Island Vacation

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This time next week, Joe and I will be boarding a plane and headed to St. Lucia with 4 of our college friends. This trip is something Joe has talked about doing for years and I am thrilled that is is happening. We are staying at Sandals Regency La Toc for a long weekend of relaxing and exploring St. Lucia.

When Joe brought up the idea for a trip 6 months ago, I thought there was no way I would be ready to leave our baby. While I still may not be 100% ready to leave Caroline, I know it is good for us to have some adult time. Caroline will be staying with my parents and I know it will be good for them to spend quality time together.

For this trip, we are only bringing carry-on luggage. We haven't flown since our cruise 3 years ago when they lost our luggage for several days. Needless to say, it had a huge impact on how I approach traveling and am not going to make the same mistake twice.

A sneak peak into what will be in my carry-on this trip.

My secret weapons are a light cardigan which can be used as a blanket on chilly planes and under-eye serum to hide the travel induced puffiness. This Scout bag has been the best purchase. It has so many uses. It is perfect for a carry on and then doubles as a beach bag.

You really have to prioritize liquids when planning to do only a carry-on. The must have products for me are sunscreen, spf moisturizer, hair conditioner, after sun body lotion and flex hold hairspray. I always save samples of mascara and fragrances to not take up much space. I'll pack powder foundation, makeup and solid primer. I always take advantage of hotel shampoo and body wash. Conditioner is what I won't skimp on as it always effects the quality of my hair. This infographic is perfect to make sure you don't forget a thing!

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Caribbean Cruise: Key West

The first stop on our cruise was Key West. I have been to Key West several times before on vacations to Florida. I love the vibrant Caribbean inspired homes that make you question if your in the United States instead of the Bahamas. Key Lime Pie is also one of my favorite desserts and no one makes it like Key West! The stop at Key West was a major factor in us booking this cruise.

We started the day exploring Mallory Square which was right nearby the port.

Then mom and I hopped on a trolley tour of the city. I have done trolley tours of Charleston and Savannah as well. I think it is one of the best ways to learn the history of the town while exploring the sites.

Old Town Trolley

Key West Lighthouse

We hopped off at the southernmost point. This is one of the most photographed thing in Key West. So much so that there was a short line to snap a picture with it.

 After some photos, we decided to walk and explore the area. We ended up at a popular restaurant called Blue Heaven. Since it was Easter Sunday the place was packed. We skipped the two hour wait and snagged a mini Key Lime Pie for the road. It was the perfect little size for a morning snack! 

We hopped back on the trolley and enjoyed learning more about the city. We jumped off again to grab some more Key Lime treats at Kermit's Key Lime Pie. They sell dark chocolate covered Key Lime Pie on a stick. This little dessert has my vote for being the best Key Lime Pie I've ever had. The combination of tartness and super sweet is divine.

Following my second treat of the day, we got back on the trolley one last time and completed our tour of the city. What is great about this tour is that you can get off at a stop and board again as many times as you would like. Also, if your staying on the island the second day tour is free! I took the complete tour twice getting off at interesting stops along the way. I learned new facts and stories with each guide and was never bored! But really, how could you get bored of this scenery?

Truman's Little White House

Have you ever been to Key West? What is your favorite spot? Mine is Fort Jefferson which was a built after the war of 1812 and used in the Civil War. (It was a Union Fort!)

Caribbean Cruise: Exploring the Ship

I finally a few minutes to sit and reflect on our amazing cruise to the Caribbean. My mom and I had a great time together exploring Key West and Cozumel together. This is not out first girls trip together. We have been to Las Vegas as well. I am going to break this post up to make sure to get all the amazing details.  Today I am recapping the beautiful ship and then next week I'll recap our two ports, Key West and Cozumel.

Last Saturday morning, mom and I headed out of Raleigh to Ft. Lauderdale. The flight was quick and we were boarding the ship by 2pm. We were greeted with champagne on arrival which was a perfect way to start our vacation! We got settled into our cabin easily and headed to grab a late lunch on the buffet. Usually, I am not a fan of buffets. The excessive amount of food always results in mediocre quality in my opinion. One exception for me is on a cruise. All the items are fresh and you can sample unique food without wasting an entire entrée.

Our beautiful balcony view.

Enjoying lunch on the sunset deck.

After filling up I spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the ship. The Celebrity Constellation is a smaller ship compared to the new gigantic vessels. It is 12 stories tall including the pool and observation decks. I was glad to be on a smaller ship because it was easy to learn your way around which is great on a short trip.

Sunset leaving port.

Each night we ate dinner in the main dining room. I adored indulging in a 4 course meal each night and getting the opportunity to try different entrees I never order. After dinner each night, we went to see a production in the main theater. The shows ranged from musical productions to magicians to acrobatics. There was an occasional stop at the martini bar on the way of course!

Dry ice martini bar.

Beautiful theater.