walk/push her bike up the rest of the hill.

And these were her words to me that night: "Oh, I was so MAD at myself, Jessica!  I know I could have made it!  I don't know why I do that all the time... think I can't do something.."

She chose the fork.  We all do it, don't we?

I also choose safe in my spiritual life.  I don't reach out to others as much as I could.  And I mean, to all people.  Not just my group of friends.  

"A lukewarm heart God cannot cherish...."  

He wants zeal and first place and a deep love for Him and His Son... I *know* I can go deeper in my spiritual life.  

I think the thing that annoys me the most is that the "fork" is always right there.  It's soooo easy to grab.  Why does life have to make the "fork" so assessable?  Sometimes I wish that life would just take the "fork" away and leave me with no option but the "chopsticks".  Like take away all the 8lb dumbbells at the gym so the only option I have are the 10, 12, 17.5 and 20 pound weights.  It wouldn't be easy.  Not even close.  But it would make me step out and go for it, wouldn't it?

But life is not like that.  So, instead, I have to make the CONSCIOUS choice to step out and go for it.  

I'm smiling as I write this now..  Smiling because that right there is what taking risks and stepping out is all about... it's about me making the choice and then getting rewarded for it.

That's much better than being forced to use the chopsticks.  (See how my thoughts have come full circle here?! haha).  Because honestly, it's going to be kinda cool when I go to Wok Box next time and I can look at the fork container and say, nope, I don't need you any more.. Then I will confidently grab the chopsticks and devour my Chicken Kung Pao.  :) 

I have a lot of big things coming up this year.  At the end of March, I will be laid off from my job.  I haven't really talked about it much.  I found out in June 2011.  I work for non-profit organization that is contracted to Travel Alberta.  Travel Alberta has opted not to renew that contract in the new fiscal year, so that leaves me and my co-workers jobless.  Which royally sucks.  But I want to apply this fork/chopstick theory to even seeking out new employment.  Don't be afraid to try something new, different, creative, exciting and/or challenging. 

That all being said, I hope I haven't offended anyone with my chopstick theory.  It's just a little personal experience that happened to me and I wanted to share it with you all.  

Writing does that for me.  Helps me organize my thoughts.  That's why I share (or over-share).. hahah..:)

What about you guys?  Any fears you want to overcome?  Anyone else tired of safe?  

Let's motivate each other, shall we?  

And with that here is my parting thought:

Chopsticks flippin' rule. 

:)

Until next time!

xo ~ Jessica

Happy Birthday Tyler!

Dec. 29 was my darling hubby's birthday!  It was low-key, but involved cupcakes and butter cream frosting, so really we could have been scrubbing bathroom floors and I would have been content.. ;)

I attempted home-made butter cream frosting for the first time and I was pretty impressed.. I didn't think it was as good as my sister-in-law's (her's seemed more butter-y and mine was a little bit too sugary, for my taste)... I think with adjusting, it could be quite tasty.. :)

And please ignore the awful piping job on the cupcakes.. I had about 3.5 seconds to ice them and well, this is how they turned out..

 The final product!

Officially 28!

 Make a wish......

 Happy Birthday to my woooonderful hubby! :)

 Drizzled with chocolate.. because there wasn't quite enough calories to start with.... ;)

Gifts from the Kostenuk family!  Chalkboard stick-on calender for his office wall and pens with funny (fake) businesses on them (ie: Ever Green Nudist Colony) so people won't want to borrow your pen! HA!  Some of them are hilllllarious!

Next year he will be 29 on the 29th!  I want to do something grand!  Any ideas?  I want to do a black-tie masquerade party.. but I'm pretty sure he would hate that.. hahah.. Anyway, I guess I do have a full year to mull it over..... :)

Until next time!
xo ~ Tyler & Jessica

A Holiday Project

So this holiday project, unfortunately, does not include glitter, sequins, a Cricut or a glue gun... haha.. 

It all started a few weeks ago, when we met with our realtor and took our house off the market.  It's not for good.  It's just for the holidays, get a few more projects completed and kinda hit the "reset" button in a few weeks... :)  My wonderful husband got right to work on Project #1 and took the (temporary) carpet off the stairs and laid the remainder of our laminate flooring on them!  Yay!  The result?  A much cleaner and pulled together look!  

I'm not gonna lie, I think Bronze misses the carpet though... She could really motor up those stairs with good traction.  I, on the other hand, am glad to see that carpet go!  It wasn't meant to be permanent anyway, but you know how it is... It's hard to actually get around to finishing something when the "it works, but it's not perfect" option is functioning just fine... Anywho! :)  It's done now and I am  very grateful for my husband who truly is a get-er-done kind of guy! (I mean that in every possible cliche way!) :)

 Stairs to the landing (before)

Main stairs to the basement (before)

The work set-up... I find this totally fascinating.. I think it's mostly because I have no idea how to operate this kind of machinery, but Tyler just goes about it, like he's done it a million times... er, which, technically, he has.. :)

 First two done!  Just a quick Booster-Juice-and-work-assessment break.. :) 

 Unique stairs!  First two: laminate.  Second two: nasty original vinyl flooring.  Next Three: Underlay from carpet.  Last Two:  Rolled up carpet.  We contemplated keeping it this way, but the rolled up carpet at the top of the stairs was getting annoying to step over every time. ;)

 All done!  Laminate down, nosing completed and silicone done, too! :)  

 Final reveal!  Silicone is now dried and everything is cleaned up!

 Yay!  I really really love it!

For Project #2, he finished (5 years later.. not pointing fingers, babe.. I'm just sayin'....) grouting the floor of our bathroom closet!  Yay!  

He was a man on a mission this week and didn't even complain that he had to do this on his week off... :)  Actually, if I know my husband, he would have been complaining that he nothing to do, if not for this project.. hahah.. :)  

And to my dear cousins who have been asking for basement reno picture updates, I promise (for the hundredth time) that they are coming! :)  Especially now that the stairs are done, I have no excuses!! :)  

Now I'm off to take pictures of the basement.... if it's clean... :)

Until next time!

xo ~ Tyler & Jessica