Tag Archives: Entertainment

Cocktail Corner: Priorities

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With things a little tighter financially around the Sip Advisor headquarters for the foreseeable future, thanks to an expensive home redevelopment project, I thought it would be fun to look at how the Sip Advisor plans to allocate our limited resources:

Drink

Drinking is non-negotiable. While we’re out less and also buying less from liquor stores, this is still a spending priority for the Sip Advisor. With limiting purchases to just what’s needed, my vast collection is dwindling one ounce at a time. Many reliable soldiers have been added to the recycle bin and replacements will have to wait for when we have more financial breathing room. For a time, the cupboards may be barer than usual, but we’ll rebound eventually and then I’ll go on an epic spending spree and fill every shelf to suitable levels again.

Food

Everyone has to eat, so groceries are still high on the importance list. I find myself at stores regularly, picking up essentials. With growing kids, I shouldn’t be surprised I’m restocking items at the frequency I am. We’ve made some major cuts to our eating out/ordering in budget, only doing so for special occasions. I’ve even dropped grabbing food from the area around where I work during in-office days, in favour of packed lunches. Another treat that I can go without for a little while.

Kids

The Siplings are in that sweet spot of ages where they still want to do stuff with us… and since they want to do stuff we enjoy, we want to do stuff with them. We’re well aware this stage in their development won’t last long, so we’ll milk it for all it’s worth before their friendships and activities push dear ol’ mom and dad down the depth chart. There is also absolutely no activity the kids won’t be able to do if they’re interested. We’ll scratch and claw the funds together to make sure their childhoods are as amazing as possible.

Entertainment

You only live once and you have to make your fun while you can. That said, we have to be a little cautious with our entertainment funds for the next while. In January, we chose not to renew our Crave streaming subscription (it’s funny how many movies and shows are exclusively on the streaming service you cancel!) and in April, we pulled the plug on our Vancouver Canucks ticket memberships. Mrs. Sip also dropped her theatre membership(s), opting to select a show here and there, rather than keep the full board of performances her subscription provided. Likewise, I’ve had to ignore concerts, comedians and other performances I’d be interested in attending, waiting for the next time these acts (hopefully) roll through town. We’ve had to be cautious with spending “expendable income,” so have taken advantage of getting free tickets to New Westminster Salmonbellies lacrosse and BC Lions football.

Travel

I don’t really care about going places during this personal recession, but it’s the only way Mrs. Sip really gets to disconnect from work. We’ve stuck with Canadian travel as we ride the financial stress wave, taking advantage of Mrs. Sip being able to work along the way, as well as staying with friends and family, if possible.

Clothing

I need many items and my wardrobe is in need of an update, but I will be spending very little in this category. Any clothes budget goes to the kids, who when not outgrowing items, are wrecking them with their rough play or losing them with their forgetfulness. Mrs. Sip also needs to pick up the occasional piece, keeping her wardrobe fresh.

Appliances

Mrs. Sip and I – well, mostly I, as the chief cook of the home – have been navigating life without a microwave since around Halloween 2025. Perhaps I should set up a Go Fund Me campaign for the new device. Otherwise, we’re crossing every digit we have that there are no further service disruptions.

Gas/Transportation

Here’s one area we have an advantage, as our hybrid van allows us to achieve most driving on an electric charge. I only fill up on rare occasions, with longer journeys being what drains the tank. With gas prices soaring, this has been a small victory for us. You better believe the first thing I do anytime we return home is plug in the charger and on the rare occasion I have forgotten to do so, I really kick myself for the mistake. We’ve also tried to lower Mrs. Sip’s rideshare costs, with me picking up the slack and doing as much driving as I can.

Home Décor

The one advantage of having your home in upheaval is that you don’t need to spend any money on it. Mrs. Sip’s want of a new outdoor sectional seating area was completely kiboshed by losing our entire yard to construction storage. Same for patio plants. Once our complex project is complete, we will need to turn our attention to new fixtures – blinds, curtains, etc. – to go along with our updated windows.

Personal Care

Ain’t nobody got time for that! 😃

Emergencies

Lol… if only we could put some funds aside for those. That said, they seem to pop up everywhere when money is tight.

Pets

Thankfully, we only have a few fish which don’t take much to feed, if we remember to do so at all.

Health

I should probably be seeing a chiropractor or massage therapist but given these costs would only be partially covered for me, I can’t justify the expense at this point.

Giving/Donating

I’m charity at this point!

Split Decision

  • 0.75 oz Rye
  • 0.75 oz Bourbon
  • 0.75 oz Campari
  • 0.50 oz Crème de Cacao
  • Dash of Chocolate Bitters
  • Garnish with a Chocolate

If I’m being honest, every purchase brings some guilt with it, no matter how necessary. We’ve survived thus far and the light at the end of the tunnel can now faintly be seen!

Love & Hate: Cruising

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Mrs. Sip and I are seasoned cruise travellers. Over our many voyages, I’ve noticed many pros and cons for this style of travelling. If you’re considering whether cruising is for you, perhaps my notes in this expanded article will help in your decision. Let’s start with some reasons why hitting the water is the way to go:

Can unpack for duration of trip

Living out of a suitcase can really suck. On a cruise, you can fully unpack and settle into your digs, as your ship moves you along the route. The first thing Mrs. Sip does every time our luggage arrives at our room – sometimes to an annoying degree – is unpack everything. This helps her feel the vacation has truly begun.

Ship takes you to all stops

Aboard a cruise, you never have to worry about how you’re getting to your next destination. The crew takes care of this for you. No concerns about driving in unfamiliar territory or racing to meet connections. Instead, you just float along at the ship’s pace.

Sample the world

Cruises can be great for those that want to hit as many places as possible, in a limited amount of time. Many of our cruises have hit multiple countries in a short span. Sure, you only get to do one tour/activity or see a couple landmarks when on a port day, but for many stops, that’s all you really need.

Cruise Shopping

Large selection of media to watch

In recent years, cruise ships have really upped their in-room entertainment options. When Mrs. Sip and I first started cruising, you had to time when you’d watch a movie or TV show, as they were played on a schedule and the selection to enjoy was limited. Today, you can watch a wide on-demand catalogue. This has been even more helpful with young kids, as time spent in the room increases with them.

Entertainment

The entertainment offered on ships is quite good, from song and dance shows, to comedians and everything in between. Shows typically run twice a night, so you can work around any dinner plans you may have. There’s also a variety of other activities to get into, including trivia challenges, game shows, karaoke and much more.

Kid’s Club

The Sipplings are now both of the age where we can drop them off at the Kid’s Club and enjoy some adult freedom. Sure, the pager they give you is a constant reminder that the good times can’t last forever and you’ll eventually have to pick your progeny up, but for the time they’re having fun with those their age, you are also doing the same.

Cruise Relax

Someone is always cleaning up after you/cooking for you

As the chief chef and housekeeper of the Sip Headquarters, I truly appreciate that on a cruise, someone is always cooking for and cleaning up after me. Sure, I’m still in charge of putting together spreads of food for my picky kids and tidying up after them in most circumstances, but every little bit helps to give me some breaks.

I should also mention a perk such as unlimited cookies, given it’s well-documented that the Sip Advisor is a cookie monster. Also, the motion on the ocean can be fun in many ways! As much as I love cruising, often citing it as my preferred mode of travel, there are some drawbacks that must be noted. Here are some of the things the Sip Advisor often gripes about while onboard a vessel:

Cramped quarters

Most of the rooms we’ve had have been tight for just myself and Mrs. Sip. Add in the Sipplings and all the cargo that comes with them and it can be a little overwhelming. On one of our trips, I hit my knee in the same spot multiple times. Now that the kids have grown out of strollers and pack n’ plays, perhaps some space will open up, but they are also growing, so that room will be absorbed quickly.

Ship Rocking

Tendering

How cruise lines haven’t found a way to improve this method of connecting ships to the land is beyond me. First, you face long waits to even get aboard a shuttle. Next, you wait for what seems like an eternity for it to finally depart, often exposed to stifling heat. By the time you get to your destination, you’re likely already quite annoyed and perhaps suffering from heat stroke. Getting back to the ship is just as bad, as long lines often form at the equally unshaded terminal.

Have to pay for drinks

I’ve come to prefer the all-inclusive style of travelling in this regard, where I don’t have to worry about bar bills. Mrs. Sip and I have perfected some tricks to lower our tab at the end of each voyage, but you still have to enjoy yourself when at sea. Finding the right balance is achievable, but it may take some playing around with.

Limited time at stops

On the flip side of getting a taste of many stops on one holiday, is the fact that your time in those stops is often truncated. Mrs. Sip often compares cruising to ordering an appetizer platter, where you get to sample a number of things, but you don’t get a full meal. Some port stops we’ve experienced have been as short as four hours. We’ve theorized that if you really like the taste you tried, you can always return for a feast at a later time, however, this is unachievable for some and even we haven’t returned to places we hoped to explore more.

Ship Passengers

Long walks to get things

These ships are massive and moving about them can sometimes feel like an endless journey. For example, I’m in charge of getting the Sip Family water at the end of each night and depending on where our cabin is located, the trek may take me a fair amount of time. We’ve also struggled on more recent cruises, depending on the distance between our room and where the Kid’s Club is.

Other passengers

Your fellow travellers on a cruise are likely to be of an older vintage. This can be good and bad, depending on your travel circumstances. On our most recent cruises, many travellers seemed to enjoy our children, likening them to their own grandkids. But, there was the occasional passenger, who didn’t enjoy the high energy of Boy and Girl Sip or other youngsters aboard the ship.

Uninspired menus

At the start of each voyage, it’s exciting to have all these culinary options up for offer. A few days in, you start to grow tired of the rotation of dishes and seeing the same items on the dining menu or at the buffet. I’d prefer a little more experimentation with food offered, but the ship is doing it’s best to appeal to as large a portion of passengers possible.

Cruise Food

Wardrobe changes

Between sleeping, meals, pool time, activities and hitting the gym (LOL), you will often go through a number of clothing changes each day, constantly having to return to your room to look the part for your next endeavour. I counted one time and had worn six different outfits during a day (sleepwear, swimsuit, gym gear, casual clothes, formal wear, warmer casual clothes).

Schedule juggling

A cruise is meant to bring about rest and relaxation, but Mrs. Sip likes to cram in every activity possible. This often causes us to be running from dinner to trivia or a show because the woman has never been great about time coordination. My anxiety grows as she goes through the next day’s schedule and talks about all the points of interest we should hit.

Love & Hate: The Isaac

The Isaac

  • 2 oz White Rum
  • 1 oz Pomegranate Liqueur
  • Top with Club Soda
  • Splash of Lime Juice
  • Garnish with a Maraschino Cherry

This cocktail is made in honour of the bartender on The Love Boat. The show was filmed on Princess Cruise ships, thus is served aboard the line, although it’s now a hidden drink, but still available for those in the know. I subbed Pomegranate Liqueur for Pomegranate Syrup.