November 3, 2007 - Western on the Magic

[SweetSpot]

Just an FYI... I like to cook with soda - 7-Up on ham, Coke on Beef, etc., but I've always read that you should never cook with diet soda. I even have a Coca Cola cookbook. The recipes we've tried are always good. There is a fat free brownie mix called Pudge brownies. They're pretty good...

Linda

I think they tell you not to cook with diet soda if you are using it to make a glaze on meats. You need the sugars in the soda to carmelize and create a glaze and nutrisweet in diet sodas can't do it. For baking in a low fat brownie recipe you should have not problem since the sweetener is only needed for sweetness not as a glaze.

Unfortunately, with school almost out the summer is going to fly by but the cruise will be here before you know it. I hate wishing time away but I am really looking forward to being back on the Magic.

 

[iwannabeminnie]

Plus, I never use aspartame. I always look for Splenda in all of my sugar free items.

 

[3cheers4DIS]

Oh dear just come back from a 2 week cruise around the med on the Navigator of the seas, oops think i may need to loose a few pounds !!!!!!

Carol does a bit of weight watchers so i may have to join in, but luckily im quite a good runner (and if i give up the beer !!!) the weight normally falls off.

I paid off the balance yesterday because the dollar/pound exchange rate is so good and didn't want to see it go any lower.

cheers everbody Iain.

 

[love2travel]

Just bumping up, we were back on page 3.

 

[VeronicaWest]

just helpin to bump us up!

 

[mommynt]

Even though I've cruised before, I've never played bingo on board. Has anyone? Do you know what the cost is? How many cards? Do you have to buy cards each night? What are the prizes? I am hoping to be able to play, as long as we don't find to much to do... and can my daughter tag along? Thanks for all the answers.

 

[iwannabeminnie]

I can go ahead and tell you to just save your money and not waste it on Bingo. That's cause I'll be there and I plan to win!

 

[VeronicaWest]

nooo way! my mom and I actually plan on NOT having nething to do when there is bingo. It is actually a very special time for me, playing bingo.when i was little we played bingo at jellystone camp ground and my brother won and he had to stand up and say "i have B O" and he did and won a stuffed bear for me.then when i was pregnant with my daughter, my husband (now ex) was away at basic training and I was only 17. I never had nething to do so we would go to bingo all the time together. then a few years down the road, my best friends husband was away on his ship(navy) and she was pregnant with her first and we went to bingo regularly. needless to say i have been to alot of bingo...yet...get this...i have NEVER won lol..niether has my mom...but we will this time!!!!!

but i m curious bout the other persons post asking howmuch and all that jazz...i would like to know too

 

[sillysully]

Can someone add us to the list on page 1? Me, DH, DD10, DD9, DS5 - on our first cruise My kids will be thrilled to "meet" other kids ahead of time. THX!

 

[iwannabeminnie]

Welcome aboard!

 

[shruley]

Can someone add us as well? It will be me and DH, DD age 4 and DD who will turn one on our cruise! Her birthday is Nov 8, she was born with a rare congenital heart defect and has been through 2 open heart surgeries (in addition to 3 other surgecial proceedures.) There was a time we got a quite bad prognosis, so this is our celebration cruise!

Also add me to the losing weight list...this all started with DH trying to motivate me to lose weight. Let's just say living at the Ronald McDonald House and a hospital is not great for the waistline. I was doing well and lost 13 lbs. Then I lost my motivation and am going the other way again. It's hard to stay motivated when you are sleep deprived! Maybe if I tape cruise pictures on all the food in our house???

Looking forward to meeting others on our cruise, especially those with young kids. We've never done a cruise period so we're not totally sure what to expect. Baby is a good traveler though so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[iwannabeminnie]

Welcome aboard! It sounds like you have much to celebrate! (If there is any champagne toasting going on, count me in!)

 

[CastawayCayLover]

Even though I've cruised before, I've never played bingo on board. Has anyone? Do you know what the cost is? How many cards? Do you have to buy cards each night? What are the prizes? I am hoping to be able to play, as long as we don't find to much to do... and can my daughter tag along? Thanks for all the answers.

We only play the last day when the jackpot has to be won. Cost is $35 for a regular pack of cards (which is one card, with 6 boards, for each game that is run) and $15 for an extra card for the final bingo jackpot. Prizes are cash prizes equal to some percentage of the amount that was collected selling the cards. Starts off small and grows larger (say $200 - $700 for regular bingo). The final jackpot on Friday last year was worth about $4k. You have to get all of the numbers on your card to win.

I was standing last year (down to needing only 1 more number) but didn't win.

You can certainly bring your daughter along, she can help you punch out the numbers on your cards. Our kids had a lot of fun with it.

 

[kowalchicky]

My friend just got a call from Disney about her flight information....she booked a flight when she booked the cruise...( as did we ) we haven't heard anything just curious if anyone else has received a call?

 

[Pengy]

Hi sillysully and shruley, I apologize for missing you guys earlier with the roll call. I have added both of your families to the list on page 1, and look forward to seeing you on the cruise!

 

[VeronicaWest]

Hey is phil from the car dealer on here? i know he is coming and thought i would see if he or his wife or children might be on here. Let me know!

 

[graygables]

Took DDs for their passports today! They still have NO idea, think they need them for a trip to Canada in the fall...are we going to Canada??? noo......

DH had to be a putz and whine and gripe about how much they cost, but having grown up with a passport myself, I just feel so much better knowing we have them!

I bought them a Polly Pocket cruise ship play set back before Christmas when it was on a great sale and plan to give that to them here in the next month or so to "announce" it. We'll have a Caribbean-themed dinner and make it fun.

 

[iwannabeminnie]

We applied for our passports on May 22. The check was cashed last week and this morning I checked the website and it said they were being "processed." The good news is that it only took about 10 days for the check to clear as opposed to the three weeks I had anticipated, and that it only took two weeks for our passports to show being "processed" as opposed to the four weeks they tell you it will take for them to show up in the system. Maybe the back log is not as great now as it was earlier in the year! Let's keep our fingers crossed!

 

[SamIAm21]

We applied for our passports on May 22. The check was cashed last week and this morning I checked the website and it said they were being "processed." The good news is that it only took about 10 days for the check to clear as opposed to the three weeks I had anticipated, and that it only took two weeks for our passports to show being "processed" as opposed to the four weeks they tell you it will take for them to show up in the system. Maybe the back log is not as great now as it was earlier in the year! Let's keep our fingers crossed!

We are almost on the same schedule as applied for mine around that time. Mine are showing up as processing too! That's very exciting! If I get mine, I will let you know and if you get yours first, let me know! That way I can be expecting them!

I got a Lands' End catalog today with bathing suits and cover ups. I think I will order one and set it aside for the trip. I have a bathing suit that's good enough for this summer, but I would want something new and sporty for the cruise. A cover up will also be a must... and maybe sandals!

 

[love2travel]

I've been eyeing up the Lands End catalog also....I need a new swimsuit too and definately a cover-up. Happy Shopping!!!!