Greetings from FL!

Okay, so I know I'm a little behind in posting - more than a little behind!! I hope I still have some followers out there; thank you if you're still around!! 

I have three and a half weeks left of my contract here working for Carnival. I cannot believe how time flies when you're having fun & surprisingly to me, I don't want to go home! Of course part of me does, but then parts of me want to stay here. 

It has been one of the best experiences of my life and I am SO GLAD I took this chance! So glad in fact, I will be doing another contract from August 23-February 20 :) so excited!! 

I wish I could write down everything right now but I will DEFINITELY do that when I get home. As well as picking up with "So what Wednesdays" and my favorite blog on Sundays! I have missed blogging so much so I will definitely be picking it back up. I will try and write more as my time on board winds down, it just gets so damn busy I never seem to have the time!

Hope you are all doing well & I look forward to connecting with you all again and for you to hear my wonderful adventures of being out on the open ocean!

Until then,

S.

xoxo

What I'm Looking Forward To In 2014

The title of this blog pretty much sums up what I will be writing about in this post. While I was reading the blogs on my Bloglovin' feed, I came across a post where a blogger wrote what they were looking forward to this upcoming year. Needless to say, I thought this was a nice idea to share with you guys. 

What I'm Looking Forward To In 2014

➜ Traveling 

➜ Becoming more independent 

➜ Losing weight and keeping it off (I am actually going to put 100% into this this year!)

➜ Updating my wardrobe

➜ Making my family proud by making it through one working contract

➜ Since I lack self confidence, I feel that this year I need to work on this a lot 

➜ Usual family traditions

Through out the year, I will more than likely come up with some more things, but for right now, I think that is a pretty good starting list. 

Five on Friday - v.12

I'm linking up with A Liz Adventures for the first edition of FOF of 2014 - Enjoy!

O N E - Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones. So I saw this movie tonight and I was really excited about it. I usually wait a while to see a movie once it comes out but since I am heading back to work on Monday, I had no choice but to see it tonight. Opening night and school is still out for Holiday break. I do NOT understand why teenage girls feel the need to act the way they do. I have never been so annoyed in my entire life. That's besides the point - the movie itself, I was a little disappointed in. It was still freaky and I think there will be more of them.

T W O - Back to work Monday! I was blessed and lucky enough to be able to come home for the Holidays and spend them with my family. Now that all the fun is over, I have to head back to work on Monday. Again, I was stuck with a very early flight. I am terrified of flying to begin with, but flying in the cold and snowy weather makes my fear even worse. I am just hoping that everything goes well and I get there on time.

T H R E E - I don't know why it has taken me this long to get into the show Dexter. Every time I would browse NetFlix, I would come across the show and one day, I finally gave in. Absolutely fell in love. I'm pretty sure I finished all eight seasons, minus the last two episodes, in like a week or so (since I was on holidays!). My favorite character is Deb because she is dedicated, determined and of course - that mouth! SO FUNNY!

F O U R - Anyone also in love with the song Team by Lorde?!

F I V E - I have to say I am very thankful for my friends right now. I am going through a bit of a "rough spot" and they have been nothing but supportive and there for me. I would never get through half the things without them.

Enjoy your first weekend of 2014 :)

Three days away

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Years! My holidays were great and I was really blessed and lucky to be able to spend them at home with my family. Now that they're over, it's time to pack up and hit the open ocean once again. 

I don't know how many of you make resolutions for the new year, but I'm one of those people that do. I'm one of those people who also usually never stick to them either. However, this year I think my resolutions seem very attainable. My resolutions for 2014 are:

- to not be scared to try new things and live outside my comfort zone

- lose weight and keep it off

- take time for myself

- be happy

- smile

I went through A LOT of ups and downs last year and I have a feeling that this year, will be MY year. And I personally believe that that's alright! 

Being home for the last little while has also taught me a lot and my eyes were open to a few things as well. I learned who actually cares about me, where I stand in certain relationships, who I can honestly count on and that I'm the only one I can really trust. Some of these things I have learned the hard way, but I would rather find these things out than not at all. 

Three days away from the open ocean means three days of cleaning, organizing and packing again. This time, I know what to expect and what to bring and what to leave home. Crossing my fingers that I can get my luggage under 50 lbs - however, not likely! I'm also seeing the new Paranormal Activity tomorrow night. Yes, I know, these movies are maybe seen as "stupid" but I cannot help myself! I love horror movies even though I won't be able to sleep! I will write a review when I'm home as well. 

Until next time ....

S.

xoxo

Happy New Year

As a new year is upon us, I can't help but sit and reminisce about the past year. Last year, if someone would have told me I would be where I am doing what I'm doing, I would have thought they were crazy. I've had many ups and downs, made some good and bad decision and decisions I didn't think I would have to make just yet. I can say, however, that I have definitely grown as a person and that I'm putting 2013 behind me with many lessons learned. I couldn't have made it through the year without my friends and family. It's safe to say that I am going to make 2014 MY year and live it up to its fullest. Happy New Year everyone! Here's to new beginnings, new memories and a wonderful 2014!

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 

Hope the New Year brings you everything you want! 

S.

xoxo

Is there anyone out there?

.....It's meeeeeeeee!! (said in the "How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days voice)

I hope people are still following my blog even though I have been a HORRIBLE writer ever since I left for sea. However, today I am here to update you all on what has been going on! I am at home for a bit and I fly back out to JAX on January 6th to hit the open ocean once again. I am very lucky and grateful that I am able to spend the holidays with my family. My mom is especially happy with that, that's for sure!

My experience on the ship was ... well ... different! Before I accepted the position, I did a lot of research and talked to a lot of people who were currently working on a ship or who had worked on a ship. I heard some positive things and some negative things but when in to the job with an open mind because things are different for everyone, and people experience things differently than the next person. My first day was a very long day. My flight left Buffalo at 6:30am and I didn't get to the ship in JAX until roughly 2:30pm and then it was right into things. Luckily, my room mate was someone who I knew from the interviews we had in Toronto. I definitely had a lot of "omg what did I get myself into" moments. Between having to know the layout of the ship, how to get around, dealing with being on a ship for the first time and then having all the job things on top of that! I understand why they say give it a good month and a half!

After a while I started to get the hang of some things, but then again everything does start to look the same on a ship. There were a few rough days for me where I couldn't handle the rockiness of the boat, but you eventually get used to it and I felt like I was starting to. However, when trying to sleep, the rockiness is actually kind of calming and helped me sleep. Speaking of calming, being outside at night listening to the water and waves and having that breeze - definitely calming!! It was also nice getting to know people from different countries and cultures and when I read "you're never alone for more than a few minutes" - yeah, that's 100% true as well.

When I left for the job I was leaving with the understanding that yes, ship life was different than being on land, but let me tell you, I have no idea how true that was! Like everything in life, there are some good things and some bad things about ship life. I've been home a few days now and I have found it a little difficult adjusting to things and as soon as I have adjusted to being home, I'll have to up and leave again - oh well.

So for now, I get to spend some time at home, deal with a few things and have Christmas at home. Then pack up again and hit the open ocean ....