Lifestyle with Melendy

a mom sharing her Recipes, Inspiration & Life

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The Johnson Family Essential Disney Cruise Packing List

The thought of packing for a Disney Cruise can be overwhelming. Last year we took our first Disney Cruise, and we definitely overpacked. This year we have our Essential Disney Cruise packing List that has our family of five packing in two suitcases, and a carry on each.

pre cruise photo opp

The Children!

I created this list for the boys – and a few weeks before, I give them the list and a laundry basket and have them add the things that are on the list to the basket. I then pack each boys belongings into a large packing cube. This way their things are separate, but can be packed in one suitcase.

The adults!

My Husband and I have a more detailed essential list – but – We also use packing cubes, and share a suitcase. Having just two large suitcases to track means easier on embarkment, and easier organization on the ship.

When you look through our Essential Disney Cruise Packing List you will see that there are some very specific to us things – but – we also have space for you to edit and add. I am a paper and pen type of packer. A fully checked off list means I have no surprises.

Disney also has a list of Prohibited items – This is an extensive list, and should be read before you pack. There were a few surprises, and a few non- surprises. If you or your husband enjoy wine – you may each bring 2 (750 oz) bottles (unopened) in your carry on. There is a corking fee- but – you can pack a wine key – and enjoy a glass in your room! Cheers!

These are the bottles of wine mentioned in Disney’s Ratatouille, and they are not a light purchase! We just Looked!

I also make sure we all have a new book in hand on a trip like this. The boys all love to share books – which means they all get four books for the trip – but we only bring one each! This only really works now that our boys are older, but it has bene a huge packing win! My favorites are mystery books!

Did I miss anything? If so leave a comment below and I will add it to the list!!

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Pin your way through Pinterest

Pinterest -Do you use it?
I love to use it to plan our landscape, find ideas for crafts for school, and lately, to create a board filled with Tattoo ideas! I also find delicious recipes, and workout ideas that seem easy – usually!

Mini Pini: A Suite Pinterest FREE Mini Course

I love that I belong to The Socialite Suite, a community of people who want to see business, and online communities work together to lift each other up. I have taken many if not all of the courses offered, and the Pinterest course is one of my favorites. It taught me how to organize my boards, dictate which pins would be seen in my header, and find the people who are most like me.

I use it for many areas of my life. We as a family have been going through a season of needing words of encouragement. I have recently started sharing inspirational quotes on Pinterest as a part of this journey. I find it relaxing and cathartic to create an image, and send it out into the “piniverse”. It is even more rewarding when people see, save, and share your Pin. I have had a pin go viral recently, and I am still in shock. It is one of my favorite quotes, and one I needed at this point in my life. I attribute the “viralness” of this pin to the knowledge I gained form the Pinterest course!

What do you utilize Pinterest for,. and how would you like to up your Pinterest game?

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Design Yourself

Designing my identity online was not as hard as I thought. At first I was worried about what others might think. Don’t we all do that? I spent some time reflecting on what design elements I enjoyed about others branding, and then I dove in to this amazing free Mini Course from The Socialite Suite.

Free Mini Course: Create Your Suite Design Board


My strengths are in helping others, finding a need and finding a way to fill it, and creating appealing graphics. I used the steps in this course to create my new branding. I love that I have all of the elements together, and I am slowly incorporating it across my online presence.

Have you used the design course? If so – share your board here!

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Stuffed Chicken – Pinterest day 3!

Stuffed Chicken for the win!

Well, we are well on our way to culinary genius here – Or maybe I am just swimming in yummy Pinterest inspired foods!
Recipe one and two were amazing, and I decided to go for recipe three!!

On the plate today was a Stuffed Chicken breast.
The prep time for this meal was really short.

I started with a pan, and the olive oil.


I added the crushed Garlic, and heated for about a minute.


then I tossed in the Spinach and heated through until the spinach was wilted.

I removed that from the heat, set the oven to 425F

black and white becasue who wants to see raw chicken naked?

Next I butterflied the chicken breast

I used Mozzarella because we love Mozzarella then placed the spinach on top.


I used olive oil on the bottom of the pan, placed the folded closed chicken breast in the casserole dish


sprinkled with Paprika


and baked for 30 minutes


we tested the temperature – who wants food poisoning? No-one!

I paired the stuffed breast with baby Arugula
We almost couldn’t eat it all! So delicious!!!

The original recipe can be found here!
And the only adjustment we made was type of cheese!
Let me know what you think If you try it!

In Conclusion

Just Pinning a recipe is fine for inspiration, but I am so glad I got inspired, ran to the store and made these delicious meals!

Let me know if you re inspired to make your own Pinterest inspired week.

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Zucchini Au Gratin!! Pinterest day 2!

My Pinterest recipe journey continues!
Day one we loved the squash and lobster dish so much, we decided to dive into the next recipe!
This recipe is a Zucchini Au Gratin – and it was super delicious.

The recipe called for 3 Zucchini, but I know my family, so we double the recipe from the start!
First I sliced the squash using my mandolin –

Then I tossed it with the salt, placed it in my colander over the sink, and waited…

While waiting I prepped the steak tips…I marinate them in a bag with Olive oil, Salt, pepper, garlic and Worcestershire sauce.That sits in the fridge for about an hour to set.

Then I prepped the cheese sauce!
I couldn’t find the pre-shredded Gruyere, so I grabbed a block of it and shredded it myself

Here is where I made an almost fatal error!
The shredded cheese was for the top of the casserole – But I melted it in by accident because I was so excited to be using such awesome cheese!

Stir stir stir!

Pepper added to the Zucchini before the pour

Pour the sauce over the whole dish.

I then added the cheese on top that wasn’t mistakenly put in the sauce!

Baked at 400 for 30 minutes, and it was AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS!!!

A few things – The original recipe claims prep time is 10 minutes – I disagree…But I did also shred my own cheese. Slicing the Zucchini alone took some time. Other than that – I loved this recipe and I will be making it again!!!
Here is the original recipe!
Let me know if you try it and what you think!!

See you tomorrow for the next recipe!!!

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To Pinterest or not to Pinterest?

We have most likely all found Pinterest.

My mom uses Pinterest, My dad uses it, My husband is using it to finish our basement. I use it – for many purposes, but I often pin with no intention of actually using those pins. In the words of a friend – Pinterest is an Online Life – One we usually wish we had. Workouts we won’t do, outfits we won’t wear, drinks we won’t make, crafts that are too messy, and food we won’t cook. Reality is – we want to, but we won’t.
After hearing this, I decided to take action. I looked at my Pinterest boards, and found one workout that I thought I could do daily, and several recipes that I wanted to try.

I decided to Use my Pins to actually make some changes!

First – I decided to do a plank Challenge for my workouts – since Steve and I are cruising soon, I am very conscious of my waistline.   I am about 10 days in, and I am seeing and feeling some results. Let’s see where I land on Port day! I am also going to the Gym Daily and doing about 50 minutes of Cardio, combined with healthier eating – I am not down pounds yet, but inches are melting off! Yay for small successes!

Now for recipes

I found several Low carb recipes, and some even looked appetizing! I looked at our week, and I decided that with a low impact week, we were going to try these out. (Be on the lookout for how these went over the next few days!) Here are the recipes that I am in love with for this week.

Monday: – Spaghetti Squash and herb butter lobster!
Tuesday – Steak tips with Zucchini AuGratin
Wednesday – Spinach and Mozzarella Stuffed Chicken breast and Arugula salad

I will be back daily to update you on each recipe, and, what I would do differently!
Want to see the recipes I Pinned on Pinterest?
Follow me and my boards!
And be sure to check back here for how these recipes turned out!