Exploring

So Fresh and Vibrant – The New Boston Public Market

July 31, 2015

Years of planning, development, design, funding, and building have come to fruition for Boston’s brand spanking new Boston Public Market. The hard work has paid off at the beautifully designed space is filled with amazing artisanal vendors.

I have been waiting anxiously for the 30,000 sq. ft. indoor, local-only, year-round public market to open ever since the first sign went up on the windows at the space at Haymarket Station. I’ve enjoyed my walks by to catch my bus home as I’ve had the chance to take peeks into the windows as the window signage has come down

They have various kinds of vendors from ones that sell baked goods, produce, prepared foods, and meats. You can find everything from fresh local seafood to freshly made donuts and ice cream to stir fry.

I had the pleasure of attending a preview event of Boston Public Market on Wednesday night. Getting to tour the space was so exciting.

We started off in The Hub of the space, which is the central spot in the Market where they have displays to feature different vendors, the schedule of what classes and programs are happening in The Kitchen.

Directly off The Hub is an area that the architects nicknamed as “Meat Street” as that is where the butchers and seafood vendors are located. There are several vendors that sell organic, pasture raised meats (beef, chicken, lamb, rabbit, sausages, etc) and locally sourced seafood.

Reds Best is a Boston based fish whole-seller and retailer that prides itself in providing you with fish days sooner and fresher than the fish you can purchase from your local grocery store, for the same cost. They track all of their fish with bar-codes and scanners so you can learn where exactly your seafood came from and who fished it. It really is a unique system that allows you to connect with their network of fisherman.

The Kitchen is a 4,000 sf test kitchen style space connected to the market which has a kitchen set up to allow people to gather around for informal free classes or to attend a class to learn how to make a specialty meal. They are in the beginning stages of scheduling their class programming, but they are aiming to providing classes and cooking demonstrations at 3 price points – Free, $5-25, and $25- $85 depending on the length of class, topic, and ingredient cost.

It can even function as its own space to host parties, book signings, or classes well past the closing of the market (8pm). It’s such a fun idea to take a class together to learn how to make the dinner you are about to enjoy. Such a fun date night idea!

I couldn’t get over the amount of fresh flowers that were throughout the space. They were just so beautiful. I can’t wait to get some flowers one day on my way home to brighten up our home. I was eyeing some stunningly beautiful boutiques for just $8. Awesome.

Union Square Donuts is a favorite of mine (previously reviewed HERE) and anyone who has tried their amazing donuts. They are going to be very busy with people coming in for a donut on their way into work!

Then we stopped by and chatted with one of the lovely owners of Mother Juice, an organic, cold-pressed juice, smoothie and plant-based cafe. They started as a food truck and then went brick and mortar in Cambridge and now they have their stall in the market. They serve vegan and gluten free foods that they locally source. Obviously, they don’t get their bananas locally, but they do the majority of their sourcing locally, even from the other market vendors.

I absolutely love that the Boston Public Market has set up is a Cookbook Exchange. You can exchange cookbooks from ones you have well-loved (or maybe they are collecting some dust!) so that you can constantly try new cuisines from the cookbooks that are currently ready for exchange at the market.

The market will be a buzz with people, but the outside will have plenty of great bees buzzing around the area, including the near by Rose Kennedy Greenway.

Boston Honey Company has set up a hive in their stall where bees can come and go as they please through a hatch along the facade on Hanover Street. Take a peak and look for the large blue and yellow stickers, which help them locate the hive from the outside of the building. I learned so much about bees in just the few minutes that we stopped by the stall.

Be sure to sample some of their honeys! They have a lovely selection of honey from their bees that are established in Massachusetts, New York, and Georgia. The bees winter in Georgia while it’s too cold in New York and Massachusetts, where they have hives to pollinate apple trees and produce honey.

I tried and loved the Galberry variety, which is from their hives in Georgia.

Hopsters, a Newton based brewery, has a 1,000 sf beer alley, where they will sell beer, hard cider, and liquor brewed, fermented, and distilled in New England.

In connection to The Kitchen, they will do pairing classes. But if you can’t make it to a class be sure to request a sample of their beers (with proper ID, of course!).

Nella Pasta is nationally recognized for their deliciously unique varieties of freshly made pastas. I previously took a cooking class from the BCAE (recap HERE) and was able to first hand learn about their pastas and taste their fun varieties of ravioli, like roasted butternut squash & sage, broccoli, feta & toasted cashew, and potato, leek & roasted garlic.

While there owners Leigh and Rachel were busy at work producing a gluten free variety.

One of my favorite stops was at Red Apple Farm, based out of Phillipston, MA. We sampled their freshly fried apple cider donuts and apple crisp. Those mini cider donuts are going to be trouble for me this fall! Highly addictive.

I also picked up a bottle for their Fire Cider ($25), a apple cider vinegar based digestive tonic. I totally understand its namesake. Man, a shot of that really packs a punch!

Care for some fudge?

There are 3 non-food vendors in Boston Public Market. One such vendor is American Stonecraft, which is a Lowell based company that takes field stones from New England farms and cuts and hones them into trivets, coasters, and bowls.

From stunning, vibrant blooms, in season produce, organic meats, freshly made to-go meals and baked goods, the Boston Public Market offers something from everyone. The first of its kind to offer products from locally sourced farms, it’s a really special place.

Boston Public Market

100 Hanover Street( above the Haymarket MBTA station)

Wednesday — Sunday 8 a.m. — 8 p.m

Enjoying Summertime Burgers and Cocktails at The Hard Rock Cafe- Boston, MA

July 23, 2015

Without a doubt, Summer is my favorite season. It makes me insanely happy. I’m so thankful that it has finally really arrived here in Boston.

One of the best way to spend Summer’s hot, humid days and cooler nights is outside on a patio. You can’t beat great company, food, drinks, and atmosphere on a wonderful summer day. There are so many restaurants in Boston with patios and extra large windows that open up allowing you to soak up that summer sun, it’s easy to over look some. For a very long time I overlooked The Hard Rock Cafe here in Boston.

Located next to Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market, it’s perfectly located for you to grab a bite and a drink while you are sight seeing or meeting friends after work. You can grab a seat outside, along the windows, or up at the bar. You can enjoy live music outside or TV’s with music videos inside. The musically themed memorabilia pepper the walls to make the space come alive.

Price and I kicked off a recent date night at The Hard Rock Cafe with some of their new Summer Cocktails. Their five new cocktails provide you with plenty of options to help you beat the heat! Options like the Hard Rockin’ Mai Tai and Summertime Blues are really enticing with their blends of muddled herbs, sweet juices, and hard liquor. The cocktails are served in fun souvenir mason jars that you can take home too! (They apologized profusely to us for being out of the mason jars, which why our drinks were served in hurricane glasses.)

Price ordered the Summer Splash Daiquiri as he felt the layered frozen drink made it the perfect summer time bevie. It was a perfect “kick off the weekend” type drink too. The fruity mango and strawberry flavor was enhanced with a lot of rum and a splash of amaretto. Even the pretty color looks like a nice Summer Sunset in a glass, and who doesn’t want that.

I’m telling you, that the Back Porch Tea is something special as well. I took one sip and my eyes lit up, I slid my glass across the table to Price while telling him “You HAVE to try this!”. After his own sip he began nodding back in approval. We quickly began talking about how we will have to make it ourselves one day. It’s an experience in a glass.

We enjoyed our drinks and recapping our days and week together until the food came, and then all focus fell on our big, beefy burgers. Be still my heart!

As I am always on the hunt for fresh New England seafood and lobsters it felt like it was a no brainer to get Hard Rock’s recently launched “Local Legendary” burgers. It is one of their classic burgers topped with a scoop of fresh lobster salad. While the burger is typically served with cole slaw and seasoned fries, I opted just for the fries. I like cole slaw, but I knew I wanted to focus my attention on the burger and the seasoned fries. And my stomach is only so big!

This was such a delicious Summer-time meal! The large burger was well seasoned and the large scoop of lobster salad on top was lightly dressed allowing the flavors of the meat and lobster to shine on their own and together. The lobster salad was filled with large chunks of lobster claws and tails. I was really impressed. The accompanying sriracha mayo was served on the side, which I think was a smart choice and I don’t think the burger really needed it. I added it to a few bites but was more and satisfied with the burger as it was prepared.

My burger was slightly under-cooked by a minute or so from my requested medium-rare, but I wasn’t mad about it as I like my burgers under done (aka… ‘mooing’). However, Price’s was a perfect medium.

The current Hard Rock burger and beer pairing caught Price’s eye. Hard Rock worked with Goose Island to create a Tropical Bacon Burger to pair with their IPA.

Price’s burger was a beer glazed 8 oz. patty of Certified Angus Beef atop a pile of lettuce and tomato. It then had a layer of cheddar cheese and Cajun Spiced bacon and to top it off, a slice of grilled pineapple and mango salsa. When he thinks of Summer dishes, it’s always burgers. The sweetness of the pineapple with the savory beef and fresh produce made for wonderful mouthfuls bite after bite. The burger comes with a side of teriyaki sauce which is fitting with the pineapple and meat. The burger is so big that Price had to cover each bite with a little sauce because the massive burger was messy enough on its own.

His original plan was to order the beer pairing as well when his burger arrived, but the Summer Splash Daiquiri packed such a wonderful rum punch that he decided to stick with ‘just’ that.

Just like the choices and attention to detail that was put into the burgers, the fries had their own unique taste and sauce. For an additional $1, you can upgrade to their Savory Artisan Fries. They offer 3 different kinds of fries that are jazzed up with seasonings and are paired with their own dipping sauces. I picked out the Parmesan Romano Fries with the Garlic Aioli and Price got the Herb and Garlic Fries. I loved my fries so much that I am tempted to just go back one day and order a side of fries to munch on at lunch while sitting on the nearby Rose Kennedy Greenway.

We enjoyed our first date night out since getting married at The Hard Rock because they serve awesome food and drinks with a smile in a fun, lively music filled venue.

Hard Rock Cafe Boston

22-24 Clinton St

Boston, MA 02109

(617) 424-7625

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While I received this complimentary meal (minus tip) in exchange for a review, all opinions expressed are my own.

It would be a big bummer if you couldn’t make it to a Hard Rock soon to try their summery burgers and drinks, but at least you can make yourself your own cocktail home by using these recipes below!

Back Porch Tea

Muddle the following:

4 each Basil leaves
2 each Mint sprigs
1 each Lemon wedge
1 oz Cucumber syrup

Combine with:

1 oz Light rum
½ oz Gin
½ oz Elderflower liqueur
1 oz Lemonade

Summer Fizz

Muddle the Following:

1 oz Black cherry infused syrup
½ oz Lime juice
4 each Fresh raspberries

Combine with:

1 ½ oz Light rum
½ oz Orange liqueur

The Hub.2015

July 16, 2015

The best things about our visits to Maine generally are related to just relaxing and being outside.

I can’t get enough of the soft green grasses under my feet when I walk on the lawn. Or when just how quiet it is. I love the peace of it all.

But the best to me is the smell of the robust salty air.

Every time we arrive and we are driving over the last causeway to get to the house, we open up the windows to take in big gulps of air. It is the best. It means we made it. It means vacation has begun for us.

There are so many inlets, coves, bays, and watery nooks and crannies to explore. Our favorite place is what is we call ‘The Hub’. It’s an island at high tide and a wonderful place to explore at low tide.

Price starts to track the tides before we leave for Maine so we can properly schedule our visit to the tide. It’s fun to stroll around there looking at the tiny hermit crabs, slightly larger crabs, and teeny tiny fish along the shore.

Our main mission is to get mussels that are clinging to rocks, hidden under layers of seaweed. Picked, cooked, and eaten within a few hours. Damn, they taste so good.

This year we headed over to The Hub in the morning to get the lowest of the low tide. Price was in charge of getting the mussels and I was in charge with Autumn, who loved checking out the water’s edge.

So much to explore!

She loved checking out the snails sunning themselves on the rocks and watch the crabs scuttle around while Dad went around back of the island to get our dinner. She climbed on rocks and jumped over puddles. It was fun watching her explore and discover.

Price found a bunch of sea stars nestled on the side of a rock as the tide lapped just under them. He carefully picked out the largest one to show us. It was just so stunning.

We hung around for it bit enjoying the smells and sights of the Maine coast before we headed back to the house to enjoy the rest of the wonderful day.

Small Town USA

July 9, 2015

We went up to Maine for the 4th of July.

It was so much fun. It was so relaxing. It was so needed.

We fully embraced the break from technology- no TV, no computer, spotty cell service, spotty 4G service!- allowing us to completely relax. It’s so nice to disconnect. To put the phone down and read a book or just take a walk.

Or just take in a parade!

We went to the Deer Isle 4th of July Parade that is held in Deer Isle Village. This year’s theme was Under the Sea. Super cute.

Mixed into the floats where antique and classic cars. I loved the old trucks. A nice rustic glance into the past.

This float was created by realtors on the island. They built a lobster trap ‘house’ as lobster traps have 2 parts – the parlor and the kitchen. They merged the parade theme with their own realtor theme and I think it was a big success.

I wore my lobster tunic (Gretchen Scott Designs) to celebrate Maine, but it worked out well that it matched the parade’s Under the Sea theme too!

Autumn finally seems to be embracing hats and sunnies!

There were several times that Autumn wanted to just run out and join the parade. I had thought she would enjoy the pair of miniature ponies she just seemed a bit nervous about them. ha!

Autumn did enjoy the lemonade that Price got for us. Even the lemon!

It was a great 4th of July morning watching the parade in Deer Isle. So much fun!

How to Successfully Cruise with a Infant or Toddler- Tips and Tricks

May 29, 2015

How to Successfully Cruise with a Infant or Toddler- Tips and Tricks: Helpful tips to make your next cruise with your kids fun and easy. Knowing the best approach for traveling, dining, and packing will make your vacation so fun for the whole family. Happy Sailing!

When Autumn was 14 months old we took a family cruise in the Caribbena on Royal Caribbean’s Vision of the Seas. We cruised out of Tampa in January 2015 was a blast for all of us. It was a wonderful 7-day cruise that was packed full of fun. We had fun in the sun, shopping, eating plenty of food, lots of wandering around the ship, and some nice leisurely afternoons filled with naps (for all of us!).

We did A LOT of research before selecting our cruise line and itinerary. Ultimately, we learned that Royal Caribbean was in the process of outfitting their ships with nurseries. It felt like a no-brainer to have the nursery as an option for us to use so we then selected our ship, dates, and itinerary.

Check out our breakdown of the big things to consider when cruising with a baby or a toddler:

-Selecting your cruise-

It’s important to pick a cruise line, ship, length of cruise, and itinerary that works best for you. They are all import factors in you selecting the cruise you will take. There are so many cruise lines and itineraries that you can easily become overwhelmed. Stick with something that you think you will enjoy and be comfortable with.

Something that we considered was the age of our child and the services the ships provide for her. As she was too young to understand any of the Disney characters we decided to skip the Disney cruise. We felt the Royal Caribbean cruise would offer great things for us and for her. And we were right!

Something that we didn’t consider was if the ship would be tendered or docked at each port. After completing our cruise that had 3 tendered ports and 1 docked one, I am certain to say that tendered ports stink! You can manage but they require so much more coordination than if the ship is docked. You already have so much to juggle with your infant and your stuff for the day, that having to deal with the on and off and waiting for the shuttle boat stinks.

-Packing-

It’s quite amazing how much clothing you need while on a cruise! From the daytime stuff like bathing suits, shorts, tops, and sneakers, to the evening stuff like pants, blouses, dresses, and heels. And don’t forget the formal night(s)!

And then add all the stuff your baby needs… clothes, diapers, wipes, medicines, formula, pumping equipment, some toys, etc, etc!!!

Be mindful of all of this and carefully pack up all of this stuff before your trip. I don’t think you can truly properly pack for a cruise at the last minute, but, hey, that’s just me! So take your time and properly plan it all out before you pack it all up at home.

Once you get on board I highly suggest that you unpack your suitcase(s) so that you can easily find things and get around your room. We put one empty suitcase under out bed and one in the closet. It worked well for us, so just find something that works well for you.

Then pack as much stuff into your suitcases on your last night of the cruise. Have your suitcase(s) picked up outside the brought off the ship, directly into port for you. Pick it up before you go through customs. It makes getting off the boat so much easier.

-Laundry-

We used the laundry service a few times while we were on our week long cruise on the Royal Caribbean.

The first 2 times we used laundry we were charged by piece, similar to when you bring items to the dry cleaner. After that our room steward gave us a bag that had a flat rate to use as an option. See what laundry service and rates your cruise line has, ask ahead of time or ask your room steward.

-Swimming on the Ship-

Unfortunately, your little one can’t use any of the main pools. Kids have to be potty trained to use the pools. Some ships have baby splash pads, but the majority don’t, so plan for that.

This is a bummer, but it’s for sanitary reasons as cruise lines (with the exception of the Disney Cruise Ships) don’t have the proper filtration systems in place to deal with any poo accidents.

On some forums I read that people pack inflatable pools that they blow up with a plastic hand pump, or with a strong set of lungs!, that they use on their balcony. If you think that would work well for you then you might want to get a pool like this Intex Sunset Glow Baby Pool (34 in x 10 in) and a pump like this Hand Air Pump.

-Getting Around-

There are 2 main ways to bring your baby or toddler around on and off the ship: A stroller or a baby carrier.

We brought both an Ergo Carrier and an umbrella stroller that a coworker generously gave us. It was great having both options for our vacation. The stroller was great when we were in port because she could nap on the go.

We liked using a carrier when in the airport for hands free carrying. As well, he carrier is also great when you have to go to your muster station before the cruise starts. Getting around the ship with it is great as well, as there generally is a wait for the elevators. By using a carrier you can skip the line and just take the stairs.

We found that the stroller worked well for us when we were in port. It allowed us to get around quickly with Autumn by having her safe and secure. Plus, she was one less thing to carry as we had to pack well for the day in port. One of us pushed her and the other carried the gear for the day. That was a heavy bag of snacks, water, shoes, sunblock, a camera, and beach towels. While, it was a pain to push through the sand at the beaches, it as still helpful at the beach. It helped us keep out stuff together and out of the sand when we loaded it up when it wasn’t in use.

If you would like to use a stroller but don’t want to bring one yourself then just inquire if your cruise line has strollers for use, as Disney and Carnival do, for a deposit or daily fee.

-In Port/On Shore Excursions-

We didn’t participate in an of the excursions that were arranged through the ship. They sounded wonderful but the majority of them were too advanced for her. We did speak to another family that took their 2 year old on an excursion to see and swim with dolphins. They said she did well and enjoyed it, which was great for them, but the year difference between Autumn and their daughter would have made a big difference. Just do what works for you and your family.

Grand Cayman and Costa Maya were beach days for us. They were both wonderful, sun filled days. We made the days work with cab & shuttle rides to and from the port to the beaches. On the beach, we rented chairs and umbrellas that we either paid ($20- Grand Cayman) for or we free (Costa Maya) for use.

The other days were spent around port shopping and just walking around. Belize was the toughest day as it was our last port and it was so incredibly hot. But every port was great in its own way.

– Dining-

We all loved the food on the cruise! The variety of foods meant that she could try a lot of things, finding something that she’d like. Plus, there were things that she tried for the first time that she loved- like jello!

While everyone thinks there’s food 24/7, it’s not really the case. The restaurants and cafe are open at set times. Our daughter is an early riser, so we spent many mornings waiting for the Windjammer Cafe to open. We quickly learned that it was important to always have snacks available to ease the hungry toddler. Grabbing boxes of cereal, yogurt, and fruit when we left breakfast each day helped us get through snack time.

Our dinner servers were so awesome. They quickly learned how to make dinner run smoothly for all of us, including them! They always brought the bed basket over for her and we kept menu browsing time to .2 seconds. This help her satisfied and got our food out quickly. It was a bit rushed but it all worked well for us so we could all enjoy food.

There were nights when we just knew Autumn would be content with some bread and yogurt. Then there were other nights when we ordered her an appetizer or soup. I was a bit hesitant to order her any food but our server kindly reminded us that we paid for it so we might as well. There were nights when she loved what we ordered and there were nights she hated it, and then were were the nights she ate what I ordered for myself. ha!

– Your Stateroom-

You’re room is going to be cramped, unless you have a suite or family room. That’s just the way it is when you have a small room and then add a pack & play.

As I was exclusively pumping, I needed a refrigerator in the room to store the milk. I called ahead, to speak with a Royal Caribbean agent who arranged that, along with our pack & play. Both are to arrive by 8pm the day you embark. In the rate occurrence it does take that long, it can make things tough if your child goes to be earlier (like ours), but be patient with your room steward as they are busting their butts that day.

I really suggest getting a mini fridge to keep your pumped breast milk/milk/formula, snacks, medicines, etc cold. We did need a chair removed from our room to make room for it. Unfortunately we couldn’t rip the built in sofa out to make even more room. ha!!

We kept showers quick because Autumn wasn’t used to taking showers, so they were a bit scary for her. It worked well to tag team the ‘event’. She would be in there with one of us, and when she was done we would hand her off. Then she would be dried off, diapered, and changed her, while the other completed their shower.

Typically, there is just 1 duplex in the room, so I suggest bringing a power strip (not a surge protector). With 1 outlet being dedicated to your mini fridge, and the other in use, while you’re pumping, you are unable to charge any devices while in the room then.

– Nursery-

We used the nursery on our Royal Caribbean Cruise throughout the week-long cruise in one way or another.

Babysitting was just $8 an hour, after 6pm, (January 2015) which certainly beats our $12+ rate in the Boston area. They had clean facilities and experienced staff who were excited to watch Autumn. Autumn loved the toys and movies they had playing and quickly took to the staff. Before we knew it, she was snuggling in their laps taking a bottle before bed while we were having dinner. Later we would pick her up, quietly walk to our room, and put her in the pack & play to complete the wonderful night.

Unfortunately Autumn was the only kid to use the nursery that week. It would have been great to have met other families while using the toys during the open play times.

The kind staff even gave us a bag of toys at the start of the trip. This allowed Autumn to have things to play with while we were in our room. We just returned it on the last day after lots of use.

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Our Top 10 Tips & Tricks To Successfully Cruise with a Baby or Toddler

–Avoid tendered ports. Tendered ports are no fun for anyone, but they are even less fun for you and your infant as you have to lug your stuff and theirs on and off the boat that shuttles you from the ship to the port. Plus, there is the wait to get on the shuttle boat, load it, and then unload it. Babies aren’t always the most patient creatures!

-Bring a compact umbrella stroller. This is helpful for getting around in port or around the ship. It’s great for on the go napping. Plus, the storage helps you keep your hands free too.

-Bring a baby carrier. This is great when you are attending your muster station drill, getting on/off the ship, and in port. Plus, we find them to be really helpful when you are going through the airport.

–Bring extra of everything! Pack more diapers, wipes, and formula than you think you would need. Better be safe than sorry. But be sure to pack efficiently too!

–Request a mini refrigerator for your stateroom. Call ahead of arrange this. This is a must if you’re formula feeding or pumping. Plus, it’s great for storing snacks.

–Request the staff to remove any furniture, if possible. Our room steward took out a chair for us as we were cramped with a pack & play and the mini fridge.

–Take portable snacks whenever possible. Grabbing boxes of cereal & fruit at breakfast is a great way to always have something on hand for when your in port or just around the boat.

–Use the nursery, if available. We found this very helpful and just awesome. We used their open play times and babysitting services.

–Try to maintain your typical schedule, especially for naps and meals. This worked well for us as the consistency was helpful for her to have some sort of routine.

–Go with the flow!! While you should stick to your child’s normal schedule as much as possible, if your kid doesn’t eat, behave, or sleep like normal, just remember how this is a new experience to them so just follow their cues to make it work for everyone.

– Bonus… Have fun!! It’s a cruise! It’s vacation! Always remember to have fun.

Scenes from Memorial Day 2015

May 26, 2015

I live for 3 days weekends. And Memorial Day is a great one. It kicks off the summer season. Plus, it has a great meaning and purpose. Honoring our past and current service members is so very, very important.

We met up with our friends Mark and Allie, along their kids Macari and Micheal, to spend some time together on Boston Common, the Tadpole Payground, and to get some lunch.

There were over 37,000 flags on Boston Common to represent the lives lost my service men and women since the Revolutionary War. It was quite stunning to see. The blanket of flags on Flagstaff Hill that leads up to Soldiers and Sailors Monument was quite beautiful and sad at the same time.

After the kids had enough of wandering around and climbing on Soldiers and Sailors Monument we headed over to the carousel on The Common.

Autumn loved it!!

She enjoyed the ride so much that she refused to let go for a bit. I basically had to pry her off her horse. I imagine we’ll have to go again and again one day. Oh the struggle! ha!

We then ventured over to the Tadpole Playground so the kids could play together and explore the big jungle gym.

Autumn took to Macari quickly and had so much fun going up and down the jungle gym complex. She happily took her hand to go up and down stairs, enjoyed getting carried around, and going down the slides together.

Once everyone had worked up a thorough appetite we headed over to Parish Cafe for lunch. We almost made it through the meal but the kids got antsy and wanted to stretch their legs outside the patio. They ran around the area by the flower planters, along the ramp to the neighboring church, and the sets of stairs to the church and adjacent apartment building.

By the time we parted ways just before 1pm, Autumn was filthy and exhausted. It was a sign of an awesome day.

Monday Munchies: Cocobeet- Boston, MA

May 18, 2015

Guys!! Let’s embrace healthy eating!

It’s spring!! (Finally)

One of my favorite places in Boston for some healthy eats is Cocobeet. They nail the food, but their specialty is their cold-pressed juices. The store is simple, clean, and modern so the brightly colored juices lined up in the open coolers really make the store pop. It’s quenches your appetite while visually fulfilling your soul.

Cocobeet is a Boston based juice bar that offers over 30 fresh cold-pressed juices and vegan food that is focused on overall health and wellness of their clients. They offer unprocessed, GMO-free, organic, and locally-sourced juices and foods. They craft their products on-site daily in their store located right next to the Government Center T-Stop. They specialize in raw, vegan, and gluten-free juices and foods.

Their wonderful selection of pure foods includes fresh salads and sandwiches. The flavors are creative with sandwiches ($5.95- 7.95) like their Chickpea, Walnut, & Apple Sandwich, Sunflower Butter, Berry Jam, & Banana Sandwich, and Sundried Tomato, Kale, & Almond Hummus Sandwich.

While I was doing Whole30 I would get their Watercress and Fig salad as it was complaint and so delicious. I like the mix of tart watercress and sweet figs. Plus, there is half of an avocado. It’s healthy and hearty.

I make plenty of chia pudding at home, and it’s good, but it doesn’t event compare their Vanilla Berry Chia Pudding ($7.95). It’s so super creamy and silky. It doesn’t have a gel- like consistency, nor is it super thick. It reminds me of the consistency and texture of tapioca pudding, but even better.

They also have other sweet treats like Key Lime Tarts, Chocolate Coconut Truffles, Raw Brownie Bites. All of these as well are vegan. They use natural sweeteners like agave and maple syrup. As they have sweeteners they are not Whole30 complaint, but they are great options for a dessert or afternoon pick me up if you are vegan or following a Paleo diet.

I joking say that Cocobeet is great for your “Free” diet… Gluten Free, Diary Free, and Nut Free, Soy Free, etc. There are so many options for you to fulfill your dietary needs.

Are you unsure about that juice will taste? Well grab a sample!

Their juices are cold-pressed on site in the store daily. They strive to use organic fruits and vegetables for their juices and pure foods. They are great for a boost or for a cleanse. They offer custom cleanses in 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 day packages.

Aside from the Vanilla Chia Pudding, I like to treat myself with a Mocha Espresso ($9.50) or with their Kale Chips ($9.25). The Mocha Espresso has replaced my occasional Starbucks treat with this treat as it’s healthier and has more substance than just a Frappachino.

Would you mind if I wrote a love poem to their Kale Chips? Oh you would… never mind then. But I really do love their kale chips. They are ridiculously crispy. I love that crunch. Now, to be honest, I was nervous the first time I bought them as they have nutritional yeast on them and I had never it before. My nerves were put as ease as soon as I took a bite as it was

You can start your day off on a great note by getting one of the quinoa bowls or by picking up some granola. I highly suggest their Warm Quinoa Breakfast Bowl ($6.95 – 9.50), which is served with warm quinoa, maple syrup, cinnamon. Then you pick from a selection of nuts, fresh fruit, sauce, and nut or seed mylk.

If you are in the Financial District area then be sure to visit Cocobeet. You’ll find something that refreshes you from the inside out!

Cocobeet

100 City Hall Plaza

Boston, MA 02108

857.263.8598

mon – fri 7am – 8pm

sat 9am – 8pm

sun 10am – 8pm

Our Boston Bucket List

May 14, 2015

So that’s it, the cats out of the bag!

I had my yearly review yesterday and offically put in my request for a transfer in the Tampa office for next spring. Price put his request in a few weeks ago during his review so things will get in motion for both of us sooner or later. While Spring 2016 is a ways off, but it will be here before we know it!

Yep, we are looking to move to Tampa, Florida. Both my Mom and Dad live in Florida and it would be nice to live close enough to some family to regularly see them. And for the family that is still in CT, NH, & NH, they are just a 3 hour plane ride away. It will be nice to come back up for visits and I don’t think they will mind having a built in escape from the cold Northeast winters. (Shoot, I won’t miss these harsh winters at all!)

Price and I moved to Boston at roughly the same time in August of 2003. We met the following fall, made it official in January, and have been together since. We certainly have done a lot together in Boston and beyond. We love to travel but now that we are focusing on a big move in the next year or so, we have been talking about all the things we have, haven’t done in Boston, or things we want to do again.

It’s amazing to think of all the fun and memories we have created in and around Boston these past 10 years together by going out to great dinners, walking walks, going to museums, seeing sporting events, and attending concerts but there is a long list of things we still haven’t done.

So we have recently been discussing creating a “Boston Bucket List” to stay on track of getting it all done. Hhere is what we whipped up!!

Places/Events/Things

Attend the Head of the Charles

Visit Provincetown

Duck Boat Tour (I did one, but we want to take Autumn on one)

Visit Martha’s Vineyard

Visit Nantucket

Go to the top of the Custom House

Visit Cape Cod… maybe even the Cape Cod Potato Chip Factory Tour!

Plymouth Plantation

Walk the Freedom Trail (again!)

Boston Harbor Cruise

Go on a Whale Watch

Shop at SoWa Market & eat at the food trucks

Visit Boston Harbor Islands

Candle Pin Bowling

Foodie Things

Top of the Hub (again)

Cutty’s Sandwich Shop – Brookline

Bamboo Thai Restaurant (one of our favorites)

Durgin Park

Moody’s Deli- Waltham

Rino’s Place- East Boston

Blackbird Doughnuts- South End

Kane’s Donuts- Saugus

Speed Dogs

Cheers Bar

Parish Cafe for Zuni Rolls (can’t have enough of these)

Gruyere Cheese Croissants from Clear Flour Bakery

Autumn’s Firsts

Attends a Red Sox game and runs the bases at Fenway

Take Autumn to Make Way for Ducklings Statues (We just did it!)

Take Autumn to Salem around Halloween

~~Mother’s Day Make Way for Ducklings Parade~~ (We just did it!!)

Skiing with Autumn

Go on thec Carousel on the Greenway

And Beyond

Smorgasburg- Brooklyn

See the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center- NYC

Walk the locations of You’ve Got Mail around NYC

Visit Gma’s House at Maine

Visit Cooper and Tara in Maine

Get a Cronut at Dominique Ansel Bakery- NYC

Dinosaur BBQ (Syracuse/Stamford)

Becky’s Diner- Portland Maine

Camping Weekend- New Hampshire

Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Sandwiches from the Firehouse Deli- Greenwich, CT

Garden Catering – Greenwich, CT

Chocolate Brioche Rolls from The Kneaded Bread- Port Chester, NY

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So the list is really ambitious but we wanted to set our sights high and aim to get a lot of things done in the next year. We love being active and this will certainly keep us busy. This will be so much fun!

Do you have any suggestions for us to see in and around Boston?

Quack Quack: Make Way for Ducklings Parade- Mother’s Day 2015

May 11, 2015

Along one of the paths in Boston’s Public Garden, there is a Make Way for Ducklings Statue in honor of the children’s classic by the same name. When Robert McCloskey was studying in Boston in the 1930’s he would often sit in the Public Garden. That inspired him to write and illustrate the book about 10 years later. It won awards at the time and has been popular ever since.

The statue was installed in the 1987 in honor of the book. Families and kids love visiting it so much that the 9 bronze statues never have to be polished from kids petting and sitting on the ducks. Throughout the year the ducks are decorated with things like scarves in the winter, jerseys for champion sports teams, and hats for Mother’s Day!

In 1978 the first Duckling Parade was held on Mother’s Day. Since then large crowds gather to take part, and to watch, adorable little kids march through Boston Common and along part of the route that the ducks took into Boston Public Garden.

As we were unable to attend the parade last year, I was really looking forward to going this year for Mother’s Day. I was so excited to get a little outfit for Autumn as well. We didn’t want to get her a duck costume in case she hated it, or it was too hot, so I stuck with something she loves… tutus!! Loved it.

It was such a fun day together.

Even if Autumn rubbed her sunblock in her eyes and looked like she was crying for most of the day. Awww poor babe!

After we took photos at the statues we headed over to the area around the bandstand on The Common to check into registration, get a goodie bag, and play.

Awww, my loves.

There was one thing after another for her to explore and play with from balls to bouncy horses. She enjoyed how these were so many other kids around and so many things to play with. Even random picnic blankets to crawl on. ha!

However, Autumn did not enjoy getting to meet the big duck. She was okay in line and quite excited watching him meet the kids in front of us but when it was our turn she quickly decided he was scary and not to be trusted. ha!

Thankfully, the kind members of the Harvard Marching Band were a quick distraction to the horror of the big duck.

Right before the parade started we even got to meet Mayor Marty Walsh!

The parade was so much fun for those walking and those watching.

After the parade we headed out to lunch at Parish Cafe, one of our favorite spots in Boston. Autumn was on her best behavior allowing Price and I to enjoy our awesome Zuni Rolls (I swear the best sandwiches in Boston). Plus, I had delicious blood orange mimosas. Win!!

We enjoyed our walk back to the car through the Public Garden and Boston Common as well.

Mother’s Day was really wonderful this year.

It was so much fun for us all. We enjoyed the time doing the activities and participating in the parade together. So much to do, so much to tire you out!

I am thankful to be Autumn’s Mom. She has brought so much joy to my life. I am constantly in awe of her intelligence, charm, sweet personality, and fierce stance on things she wants. The last 17 months have been amazing. I’ve enjoyed watching her grow so much and I know that the best is yet to come.

Monday Munchies: Piroshky Piroshky & Rachel’s Ginger Beer

April 20, 2015

As part of my Monday Munchies series, I will feature a different eatery for a review on the third Monday of every month. Hope you enjoy!

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I had the amazing opportunity to visit my best friend in Seattle last month. It was so great to see her, see Seattle, and eat so much great food during that long weekend.

We really enjoyed some amazing meals, like our dinner at Revel in Freemont. Oh boy, that was so good. I can’t stop thinking about their short rib dumplings!

But at the same time I can’t stop thinking about the wonderful lunch we had from Piroshky Piroshky and Rachel’s Ginger Beer. Yep, you read that correctly, 2 places!

We got our food from Piroshky Piroshky and brought it over to Rachel’s Ginger Beer for some drinks and seats. It was a perfect marriage of things as Piroshky Piroshky does not have tables and Rachel’s is BYOF… Bring Your Own Food! They supply the drinks and the tables. Thankfully, they are fairly close to each other so it made for a great lunch.

Piroshky Piroshky (pi-rawsh-kee) has been servings Russian hand pies since they opened at Pike Place Market in 1992. They blend traditional recipes with local flavors and ingredients. They have both sweet and savory pies that will satisfy your every craving.

The different piroshkies are pictured on their menu that is posted to the wall that you wait along making it easier to be prepared to order when you arrive to the register. Plus, there are always the once you can check out in the display case.

I thoroughly enjoyed watching the piroshkies getting made by hand as well. There was such a nice rhythm to their movements as they worked the layered doughs or while they stuffed the pockets.

I grabbed 2 piroshkies as I couldn’t make up my mind as the Beef and Cheese piroshky and Mushroom, Onion, and Celery piroshky both sounded so good.

I could easily see why the Beef and Cheese is their top seller! It was a packed full of a juicy mix of seasoned ground beef and Columbia Valley Sharp Cheddar. I thought it was a great combination of flavors and textures. Plus, whenever you can see oozey cheese on the top you know it’s just going to be great.

How cute is it that the Mushroom, Onion, and Celery piroshky was shaped like a purse!?!?! I thought it was a great vegetarian offering. It didn’t feel plain and flat for just being vegetables, it was nicely filling.

Emily enjoyed the Smoked Salmon Pate piroshky. It thought that it was adorable that it was shaped like a fish!

We also grabbed a Marrionberry Cream Cheese Vatrushka to share later for dessert. It was a great sweet piroshky made of a sweet pastry base with a beautifully piped topping and then topped off with the marionberries. I had never had a marionberry before so it was nice to be able to try something new, and local to the Pacific Northwest.

We brought out lunch to Rachel’s Ginger Beer, just a short walk away from Piroshky Piroshky. They create

Rachel’s is a pretty large space filled with various sized tables to accommodate all sizes of parties enjoying food that they brought in to enjoyed with their drinks.

Rachel’s makes artisanal ginger beer from locally sourced ingredients from Washington State farmers whenever possible. They have an Original (plain) Ginger Beer and then they have a lot of other varieties of flavors, even some that rotate with the seasons. I enjoyed the drink I got but I was so torn prior to ordering as they have such cool flavors like Blood Orange, White Peach, and Guava.

I really enjoyed how the ginger beer is sweet but not too sweet and still has some bite from the tart ginger. It all worked together so well. I really admire companies that work hard to achieve a well crafted product.

I enjoyed their seasonal cocktail special, the Peppermin- Pear Moskow Mule. I was in love. It was really bright and refreshing. It did pack some punch, or I would have ordered another. I just didn’t want to be stumbling around the rest of Pike Place Market and Seattle for the rest of the afternoon.

The thing that I most admired about Rachel’s Ginger Beer was how just beautiful the place was. The subtle palette and full wall of windows makes it bright and welcoming. Plus, it makes the fun, happy colors of the different varieties of ginger beer stand out. They really make the place pop! It pops with pop! <<< I’m corny.

I loved every bit about lunch. The food was wonder, the drink was refreshing, and my company was great as always. I couldn’t have asked for more!

As you can order and ship from both places, I am already scheming about making orders to both Piroshky Piroshky and Rachel’s Ginger Beer. I need some awesome hand pies and some ginger beer by the jug!!

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Piroshky Piroshky

1908 Pike Place

Seattle, WA 98101

Rachel’s Ginger Beer

1530 Post Alley

Seattle, WA 98101

Our 2015 Vision of the Seas Cruise: What We Ate

April 10, 2015

We took a 7-day Royal Caribbean cruise on the Vision of the Seas to visit the Western Caribbean for my 30th birthday/pre-wedding honeymoon. We visited Cozumel and Costa Maya in Mexico, Georgetown in Grand Cayman, and Belize City in Belize, sandwiched between 2 days at sea cruising.

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{Saturday: Embarkation Day}

Lunch

We got on the boat right around the time that Autumn eats lunch (12-13.30) so we immediately went up to the 9^th deck to grab food in the Windjammer restaurant. Plus, we couldn’t get into our room until after 1pm anyway. So we grabbed some food and some chairs by the pool for lunch. They offered a lot of options but we just grabbed some burgers, fries, and fruit. Plus, on a whim I grabbed a hot dog which Autumn actually enjoyed, which was a big win and a first. As well, she ate almost a whole Kiwi. Where does she put it? I wish I had her secret.

Autumn had her first taste of ice cream!

Dinner

We selected My Time Dining which allowed flexibility in dining time. We weren’t too sure how Autumn would do at the end of long days full of activities. Ultimately, we always picked the 5.30pm seating since it was the closest to the time that Autumn normally eats dinner and allows us to eat at an adult time.

We arrived right at 5.30 for our My Time dinner reservation at the Aquarius dining room. We were seated pretty quickly and from there our waiters, menus, and bread arrived shortly after that in succession. Our server Peamkait and his assistant Shandy were great the whole dinner, and every subsequent dinner. Quick, friendly, and really sweet to Autumn, youngest of 4 infants on board and therefore youngest person on the entire cruise 🙂

I wasn’t too sure what the policy was for ordering dinner for a baby, but Peamkait reminded me that we did pay for her and to order whatever we thought she would like. We took advantage of his generosity and went for yogurt and fruit. So that worked that night and from then on.

Each dinner is a three course experience with mainstay entrees and special menu items for each course that changes from one day to the next. Our first course begin with their coconut soup with seafood in it while Price got the shrimp cocktail, and we ordered the fresh seasonal fruit for Autumn. I think that because she ate so much fruit at lunch she didn’t want it for dinner but we tried and it was really good with the lime syrup. As for my soup, both Autumn and I loved it. She probably had more than me! It was creamy, with the exception of the pieces of seafood in there and the thin vegetable garnishes on top. Price’s shrimp cocktail was simple but really good with 6 fairly large shrimp. Once served to you they quickly follow up with the cocktail sauce, serving you how much you would like.

The theme for the first night dinner was ‘Mojo’, in reference to the seasoning. While the pork, using mojo sounded great, we stuck with some ‘classics’ and ordered chicken and prime rib. I loved the chicken breast with the gravy and steamed veggies and backed potato. The chicken was very juicy and the sauce seasoned perfectly (I often find that sauces tend to be too salty but it wasn’t). The side of vegetables were steamed perfectly, not soggy at all which quickly. I shared my dinner with Autumn, who wasn’t into it as much as getting it on my phone (youtube!) and eating ice cubes (I think she learned that from the dog…)

Price’s prime rib was a hit as well. It was cooked a perfect medium rare with enough sauce for each bite but not swimming in sauce to overwhelm the steak. The baked potato was a wonderful side along with the same side vegetables as me. Excellent!

Autumn was antsy (to be expected) so I took her out of the restaurant to help her walk loops around the main atrium (this was a constant occurrence throughout dinner each night and many people stopped by to comment on how cute she was). She loved to watch everyone and listen to the live music being played below.

Dessert took the longest to arrive, but I don’t fault our servers or the kitchen, everyone hustles. Had we not had Autumn we probably wouldn’t have minded or even noticed.

I got the BB crème brule and Price got a berry cobbler. The crème brule was fantastic but Price’s was the clear winner of the night. The cobbler was full of fresh berries with warm cobbler topping and vanilla ice cream.

{Sunday: Day at Sea Cruising}

It was my Birthday!!!

Breakfast

We headed up to the Windjammer (9^th deck) to grab breakfast.

There are several large stations to give you plenty of options ranging from deli meat and cheeses, bacon, sausages, scrambled eggs, French toast, beans, fritatas, cereal, oatmeal, fresh fruit, and yogurt. Plus, there is an omelette station which usually has the longest line but moves quickly.

I enjoyed a veggie omelette with some potato tots and fruit.

The best thing about having a lot of things to select from is that it gave us plenty of options for Autumn to enjoy. It’s tough to know what she wants to eat so making one thing at home then have her not eat one bite compared to an entire buffet of choices so she can find something is a huge relief!

Lunch

We had lunch at the Park Cafe, which is in the area were the adult only serenity pool (9th deck) is located. The cafe is very small, similar to a concession stand, in size, section, and food preparation.

We tried Park Cafe as the lines were long at the Windjammer and I was interested in the salads that they freshly prepare for you. While in line we saw that they had sandwiches as well. In trying to pick something that Autumn would like we got a grilled cheese, a quesadilla to go along with the salad that was assembled from the things we picked, similar to ordering a sandwich at a Subway restaurant.

To say that this meal was a disappointment was an understatement. It was just a bad meal. The salad was good but the grilled cheese and quesadilla were tepid, if that. Both were prepared in advanced and then microwaved, and not well at that. The items on display made it appear that they were assembled and then put in an panini press to warm/cook, but looks were deceiving as the grilled cheese wasn’t grilled or melted fully.

Price ran to get us more food from the Windjammer, which was much appreciated.

Dinner

With Autumn at the nursery we were able to enjoy dinner at Izumi, the Asian restaurant on board. It was my 30^th birthday so we decided to change things up and go out to dinner at one of their specialty restaurants instead of dining in the main dinner room. Royal Caribbean has amazing dinning services in their main dining room but does offer other specialty dinning areas. Izumi was new to Visions and had an excellent selection of Asian cuisine.

We started with some complimentary edamame and cocktails. The Lychee martini was very strong but a welcome pour for a birthday drink. Plus, the loveliest hue of pink!

Complementary miso soup soon followed to entice our paletes. We perused the menus and settled on a few rolls, sushi, and a hot rock entree.

All of the food was tasty and fresh. The delivery and presentation was quick and pleasing to the eyes. Once we finished our sushi and rolls when started with the hot rock.

The hot rock is just what it sounds like. It is a 575 degree square rock (not toddler complant!) used to cook meat and veggies. We chose chicken and steak and had fun with the interactive experience for dinner. It was similar to a shabu dinner but with really hot stones instead.

We ordered the Dorayaki Pancake for our dessert. It was a pancake, but the flavors and textures were elevated so it wasn’t your normal breakfast pancake. Plus, it had some red bean paste in the center of it. So good! It was served with large wedges of caramelized banana and ice cream.

The restaurant sent of their Asian-Inspired Caramel Flan to celebrate my birthday. I loved the pancake but the flan was good too. It was a ginger infused caramel flan set atop a banana leaf. It was a lovely simple presentation.

{Monday: George Town, Grand Cayman}

Breakfast

In addition to dinner and lunch in the Aquarius dining room, they also serve breakfast.

We opted to try the Aquarius dining room for breakfast to see if they offered anything different than the Windjammer. Generally, it was the same, but the food was served to you. We did notice that they had the most amazing airy sugary donuts there that were not served in the Windjammer. I couldn’t have eaten 6 of those little buggers!

Lunch

We were at the public beach along Seven Mile beach in Grand Cayman at lunch time. I debated getting some freshly made conch salad ($7) but wasn’t too sure if Price would like it and we had limited cash for plan B. So I just got some fries sprinkled with a seasoned salt ($4). They were made to order from the Native Delight food truck, which was run by 2 very serious women. They were efficient in the small space, like they were on a mission to make your food. It was pretty cool to see them in sync.

We did grab some food from the Windjammer once we were back on board as we had only split the fries.

Dinner

We did a 5.30pm My Time dinner reservation again. This time we arrived a bit before 5.30 to get in line and get in quickly. We quickly figured out what we wanted for dinner to keep things moving along- important with a fidgety 14 month old!

I started with the BLT Salad with Blue Cheese dressing and Price had the escargot. We both loved out starters. Price especially loved how buttery, garlicky, and cheesy the escargot was.

Normally Price and I don’t order the same thing for dinner so we can share/split, but we were both craving steak so we broke our rule and ordered the same thing. It was worth it to both order the NY Skirt Steak. The steak that was served with sautéed mushrooms, wilted spinach, a roasted tomato half, steak fries, and a sauce made with Portobello mushrooms, which was the ingredient theme for dinner.

I will always love roasted tomatoes. And steak fries dipped in a pan sauce never hurts.

And Autumn thoroughly enjoyed the yogurt that our servers brought for her!

Of course by then Autumn had to stretch her legs so we took turns walking her around the Centrum and outside while our plates were cleared and out desserts were brought over. Price had the Drunken Kahlua Cake and I had the Honey Walnut Tart, which was served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. I think that we both thought that we ‘won’ that round of dessert since both were great in their own ways and both were exactly what we wanted.

Oh damn, these photos melt my heart!!

Side note- If you happen to not want to eat in the main dinner room but prefer the flexibility of dinner at the Windjammer, don’t worry about missing out on the amazing desserts featured in the main dinner room as they are served there as well. I noticed on a trip to get some tea later on at night that they had the Drunken Kahlua Cake and Honey Walnut Tart as well. Of course, the presentation is different but just as good.

{Tuesday: Cozumel, Mexico}

Breakfast

Since Autumn had gotten up so, so early we had to wait for the Windjammer Café (9^th Deck) to open at 7am with a crowd of people. There was some confusion as to what side of the Windjammer would open up so whole queue had to move to the other side. I think some better signage would have helped.

We just grabbed a bunch of stuff since we had been up for a few hours already. We grabbed some of the same things we had before, like the eggs, bacon sausage, bran muffin, tater tots, etc, with a few new things. The almond pancakes were good but I don’t suggest the biscuits and gravy at all- way, way too dry and bland on the biscuit front.

Lunch

We were off the ship in Cozumel when it was time for lunch so we went to Palmeras Restaurant, which was along the main street that hugged the coast. It was on our walk from the Forum Shops towards the boat.

I don’t really like to spend money on food while in port as we have already paid for our meals on the ship, but when it’s lunch time, it’s lunch time! Thankfully, lunch was good and affordable. We shared some chips and salsa, fish tacos, and a chicken Caesar salad.

Everything was really good. The tacos were seasoned nicely and stuffed full as well. It was served with some guacamole, which Autumn ate up. I was craving a Caesar Salad and the salad we had satisfied that craving. The lean chicken breast was juicy and the salad was dressed perfectly.

Dinner

The ingredient theme for the dinner tonight was ‘shitake mushrooms’. They used the ingredient in a few dishes,including the entree that I ordered, in different cuisines.

Both Price and I ordered seafood appetizers; he ordered the shrimp cocktail and I ordered the ceviche. This was the second time he ordered it and felt it was just as good this time. I really enjoyed the ceviche, I only wished the portion was larger.

We ordered the chilled peach based soup for Autumn to try. She did but was more satisfied with her basket of bread. I enjoyed the soup that I stole from her. It was smooth, silky, and enjoyably sweet.

For the entree I ordered the Asian Dumplings and the featured ingredient was used in them and in the sauce that was served with them. While the flavor was good, this was my least favorite dinner on the cruise. It sorta reminded me of the dumplings I get from Trader Joe’s, but with a fancy sauce. Plus, the portion was small, I could have eaten another whole plate of these.

Price had the lamb chops with mashed potatoes and vegetables. A side of mint jelly was offered for this dish. The lamb was cooked a prefect medium rare and with the salty pan sauce and sweet jelly made for delicious bites around the plate. The portion was huge and along with the mashed potatoes and vegetables made for a satisfying dinner.

We don’t often have dessert at home so the desserts on the cruise were a real treat. A lovely treat. Price went for the chocolate and I went for the fruit. Both were so good in their own ways. While I was drawn to his Chocolate Lava Cake, I loved my pavlova. Thankfully both are easy to make so I can recreate them at home.

{Wednesday: Costa Maya, Mexico}

Breakfast

Breakfast at the Windjammer in the same area; bow of the boat right at the windows. It feels like we are regulars and it’s enjoyable.

Generally, the options served at the different meals tried to appeal to cultures and palettes of all kinds. Amazingly, they served a really, really good fried rice with breakfast. I really liked it as it soaked up the runny egg yolk from the over-easy eggs I ordered at the omelette station.

Lunch

A cool beer while sitting on the beach will always been enjoyable.

We spent most of our day at the beach in Costa Maya. We took the trolley to the beach and got off at the first stop which stationed us right in front of Senor Frogs. There were 3 servers there that served the beach goers in the area in front of the restaurant. Carina and Chico both did a great job taking care of us with quick deliveries of beer, water, and food.

The beer was really cheap with 4 beers for $5, but the food was $$$ so we only grabbed a plate of chips and guacamole ($10). It was satisfying but very overpriced, which is why we opted to go back to the boat in time for Autumn to take a proper afternoon nap while we took turns getting food from the Windjammer.

Dinner

Each dinner had a welcome change from night to night but always had regular bu also very good options. We both ordered salads as our appetizers along with the usual bread basket.

Price went back to the prime rib that he had for our first dinner. Sometimes old habit are tough to break! This time it was served with a fried mashed potato- like a kick butt tater tot!- and roasted tomato. The whole plate was covered in the delicious au jus.

I wasn’t feeling that great (the dreaded cruise stomach curse!) so I ordered the lighter fare being the roasted chicken on rice. While I would love to write raves reviews for this, my own illness prevented me from fully enjoying it. It was a beautiful presentation and smelled terrific. I slowly picked at the chicken and rice which settled me for the time being.

Oh man, she is the best!!!!

{Thursday: Belize City, Belize}

Breakfast

Oh boy, oh boy, it was PACKED at breakfast today!! Plus, they opened up breakfast a half hour earlier (6.30am) than normal as the time in Belize City was limited from 7.30-2.15, so people were up early to maximize their time in Belize.

The Windjammer dining room was too full so we took our food outside and took a table along the windows to enjoy the view.

Price made a triple meat breakfast sandwich with bacon, sausage, and ham. Men… ha! It should be called the pig sandwich or pig plate, patent pending!

There always was plentiful fruit, which worked out well as it gave us plenty of options for Autumn to eat at a meal, or to take later for a snack. The fruit was very fresh and flavorful.

Lunch

Belize City was just too hot to hang around in for lunch so we headed back to the ship early so we made it back to have lunch at the Windjammer.

I still wasn’t feeling that great so I ate plain pasta with some grated cheese.

Price enjoyed a fun mix of fried chicken, a ham and cheese slider, pork tenderloin, and corn salad. They were all really good but what a mix. Sometimes I have no idea what he is thinking…

Autumn had her first taste of jello and she loved it!

Dinner

We took the opportunity to have another ‘date night’ while on the cruise by having Autumn go to the Nursery for a few hours. It was nice that the amazing waiters didn’t have to shove all the plates and glasses to one side of the table and out of Autumn’s reach as soon as she was seated in her high chair. Ahhh a civilized dinner!!

Royal Caribbean allows two 750ml bottles per stateroom so we took a red and white with us for the cruise (it’s x-ray’d when you get on the ship when you board on your ). They used to have a corking fee but at some point the recently removed that fee. Hooray for us! Another glass? Yes, please!

We enjoyed the caprese salad and aranchini appetizers. Great mix to go with the Italian theme for the evening.

I enjoyed the chicken entree since it was pretty ‘mellow’. I was just starting to feel better again, I tried to keep things simple without tons of spice so this was a good fit. The mashed potatoes were soft and creamy, the asparagus was crisp and yet tender. The chicken and its sauce were comforting.

Price had the pork tenderloin with baked mashed potatoes and vegetables. Reading the description above, how can you pass it up! He wished there was more tenderloin but after his pig plate and pork tenderloin from the previous meals what more could he want?!? Oh well, we were on vacation 🙂

Of course I couldn’t resist dessert no matter how I was feeling. Plus look how fancy and pretty this is. Little petit fours with a chocolate stick as an edible garnish, a little taste of heaven if there ever were three heavens on one plate. That chocolate cake on the right was the BEST dessert I had all cruise.

Price got the tiramisu. We both thought it was flat. The lady fingers were dry and there was not much booze. Considering all the wonderful meals and other desserts we had perhaps our standards were sky high but this was by far the most disappointing of one of the courses for dinner.

{Friday: Day at Sea Cruising}

Breakfast

As what had become the morning routine on the cruise, Autumn was up early so Price took her up to the 9^th deck to allow our neighboring rooms a bit more sleep. While I got dressed to meet them up there, Autumn ate a yogurt.

Price has quickly solidified his love of grapefruit and I was feeling better so I got an omelette.

The best part is the overall attentiveness of the Windjammer staff related to refilling juices, getting a highchair, clearing tables, or saying ‘hi’ to Autumn. Especially Kenny (from India), he is always so sweet to Autumn.

Lunch

To avoid the big crowds at lunch in the Windjammer, we opted to go to the Aquarius dining room.

She loved the olive studded rolls that were delivered to our table. So adorable!

We relaxed on our overindulgence of ever meal and got salads for lunch from the salad bar. You walk around the bar and point to everything you would like for the guys working there to chop together. This salad was loaded with chickpeas, walnuts, onions, special greens, and a nice vinaigrette.

I also ordered chicken sliders that I had on Wednesday afternoon from the Windjammer. They were much better at the Windjammer as they were served with a garlicky aioli, but the sliders in the Aquarius dining room were very bland without it. Autumn was not really interested in any of those options and stuck with a banana and bread roll.

Dinner

Wah! Our last dinner!! So sad to leave the cruise, our amazing waiters, and all the great food behind.

How ever will we go back to normal life with out multiple dinner courses!?!?

Just looking at the picture above definitely screams MAN! The bone-in beef shank looked like it was cooked over an open pit and huge flames surrounding it. Price’s eyes lit up when this was put in front of him. Good thing we had those lunch salads! The always good mashed potatoes and vegetables completed the plate but the star was the shank. Price noted it might be the best entree of all the dinners which is saying a lot since he had so many great entrees.

I enjoyed the featured pasta entree. It was a generous plate of pasta in a cream sauce that was topped off with a crispy, crunchy slice of pancetta. The pancetta made the dish as it provided a nice salty flavor and fun textural contrast from the pasta. I think that the sauce could have been a bit thicker, but the flavor was really good.

Price and I had some great Key Lime Pie while we were on our Babymoon in the Florida Keys so I feel pretty confident saying that this was really good Key Lime Pie. What a nice way to end our wonderful cruise.

{Saturday: Disembark}

Breakfast

We were up early as usual. But extra, extra early. Autumn’s sleep was rocky the whole cruise but the last night was even worse as the time changed back to Eastern Standard Time. It was a mess!! But we got to be some of the first people in line to get into The Windjammer when it opened.

The day is super hectic for the staff as they have to unload and then reload the ship just a few short hours later so they try to streamline things so they don’t offer as many things for breakfast on the last day. I was happily surprised that they still offered the omelette station though.

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We thoroughly enjoyed our cruise and the food we ate on the cruise. The food and the service we experienced were both very enjoyable.

Amazingly, I managed to lose weight on the cruise. No joke. It was magic. Most people gain a few pounds but I lost about 3 pounds. And I got to eat dessert. That right there was a great birthday present. ha!

Our 2015 Vision of the Seas Cruise: Day 7 & Disembarking Recap

March 26, 2015

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{Friday- Day at Sea}

While it would have been so nice to have been able to sleep in, it was always so enjoyable to watch the sun rise over the Gulf of Mexico.

We headed right over to the Windjammer Cafe when it opened at 7am. We did our usual divide and conquer with us grabbing plates of food on our way to the table to have things at the ready for Autumn to eat. And then we’d take turns getting whatever else we need for ourselves, like omelets.

As a birthday gift to me, Price sent me off to the Spa for a massage while Autumn napped. I had seen a flyer earlier in the week for a special package called “Top to Toe Heaven”. It was a 75-minute package that included a Full Body Ginger and Lime Exfoliation, Full Body Swedish Massage, Foot and Ankle Massage, and a Scalp Massage. Some of the prices for things in the spa can be really expensive (manicures!) but this was a real deal for $149, down from $291.

The spa is located at the aft (back) of the boat, just off the Serenity Pool. The waiting room overlooks the back of the boat so you have a clear view out to watch the wake of the ship while sipping on some chilled lemon water. My room also had a great view but I didn’t enjoy it very much with my head down in the passage table. At least I really enjoyed my massage. Pure bliss!!

After my massage we went to lunch in the Aquarius Dining Room. Autumn loved the olive studded rolls they served but I decided that I much more preferred to eat lunch at the Windjammer Cafe. I liked the lovely service that was provided by the waiters and waitresses but I much more preferred the selection at the Windjammer Cafe. While they had a great salad bar, I found that the meals they served were similar to the Cafe, but just slightly off. For example, the sliders I had enjoyed on Thursday were served in Aquarius dining room on Friday, but without the aioli, which really made the sliders.

We headed to the Nursery after lunch so that Autumn could enjoy the Open Play time that afternoon. We then left her there for some time so that both Price and I could enjoy some time by the pool. It really worked well for all of us as Autumn got to nap and play at the nursery and we got to enjoy some fun in the sun!

We spent some time packing up all our stuff just before dinner. This allowed us to sort the the clothes we wouldn’t need for that night and next morning into the big suitcase. We left it outside of our room later that night so that it would be round up by the ship staff to be unloaded into the Port of Tampa building the following morning. Packing up the night before you leave can make the morning of departure much more efficient and smoother.

We had a lovely last dinner together in the Aquarius dining room. It was bittersweet as we had to say ‘good-bye’ to our amazing servers. They really made the dinner experience with Autumn so amazing.

Dinner was great, but so was the sunset.

I took a walk after dinner while Price stayed with a sleeping Autumn in the room. I caught the end of the cruise celebration put on by the cruise crew in the Centrum (7.45pm). Representatives from every country that the staff participate in The International Parade of Flags. Every country is announced and they wave flags while there there is fun music playing. It was so cute. I loved every second of it.

{Disembarking}

Autumn must have been super excited about getting on dry land again as she was up bright and early to start her day. How early? 3.30 in the morning!! No Joke. Her abnormally early waking hours while on the cruise was compounded that morning with the time change back to East Coast time. Ugh!

Thankfully the 24 Hour Windjammer Cafe Coffee Bar was well stocked!!

We hit the cafe as soon as it opened to avoid the crush of people having breakfast before the trip was over. I was going to miss all those options!

Oh, nice nap eh?

Thankfully, everyone was busy with breakfast or doing last minute packing in their rooms so I could walk loop after loop around the 5th and 6th decks while Autumn snoozed.

We had to wait in our designated area outside the theater on Deck 5 until we were cleared to disembark the ship.

Thankfully the process was painless as we followed the crowds, grabbed out big suitcase, and joined the (well organized) line to get through customs. They estimated the processing taking 45+ minutes but it took us less than half the time. So easy.

And then all we had to do was wait for my dad to come to pick us up.

We were all worn out from the cruise but it was so worth the vacation and experience. It was a good feeling. Tired but relaxed. We felt accomplished that we visited every port. And very full from all the great food. It was so special that we brought Autumn on her first cruise and I got to celebrate my 30th birthday while on vacation. The Royal Caribbean experience was a blast. We can’t wait for our next cruise!

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Check out my other cruise recaps!

Our 2014 Vision of the Seas Cruise: Days 1 & 2 Recap

Our 2014 Vision of the Seas Cruise: Days 3 & 4 Recap

Our 2014 Vision of the Seas Cruise: Days 5, 6 Recap