Easy Spinach Artichoke Dip

Last night was the first time I made spinach artichoke dip. It was delicious! I didn't realize how simple this was to make. :)

Ingredients:

1 8oz. package of cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup of mayonnaise

1 cup grated parmesan cheese

Half a can of artichoke hearts, drained

10 oz. package of spinach, thawed & drained

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix all of the ingredients in a medium bowl.
3. Place mixture in an oven safe pan.
4. Bake for 30 minutes.

That's it! Enjoy it with your favorite bread or tortilla chips.

Product Review: Fisher Price Tracking Lights Musical Gym

A few days ago I got my 2 1/2 month old the Fisher Price Tracking Lights Musical Gym. He loves it! I was surprised when he actually started to grab the hanging toys. Another milestone! I was so proud of him. I like it myself because it keeps him entertained for 30 minutes or more. I can get some things done while he plays. That's a plus.

Spinning ball

Playmat

 

Bobbing elephant

Spinning lion

The gym is for ages 0-12 months. It develops eye-tracking skills, sensory skills and action reaction. As he gets older I can use it as a sit-and-play mat and it can also be used for tummy time.

The middle toy, when hit, activates the music and lights. There are two different melodies.

The Fisher Price Tracking Lights Musical Gym is available at Walmart for $36.99.

Hawaii: Kayaking

The first activity on our itinerary was kayaking at Kailua Beach located on the Windward Coast of Oahu. It was a small group tour led by professional kayaking guides. This was our first time kayaking and it was amazing. The water was a beautiful turquoise and we got to see some sea turtles.

Nā Mokulua, commonly known as the Twin Islands. We kayaked to Moku Nui (left) and it took about an hour. Kayaking to the islet was no easy task since we had to paddle against the current. Kayaking back to the beach was faster but you had to be careful that the waves didn't knock you over.

The larger island is Moku Nui and the smaller, Moku Iki.

I would love to live here

On Moku Niu

Moku Iki

The islet is a sea bird santuary.

Wedge-Tailed Shearwater chick

A teeny hermit crab

Lunch was provided with the tour. It was really nice to sit down and listen to the guides give us history about the island. We also got to try Hawaiian Sun Pass-O-Guava nectar drink. I was hooked! This drink is delicious and refreshing.

A blend of guava juice, passion fruit and orange juice. Delightful!

This 4-hour guided tour was booked through Kailua Sailboards and Kayaks Inc.

I'm glad my kayak didn't flip over ;)

Hawaii: Trump International Hotel

Our hotel was located in Waikiki. We were staying at Trump International and had the best view of the ocean.

Trump International Hotel Waikiki Beach Walk

Lobby

The view from the balcony

Kitchen

Living Room

Second Floor Lobby

View of Waikiki

Delicious Piña Coladas. Cheers!

My favorite dessert was the Passion Stack. Words cannot describe how awesome this was. It's made of coconut, mango mousse and passion fruit. Add a side of ice cream and all your worries are forgotten. ;)

Passion Stack

What a masterpiece!

Hawaiian Sunrise

The sunsets were the perfect ending to the day.

Hawaii: Flight

The end of this month will be a year since my vacation in Hawaii. One that I will never forget!

My husband had just finished a 7-month deployment and the final stop was in Oahu, Hawaii.  

Here's how my journey to paradise began.

My flight departed Orlando at 9 A.M. and was headed to Atlanta, GA to connect flights. When the plane landed there was a delay and no one was allowed to leave. This worried me because my flight was set to depart in less than 45 minutes which is not a lot of time when you have to rush to get on another plane. After we finally were able to get off I had to literally RUN. First of all, I had no idea where I was going since this was my first time in the ATL airport. This place was packed. The worst part was that the terminal I had to go to was in the complete opposite of where my plane landed. I had to get on a tram that seemed to go 2 mph. Did I think to wear comfortable shoes while traveling? Nope. 


When the tram stopped at the terminal I rushed out of it and started running again. I had less than 5 minutes to catch my 2nd flight. My heart was pounding and I was on the verge of crying. I finally got to the gate with seconds to go before the plane left without me. Out of breath, I quickly got inside and had another obstacle - finding my seat. There were 3 rows of seats and the airplane seemed to be miles long. When I got to my seat I was so relieved. Only 9 hours to go. At least I was next to the window.

I didn't sleep much on the way. I guess I was too excited. The man next to me talked almost the entire time but I didn't mind too much. There was a TV in front of me for entertainment and the meal they served was surprisingly good.

Wild rice, chicken and veggies with a side salad and a roll.

Flying over Texas you can see the interesting irrigation circles.

Are we there yet???

The last hour before landing felt the longest. I was very anxious to get on land. As the plane started to descend, I could finally see the island of Oahu! 

There it is :)

At last!

 

I was very anxious to be out of that plane and meet up with my husband. He was waiting for me by the luggage when I found him among the crowd. It was one of the happiest moments I've ever felt. We gave each other a HUGE hug. I got my polka-dotted pink suitcase and was ready for this adventure!


To be continued.

There's a First Time for Everything

Hello! 

This is my very first post on my very first blog! I'm not sure where to start or if there's a certain method to blogging but here goes. :)

I'm a 23 year old Navy wife and mom to an adorable baby boy. He is 2 1/2 months and so full of energy. Being a mother has been a blessing. 
I'm originally from Orlando, FL but currently residing in Washington state along with my husband who works on an aircraft carrier. I've been living here for the past 6 months and I can tell you that it's the opposite of Florida. A beautiful state, nonetheless, with plenty of mountains and pine trees. 

Although I am busy the majority of the time taking care of my little one, I hope this new blog can fit somewhere in my schedule, as I enjoy sharing my thoughts and experiences. I also hope to learn from other moms and make new friends along the way :)

Sincerely,

Kelly