The Good Ole Freap Chat ~ Sequel Part III ~

[Maggimus]

A cruise this time of year sounds like an excellent idea. Where are you cruising to, Maggie?

We actually luck up in the cruise department. DH does finance and if he sells so much of this local companies product then we win a cruise each year along with a few other couples. DH has placed first the last two years so we have been fortunate to go. We are going next month to Cozumel and Belize. Weve been to Cozumel quite a few times on vacation before, but never Belize. Last year we went in December and it was to Jamaica & Grand Cayman. I cannot weight. LOL Ill be doing the cottage cheese diet immediately after Christmas jk

I hope the medicine works for you!! And we have had rain here in TN-- and will continue to get more all next week.

 

[mtblujeans]

We actually luck up in the cruise department. DH does finance and if he sells so much of this local companies product then we win a cruise each year along with a few other couples. DH has placed first the last two years so we have been fortunate to go. We are going next month to Cozumel and Belize. Weve been to Cozumel quite a few times on vacation before, but never Belize. Last year we went in December and it was to Jamaica & Grand Cayman. I cannot weight. LOL Ill be doing the cottage cheese diet immediately after Christmas jk

I hope the medicine works for you!! And we have had rain here in TN-- and will continue to get more all next week.

How wonderful for you guys!! I am soooo interested in taking a cruise to Belize. DH isn't sure. Does Cozumel have ruins? Which cruise line are you going on this time? What fun!

 

[NATALIEBELLESmom]

I made it through finals. So far so good on the final grades and I am finally getting my house back in order and decorated. I promise pictures by the weekend. Hope everyone if feeling well and keeping warm we are really chilly here.

 

[Maggimus]

How wonderful for you guys!! I am soooo interested in taking a cruise to Belize. DH isn't sure. Does Cozumel have ruins? Which cruise line are you going on this time? What fun!

Yes Cozumel has the Mayan Ruins. We are going on Royal Caribbean. Cozumel is nice, not that touristy... we've been there several times. My mom who is also a Freap (but only lurks) goes about 4 or 5 times a year. Thats their home away from home. They know many locals and whatnot. So we go with them often. Its nice... once you get passed the front street (which the cruise lines own). Thats something important to know if you cruise. The cruise lines own the front street of all the shopping districts in each port. They do say this... but tell you its only "safe" on the front street. Go to a front street-- all US dollar prices. Go back a litte ways- negotiate and get something far far cheaper. We learned this in Cozumel during our many many trips. So we venture out when we go to other ports... and use our own judgement.


Theresa- how are your homemade goodies going? So glad you made it through finals. I know its been stressful for a lot of people!! Now you can enjoy the holidays!!

 

[mtblujeans]

I made it through finals. So far so good on the final grades and I am finally getting my house back in order and decorated. I promise pictures by the weekend. Hope everyone if feeling well and keeping warm we are really chilly here.

What a relief for you! DS has finals this week and then he is done for about 3 weeks. Looking forward to pictures....!

Yes Cozumel has the Mayan Ruins. We are going on Royal Caribbean. Cozumel is nice, not that touristy... we've been there several times. My mom who is also a Freap (but only lurks) goes about 4 or 5 times a year. Thats their home away from home. They know many locals and whatnot. So we go with them often. Its nice... once you get passed the front street (which the cruise lines own). Thats something important to know if you cruise. The cruise lines own the front street of all the shopping districts in each port. They do say this... but tell you its only "safe" on the front street. Go to a front street-- all US dollar prices. Go back a litte ways- negotiate and get something far far cheaper. We learned this in Cozumel during our many many trips. So we venture out when we go to other ports... and use our own judgement....

I shared your answer with DH and he smiled and nodded. We both feel your info is good to know! Please share about your trip when you get back. Maybe we need to take the cruise you will be taking.

 

[Jennifer823]

Hey all! I got back Monday afternoon from our "girls cruise" for my sister. We had a blast! We were on Royal Caribbean Monarch of the Seas, which is a really nice ship. It was just a short cruise to the Bahamas, but such fun.

I'm the first one on the left, my mom is behind me then my four sisters and a friend. The bachelorette is the one with the boa!

My sister and I made the shirts we're wearing. They say "Carolyn's Bachelorette Bash - Surrendering the Booty April 21, 2009" on the back

 

[Jennifer823]

I was wondering if anyone has any experience making "mulled wine"? Online, it looks like you just heat wine up with some orange rind and serve it warm. Is that all you do?

I've made mulled wine before, and also mulled cider. We did the mulled cider at Thanksgiving this year. It's really easy. You make them the same way. You can actually buy "mulling spices," but basically it's just allspice, cinnamon sticks, nutmeg and an orange that you stud with cloves. Put this along with the wine in a crockpot and just let it "mull" It's ready once it's good and hot, but as it sits it gets better. I usually add a little brown sugar, makes it better

 

[Maggimus]

What a relief for you! DS has finals this week and then he is done for about 3 weeks. Looking forward to pictures....!

I shared your answer with DH and he smiled and nodded. We both feel your info is good to know! Please share about your trip when you get back. Maybe we need to take the cruise you will be taking.

I meant to say that the cruise lines dont tell you that they own the front street at each port. I said that they do-- but they do not say that. Its very obvious at most ports though-- especially with the welcome signs out each days saying "Welcome Carnival, Royal Caribbean".. and they list all the cruise ships that have docked that day.

Im honestly not as excited about Cozumel as I am about Belize- especially since Ive never been there. We also don't book excursions through the ship. Its a bunch of touristy people and to me its a big "hurry up and wait" game. I go against the ships advice and book a local tour guide with many high reviews. We did this last year in both Jamaica and Grand Cayman and while Dh was a little weird about me doing it at first (and everyone we went with was in shock that we would take such a chance)... we got to do and see SO MUCH MORE than anyone else, for so much less money (which means good tip for the local person). We didnt have a group of 50+ people to wait on. There were about 6 or so of us both days... including Dh and I... and if we saw something neat and wanted to stop- we did! If you ever go to Ocho Rios or Grand Cayman I have great guides names I could give you!!

Cruising is a blast! I always thought i wouldnt like it because im not a drinker (neither is DH- alchoholism in the family so we just choose not to), and Dh wasnt a gambler (until our first cruise ) but we were wrong. Its awesome!! We wanted to do the Disney Cruise first... but we have really liked Royal Caribbean.

Theres a cruise board you can check out sometime if you ever really get interested. CruiseCritic.com is great. You can learn everything about any type of cruise or port.

 

[Maggimus]

Hey all! I got back Monday afternoon from our "girls cruise" for my sister. We had a blast! We were on Royal Caribbean Monarch of the Seas, which is a really nice ship. It was just a short cruise to the Bahamas, but such fun.



I'm the first one on the left, my mom is behind me then my four sisters and a friend. The bachelorette is the one with the boa!

My sister and I made the shirts we're wearing. They say "Carolyn's Bachelorette Bash - Surrendering the Booty April 21, 2009" on the back

Jennifer you look great. YAY for a cruise!! I hope you had fun. What were your ports?

 

[mtblujeans]

Hey all! I got back Monday afternoon from our "girls cruise" for my sister. We had a blast! We were on Royal Caribbean Monarch of the Seas, which is a really nice ship. It was just a short cruise to the Bahamas, but such fun.

I'm the first one on the left, my mom is behind me then my four sisters and a friend. The bachelorette is the one with the boa!

My sister and I made the shirts we're wearing. They say "Carolyn's Bachelorette Bash - Surrendering the Booty April 21, 2009" on the back

Such a nice picture!! (No winter coats to be found!) Glad you made it back safe to share your experience, too!

Thanks so much for the mulled wine help. Putting it in a crock pot is an excellent idea! Makes it easier to transport to the party, too.

I meant to say that the cruise lines dont tell you that they own the front street at each port. I said that they do-- but they do not say that. Its very obvious at most ports though-- especially with the welcome signs out each days saying "Welcome Carnival, Royal Caribbean".. and they list all the cruise ships that have docked that day.

Im honestly not as excited about Cozumel as I am about Belize- especially since Ive never been there. We also don't book excursions through the ship. Its a bunch of touristy people and to me its a big "hurry up and wait" game. I go against the ships advice and book a local tour guide with many high reviews. We did this last year in both Jamaica and Grand Cayman and while Dh was a little weird about me doing it at first (and everyone we went with was in shock that we would take such a chance)... we got to do and see SO MUCH MORE than anyone else, for so much less money (which means good tip for the local person). We didnt have a group of 50+ people to wait on. There were about 6 or so of us both days... including Dh and I... and if we saw something neat and wanted to stop- we did! If you ever go to Ocho Rios or Grand Cayman I have great guides names I could give you!!

Cruising is a blast! I always thought i wouldnt like it because im not a drinker (neither is DH- alchoholism in the family so we just choose not to), and Dh wasnt a gambler (until our first cruise ) but we were wrong. Its awesome!! We wanted to do the Disney Cruise first... but we have really liked Royal Caribbean.

Theres a cruise board you can check out sometime if you ever really get interested. CruiseCritic.com is great. You can learn everything about any type of cruise or port.

Thank you for all the tips and pointers! We really enjoy getting advice and help from the experienced travelers!

 

[mtblujeans]

Have you guys seen the Harley Christmas ad?

 

[Jennifer823]

Jennifer you look great. YAY for a cruise!! I hope you had fun. What were your ports?

I absolutely LOVE cruising. I'm not a drinker either, and only gamble at the nickel slots. This was just a short trip, we were supposed to go to both Nassau and Coco Cay (Royal Caribbean's island) but the weather got rough and we couldn't get to Coco Cay. Nassau isn't my favorite place.. but we took the water taxi over to Atlantis and spent the day there. I know what you mean about booking your own tours. We do this too. If anyone is planning on going to St. Thomas, I know a great guide!

 

[SHAYMARAYSMOM]

Hey all! I got back Monday afternoon from our "girls cruise" for my sister. We had a blast! We were on Royal Caribbean Monarch of the Seas, which is a really nice ship. It was just a short cruise to the Bahamas, but such fun.

I'm the first one on the left, my mom is behind me then my four sisters and a friend. The bachelorette is the one with the boa!

My sister and I made the shirts we're wearing. They say "Carolyn's Bachelorette Bash - Surrendering the Booty April 21, 2009" on the back

You look great Jennifer. I am glad you had fun.

 

[NATALIEBELLESmom]

Love the picture from the Cruise. I really would love to take on some day. Here are the pictures of the Christmas tree and some of the house. Craft pictures are still in the works. This year Natalie and Nate got to pick out the tree and decorate the tree. As a surprise for me they did their theme in disney.

 

[mtblujeans]

Awww, Theresa, they did a great job! Thanks for sharing the pictures!!

 

[Maggimus]

Theresa I love your tree!! YAY for a disney tree!! It looks great!

 

[Jennifer823]

Love your tree Theresa! One of these days we're going to break down and get a REAL tree.

 

[SHAYMARAYSMOM]

Theresa the pictures look great. I have not put up any Christmas stuff yet.


So I went to the Drs. today. If the Oncology Drs clear me when I go Thursday I will be able to go back to work on Jan. 5th

DH went for a job interview today. This is the 6th time back. They started with 50 went down to 3. He just called he got the job

 

[pperfectmom]

Theresa the pictures look great. I have not put up any Christmas stuff yet.


So I went to the Drs. today. If the Oncology Drs clear me when I go Thursday I will be able to go back to work on Jan. 5th

DH went for a job interview today. This is the 6th time back. They started with 50 went down to 3. He just called he got the job

WooHoo!!!! Kellie, I am so happy for your family. What a great Christmas present.

 

[maddhatir]

Have you guys seen the Harley Christmas ad?

AWESOME! I got goosebumps after seeing that! I LUVVVVVVVVVVV ma Harley and they all sounded SO nice and loud, just like a Harley should! Is it weird to think that Santa looked hot

I absolutely LOVE cruising. I'm not a drinker either, and only gamble at the nickel slots. This was just a short trip, we were supposed to go to both Nassau and Coco Cay (Royal Caribbean's island) but the weather got rough and we couldn't get to Coco Cay. Nassau isn't my favorite place.. but we took the water taxi over to Atlantis and spent the day there. I know what you mean about booking your own tours. We do this too. If anyone is planning on going to St. Thomas, I know a great guide!

Jen- great seeing you in the pics! Little drinking tip. If you do not drink much, just get a glass of champagne and it will give you an instant buzz! Not alot of drinking involved

Love the picture from the Cruise. I really would love to take on some day. Here are the pictures of the Christmas tree and some of the house. Craft pictures are still in the works. This year Natalie and Nate got to pick out the tree and decorate the tree. As a surprise for me they did their theme in disney.

That is so sweet that your daughter and DH surprised you! I get no surprises, unless I surprise myself

I am not as traditional when it comes to xmas decorations and trees- I call these my Charlie Brown xmas trees My decorations are little birds and apples so it looks like my trees are outside. I got all those little glass votive candle holders on my mantle at a yard sale! I got all of them for 3 bucks! They all have the little berry wreaths around the bottom of them. They look so pretty when you put candles in all of them. (Please excuse the stars hanging from the ceiling. I am still searching for the perfect light to go there. I have been looking for a few years. I am not a Home Depot person, so I need to wait until I find the perfect fit. )