Beds on a Cruise Ship - Presto Chango

It's Cruise Ship Saturday! Today we're talking about bed configuration.

“It was truly an abomination of nature that one always found the most comfortable spot in the bed five minutes before one had to leave it.” 
― Mia Ryan, The Further Observations of Lady Whistledown

When was the last time you slept on the upper bunk of a bunk bed? Have you ever? If you've traveled in an Amtrak sleeper car like we did a few years back, the answer might be yes. If you've traveled on a cruise ship with more than two people in a cabin, it'll be another yes.

If you haven't cruised before you'd be surprised to find that bunk beds are standard. Traveling with another couple? You won't be booking a cabin with two queens but one with four twin beds. Adults or kids, it doesn't matter. Someone is going to have to take the top bunk.

Take a look.

You can have a queen bed ...

That can be converted into two twins...

That becomes a cabin with bunkbeds. 

I call bottom bunk. 

The Friday 15 - Oops, I Mean 95

“Having too much of anything results in chaos, confusion and clutter.” 
― Geralin Thomas, Decluttering Your Home: Tips, Techniques and Trade Secrets

Have you ever looked at your things and wondered why you had so much of a certain item? I just did.

When I first started the Friday 15 it was easy. Getting rid of 15 things every Friday? No problem. We had a significant downsizing happening a couple years back but I knew there were still things needing to head out the door. As the weeks have progressed I've had to get creative in where I looked.

• Ebay has been very helpful in getting things gone. 38 items sold in the last two months. Yay.
• Even though we don't pay for magazine subscriptions we still have things coming in the mail. AAA sends VIA, AARP sends their magazine, Princess Cruises sends theirs, and thanks to TMobile Tuesday Women's Day is now heading in the door. Read them quickly and then away they go.
• Tutorial project samples. I've been filming tutorials but usually have no need for the things I've created. Usually it's because I had already made the item long ago but needed a new one to show the step-by-step process.
• Sewing room and office junk. We technically no longer have an office but we do have a corner where we keep some things. Too many things. Like page protectors.  

Thanks to all of those places where I usually find extra stuff, today's Friday 15 is actually a Friday 95.

• Two items on eBay. (It was a slow week.)
• Five magazines.
• A cord holder. (I kept the new one made in the tutorial so the old one is going away.)
• A clipboard. Didn't need it for the other tutorial.
• And a grand total of 86 never used page protectors. (Seriously, I counted. What the heck???)

Dominica

“What i like about photographs is that they capture a moment that’s gone forever, impossible to reproduce.” ― Karl Lagerfeld

I have a list of things I've either done or want to do at different places around the world. It's broken down by country and/or island. Some places have five things I want to do. Some only have one.

Dominica is one of the places that I can pretty much check off as finished. I've snorkeled over the Champagne Reef, a place where very warm water from underground volcanic activity seeps through the floor of the ocean. The result is a warm and bubbly snorkeling experience.

I've sat on a ship docked at the container port and watched a rainbow form over the rainforest.

I sat long enough to see a double rainbow form.

But probably the most favorite thing was sitting on deck and watching local kids play soccer near the water's edge.

Make a Pot Handle Cover - Tutorial Tuesday

One last project for today. A quick and easy pothandle cover.

Disclosure: Deb's Days is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to affiliated sites. This means that, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you new sewing and crafting content.

Now available in my Etsy shop as a digital download with the written directions, step-by-step photos, printable template, and link to the tutorial video. Click to get it now!

Looking for more kitchen ideas? Check out my other projects!

Find the how to tutorial for the homemade fabric pot handle cover made from fabric scraps right here:

Here is the new updated pattern, also:

How to Make a Decorative Pocket Tissue Holder with Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer Pocket - Tutorial Tuesday

I'm pretty much at the point in my life where I can say I will never work in a public school again. But it doesn't mean I've given up teaching. My tutorials are a way I can share with others while learning myself. This week has been a busy one for my learning. We're making a pocket tissue holder with a pocket for antibacterial hand cleaner and lip balm.

For this project you will need:

• Main fabric
• Lining fabric
• Pocket fabric
• pocket tissues
• hand sanitizer
• Pins or Clover Wonder Clips
• Iron
• Sewing machine
• Matching thread
• Rotary cutter
• Cutting ruler
• Cutting mat

Disclosure: Deb's Days is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to affiliated sites. This means that, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you new sewing and crafting content.

Now available in my Etsy store as a digital download with the written directions, step-by-step photos, and link to the tutorial video. Click to find out more!

Looking for more quick and easy ideas? Check out these projects!

Otherwise, you can just watch the  tutorial to make these homemade fabric pocket tissue holders with a pocket for your hand sanitizer and lip balm right here:

How to Sew a Fabric Eyeglass Case - Tutorial Tuesday

For today's Tutorial Tuesday we are making a quick and easy case for those of us who need an eyeglasses case. I use mine to protect my glasses when I'm in the pool at the Y.

For this project you will need:

• Main fabric
• Lining fabric
• fusible fleece 
• something to make a rounded end, like a cup or glass (or template from digital pattern below)
• iron
• rotary cutter
• cutting ruler
• cutting mat
• scissors
• sewing machine
• matching thread

Disclosure: Deb's Days is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to affiliated sites. This means that, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you sewing and crafting content.

 Now available in my Etsy store as a digital download with the written directions, step-by-step photos, printable template, and link to the tutorial video. Click to find out more!

Looking for more quick and easy ideas? Check out these projects!

Or just watch the tutorial to make your own easy homemade fabric eyeglasses case:

Sunday Sew-In

“How did it get so late so soon?” 
― Dr. Seuss

My Sunday Sew-In became a
sew-in
project organizing
Daytona 500 watching
newborn kitty feeding and snuggling
kind of day.

5 Ways to Prevent Seasickness on a Cruise

Yep, seasickness happens.

If you get carsick, airsick, or are sensitive to movement you might just get queasy on a ship. The best way of managing seasickness is to prevent it before it starts. There is nothing worse than stepping aboard a ship on your first ever cruise thinking you’ll be okay and waking up in the morning miserably sick. Once in the throes of seasickness recovery is not easy. A few thoughts will enter your mind.

Why did I get on this ship? 
This was a huge mistake. 
I want off and never want to come back.

On my first cruise those were my thoughts exactly. I really wanted to go home. It took me a few days to get enough medication in me to make it through the rest of the week. And now? Occasionally the seas will be quite rough and I might feel a bit icky. Pop a couple motion sickness pills and I'm good.

There is much truth to the saying “getting your sea legs”. The same amount of movement that makes you queasy at the beginning of the cruise may not be noticed by you at end of the cruise. Until the sea legs kick in there are a variety of methods for preventing seasickness.

How to Prevent and Manage Seasickness on a Cruise

1. Book a midship cabin. The lower decks and the middle of the ship are where the least amount of movement is felt. If unable to book a midship cabin hang out in the midship public areas during the rougher times. It could be a library, an atrium area, or a bar on a lower deck. You may still feel some movement on the lower decks but the view can be nice.

2. Eating green apples or using ginger products - tea, gum, candy, and capsules - can be helpful. If already experiencing a strong case of seasickness it might be best to use an alternative remedy. 

3. Look to the horizon and fix your eyes on a point far in the distance. You'll need to have access to a window or, even better, get yourself outside in the fresh air. Focusing on something inside the ship or at the waves themselves certainly will not help. 

4. Seasickness bands. These wrist bands use acupressure to help alleviate motion sickness.

5. Over the counter or prescription medication. Some folks take over-the-counter anti-nausea pills in the evening before bedtime since both regular and less drowsy formulas can cause sleepiness. The medication can last for 24 hours. If you're wanting something even stronger, there are prescription anti-nausea patches. The circular, beige-colored patches are worn behind the ear and give continuous medication for up to three days.

If an excursion takes you on a smaller boat like a ferry, catamaran, sailboat, snorkel boat, or zodiac raft take additional precautions. Smaller boats do not have the additional stabilization systems so the ride can be rougher. I’ve watched crew members handing out dozens of plastic bags for sick passengers on these smaller boats.

Prevention is the best medicine so don't let the fear of seasickness prevent you from taking a cruise. 

The Friday 15

“A kitten is, in the animal world, what a rosebud is in the garden.” 
― Robert Sowthey

Sold four items on eBay.
Gave away one item to another quilter.
Donating five projects left over from tutorials and five Christmas things.

That makes 15! But today's Friday 15 includes an additional two items. Two that came into the house.

When the Simply Cats organization contacts you asking for a foster home for some newborn kitties you just have to say yes. I usually foster kittens that are several weeks old. Not this time.

Two kitties, four ounces each, four days old. Sweet bottle babies.

Red Snapper Restaurant in Limon, Costa Rica

We've visited Costa Rica more than once and have done the coffee plantation tour, the banana railway tour through the jungle, and the canal wildlife-watching tour. So when we needed to choose a port to take a crew member friend to lunch, we chose Limon, Costa Rica.

Week after week the ship's crew go to the same ports so they are the best at knowing where to go to eat. After talking to one of the ship's officers about Puerto Limon choices, we decided on the Red Snapper restaurant. A menu in Spanish, an ugly fish, a beautiful view, and a great day with a crew member.

We are blessed to be able spend time with people from around the world.