I can't get you out of my head...

**BSB Cruise 2011 - More To Do List Updates**

With less than a month away, things are getting more real with each passing day.  I am starting to get the same excitement of last year's first time cruise.  These past weeks were big weeks in planning for me.

A little less than a month ago, I published a BSB Cruise 2011 To-Do List and the about two weeks ago a BSB Cruise 2011 - To Do List Update.  I am getting closer and closer to completing these lists.

1)  Lose Weight - I have been doing this pretty well.  The last time I wrote about my weight loss, I had only lost .3 pounds since I started my Lose It All Weight Loss Competition with my cruising friends back at the end of April.  However, in the last month I have lost 7 pounds.   I have reached and surpassed the 5 pound mark that I had set for myself at the beginning of October.  My new goal is 10 pounds before the cruise.  With a little over three weeks until we set sail, I believe that losing one pound a week is very attainable.  I would be happier with even more though.

2)  Finalize Travel Arrangements - This is done!  I have arranged for my ride to and from Midway Airport in Chicago on my departure and arrival days.  We of course need to look at the specific times of travel but at least I know I have someone to take me and pick me up.  As far as our Florida travel - Cory and I will be taking a shuttle from the Ft. Lauderdale airport to the Holiday Inn Port of Miami-Downtown through SAS Transportation.  After the cruise we will be taking a shuttle right from the Port of Miami to the Ft. Lauderdale Airport through QLS Transportation.  We are not taking the same companies because of the prices.  Each is cheapest for the direction that we are taking it.  The only thing we absolutely have to finalize is our rental car situation.  We need to find out if we need 1 car or 2 based on if we have 5 girls or 6.  As soon as we hear from our 6th girl, we should be able to finalize this aspect as well.  Although, I will be just fine with lap sitting if we want to cram 6 girls into the one vehicle!

3)   Packing List - I have found my packing list from last year...now I just need to edit it.  I do know that my "prom dress" will fit now but it means I will have to check my bag.  I know I can begin to edit the list now but I don't want to finalize my packing list until we get our itineraries.  At this point, I will have a better idea of the outfits I need to pack.

4)  Theme Night/Special Occasion Outfits - All theme outfits are complete.  However, I still have to finalize my Pajama Theme Outfit.  I had ordered two pairs of pants and two shirts.  I did narrow it down to my favorite option of these but I am still not 100% satisfied with it.  There is one more option I want to try to see if it will work.  I should also probably try to try on my "prom dress" and my 80s outfit.  I am pretty sure the "prom dress" will still fit, as I am actually a bit lighter now than the last time I wore it.  If I lose the weight that I want to, then I will actually be thinner.  I know one aspect of my 80s outfit fits but I haven't actually tried it all on together to make sure it works.  So I still need to do that.  I also received my BSB Cruise shirts in the mail recently.  I will, of course, be wearing the pink returning cruisers shirt but I wanted the black 1st time cruisers shirt as well.  I am waiting on two items that my friends had made for their pajama night outfits.  Since I am going a different route for the pajama night, I won't be joining them but I still wanted the items to have to wear around the house and such.  I also purchased two outfit choices for the Pre-Cruise Party so I have to decide which to wear.

5)  Door Decoration - I have gotten most of my part of the door decoration done.  I need to do a bit more but I should be able to complete that in one day with the help of my students at school.  I need to still make the title, some signage, and get the background paper.  I need to finish this with enough time to mail it to the hotel so that I do not have to worry about traveling with it on the plain.

6)  Buy Pre-Cruise Event Ticket - They finally announced what the pre-Cruise event will be and I am excited to say that I am attending the Backstreet Boys Pre-Cruise Party as a VIP.  That's right...they FINALLY announced that the pre-cruise event will be a party at a local Miami Beach dance club called Cameo.  Tickets went on sale Thursday at noon (CST).  I was able to get in right away, buy my two tickets, and have no problems with check out by 12:01:35.  After receiving my confirmation, I went back and checked...VIPs were sold out within that minutes and a half.  There were three of us trying to get set of tickets for our own respective groups.  I was trying for one of my cruise roommates and myself while my other cruise roommate was trying for herself.  Another friend was trying for her roommate and herself.  I received notice that neither of these girls was able to get a VIP.  I felt so bad that Laura and I would be going in our group and no one else.  But, I have learned from the past...do not give up as they will occasionally release more as time goes on.  I was bound and determined to try to help my friends get VIPs as well.  I went back in and occasionally some VIPs showed up.  However, when I tried to add them to my cart, a sold out message would come up.  This happened to me at least a dozen times.  However, I was trying to add three to my cart (one for Cory, Anne Marie, and Jen).  When this just wasn't working, I decided maybe to just try adding one for Cory.  She was my priority since she is both my cruise roommate and hotel roommate.  I was eventually able to get one in my cart!  I texted Cory quickly to see if she had gotten one yet.  When I didn't receive a text back right away, I figured I would just buy it anyway.  I knew I would be able to sell it to someone if she had by any chance received one.  Once I got the confirmation I called her to inform her that I was able to get her a VIP!  I heard that only 100 VIPs (maybe just a tad more) were sold.  I am not sure how many general admission tickets were sold but my roommates and I will be partying it up Backstreet VIP style!  Now the only question is what am I going to wear and which Backstreet Boys am I going to stand next to in my photo?

7)  Book Appointments - On the day that the Pre-Cruise party went on sale, I booked a bunch of appointments for my "beauty treatments."  Two days before I fly out, I will get my hair cut, get my first ever highlights, and get my eyebrows waxed.  On the day before I fly out, I will get a manicure, my first ever pedicure, and a massage.  I want to go into this vacation feeling relaxed, rather than having to use precious time to get relaxed.  I did go and try out a spray tan, as I don't want to take the risks associated with a tanning bed.  I just didn't get quite as dark as I wanted to with the spray tan.  While, I could just get several coats done, it would be way more expensive than just doing the tanning bed.  I figure I won't be doing the tanning bed all the time so I am going to risk it.  I need to go in to set up a package and hope I can get the tan I want to for the cruise.

New Items:

8)  Get itinerary - There is not much I can do about this right now since we have to wait on Rose Tours for this.  However, we should be getting this next week!  At that point, I can delve a little deeper into my packing and see if a Nassau excursion needs to be booked.  I also want to see about getting my hair done for Prom Night so I need to see if there is time to get that done during the day.

9)  Get the camera ready - I received a new camera for my wedding anniversary back in May.  It took amazing photos and video at the NKOTBSB concerts I attended this summer.  I have two batteries for it but I think that I might want to get one more.  I usually had to switch my first battery out towards the end of the NKOTBSB shows.  I want to make sure I don't miss any opportunities.  I will also be taking my laptop so that I can backup my photos during the cruise.  However, the space in my iPhoto is currently limited.  I need to go ahead an backup all of these photos (including the Cruise photos from last year) so I can get them off of the computer.  This way, there will be plenty of space for this years Cruise photos.

I think that might be it for now!  Still so much to do with so little time!