Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Epic sea days

photo (4)eOn this transatlantic cruise we departed from Miami and then had seven full days at sea before our first port of Funchal.  We enjoyed one day in port and then it was two more sea days before reaching our final destination of Barcelona.  The Epic provided plenty of day and night time activities and entertainment.  Maisie really enjoyed going to cruise camp each morning after breakfast until lunch time.  Unlike our previous transatlantic cruise where there were only nine children, this one had approximately 60, so more little friends for my girl.  Maisie though really attached to one little girl, Mahe and the two of them were fast friends the entire cruise. 

While Maisie attended cruise camp each morning, I enjoyed some quiet time and of course I attended the daily cooking demonstrations.  Eammon was happy to catch up on sleep and spend time in the gym.  Each sea day at noon we picked Maisie up from camp, had lunch together and spent the afternoon and evenings doing activities, playing and seeing the shows.  Many days we shared lunch time with Mahe and her family as the girls didn’t want to be apart, then afternoon activities were often planned by what the girls wanted to do together.  Evenings too, if our plans could be arranged, our families would dine together and see the shows together.  It’s always fun to meet new people and Maisie having a special friend and wanting to do all the activities together makes for a truly enjoyable time.

photo e One of the very special things on the Epic is the Ice Bar.  I’m not much of a drinker but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to drink, what turned out to be amazingly delicious, drinks in a room where everything from the bar to the seats to the glasses were made of ice.  My favorite drink was the Polaris, sweet, delicious and not too strong.  Eammon preferred the much bluer, stronger and sharper Northern Lights with extra shots of Svedka vodka to just make it even that much stronger!!

photo (23)Eammon’s drink wasn’t the only blue thing on the ship, we also got to see Blue Man Group, which was awesome!!

photo (28)eMaisie and Mahe chose to share a seat, as they did at most of the shows.  We were in the second row and were all given plastic ponchos to protect us from the paint and any of the other flying debris.

photo (27)eQaiser, Mahe & Maisie with the Blue Man Group band members after the show.

photo (26)eWe attended a “behind the scenes” meet-and-greet with the Blue Men when they weren’t blue, very funny and interesting listening to them.  The Blue Men that performed on the Epic were from Germany, England & the U.S.  After seeing the show Maisie posed with the Blue Man from Germany.

photo (25)eThe German Blue Man shared his “blue” and then “danced” with Maisie and Mahe.

photo (21)eA typical lunch, Mahe and Maisie squeezed together as close as possible.

photo (14)eThis was the calmest of our three transatlantic cruises but we still managed a few days of strong winds and big waves.  One of those nights we were dining in the French Bistro on deck 5 and a number of the waves came higher than the tops of the windows, a great show to enjoy along with our delicious dinner.

photo (11)eOne of the afternoon family activities was making balloon animals.  Maisie and Mahe made poodles on hats.

photo (7)ePosing with one of the bar servers before the magic show.

photo (4)eWe had front row seats for the magic show and so that their friend Natashia could sit front row too, Mahe & Maisie once again shared a seat…not that they wouldn’t have done so anyway, but this gave them a good excuse.

922597_519492994780668_1679574359_o eMaisie and Mahe at dinner, two beautiful girls.

photo (98)eBecause there were only about 60 children on the ship they didn’t do all the regular Nickelodeon events and shows but they did do some meet-and-greets and this picture was from a special breakfast with Dora & Diego.  Maisie thought the characters were creepy but humored me with a picture.

photo (83)eBecause of Maisie’s allergies, special meals and desserts were made specifically for her.  So when I met Denton Laing, the ship's Executive Chef, I thanked him for all the special meals and especially for the Maisie “safe” cookies that were made for each meal as she just loved them.   He was so nice and charming and after speaking for a short time he invited me and a couple of other passengers on a private tour of the kitchens. 

photo (97)ePretty cool getting a private tour with the Executive Chef.

photo (96)ePick up line.  Pictures of all the plates and what each should contain so that each plate is consistent and contains all components.

photo (5)ePart of the bakery.

photo (89)eBeef butchering room.  Even though there are, I think 20, kitchens on the Epic, all the beef is butchered in this one room before being sent to the appropriate kitchen.

photo (87)ePoultry butchering room.  Same as the beef room, all the poultry for all the kitchens is butchered here.

photo (86)eFish and seafood room for all 20 kitchens.

photo (82)eRoom service kitchen

photo (84)eSoup kettles      

photo (81)eAnother family activity was cupcake decorating.  Mahe & Maisie had fun frosting and putting on candy decorations.

photo (6)eMaisie ate all her gummy bears as they’re Maisie “safe” and she used the remaining candies to decorate her cupcake which she gave to Eammon.

photo (80)eAnother “creepy”, in Maisie’s words, meet-and-greet with Sponge Bob & Patrick.

photo (79)eThe Epic has a Cirque Dreams & dinner show which was amazing to see.  The performers were incredible and doing their performance on a moving ship, well WOW!!

395597_520886947974606_1565606690_n eEammon and I on our return visit to the Ice Bar, this time bringing along our friends Qaiser & Mary Jay to enjoy the experience.

935717_520886767974624_502135831_n eSitting on the ice bench enjoying our drinks in their ice cups…cold but delicious!  This time we’re drinking the Sunburst Yellow, delicious but not as wonderful as the Polaris…which I had after this one.

923507_520886671307967_1538819071_n eOn our final night of the cruise, Eammon, Qaiser, Mary Jay & Lisa, ready for dinner at Moderno Churrascaria 

photo (75)eMaisie and Mahe enjoying the flowers made for them before dinner, by our waitress, at the Moderno Churrascaria.

Even though we had nine full sea days I just didn’t take all that many photos as we just enjoyed our time.  I did do a bit better with photos in Funchal & Barcelona…actually pulling out my real camera instead of being lazy and just using my iPhone.  Next up, our time in Funchal.

Today I posted a new recipe over on Cook Lisa Cook for Honey Spiced Game Hens which is an easy, quick, one pan, delicious alternative to everyday chicken.  So simple it can be cooked up on a weeknight and so delicious it would make a wonderful meal for company.  Click on the link or the picture to be taken to Cook Lisa Cook and the recipe.

Honey Spiced Game Hens

More delicious chicken recipes on Cook Lisa Cook include:  Loaded Potato & Buffalo Chicken Casserole, Slimmed Down Loaded Potato & Buffalo Chicken Casserole, Copycat “KFC” Original Recipe Fried Chicken, Chinese Five Spice Wings, Chicken Satay Noodle Salad, Thai Peanut Noodles with Chicken, Thai Massaman Curry, Cilantro Lime Chicken, Red Curry Chicken, Curried Roast Chicken Pieces with Spicy Sweet Potato & Carrots, “Rotisserie” Chicken, Cheaters Chicken Soup, Thai Chicken Noodle Soup, Fire Roasted Tomato and Chicken Tortilla Soup, Tom Kha Gai, Chicken Tenders, Grilled Thai Chicken, Curried Grilled Thai Chicken Salad, Mom’s Curried Chicken Salad, Fruit, Nut & Poppy Seed Chicken Salad, Slow Cooker Chicken Curry, Home Style Chicken Curry, Texas Chicken with Lime Butter, Texas Chicken Sandwich, Pulled BBQ Chicken Sandwich, Oriental Chicken Salad, Thai Peanut Salad Chicken Dumpling Patties and Loaded Buffalo Chicken Texas Toast.

Enjoy!

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Last day of third grade

photo (8)e1I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, time is passing way too quickly and I just want to stop the clock and keep my little Maisie Miao Miao my little baby girl but she’s not cooperating.  Today was her final day of third grade and now she’s all excited, calling herself a rising fourth grader and looking forward to the new school year with Miss, Vicki.  What continues to amaze me is it that she’s getting older and flying through all these grades yet I haven’t aged but a few months since she was first placed in my arms  ;-)

first day 3rd gradeMaisie  began her third grade year gapped toothed, just days after losing her second bottom tooth and she finished her school year having her first wiggly tooth on the top, so a visit from the Tooth Fairy is very near!  Maisie again had an amazing year and though she’s looking forward to summer break, she said that she wished the school year wasn’t over as she’s going to miss her classmates and teacher.

Just because I love to look back and see how Maisie’s grown through the years, her first and last day of school pictures…my sweet little girl!!

Last day 2nd grade first day 2nd grade last day 1st grade first day 1st grade last day kindergartenFirst day of kindergarten

Not only is today Maisie’s last day of school but it is also my Improv Cooking Challenge posting day and this month all the participants were asked to make a recipe using the two ingredients of cinnamon and sugar.  I wanted to make a sweet treat but something different than what I generally make so after a little search on Pinterest I found a recipe which worked beautifully for the assigned ingredients and was super easy to make, Cinnamon Bun Cookie Bars.  Everyone who tried the bars loved them and though I had my hesitations about making the recipe because it contained a boxed cake mix, the end result was truly delicious.  Click on the link or the picture to be taken to Cook Lisa Cook and the recipe.

Cinnamon Bun Cookie Bars

More delicious cookie recipes posted on Cook Lisa Cook including:  Tri-color Cookies, Oatmeal Coconut Raspberry BarsMrs. Ogle’s Tarts, Chocolate Mint Brownies, Lemon Squares, Toll House Double Stuff Oreo Brownies, Math Book No Bake Cookies, Piggy-Out Cookies, Kicked Up Piggy-Out Cookies, Zucchini Lemon Cookies, Nutella No Bake Cookies, Lime Jewels, Walnut Roca Squares, Chocolate Chip Gingersnaps, Levain Bakery Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies, Caramel Stuffed Apple Cider Cookies, Pink Strawberry Cake Balls, Crunchy Oat, Almond, Cashew & Pebbles Granola Bars, Biscoff Fudge, Cashew & Chocolate Granola Bars, Glazed Lemon Squares, Maisie “safe” No Bake Cookies, Crunchy Fudgy Heart Bites, Peanut Butter & Jelly Bars, Mini Cheesecake Bites, S’mores Granola Bars, Sweet Potato Cranberry Nut Cookies and Lemon Almond Biscotti.

Enjoy!

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Transatlantic cruise #3

photo (74)e Yes, it has been an entire month since I last posted on the blog and no, we didn’t fall off the face of the earth or sail off the edge either.  We have been traveling and last Sunday we returned from a wonderful transatlantic cruise followed by a few days touring Barcelona.  We had a wonderful time but it's taken me a full week to get my pictures uploaded and this small post together as jet lag really kicked all of us good.  I think we are finally back on track…hopefully…and posts will resume as normal. 

photo (12)e For Maisie and I, this was our third transatlantic cruise.  Our first transatlantic was on the Disney Magic in April 2010, followed by our crossing on the Norwegian Sun last April.  This year we cruised on the Norwegian Epic.  We sailed out of Miami and then had only two ports of call, which were both repeat cities for Maisie and I as we visited both Funchal and Barcelona on our Disney cruise.

The Epic is the largest ship that we have ever sailed on.  The ship was truly beautiful and felt very different from all our other sailings. 

photo (19)eView of the main pool and waterslides from the adult’s only quiet/lounge area at the bow of the ship.

photo (10)eThe adult’s only pool area at the aft of the ship.

photo (20)eThe balcony rooms were the same size as the balcony rooms we’ve had on all our previous sailings but this one was curvy and I thought quite attractive.

When I look back at my previous cruise posts I took hundreds of pictures, especially of Maisie and her towel animals but I think that I’m getting lazy or complacent.  Of our eleven nights on the ship, I only took eight photos of Maisie and her towel animals and I didn’t even pull out my real camera, I took the photos with my iPhone.  

photo (29)ephoto (22)ephoto (18)ephoto (15)ephoto (12)ephoto (9)ephoto (4)ephoto (76)eMaisie adored walking into our room to see what was there.

As I said, just a short post, more cruise posts to come.

The day before we set off on our travels it was my Improv Cooking Challenge posting day and our two required ingredients were bacon and eggs.  I chose to make Mini bacon & Swiss Quiche Cups which are a perfect make ahead, breakfast / brunch / anytime, hold-it-in-your-hand, easy-to-reheat, great-on-the-go little delight.  Check out the recipe by clicking on the link or the picture to be taken to Cook Lisa Cook and the recipe.

Mini Bacon Swiss Quiche Cups

More delicious recipes on Cook Lisa Cook include:  Tri-color Cookies, Oatmeal Coconut Raspberry BarsMrs. Ogle’s Tarts, Chocolate Mint Brownies, Lemon Squares, Toll House Double Stuff Oreo Brownies, Math Book No Bake Cookies, Piggy-Out Cookies, Kicked Up Piggy-Out Cookies, Zucchini Lemon Cookies, Nutella No Bake Cookies, Lime Jewels, Walnut Roca Squares, Chocolate Chip Gingersnaps, Levain Bakery Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies, Caramel Stuffed Apple Cider Cookies, Pink Strawberry Cake Balls, Crunchy Oat, Almond, Cashew & Pebbles Granola Bars, Biscoff Fudge, Cashew & Chocolate Granola Bars, Glazed Lemon Squares, Maisie “safe” No Bake Cookies, Crunchy Fudgy Heart Bites, Peanut Butter & Jelly Bars, Mini Cheesecake Bites, S’mores Granola Bars, Sweet Potato Cranberry Nut Cookies and Lemon Almond Biscotti.

Enjoy!
Related Posts with Thumbnails