My favorite packing tool ever!

My suitcase is excited! We've been on the go a lot this summer---an overnight  here, a few days away there and some longer trips too! Much of my summer has been spent packing and unpacking! (Not complaining though!) Thankfully, I use some cool tools to make packing less painful and my suitcase more organized for travel. Let me introduce you to the wonderful word of packing cubes!

My parents like to travel too and introduced me to packing cubes several years ago. Packing cubes are fabric containers with zippers. They are used to pack clothes and other items. They come in different sizes and colors and fit nicely into suitcases and backpacks.

I will not travel without them...even for an overnight trip because they keep everything organized. Every member of my family has their own set which comes with a small, medium and large cube. You can also buy just one size.

My packing cube set.

(3 of our sets are Ebags brand which I ordered online) Packing cubes also come in long, rectangular shapes for socks and similar items.

Depending on what you pack in your cubes, you may not even have to unpack them when you arrive at your destination! That's one of the many things I love about these. Just place the packed cube into the drawer at the hotel/cruise ship/resort. This works especially well with small cubes. We like to use the small cubes for underwear, socks, bras, etc.

Small cubes, one for each of us. 

Plus, with packing cubes, everything stays nice and contained in its own little space---no rummaging through our suitcases to find a pair of socks when we arrive. You can also use small cubes for toiletries, etc.

Medium cubes fit great in our backpacks. When we are flying, we use backpacks as carry ons and the medium cube fits perfectly inside with several outfits! Love it!

We like the large cubes for the rest of our clothing. You'd be surprised how much you can fit in these. You'll quickly figure out which cube sizes work best with your stuff and how clean everything stays in your worn, dirty suitcase.

A little more than a week's worth of outfits in my large packing cube.

I've tried large plastic zip lock bags....but I find it hard to fit in more than one outfit and I end up using way too many bags.  Also, large plastic bags don't have the depth that packing cubes have.

I can fit WAY more clothing into a packing cube than a plastic bag. When they're all filled, we can fit four large cubes into our large suitcase. In the picture below, I placed three large cubes and three small cubes into our large suitcase. So there are lots of ways to pack these cubes into your luggage.

Packing cubes fit nicely in our suitcase.

Next up this summer--- a 7-day Alaskan cruise, so these cubes will soon be packed again.  As I mentioned before, we each have our own set. So once we get into our cabins, each family member will gather their cubes from our luggage. There's no guessing where things are.

This cruise will certainly be a packing challenge with rain coats, fleece, gloves and hats (all big, bulky stuff). But I know the cubes will help so much with organizing everything for the four of us. I don't think I will ever travel without these!

Have you ever used packing cubes? If so, what did you think? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

iFLY---indoor sky diving on land and at sea

Back in March during our cruise on Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas, I posted a video of my daughter on Facebook experiencing a super cool attraction called iFLY.  It's a sky diving simulator located at the back of the ship where guests can soar inside a tall, enclosed "tube" while looking out into the ocean.  Many of you wanted to know more about this unique activity and where else to find it.  Here's some good news--you don't have to take a cruise to do this!

iFLY is a land based company out of Austin, Texas with 37 locations across the globe. My central Pennsylvania friends will be happy to know there will be an iFLY opening in the King of Prussia area on April 19th!  According to the iFLY website, the indoor sky diving facility is located at 290 Goddard Blvd. We will definitely be checking it out in the future.

The cruise ship version is incredibly popular and slots fill up quickly. While I played "photographer," my husband and two daughters suited up for this fun experience, which was included in the cost of the cruise. My husband was the first to "fly" from his group. There was an instructor by his side and communication is done through hand signals,which you learn ahead of time during a brief training session.

ifly, aboard Anthem of the Seas.

ifly, aboard Anthem of the Seas.

Our daughters had a blast too and it's so much fun to watch.

ifly, aboard Anthem of the Seas.

ifly, aboard Anthem of the Seas.

ifly, aboard Anthem of the Seas.

The iFLY website tells you everything you'd want to know about the experience, from who can fly to what indoor skydiving is and how it works. So if you've ever wanted to fly, here's your chance! Enjoy your flight!

You took awesome vacation pictures---now what to do with them?

When I'm on vacation, I snap hundreds of pictures.  On the way home, I go through all of them, deleting the blurry, dark, crooked, grumpy and duplicate ones.  When I'm done, I usually end up with some quality pictures from our trips.

But instead of having these memories sit on my phone or laptop, I find myself wanting to do something more with them.

When we moved into our new home a few years ago, we had a lot of empty wall space to fill. As I shopped around for pictures and art work, I became frustrated. I couldn't find a whole lot that I liked. That's when I started making my own.  I simply (and cost effectively in  most cases) turned some of our vacation pictures into art! I realize this is not a new idea, but I am surprised at how few people do it and how easy it is.

Companies like Art.com and Shutterfly are great places to help you turn your photos into art. When they have sales or coupons for free enlargements or photo books, it's even better! Photos can be turned into art on canvas, metal, wood, glass, etc. The possibilities really are endless and the artwork you make from your own photos is special and unique.

After our trip to Morocco, I had tons of pictures of Moroccan spices and food. So I had three of my favorites enlarged and framed. Now, they decorate my kitchen and remind me daily of that vacation.

Here is another photo I turned into art from that trip. This was taken at a market in the High Atlas Mountains. The coloring of the baskets worked perfectly for our family room. I had this one done through Art.com with a custom frame.

When we had our bedroom painted a new color, I knew a picture of the beautiful Caribbean water would look awesome on the blue wall. Now, this is what I wake up to every morning! Gorgeous St. Lucia! I used a Shutterfly coupon for a free photo enlargement to make this. The frame came from a craft store.

I really like the look of canvas, too.  This picture was taken at Balboa Park in San Diego. It's an 8x10 canvas that brightens up our home office.

Another neat alternative to a photo print is a plaque. These can come in all different sizes. I picked 8x10's. (The photo on the left is the canvas.)

Last but not least, photo books are a great way to have all of your best pictures from a trip together in one place. I also display these on either the coffee table or standing up on our entertainment center. Both of these books were made with coupons for a free 8x8 photo book!

I hope to add more art to our walls in the coming year. The space above our living room couch remains empty for now but with a summer trip to Alaska and some other getaways planned, hopefully it won't stay empty for long.

A look inside The Highland Lodge--a new addition to Liberty Mountain Resort in Pennsylvania

The lobby inside the Highland Lodge, Photo by Alison Dixon

Before I book any kind of vacation, I want to see pictures--mostly of the room and pool. If it's a resort, I want to see it all! So when we were looking at spending a night at Liberty Mountain Resort in Carroll Valley, Pennsylvania, naturally, I wanted to see what everything looked like before we booked.

 We had been there many times before to ski, but the brand new Highland Lodge was the main draw for us. Not only did it boast guest rooms and restaurants, but an indoor pool and hot tub.  We thought it would be fun to have a nice dinner, swim and relax. Then we'd get up early the next morning and hit the slopes.

However, as I was planning this, I had a hard time finding a lot of pictures of the new lodge, the pool, hot tub and the room we'd be staying in. The rooms at the Highland Lodge were full by the time we booked our reservation (those photos are on their website). So we would be staying in the Fairway building, which is right next to the Highland Lodge (there is a third building called the Alpine Lodge, too). Despite the lack of pictures to see if spending the night would be worthwhile, we crossed our fingers and hoped for the best.  Luckily...everything was much better than we expected! The room was clean and met our needs.

So if you book a room in the Fairway building, this is what a double room looks like.

Double room in Fairway Lodge at Liberty Mountain Resort by Alison Dixon

Photo by Alison Dixon

Bathroom in Fairway building, Photo by Alison Dixon

The pool and hot tub in the Highland Lodge also exceeded our expectations. It was spacious and lots of fun. There was a basketball hoop in the pool and small fountains. There were tables and loungers on the pool deck too. The pool is located on the ground floor of the Highland Lodge, so it was just a quick walk from our building. There are also locker rooms with showers and a sauna.

Indoor pool at the Highland Lodge, Liberty Mountain Resort

Indoor pool, Photo by Alison Dixon

Indoor pool, Photo by Alison Dixon

The hot tub was huge and very relaxing. It was fun looking out the window and seeing snow!

Hot tub in the Highland Lodge, Photo by Alison Dixon

The Highland Lodge also had a salon and small gym (which we didn't use.) They are located on the ground floor as well.

Gym at the Highland Lodge, Photo by Alison Dixon

There are also a few shops in the Highland Lodge, along with meeting and banquet rooms. Ike's Chophouse wasn't quite ready when we visited.

Ike's Chophouse,Photo by Alison Dixon

But the Eagle and the Owl was open. We ate dinner here and also had a free, hot, complimentary breakfast buffet. No complaints!

Entrance to Eagle and the Owl, Photo by Alison Dixon

Inside the Eagle and the Owl Public House, Photo by Alison Dixon

The lobby and sitting areas off the lobby are inviting. The fireplace is the focal point and a nice place to relax after a day of skiing.

Fireplace in the Highland Lodge

Stairs leading to guest rooms, Photo by Alison Dixon

Looking down from second floor onto lobby and reception area

Sitting area off of the restaurants, Photo by Alison Dixon

Our stay was awesome, overall. There were a few noise issues with the room. I could hear the people next to us talking and the kids above us, running. Since I am a light sleeper, I was the only one in my family who noticed. Next time, I hope to book a room in the Highland Lodge and maybe even extend our stay at this beautiful resort.

Liberty Mountain Resort, Photo by Alison Dixon

Why I love our (fairly) new winter hobby

Father/daughter downtime on the lift

I like to try new things. So three years ago, when my husband said, "This is the year you and the girls should learn to ski," we were all for it.  Part of me was a little nervous too. I had done plenty of sledding in my lifetime, but never set foot on skis. I was 41. My husband, on the other hand, skied since he was a kid.  He wanted to share this passion with us. "It's something new and fun we can do as a family each winter," he told us.

He was right.  It was fun and we've been skiing ever since. Instead of dreading the cold and snowy Pennsylvania winters every year, we look forward to them. Skiing is a way for my family to get out, get some exercise, spend time together and enjoy winter.

I still remember our first day skiing as a family. It was so exciting because our daughters (ages 5 and 8 at the time) and I were trying something brand new. Together. My husband was there to show us the ropes and "hold our hand." We learned the basics---putting on boots, putting on skis and standing and walking on skis for the first time. I remember how it felt and how we looked.

First day skiing

But before we hit the slopes, the girls and I headed to a lesson--something every first time skier should do. At Roundtop Mountain Resort in Lewisberry, PA, there are various levels of lessons for kids. So our two girls took their very first ski lesson together.  I went to a beginner class for adults. Ninety minutes later, we all met back up again, much more prepared than when we first arrived.

Throughout the day, my husband and kids saw me fall---a lot---getting off the lift, skiing down the mountain. They saw me make mistakes, but they also watched me get back up (with the help of my husband) and try again. I watched them do the same. Yes, there were some moments of frustration, but there were also lots of laughs and encouragement.

As the day went on, we felt more comfortable and confident.  Overall, our first time skiing was a success and we decided we'd do it all again the following weekend.  Now, three seasons later, we've come so far. Just last weekend as we stood at the top of a beginner slope,  I asked my girls, "Remember how intimidating it was staring down this trail wondering how we'd make it down?" They laughed, because they remembered too.

So during the winter, we ski when our schedule (and the weather) allows. We are lucky enough to live fairly close to three mountains (Roundtop, Liberty, Whitetail) so we try to visit all three a few times during the season. It gives us some more variety and new adventures too!

 In addition to the actual skiing, we also enjoy the down time--aka--lunch. It gives us time to talk about our day so far, warm up and relax a little together.

I know you're probably thinking---but skiing is so expensive! I agree it is not cheap. However, many mountains offer incredibly discounted packages for first time skiers and snowboarders that include the lift ticket, rentals and a lesson. We buy the Advantage Card from Roundtop Mountain. It gives us a 40 percent discount on lift tickets, lessons and rentals each visit at the three mountains near us.  And for clothing and equipment, many ski shops and ski resorts hold 'ski swaps' in the Fall which are worth checking out. You can find second hand skis, boots, poles, snowboards, goggles, helmets and clothing at very reasonable prices.

Also, the Pennsylvania Ski Areas Association offers free lift tickets to 4th and 5th grade students! This is a great program and you don't even have to live in Pennsylvania to take advantage of it. We reaped the benefits of this program the past two years. Now our daughter is in 6th grade, the other is in 2nd. You can read more about this free program and how to apply for it on their website at www.skipa.com.

My family looks forward to our next ski adventure, whenever and wherever we decide to go next. One thing I'm sure of is that we'll learn more, laugh and enjoy our time together.

  

Allure of the Seas---A look inside one of the biggest cruise ships in the world

   

I've been on big cruise ships, little cruise ships, medium sized cruise ships; but never a gigantic one--- until last summer. Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas is a sight to see.  It's one of the biggest cruise ships in the world, second only to Royal Caribbean's new Harmony of the Seas. Guests on Allure of the Seas can explore seven areas or neighborhoods throughout the ship. They include Central Park, The Boardwalk, Entertainment Place, Pool and Sports Zone, Royal Promenade, Vitality Spa and Fitness Center and Youth Zone.

There is SO much to do on board this ship and I snapped dozens of pictures to prove it! Here are some highlights.

Pool and Sports Zone---This is a super fun place where you'll find zip lining, rock climbing, swimming, hot tubs, mini golf, basketball and the Flo Rider. Even with four-thousand people on board, I found the pool deck to be spacious.

Kid pool at night, Photo by Alison Dixon

Pool and Sports Zone, Photos by Alison Dixon

Central Park---This is a beautiful place to walk around among real trees and other greenery. A few shops, bars and restaurants are also found here. Cabins overlook this area as well. We loved sipping drinks in Central Park and taking a stroll through in the evening. The Rising Tides bar (second picture) moves between the Royal Promenade deck and Central Park every 20 minutes or so.

Central Park, Photos by Alison Dixon

The Boardwalk---Want to take a spin on a carousel at sea? You can in the "Boardwalk" neighborhood of Allure of the Seas. There is also a hot dog shop, boardwalk games, a restaurant and the Aqua Theater.  Guests can book cabins overlooking this area. The Aqua Theater is home to the Oceanaria show which is a combination of acrobatics and high dives.

The Boardwalk, Photos by Alison Dixon

Aqua Theater, Photos by Alison Dixon

Royal Promenade---The Royal Promenade is where all the action is. You'll find shops, bars and restaurants here along with entertainment. It's a lively place to hang out and people watch in the evening. The picture below is of a bar called the Bow and Stern English Pub.

Bow and Stern English Pub, Photo by Alison Dixon

    Unfortunately, I did not visit the spa or gym during this cruise. However, our daughters loved the Youth Zone. Our 8-year old was even crowned "Dancing Queen" one night!

   There is a lot more to this ship too---the dining rooms, restaurants, cabins, theater and an ice skating rink!  It's tough to do it all and see it all. We had a great time and would definitely sail on Allure of the Seas again!