Noni + Nautie Mermate = LOVE

It's hard to travel and be comfortable and be stylish.

We've talked about this.  It's one of life's many challenges.

I have a solution!

Noni's Necklaces.

A simple, natural, elegant necklace.

four different beach days wearing noni's necklace!

Since I was gifted this necklace by Noni (she's an Auntie from the Honomu days....she may or may not have been the one to establish Uku Alerts!) I've worn it non-stop.  When I say non-stop I mean like the idonttakeitoffever kind of non-stop.

This necklace has survived beach trips.  This necklace has survived over 365 showers.  This necklace has partied in Vegas and sipped wine in Napa.  This necklace has survived a 127 day rotation at sea without fear of getting caught in heavy machinery or equipment.  This necklace gets compliments constantly.

Okay fine.  I have more than one of noni's necklaces but I'm pretty much always wearing my clear moonstone!

Today is your lucky day!

You can win your very own creation by Noni!

Here's how you can make one of these lovelies yours:

• Post a Comment.  Share your favorite quote!  Since we're currently on a Mettle Mission I'd love hear what quotes, poems or photos infuse you with Mettle!
• Socialize that Media.  Twittify it.  Facey Spacey it.  Instaglam it.  
• Tell your People.  You have a blog?!  Sweet!  Sharesies!

One week from now (that would be 17 February) I'll pull a name from a hat.  Think of it as a belated Valentines Present!  Posted a comment?  That's a slip in the hat.  Sent a tweet out into the twitterverse?  That's a slip in the hat.  Invited a new reader to the blog who is sly enough to drop your name?  That's a slip in the hat!  

You can find me on Instagram @nautiemermate (sorry can't link up to Instagram on the ship) - I tweet away @nautiemermate - I'm alive and well at Megan the NautieMermate on Facebook.  

The Worst Travel Day Ever.

Sometimes we need to have:  The Worst Travel Day Ever.  

Why, you ask?  

Here's why.  Someday, you'll be standing in a really long line trying to reschedule a flight.  In fact, you're rescheduling multiple flights because well, it takes many flights to get where you're going.  There will be a big dude in line behind you who is standing way to close so that occasionally you'll feel his belly hitting your back.  You'll be really tired and your plantar fasciitis will be acting up.  You forgot your travel toothbrush set and your teeth are ridiculously furry.  You know that lovely tan you were sporting two days ago after the best beach day ever?  It's gone.  You have a monster of a zit on your chin.  Your purse is heavy.  You're tired of rolling your rollie.  Your jeans are cutting into your gut.  Your last flight was heinously long - in fact it was so long that your underwear left gouges in your bum - did you know that those gouges can itch?  They're itchy.  You think, 'I don't know if there can be a travel day worse than this!' and then you'll think, 'weellll....remember that other time...yep, it was worse than this!'.  Then...Boom!  You're feeling a lot better!  You get to the front of the line and you're smiling.  It's the first smile the customer service rep has seen in awhile and she now loves you soooo....you get great new connecting flights and upgraded to first class!  That, my friends, is why you need to occasionally have a really bad travel day!

I'm back in Houston after an gloriously extended trip home to the Big Island.  

On my way back I may have had my worst travel day ever.

Hilo was really stormy on Tuesday.  I was incredibly pleased.  I mean, it's a lot easier to leave paradise when it's rainy.  You feel me?

I had the redeye out of Honolulu so I didn't need to fly out of Hilo until 8:30 pm.  Well, the flight was bumpy.  It was windy and rainy.  The bumps weren't unexpected and honestly, I'm cool with bumps.  Landing in Honolulu my belly was a little shall we say, 'unhappy'.  I didn't think it was the bumps.

I figured it was the strange dinner I had.  A bowl of banana, a bowl of avocado, a bowl of cottage cheese, a pan full of sausage and a cocktail.  It sounds so much weirder than it was.  

My flight took off from Honolulu and lo and behold the bumpy air wasn't gone.  We were about five minutes into our ascent when I jumped up from my seat and bolted for the bathroom.  The Stewardess said, 'Ma'am I really need you to sit down' I squawked, 'I'm gonna barf!' She says, 'oh, okay'.  I slammed the door shut and let loose.

I continued letting loose for the entire 5.5 hour flight.  I counted 8 frazzled leaps from my seat.  

Want to know what's worse than throwing up?  Throwing up in the airplane bathroom.  Times Ten Thousand KaBajillion.

Needless to say, by the time we landed in Los Angeles I felt like I could barely move.

I put out a few mayday calls to friends in LA and Houston they went something like this, 'so like, if I was dying would you come get me....cause like, I think I'm dying....'.  

I ended up rallying at LAX.  I got some coconut water (the miracle of all miracles) and crackers.  Set my alarm, took a nap at the gate and then limped onto my final flight to Houston.

Nautie Friends, it sucked so hard core.  I had bought the cutest of cute outfits - I felt like I absolutely nailed airplane chic - and then I repeatedly sullied my skirt on the floor of an airplane bathroom.

I have a suggestion for all Travelistas.  Practice vomiting without touching the floor or using your hands.  I'm guessing there is a yoga pose out there that would do the trick!  You just never know when you might need some mad skills.

All I know is that I've done enough travel to know that a Worst Day Ever is a great way to stay calm when things are beginning to get annoying.  Perspective is amazing, amiright?!  (I also know that I shouldn't get too cocky about a Worst Day Ever...the universe is pretty spectacular at one upping me....)

Here's to ginger ale, saltines and the nicest stewardess' ever.

skirt with a now barfy hemline

Travelin' Tootsies :: The Sea Biscuit 2

I really did mean to post this on a true Tuesday!  Between finishing cargo and leaving port it just got lost in the shuffle….lets just pretend that it’s Tuesday. I’ve talked about this totally cool Tootsie before – in fact I’ve published one of her letters before  (The Rubber Duckie’s Original Letter)!  Everytime I get one I let out a *squee* (on the inside...not out loud).  She is going to publish a book someday – and it’s going to be awesome – I just know it.  Her letters from sea absolutely ROCK.

Enjoy!  (p.s. The subject of this e-mail was:  The Sea Biscuit 2)

Family and Friends,

I'm rounding the bend of Florida this evening.  "Margaritaville" has been dialed into Sirius Radio, and I'm intoxicated with the thought that in t-minus three days I'll have a beer in hand.

The Virginia rounded the Strait of Hormuz at a full bell; it was a hot, oppressive evening with visibility lingering around five miles.  The smuggler boats scored the water like a hot knife through butter, full to the gunwales with booty...hash, booze, smokes, and maybe some Twinkies.  I encountered a small cargo vessel heading into the Traffic Separation Scheme (highway) the wrong way.  This guy was riding dirty up the 134 like a drunken Nicole Richie.  I made numerous attempts at hailing the negligent vessel…receiving several requests for bananas from the Filipino Monkey…no response from Nicole Richie.  A call to the Captain and some aggressive maneuvering, we dodged the bullet.  Nicole Richie continued to wreak havoc in the TSS…RADAR vectors could be seen going every which way to avoid her. At least four different nations tried to contact her.

Three hours, four nations, and 30 calls later…

OmanNavy:  “West bound vessel in “X” position, “X” course, “X” speed.  This is Oman Navy.  You are transiting the TSS in the wrong direction.  Alter your course immediately.”

Nicole Richie:  “Is someone calling…me?”

There has got to be Natural Selection for Mariners…ice bergs…that’s it.  I do recall that hundreds of professionals constructed the Titanic without much success; some amateur, with a lot of pets, built the Ark.  If only ice bergs thrived in the waters of the Persian Gulf.  I’m sure the Iranians are on it; they’re industrious folk.

I can’t say much was cooking between the Gulf and Sri Lanka this time around.  Sri Lanka is generally an enjoyable stay until you leave your bag of souvenirs in the taxi cab (No…I was not drunk).  I had purchased a most excellent t-shirt…there was an elephant with foot tracks…but the foot tracks looked like poop.  Nevertheless, it was an immense loss.  Back on the ship, the monsoon swells rolling into the basin kept the Mates on Watch busy.  The vessel would continuously surge for the duration of the port stay.  I was responsible for dousing the mooring lines with water and dish soap on an hourly basis; this prevents the lines from chaffing and eventually parting (breaking).  Parting lines are no bueno; they can sever human limbs in the blink of an eye.  This is not conducive for my Mexico vacation. All limbs aside, the ship turned around and headed west.  The monsoons continued to batter us until we reached the protected waters of the Gulf of Aden.  How is that for irony?  Anyway, on days like those, it makes me glad I have to sit down to pee.

Bouncing from waypoint to waypoint, the ship entered the Suez Canal for round two.  The transit is rather slow and dull, so I grabbed a pair of binoculars to see what the canal residents were up to.  Aside from parking their camels and staring back at us, there isn’t a whole hell of a lot going on.

Me:  “Mr. Pilot.  What are those bird house looking things?”

(These things are like three story bird house condos.)

SuezPilot:  “Bird houses…for sparrows.” (Go Ann)

Me:  “I bet they taste like chicken.”

SuezPilot:  “Yes.  They do.”

Me:  “No shit?”

I’d go for some sparrow nuggets verses the taco meat the ship has been pumping out.  The damn taco meat is so salty it has me retaining water for weeks.  If that isn't bad enough, it has been stored and reused…over and over.  I think they have a 55 gallon drum on retainer.  Spaghetti…taco meat.  Sloppy Joes…taco meat (sometimes the Sloppy Joes get into the Spaghetti).  Out of chocolate chips…taco meat.  The Steward’s Department checked out before we even hit the U.S. East Coast.

I think a lot of people “checked out early” towards the end of the Voyage.  The Third Engineer decided to stop bathing with three weeks to go.  His stink was heavier than air and would settle in obscure locations such as the video locker.  He was basking in his musk much like that of a ripe Djiboutian.

Back on the mainland, the half baked cookies of Savannah have me convinced that your children should all be sent to private schools.

Longshoreman (U.S.):  (After just speaking with him).  “What country are you from?”

Me:  “Huh?  I’m Wisconsinese.”

The ice bergs haven’t hit Savannah yet.

"A-Salting" the Taco Meat,

Rubber Duckie

Travelin' Tootsie Tuesday :: Meet Me!

Well, I'm off.  I just left Hilo Hawaii....and it felt a little permanent.  I packed my life up and put it all in a storage unit.  The good news is that I don't have time for too much introspection right now and by the time I'm stuck on the bridge of a ship I'll have a whole new take on things. I was just sitting in the Honolulu Airport feeling sorry for myself and I realized....its a Tuesday!  I decided to show you a few of the things I've packed with me!  I realize that I could spend hours and hours on my own Tootsie post....but I don't have that kind of time....so I took a few shots of my favorite things with my phone and ran them through a filter.

Traveling a lot has made me a fairly neurotic traveller.  I like to have a system.  I like to have my bag packed a certain way.  I like to keep my colors coordinated and complimentary.

I recently decided to switch my travel color from brown to black.  I realize at home some of you may be rolling your eyes....its cool.

Because my new travel color is black I couldn't use my brown roll-y backpack (I told you....neurotic....).  So, I hunted and hunted for a new travel bag with wheels.  I couldn't find one to my liking!  So, I ended up having to put my heavy things in the the Mary Poppins bag....normally, the heavy stuff goes in the roll-y bag.

I should have sucked it up and taken the brown roll-y bag.  My shoulder was killing me after one flight.  So I got the smartecarte.  Don't be surprised if I buy a big with wheels during one of my next layovers!!!!

Well, that is all I have time for.....I'm heading to the bathroom to rinse my mouth out.  Wisdom tooth extraction is not a fun travel companion!!!!!  Bah Humbug!  I'll just have to read my kindle....and take vicodin :)

Travelin' Tootsie Tuesday :: Meet Jen-Jen

I haven't forgotten about showcasing Tootsies!  This week I'm pleased to introduce my friend Jen-Jen.  I'm so proud of this chica!  She's shipped commercially (like me), made a seamless transition into shoreside employment, and traveled all over the world in mega style....she's had some major adventures! Must have’s

1. Feather Pillow from LL Bean and Brookstone Nap Blanket - which was a purchase after a couple overseas flights and realizing that the airplane blankets were just not cutting it and I was freezing my toosh off.  Now it even goes with me on the short flights to New England.  Usually I always have a pashmina to work as a blanket and scarf as well.
2. Empty water bottle -  I refuse to buy water in the airport and it always comes in handy at my destination, especially after a night of one or two drinks and you need to pound some water.
3. I Pod/ Shuffle/ Headphones - half the time I don’t listen to it but it’s comforting to know that it’s in my bag for a long plane ride or for a jog while on vacation/business travel.
4. Comfortable Shoes – flip flops in the summer; dansko clogg’s or Ugg Boots for the winter, and always a pair of sneakers for days of sightseeing or to get a daily work out in.
5. A couple of purses – I usually have my large general purse that is a standard color, black, brown or red, but I always need a couple of clutches or smaller purses for the nights out on the town.
6. Fun Reads – Always a good girlie book and trashy magazines ex: US Weekly or OK.
7. Jewlrey Assortment – Couple pairs of earrings (studs and dangles), bracelets and a lot of fun or classic necklaces (certain occasions the pearls must come along).  My first business trip overseas (Greenland and Denmark) I had a different necklace a day, as the only women in a group of men they did notice I had several necklaces with me (they also commented about the amount of shoes I had as well).
8. Plastic baggy that fits FAA standards – This is always max filled and breaking the Ziploc with the essentials: advil and advil PM, toothpaste, contact case, extra contacts, solution, mascara, perfume, eye shadow (which I hardly ever wear), daily face wash and moisturizer with SPF, shampoo and conditioner (hotel products don’t cut it), tweezers and nail clippers.  There are probably other miscellaneous items currently in my baggy and if I can’t remember them I probably don’t need them, but my reasoning is you will never know if you will need them or not - so pack them.
9. Cell phones, cell chargers, camera, camera charger, and overseas adapter so I can stay connected
10. Huge carry-on bag – Which a lot of the above things are packed into and I have two favorites, my red, white and blue striped LL Bean Tote Bag or my Ex-Large Vera Bradley overnight bag – both are huge but still squeeze into just about any nook or cranny.
11. Clothing – Cute going out outfit with heels, along with a suitcase of several more outfits and clothes (half or more I don’t wear)

1. Water/Beach – swimsuit, cover up and cozy dress
2. Ski/Winter – Ugg boots, Down Jacket, lounge pants, own ski boots, sweater and jeans

Honestly I hate packing and I am bad at it, I am such an over packer!  It’s one reason I decided going to sea wasn’t for me.  A whole day of packing to go back to a ship, uck!  It use to cause a lot of turmoil between my significant other and I, and sometimes it still does.  I just say “I am carrying all these bags, so don’t bitch about what or how much I am packing”

This girl cracks me up!  I'm such an over packer too!  What also cracked me up  how similar my must have items are!  Now lets hear about some of her oh-so-fab trips!  I let her submit more than one :)

Though I don’t like to pack or unpack I still love to travel for either leisure or work, here are some of my favorite travel memories: I have been to some very exciting places in the world!

1. One of the most relaxing vacations was a two week sail trip in BVI.  We chartered a 46’ Beneteau around Tortola and Virgin Gorda.  You can’t beat waking up to splashing waves on the hull, throwing on your swim suit and diving into the crystal clear blue waters, then sailing the day away from destination to destination with a cocktail in hand.  It was an amazing vacation and one that I hope to do again sometime soon.
2. One of the most exciting, adventurous and learning/business trips was to Denmark/Greenland.  Shortly after coming shoreside I was informed I would be going to Denmark for my first training module, though to pack warm clothes, hat, mittens and long underwear.  It was January in Denmark what do they expect, I would come in flip flops; I am from the Northeast I know how to dress in inclement weather.  Any how I made it to Denmark and had two days to explore all by myself.  This was really my first time travelling overseas and having 2 days to entertain myself.  I had my guide of Copenhagen and wanted to see as much as I could.  I found the best brunch place where the locals go, shopped the strand and bought my first pair of tall black boots and just took in this walkable city.  After the two days on my own, I met my group for the first time, which I would come to know very well over the next two years, there in the Copenhagen airport it was revealed that I would be catching a plane to Greenland to spend the week of team building and bonding.  Today I cannot believe I have been given this opportunity, I spent two nights out on the fjord in a tent by myself at -20 degrees Fahrenheit, they gave me a woodstove thinking that would be best for the only girl (this doesn’t work if you don’t stoke it all night) I burned myself and have a scar on my hand to always remind me of this adventure.  Oh yeah we also got out to the fjord by dogs, a sled and dog sled driver, not to mention they put us all in seal skin suits to stay warm.  Out there it was unbelievable; I caught fresh halibut, played Inuit games and viewed the northern lights.   Finally after two days in the cold, we were united with our bags at the hotel and I could enjoy warmth and nice relaxing bath.  That week I learned a lot about myself, my values, and who I am and where I want to go in life, this was not only an unforgettable experience but a start to a new beginning and a life change.  I have included some pictures of this incredible experience, one that I will always cherish.
3. My next big adventure was to Sydney Australia, this trip was for work again, but I made sure to take a couple days before and after to see this beautiful city down under.  I patted a Koala, held a wallaby, and had a steak on the barbie (found this great restaurant were you cooked your own).  Sydney was beautiful and I would love to go back there and see more of what Australia has to offer, maybe a real adventure in the outback.

I have a lot more travel memories but I will leave you with these three, three very different adventures but all three have a close place in my heart and probably why they are my favorite.

All of her work related travel adventures make me wanna go shoreside sooner rather than later!  I'm not sure I'd be quite so lucky!!

Travelin' Tootsies :: Get to know Lala a little better!

Last week I post Lala's 20 favorite things (which I happen to love as well).  She is currently on a charter and although I've been heckling her for a travel adventure she has just been too busy.  So, I've decided to post her bio and a photo (with her permission of course)!  Mega yachting is waaay cooler than I ever imagined!  When you see her favorite travel destinations I have a feeling you'll be interested in a career change.  If you have a zest for travel this might be the way to do it!  

Lala was born in San Francisco, California but quickly moved to Hawaii at 6 months old which is where all her family is from. After completing University in 2005, she was finally able to live out her passion to travel. Lala was constantly seeking out clever ways to make money while traveling, but her search was over when she stumbled across yachting. She has spent her time living and working abroad in London, Brazil, and Australia and has been lucky to have visited some of the most beautiful places in the world.

A few of her favorite destinations are Brazil, New Zealand, Mexico, Thailand, Lake Tahoe, Costa Rica, Italy, and Greece. Although she loves to be on the move, Hawaii will always be considered home. Though a bit out of practice, Lala has a touch of musical talent which she uses on the piano and ukulele. Other hobbies of Lala’s include yoga, surfing, cooking, camping, music and photography and she is currently learning to speak Spanish and Portuguese.

NOW TELL ME YOU AREN'T JEALOUS!!!!