The first snafu of our trip occurred when I went to the metro station (literally across the street from our AirBnB) with the intent to buy all of us Navigo Easy passes. I found the Philippe Auguste station easily, but there was a metal gate blocking the entrance…no! I eventually figured out that there were some maintenance issues, and the station was not in operation (thankfully it returned to normal the next day). Our only alternative was to walk several long blocks to the nearest station that sold passes (Nation).
Unfortunately, we were unable to make our reservations at Musee de l’Orangerie since it took us longer than expected to arrive at our AirBnB. Therefore, we headed straight to dinner.
Happy Caffe
If you are looking for a place to eat near the Louvre, I would recommend Happy Caffe. The service is quite friendly and the person who took our order spoke English. We ordered baguette sandwiches and crepes to go.
I need more crepes in my life.
This crepe had cheese, tomato, spinach and egg and was very tasty.
We brought our food across the street and ate in the picturesque Tuileries Garden. Luckily, we found some metal chairs in a somewhat shady area.
We had timed tickets for The Louvre for 6:30 p.m. on Friday night (the museum closes at 9:45 p.m. on Fridays). Even so, we had to wait a good 15-20 minutes in order to get through security. We had to throw out our water bottles before entering (although water was allowed in all of the subsequent museums that we visited).
As you can see, it was quite crowded!
Once we were inside the pyramid, we still had to show our tickets to be admitted. The ticket taker asked to see k’s ID to prove that she was under 18 (and eligible for free admission). She did not have her driver’s license at that time (now she does!) and I did not read anything that said this was necessary. Fortunately, I still had her passport on me, so he let her in. Phew! Again, this was the only museum where this was an issue.
So, where does one begin when seeing the largest museum in the world for the first time? (D was the only in our party who had been before).
We decided to follow the signs (and crowds) to the Mona Lisa, because why not? There was a long queue to get up close and personal, but I thought that standing off to the side gave us a perfectly adequate view.
That mysterious smile…
Directly across from the Mona Lisa is a masterpiece by Veronese, Wedding Feast at Cana. It felt like the Louvre was as crowded as the depicted wedding feast!
k was excited to see Liberty Leading the People, a painting she had learned about in her world history class.
The Napoleon III Apartments were a sight to behold. It is crazy to think that the Louvre was a palace before it was a museum.
Now that’s a crowded dining table.
We started to feel stuffy with so many people, and no air conditioning. This air duct gave us minimal relief. It made us realize how much we take air conditioning for granted in California.
We also tried to take a rest whenever there was an open seat.
Each hallway seemed to lead to another endless hallway filled with priceless artwork.
The Louvre can feel overwhelming, but I was satisfied with the amount we were able to take in.
I wanted to take a cool nighttime picture of the pyramid, but alas, sunset was not until close to 10 p.m. and it was not lit up when we exited. This was the scene right outside the Louvre around 9 p.m. I was aware that Europeans eat dinner later, but it was still baffling to see (our family sometimes goes out to eat dinner at 4:45 p.m., which I know is ridiculously early to most!)
We also caught our first glimpse of the Eiffel Tower! It was refreshing to witness all these people relaxing on a warm summer night in Paris. However, since we were fighting jetlag, we called it a night. We headed back to the Metro, and had another long walk (since the closest station was still not in operation). We also stopped in a Franprix right before it closed to buy water and fruit. Bonne nuit!
We successfully met up with our driver at the airport and he drove us to our AirBnB in the 11th arrondissement during Friday afternoon rush hour traffic. I was relieved to see that the apartment was just as fabulous in real life as it appeared in the listing. The only aspect that came somewhat as a a surprise was the long spiral staircase that we had to traverse to make it to our second story accomodations.
Living Area/Kitchen
Doesn’t it look like an IKEA showecase?
Such a cute spot for little ones. Love that rhino stool!
Full kitchen with hidden washer and dryer. It took us a while to figure out the laundry, but it was supremely helpful in that it allowed us all to fit all our clothes into our carry-on luggage.
Bedrooms/Bathrooms
This was the bedroom where D and I stayed. I appreciated the thoughtful details, including USB ports at each bedside table. I did not even need the plug converter that I brought with me.
The toilet was located in a separate water closet right next door.
This is the room where my mom stayed.
My sister’s bedroom.
This is the bathroom that my mom and sister shared.
Another bedroom on the second floor. (My sister realized she should have chosen this room instead at the end of our stay-oh well).
The kids chose to stay in the kids room on the main floor because it had two sets of bunk beds. This room also had an adjoining bathroom that I did not take a picture of. If you have not been keeping track, this place can house up to 12 guests, with five bedrooms and three bathrooms!
Courtyard
When we first arrived, there was a group of about six small dogs running around in the inner courtyard. I am not a dog person, but these dogs were adorable and non-threatening.
After we quickly settled in, it was time for our first outing in Paris!
Last month we fulfilled one of my lifelong dreams: we visited Paris and London! After months of planning, I was ready to embark on our European adventure.
We took an Uber to LAX and had no problems going through security.
Our 5:10 p.m. flight was on time. It was convenient that we did not have to wake up super early to arrive at the airport. Of course, we had plenty of time to spare. I would much rather be waiting around with nothing to do than to be frantically running through the airport to catch a flight.
Our Comfort+ seats came with a travel kit that had earplugs, toothbrush/toothpaste, and eye mask.
Since this was a redeye flight, the pillow and blanket were especially appreciated.
We managed to pack everything into carry-on luggage.
My mom and youngest sister also came along. Unfortunately, my dad was unable to make the trip with us. This made me very sad, but I also realized it was probably for the best.
This was the dinner that we were served. The caprese salad was ok, but I did not eat too much of the grains. The chicken, which tasted like Indian curry, was on the dry side. Overall, the food was not bad, but I started to feel motion sickness right before receiving it. Therefore, I did not enjoy dinner to its full potential. I just tried to relax and watched A Man Called Otto with Tom Hanks.
As luck would have it, we had a crying baby in the row behind us. It was difficult to sleep, but I managed to get a couple of hours, at least? n found the open snack bar in the back of the plane, so he was happy to have multiple midnight snacks.
Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
It has been a busy first month of summer vacation for our family so far. Although it seems like we are still running around from activity to activity, I am trying to enjoy the sweet pockets of free time that summer offers us. Winning Moves continues to offer games and toys that will make those moments memorable.
Monopoly and Scrabble have to be two of the most classic board games around. This new version combines Monopoly and Scrabble and I am here for it! Players move around the Monopoly-style board by earning points through the building of words Scrabble-style. Since most people are already familiar with how to play Monopoly and Scrabble, this is an easy game to pick up. Monopoly Scrabble is designed for 2-4 players, ages 8+.
My husband has fond memories of trying to play Risk with his older brother in the 1980’s. It’s fascinating to think about how much has changed since then, even though it does not seem that long ago. Risk The 1980’s Edition will either reignite old memories for those who identify with Gen X (and before) or create new ones with the younger generations. The object remains the same: acquire the most armies and conquer the most territories. Recommended for 2-6 players, ages 8+.
Where To Buy Monopoly Scrabble and Risk The 1980s Edition
Winning Moves games and toys, including the Monopoly Scrabble and Risk The 1980s Edition, are available on their website, Amazon and other retailers near you.
Monopoly Scrabble and Risk The 1980s Edition Giveaway
Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win Monopoly Scrabble and Risk The 1980s Edition. (Open to U.S. continental residents only).
(Please note that I am aware that the Rafflecopter appears wrong, but I can see the correct entries on my end).
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of Review Wire Media for Apple TV+
I have fond memories of my mom reading to my sister and I when we were growing up. The Frog and Toad stories, written by Arnold Lobel, were some of our favorites. Frog and Toad’s opposite personalities were endearing and all of their adventures resulted in valuable life lessons. The Frog and Toad series is a true classic, and now it is coming to life in an animated series on Apple TV+ beginning April 28th!
Frog is a frog. Toad is a toad. They have a lot in common… but they are also very different. Frog and Toad are best friends who know that the true secret to friendship is not only enjoying the things you have in common, but embracing the things that make you different. Since our differences are what makes us special, Frog and Toad celebrate what makes them unique!
The talented voice cast includes Academy Award winner Nat Faxon (“Our Flag Means Death,” “The Connors”) and Emmy Award nominee Kevin Michael Richardson (“The Simpsons,” “Family Guy”) as Frog and Toad, as well as appearances by Ron Funches (“Trolls”), Fortune Feimster (“Good Fortune,” “Kenan”), Cole Escola (“At Home with Amy Sedaris”), Aparna Nancherla (“The Great North”), John Hodgman (“Up Here”), Yvette Nicole Brown (“Disenchanted,” “Act Your Age”), Stephen Tobolowsky (“The Goldbergs”), Emmy Award nominee Tom Kenny (“SpongeBob SquarePants”), Selene Luna (“Coco”), Emmy Award nominee Margaret Cho (“Fire Island”) and Betsy Sodaro (“Duncanville”).
“Frog and Toad” is based on the beloved Caldecott and Newbery Honor-winning four-book series by Arnold Lobel published by HarperCollins Children’s Books. Emmy Award winner Rob Hoegee (“Stillwater,” “Niko & the Sword of Light”) serves as showrunner for the series and Emmy Award winning studio Titmouse (“Big Mouth,” “Star Trek: Lower Decks,” “The Legend of Vox Machina”) produces the animation. Hoegee executive produces alongside Adrianne Lobel, Adam Lobel and Titmouse’s Chris Prynoski (“The Legend of Vox Machina”), Shannon Prynoski (“Fairfax”), Antonio Canobbio (“Arlo the Alligator Boy”), and Ben Kalina (“Big Mouth”). Rated TV-Y
Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
One of the many interesting brands I discovered at Expo West this year was Whoa! Dough. These bars will appeal to anyone who is prone to sneaking a lick of the the spoon when making cookies or brownies. It seems like eating cookie dough has become more socially acceptable, most notably in the form of cookie dough ice cream.
Whoa! dough bars improves the edible dough concept even more by offering plant-based cookie dough bars that are gluten-free, dairy free, egg free, soy free. These vegan bars use all-natural ingredients such as gluten-free whole grain oat flour and chickpea flour.
Whoa! Dough comes in a variety of appealing flavors:
Oatmeal Cookie
Chocolate Chip
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip
Sprinkle Sugar Cookie
Brownie Batter
Peanut Butter
Sugar Cookie
Here is a close-up of the Brownie Batter Whoa! Dough bar. It has a pleasant soft texture, and the chocolate-y flavor really shines through.
These bars are a nice addition to the stash of bars that we keep on hand for snacking on the go.
If you or someone you know enjoys cookie dough, be sure to give Whoa! Dough bars a try!
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of Review Wire Media for Apple TV+
Kids who love animals will love a new series called “Jane” coming to Apple TV+ this Friday, April 14. Jane is a 10-episode mission-driven series for kids and families inspired by the work of Dr. Jane Goodall.
Ava Louise Murchison (“Reacher”) stars as Jane Garcia, a 9-year-old budding environmentalist on a quest to save endangered animals. Using her powerful imagination, Jane takes her best friends David, played by Mason Blomberg (“Shameless”), and Greybeard the chimpanzee on epic adventures to help protect wild animals all around the world because, according to her idol Dr. Jane Goodall: “Only if we understand, will we care. Only if we care, will we help. Only if we help, can they be saved.”
Cast also includes Tamara Almeida (“Secrets at the Inn”), Dan Abramovici (“Wayne”), newcomer Jazz Allen and Sam Marra (“Stumptown”).
“I’m excited about this opportunity and relationship with Apple and Sinking Ship. The program ‘Jane’ spreads a message of hope and reminds children that the environment is something that we all have to be concerned about while also inspiring them and their parents to make a difference,” said Dr. Jane Goodall.
From Sinking Ship Entertainment, “Jane,” a live-action/CGI-blended series, is created by company partner J.J. Johnson who executive produces alongside Christin Simms, Blair Powers, Matt Bishop and the Jane Goodall Institute’s Andria Teather. Rated G
Jane is a series full of exciting animal adventures that are both imaginative and inspiring. “Quality” screen time can be difficult to find for kids these days, but this is a show that you should check out starting on April 14th!
Mother’s Day, a day when we celebrate all mothers, is coming up on May 14th. While gifts are always nice, a heartfelt handwritten note is also much appreciated. If you are looking for unique Mother’s Day cards that show that you care, check out Lovepop. Lovepop has an amazing selection of 3D cards featuring beautiful artwork. From nature to pop culture designs, Lovepop has a card that will make your recipient feel recognized and special. The following are just a few of the Lovepop online offerings that caught my eye:
This gorgeous Cherry Blossom card evokes spring, which also happens to correlate with Mother’s Day.
Dog moms will appreciate this adorable Dog Mom card.
Want to win over $200 worth of Lovepop products to spoil mom (or yourself) with the most magical Mother’s Day cards and pop-up paper art?
From stunning 3D cards to intricate paper flowers, Lovepop has beautiful keepsakes to make any mom feel loved and cherished. They’re running their biggest giveaway yet, offering a lucky winner the ultimate Lovepop bundle to spread a little Mother’s Day Magic this year. Whether you’re a mama ready to treat yourself, or you’re looking for a special way to shower the moms in your life with a little extra love this year, enter to win Lovepop’s Mother’s Day giveaway by 5th of May, 2023.
For spring break, our family took a cruise to the Mexican Riviera via the Carnival Panorama. We originally booked a similar cruise for winter of 2020 with Norwegian Cruise Line, but we all know why we had to cancel that one. When I was looking to rebook this cruise for spring break 2023, I have to admit that Carnival was not my first choice. Both D and I had preconceived notions that Carnival was only for those into the crazy party scene (not us) and honestly, that it was kind of cheesy. However, when comparing the prices and itineraries, I decided to book the seven night Carnival Cruise to Mexico.
Now that we have experienced a Carnival Cruise firsthand, I can definitely recommend it, especially this particular ship and itinerary. This series of blog posts will hopefully preserve our family’s memories, as well as offer tips and tricks for anyone else planning a similar trip.
Our Carnival Panorama Itinerary
Our cruise departed from Long Beach on a Saturday in March and returned the next Saturday. The itinerary was as follows:
Saturday: Departure from Long Beach
Sunday: Sea Day
Monday: Sea Day
Tuesday: Puerto Vallarta (9 a.m.-9 p.m.)*
Wednesday: Mazatlan (9:30 a.m.-6 p.m.)*
Thursday: Cabo San Lucas (6:30 a.m.-2 p.m.)*
Friday: Sea Day
Saturday: Return to Long Beach
*These are the times listed on the Carnival website. The actual times varied a little, but we were pretty much on track until the very last day (more on that later).
Carnival Panorama Embarkation
No matter how much preparation and planning I have done, I am always a little nervous on travel days. There are just so many opportunities for things to go wrong which can cause stress. However, our trip to the Long Beach cruise terminal and embarkation was smooth sailing (pun intended).
The Long Beach Cruise Terminal is only about a forty minute drive from us. (Since I grew up in Seal Beach, I tend to still think that Long Beach is only about twenty minutes away-ha). We drove and parked in the cruise terminal lot ($23/day, I believe) and it was quite convenient. I joined the Facebook group for our cruise (highly recommended) and I saw that our fellow passengers were flying in from all over the country (as well as a few outside of the U.S.). They were dealing with booking flights and hotel stays before and after the cruise, so our short drive seemed like nothing in comparison. If you live in Southern California, do not take having Long Beach Cruise Terminal in your backyard for granted. It is a highly sought-after destination that you should take advantage of!
This picture was taken from the Starboard side of the Carnival Panorama after we boarded. It was a little overcast, but not too cold.
This dome is where Carnival Cruise passengers go through the embarkation process and wait before boarding. To the right is the Queen Mary, which I heard is just reopening for tourists. This might make for an interesting activity if you are looking for something to do before or after the cruise.
Online check-in starts 14 days before your cruise. If you are on the west coast, you can check-in at 9 p.m. the night before the 14 day window, instead of staying up until midnight, which is nice. This is when you choose your actual check-in time at the terminal. The first slot is 10 a.m., but be aware that they won’t start letting people actually board the ship until around noon. Of course, I wanted to board the ship as early as possible, so we were in line by 10. This necessitated some waiting, but there was plenty of bench seating. We dropped off our luggage with the porter in the parking lot, so we just had our carry-on bags. I recommend bringing a book to make the waiting time go by faster. Also, make sure that you have downloaded the Carnival app before you board the ship. It will definitely make your cruise life much easier.
We were able to bring water in our Hydroflasks without being stopped by security, but I heard that sometimes they make you throw it out. Pre-packaged snacks are also allowed in your carry-on, so keep this mind if you anticipate people in your party from becoming hangry. There are also restrooms in the terminal, so that is not a problem.
Also note that you will not receive your Sail & Sign card (which also acts as your room key) until you go to your room on the ship. This was unlike other cruises we have been on, and it seemed to cause some confusion. One gentleman in particular was very concerned about it. So just sit back, relax, and wait for your group number to be called to board.
I thought this Carnival ship model on display right before your board was pretty cool.
First Lunch Stop on the Carnival Panorama: Guy’s Pig and Anchor Bar-B-Que
I believe we were on the ship by around 12:15. Since the staterooms are not accessible until 1:30, our first order of business was lunch. While the crew members will advise that you go to the Lido deck for the lunch buffet, insiders know that this is is not your only option. I decided to have us try out Guy’s Pig and Anchor Bar-B-Que, a BBQ restaurant which is open for complimentary lunch, including embarkation day. Our family has a tradition of watching Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives when flipping channels in hotel rooms, so we are quite familiar with Guy Fieri. It was fun to try out BBQ that he has put his name behind.
The food is served cafeteria-style, so you just point to what you want and the crew member will dish it out for you. The meat choices included Championship Pork Butt, Smoked Round of Beef, Smoked Andouille Sausage and Blue Ribbon Chicken. Sides included Mac Daddy Mac n Cheese, Old Skool Potato Salad and Collard Greens. I wanted to try a little of everything, and this is what my plate looked like. Of course, you can go for seconds, or ask for more or less of a certain item. I thought everything tasted delicious, but everyone in our family had a different favorite. D and n like the pork, k liked the beef and I liked the chicken best. The selection of signature BBQ sauces also added an extra layer of flavor.
Unfortunately, the service here was a little curt/rushed and did not make the best first impression. We were one of the first in line, so it was not even busy at the time. However, this hospitality experience was an anomaly, as most of the staff we encountered throughout the week were friendly and accommodating.
Lunch Stop #2: Lido Marketplace (aka Buffet)
After finishing our BBQ, we headed up to the Lido Marketplace to check out the lunch buffet. I mainly wanted to try the gelato, but we could not help trying out some of their salads and fruit offerings as well.
The gelato station is located within the Lido Marketplace during lunch. This became a must-stop for us every day of the cruise!
There was a rotation of two flavors that changed daily. The first day we tried both the coffee and mango flavors (I would recommend separate cups as these flavors do not play well together). The gelato had a wonderfully smooth and creamy consistency. I can see why they have a worker in charge of doling out the scoops, since I can imagine some people going to town if left to their own devices. There is also a toppings bar, but I thought the gelato was excellent on its own.
The Convenience of Self-Mustering
After lunch stop #2, we headed to our assigned muster station to do the safety briefing. Carnival currently leaves the timing of completing this up to the passenger, as long as it is before departure. (Of course, the earlier in the day the better, so everyone is not waiting on you in the end). One tip is to figure out where your assigned muster station is before you board. There is a code provided to you once you check-in online. Each code (such as C4) correlates with a different part of the ship, (such as the Limelight Lounge). A quick google search done at home should tell you where to go.
Our safety briefing consisted of us checking in with a crew member and being asked if we wanted a life jacket demonstration. This was so much less painful than other muster station drills where we had to wait with thousands of other passengers at the exact same time in order to be cleared.
Once we were done with the self-muster, it was time to check out our stateroom!
Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
Snack bars are a way of life for me. The kids in my classroom know that I bring some type of bar practically everyday for my mid-morning snack. However, the ingredient list for many seemingly healthy snack bars are not actually always that good for you. Simple Bars are the result of one person’s quest to make delicious snack bars with only simple and clean ingredients.
Simple Bars are currently available in four unique flavors:
This is a close up of the Chocolate sea salt bar, my personal flavor. As you can see, these bars contain large pieces of fresh-tasting almonds and peanuts, as well as a sprinkling of chia seeds and a touch of sea salt. In this particular bar, the nuts are held together with just the right amount of dark chocolate. Although Simple Bars are crunchy, I did not feel like they would break my teeth like some other bars that I have tried.
Simple Bars are the perfect snack for when you need a little pick me up. They are also conveniently packaged for on-the-go snacking.
Simple Bars contain no sugar alcohols, stevia or artificial flavors. All of their bars are gluten-free, non-gmo and vegan. They are a simply satisfying snack!
Where To Purchase Simple Bars
Simple Bars are available for purchase through their online store. Hopefully they will become more widely available soon.
Simple Bars Variety Pack Giveaway
Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win a Simple Bars Variety Pack!
