Thursday, April 21, 2022

Video: Planting a Washington Navel Orange in the Ground #GardeningTips

I enjoy eating a nice, cold, orange. It's especially good to pick one off the tree and eat it. I want to be able to do that from my garden so I decided to add a Washington Navel Orange Tree. It's supposed to be easy to grow and great for juicing and salads. Hopefully, if all goes well, I will have oranges this year in the wintertime. The tree was purchased from Tractor Supply and I purchased my earthworm castings and fertilizer from Home Depot. The tree was easy to remove from its growing container, which was nice when I had to transfer it to the ground. I mixed earthworm castings in with the native soil to add nutrients and also some Citrus fertilizer. The hole was dug twice the size of the pot and it was instructed to leave some of the roots showing above ground. I watered the Washington Navel deeply and added straw mulch, but eventually, I pulled back the mulch and added landscape fabric because the weeds were starting to pop up due to the rain we were getting. So far, the orange tree is settling in well. I have white flowers as discussed from the tag in the video and I'm hopeful for oranges in the winter. I will keep you posted!

Citrus Fertilizers to start your tree off right, available on Amazon

Jobe's 4 Lb Organic Fruit & Citrus Granular Fertilizer 3-5-5

Dr. Earth Organic 9 Fruit Tree Fertilizer In Poly Bag, 4-Pound

Espoma 4 Lbs Citrus-Tone 5-2-6 Plant Food

Jobe’s Organics Fruit & Citrus Tree Fertilizer Spikes, 3-5-5 Time Release Fertilizer for All Container or Indoor Fruit Trees, 6 Spikes per Package (3)

Kwik Seal Adhesive Caulk #Review - Recaulk a Kitchen Sink

I recently used Kwik Seal adhesive caulk to reseal the kitchen sink. I happened to notice that the cabinet under the sink was wet and then dripping water. I did a test and poured water around the seal of the sink to find the trouble spots and sure enough, there were multiple trouble areas. I learned about this waterproof caulk from watching other home-repair YouTubers and decided to try it for myself. First, I had to remove the old caulk and dry the area. Then I applied this new product, but so far so good. It is doing the job. No more leaks. It's always something to do around the house, but it's also an opportunity to learn something new. I do enjoy that part and I get to share my new knowledge with you! I would recommend this product if you can find it in your local hardware store or on Amazon. I did have to wait 24 hours to let it dry around the sink and I wouldn't use it in areas that get constant exposure to water. It does mention that on the tubing. It was pretty popular at my local hardware store because I found just one more on the shelf. Overall, it was a quick and easy fix over the weekend. I hope this video can help you if you're looking for some tips for this task.

Disembarkation Day Aboard Carnival Cruise #CruiseVacation

Hello! I hope all is well. In the video below, it's disembarkation day for my 3-day Carnival Cruise. It's always bittersweet to say farewell to a cruise vacation. However, there can always be a next time, which makes the anticipation for the next one so worth it. Carnival's disembarking process ran smoothly for me. I ate breakfast and also had the opportunity to watch the sunrise too! In the video, I share that moment, but if you don't want to watch that part of the video, you can skip to the disembarking moments. I look forward to my next cruise, hopefully, venturing to an international destination. Happy travels if you're booked on an upcoming cruise. Have fun and enjoy sailing the beautiful, friendly, seas.

Friday, March 25, 2022

Taste of Mexico Carnival Cruise Excursion in Ensenada, Mexico #CruiseVacation

On Day 3 of my Baja Mexico cruise aboard Carnival Radiance, we arrived in Ensenada, Mexico. This was the day that all guests could spend some time off the ship and explore. I decided to get off the cruise ship a little earlier before the Taste of Mexico Margarita Madness excursion, to walk the promenade along the port area. I saw many beautiful natives enjoying their stroll with their children. I even helped some take pictures in front of the decorated Ensenada signs. It was a beautiful, sunny, day so I took photos and videos of the ship anchored at the port also. After walking almost to the end of the promenade I made it back in time for my 1:00pm meeting time for the Taste of Mexico Margarita Madness excursion. They were ready to go on time and we boarded a shuttle bus, driving through the busy, Sunday, streets. We were told that Sundays are often filled with more traffic, but I didn't mind taking in the views and landmarks as our guide explained things. We ended up in a more rural area of Ensenada, with endless vineyards and ranches. I enjoyed this part of Ensenada and this is also where we experienced the Taste of Mexico cooking class. We made three different quick dishes with fresh ingredients and products locally made in Mexico. I could really taste the difference in the tostada, tortillas, and beans, which I ate instead of the meat options provided. Everyone was very professional and welcoming. There were endless margaritas, which were blended and some people asked for theirs on ice instead. The cooking instructor was very clear and passionate about each item we prepared. The property was clean and the sun shined bright through the trees with a pleasant wind so being outside for this excursion was a real treat.

Lastly, we went to a Tequila tasting, where we learned about the process of making Tequila, very informative as well. Overall, I had a great time. In the video, I give you a glimpse into my experience and my review of the excursion as well.

A Taste of Mexico: The Complete Mexican Cookbook With More Than 500 Authentic Mexican Recipes Paperback

Sunday, March 20, 2022

Fun Day at Sea on Carnival Radiance 2022 #CruiseVacation

It's a fun day at sea aboard the Carnival Radiance cruise ship! The video is below for you to see. I enjoyed walking around the ship, watching everyone have a good time. It really was a time for me to relax and take in the beautiful sun. It was a blessing to be able to cruise with so many people in a safe manner and have a good time. To begin the day, I used room service and had breakfast in my room. That came according to the schedule I requested, lunch for me was at the Lido salad bar, but I did get photos of all of the popular places by Guy Fieri and Shaq's Big Chicken for you to see. They were both very popular among the guests all cruise long. I participated in a group salsa dancing activity, with no contact due to the times, but it was a routine that made me break a sweat so I enjoy it immensely. Then, I went to an event to remember and recognize active duty military and also veterans. As a U.S. Army veteran, I always enjoy meeting other military professionals and their families. I am very appreciative that Carnival set some time aside for this event. There were plenty of events going on all day that would make you laugh. For dinner, I had the Indian option again, so nothing to share there. The nightly entertainment with a comedy show and then a stage performance, ended my night. Many people were in the casino late into the night though. I was definitely ready for bed to prepare for my excursion day in Ensenada, Mexico. That video is on the way!

Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives: The Funky Finds in Flavortown: America's Classic Joints and Killer Comfort Food

Saturday, February 26, 2022

Embarkation Day Recap on Carnival Cruise 2022 | 3-Day Baja Mexico Vacation #CruiseVacation

It's finally embarkation day aboard Carnival Radiance. I have my passport, driver's license, boarding pass, negative Covid-19 test, and weekend bag. I boarded the ship in Long Beach, California, and parked my car right at the port. I do recommend watching your phone navigation closely so you don't miss the exit, which leads right to the port. It was a bit tricky. I missed it and had to go over a long bridge and go all the way around to try again...lol. I still got to the port on time. I gave myself enough time to get to the port and to allow for traffic. Once you park your car and go to the ground level of cruise parking, the entrance to the Carnival ship is straight ahead. There was a guide present, checking for my boarding pass and negative test. Then I went to another table to get checked in by another Carnival guide. Everyone was pleasant, professional, and had smiles on their faces. Then I walked up this ramp a ways to another photo check-in station for security purposes and then a final check-in at the counter, with a security photo also. Then, I sat for about 5 minutes and it was time to board the ship. Carnival lets you choose your boarding time so I chose between 11:00 and 11:30 since I normally eat lunch during that time. The rooms would not be ready until 1:30pm so it's normally a good time to grab lunch. I am taking a 3-day Baja Mexico Cruise, with one day at sea and then a stop in Ensenada, Mexico, and then back to Long Beach. This is a recap video of my first day getting settled into my interior stateroom, the sail away party, dinner (since I'm vegan I had the Indian cuisine each night), Bingo play, and the evening stage performance. Oh! There is a great opportunity to see dolphins during the sail away party too! I was at the right place at the right time to catch that moment.

Cruising is a great way to have an all-inclusive vacation experience (room, food, entertainment, and shore excursions) no matter how long you want it to be. It's a safe way to travel solo, with friends, or with someone you love. Carnival Radiance is a renovated ship so it was recently put back out to sea. If you have never cruised before, a weekend getaway is a great way to figure out if it's a vacation experience for you. There are many cruise lines to choose from and I recommend giving them all a go! Then, you can narrow down your favorites for future cruises. Enjoy! Day 2: Day at Sea, of my 3-Day Baja Mexico cruise, is on the way!