This post is sponsored by Princess Cruises.

There are items that I can't live without when traveling and there are items I have to have with me when on a cruise! I wanted to share with you this essential cruise packing list! Some things I did take with me on my last cruise to the Mexican Riviera with Princess Cruises.

Some of these things I found in the gift shop on the cruise ship…thankfully! ????

Here's the quick list:

1. striped tote bag
2. mirrorless camera with this lens
3. Kindle Paperwhite
4. Quease Ease 
5. Wet Ones
6. Dramamine
7. flip flops
8. beach hat
9. spare battery
10. surge protector

1. striped tote bag– I love love this bag. I bought it at a store last summer and it's super cute!
2. mirrorless camera with this lens– This along with my phone is what I travel with lately…and I love it. My dSLR stays at home and this camera along with the 20mm lens that I have had for a couple of years is amazing!
3. Kindle Paperwhite – for traveling and cruising, much lighter than carrying books around. I wasn't sold on the Kindle until last year. Now I can't live without it!
4. Quease Ease – I found this in the gift shop on the ship and I carry it around with me always! LOVE it!
5. Wet Ones – This is a must when traveling. You never know when you need these. I'm always saving the day with them!
6. Dramamine– Because I need this, not every day on a cruise ship but some days, I just do!
7. flip flops– these are the world's most comfortable flip flops! I own three pairs!
8. beach hat– I bought one in the gift ship on the cruise for $10, it's super cute and I love it.
9. spare battery – Okay, I know but sometimes you run out of battery when you need it most. I know I shouldn't be on the phone while I'm on a cruise but who are we kidding…?
10. surge protector – There are never enough outlets in a cruise cabin or a hotel room for that matter. I love this thing!

What are your must pack items for cruising? For traveling? I want to hear about them!

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Princess Cruises. I only share with you brands that I love and share with you my own opinions. There are affiliate links in this post.

The post Cruise Packing List appeared first on DualFood.

Recently, I got an email from LG and T-Mobile…asking me to try out the LG G4…a brand new phone that hasn't been released yet. First, we need to talk about my love of gadgets and shiny new objects. I love trying new things. But I also need to disclose that I'm not an Android phone user. But I have always been interested about the other sides. I have always wanted to try them because in another life…

I was a backend Java developer and I once helped tweak an Android app at work for a side project my co-workers were working on. Like I said, I have always been interested about how the other side works…so I did a quick internet search and I saw the words: “this smartphone has the best camera” on the market next to the words LG G4. This I have to see and try. I'm so glad I did!

My little Angel…this is how she sleeps with her paw underneath her face…that's her right foot.

Verdict: The CAMERA is super sweet. We have terrible lighting in our living room and I have always never liked photos that I take in there. Until now. I love the details on her face and the photos is not grainy!

This was lunch the other day at Raglan Road with a friend — an online friend who is a huge lifesaver (she has helped me out soooo many times!), Meg, who I finally met in person. A lobster club.

Of course I had to take pictures of food with my new gadget.

In instagrammed this photo the other day because I'm literally obsessed with this new to us Mexican place called Mexico's Grill. Love love them!

The above photo was taken at night inside a restaurant with fluorescent and I only edited this photo just a teeny tiny bit.

I also edit my photos with the Snapseed app, it's pretty easy to use. A little different than my other phone though and I like that I can open the photo directly from the camera roll…instead of having to open the app and then hunt around for the phone that I chose.

Tacos from the same place! (Can I say homemade tortillas? We can't wait to go back for dinner again!)

I do have to share something honest and real with you though, I have been able to get most of the apps I regularly use in the Google Play store and I'm still getting used to how to kill apps, finding settings and just different tweaks here and there from my other phone. And for the most part, I'm picking it up pretty easily.

But I'm struggling to decide whether to make the full switch. I'm more open-minded than most of my friends…wiling to give it a try. But the struggle is real…especially since the camera is SO AMAZING.

I met up with friend, Amber, at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom and of course more food pictures. Dole Whip!

And she's such a sweet friend, she bought me a Mickey ice cream sandwich!

Again, the camera on this phone! I love the detail…it's a 16 megapixel camera, did I mention that? It takes RAW photos too…which I'm so amazed about! I need to play more around with the camera because it has an aperture of f/1.8!

Okay, you know me right…had to take more dog pictures.

Oh Charley…a few weeks ago, he actually strained a muscle in his left leg so he's restricted now…not allowed to jump or run or play.

I got a nice gift in the mail today and I actually got a photo I was happier with using the LG G4 than my dSLR! I can't stop talking about the camera on this phone!

And the screen, it's 5.5 inches. I used to think the bigger screens wouldn't be for me. But as soon as this phone arrived…I realized I could hold this phone in one hand and use it easily. It probably won't fit in my front pocket of my jeans but that's fine with me.

I love the sleekness of the phone too, the one LG sent me is a metallic silver and the other color available is a brown leather finish for the back of the phone. I'm going on a Princess Cruise next week to Alaska (yippeee!) and I plan on using the LG G4 to take a lot of my photos and then will decide if I will make the full leap.

If you're interested in trying this phone out, you should check out the G4 Preview Tour…it might be coming to a city near you…you can try out the phone and check out the features! And…you can enter to win your OWN LG G4! Go now!

Be sure to follow @G4Preview on twitter and follow the #G4Preview hashtag on twitter and instagram to find out where the truck is and find out about product promotions!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of LG. The opinions and text are all mine. I only share with you my honest opinions.

The post LG G4 Preview {Review} appeared first on DualFood.

Valentine's Day is in two days…or if you have a family member or friend's birthday coming up, I have some amazing gift ideas for you! So funny story, I told Curtis I was working on this post and he asked me, should I read this post for ideas for gifts for you? Hehe smart man!

Get on it…you can still do next day air shipping…or buy gift cards for these items!

1. KitchenAid Stand Mixer in Raspberry Ice – I'm in love with this color and of course I can't live without my stand mixer. Plus the glass bowl, when I use my 5 Quart, the glass bowl is the way to go. Check out tons of Win: 25 Amazing Cookie Recipes and a KitchenAid Stand Mixer Giveaway your loved one can make you if you buy this stand mixer for them.

2. Panasonic Lumix GM1 Mirrorless Camera – I love this camera to pieces. It's great for travel and for every day…perfect for a gift for someone who loves to take photographs and loves to travel. I keep this camera in my purse at all time. I even did an TLK Favorites: Panasonic Lumix Gm1 Camera Review it last month!

3. Gold Pyrite Bracelet from Katie Waltman – This is the only item on this list that I don't own or haven't had experience with. I have a custom necklace from Katie Waltman that I received when I attended Better Blog Retreat last year and adore it. I have been staring at this bracelet for a while. It's so simple yet elegant. I love her jewelry and the quality of it!

4. Custom notebooks from Minted – I got this notebook for Curtis for Christmas and he loves it. Love this photo of our dogs…they have tons of different designs and having a custom notebook is just so fun!

5. GODIVA Limited Edition Lunar New Year Gift Box – It's the year of the goat (which is the year I was born in) and GODIVA has this amazing gift box just for the Lunar New Year. Big disclosure, every year, Curtis gets me a box of GODIVA coconut truffles for Valentine's Day…every year without fail. He's been doing this for at least 5 years now and this year I told him I WANT THIS Year of the Goat box of chocolates. I need it.

6. Eat Cake for Breakfast Mug from Kate Spade – I received this mug from my dear friend Lindsay for my birthday this year. I LOVE it. I like mugs that are 10 to 12 or even 16 ounces, even though I usually only make an 8 ounce tea or coffee, I just like a bigger mug…and it's cute. Just love it. Lindsay knows me so well!

7. Tieks – Ballet flats that are foldable…in super cute colors. I have two pairs and LOVE them! Once I broke them in, they are super comfy to take the dogs on a walk or to wear to Disney. Yep, these have become my go to shoes for wearing while walking in the parks…which can be long days and a lot of walking. I want all the colors!

8. Stitch Fix – I love this clothing/personal styling service. They sell gift cards too by the way! It costs $20 each time and they send you 5 clothing/accessory items and you pay for what you keep (minus the $20) and send back the rest. I love it, once I filled out my style profile correctly and updated my style Pinterest board, I get really fun clothing items I never would have tried on in the stores. It's actually changed my perspective when I shop in stores too. Highly recommend it!

9. Le Creuset 5.5 Quart French Oven – In my kitchen, I can't live without my KitchenAid stand mixer and my Le Creuset French Ovens…so much so that neither get put away. They are usually sitting right on my range. I fry chicken, I make soups, make taco meat and countless other things. They are easy to clean and work really well whether it's a gas cooktop or an electric one.

10. Refresh Glasses – I recently became obsessed with these glasses. One of my favorite restaurants, Prato, uses them for water glasses. I asked them where they purchase them and I proceeded to buy a set when I got home. They take wine bottles and make them into glasses. I love these…they are beautiful, functional and help the environment!

Disclosure: Some of these items have been sent to me for review over the years, some I have bought myself or was it was given as a gift to me. This is NOT a sponsored post nor were any of these items solicited to me for inclusion in this gift guide. I only share with my products and brands that I love. There are some affiliate links in this post.

The post 10 Great Gifts for Valentine's Day (And Birthdays Too!) appeared first on DualFood.

It's that time of year! I hope you and yours have had a nice holiday season. I'm coming out of my cold (sick) cave and am a few days late sharing this…but better late than never!

2014 was a great year, not without challenges for us, but a great year nonetheless. My dear friend, Joanne, Easy Peanut Butter Cookie Brownies Recipe, Charley had back surgery, I visited Easy Grilled Flank Steak with Chimichurri Butter Recipe, went to Beer Battered Vidalia Onion Petals - DualFood, went to Trip to Cancun, Mexico, spoke at BlogHer Food in Miami, visited Easy Summer Vegetable Pasta Recipe, made a lot of Easy Fried Banana Milkshakes Recipe, went to Easy Spicy Udon Noodle Salad Recipe, we went to Washington, DC, helped organized Food Blog Forum Asheville, Charley had hip surgery!, spoke again at the Florida Blogger Conference, did a whole Orlando Restaurant Pork Tour! of Orlando, went to the Top 5 Things at Walt Disney World's Epcot Food & Wine Festival, attended Better Blog Retreat in Utah, visited friends in California, the Easy Chocolate Chip Banana Nut Muffins Recipe in Nashville, spoke to high school students, helped organize the The 2014 Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap Round Up Part 2, threw a fun party for friends and visited Brenda in Minnesota.

Here are YOUR top 10 favorites for 2014!

[Super Creamy] Chocolate Chip Scones - DualFood

Stuffed Eggplant

Win: How to Freeze Vegetables & a Giveaway

Easy My Mom's Vietnamese Egg Rolls (3 Ways!) Recipe

Best Cornbread Recipe

Pumpkin Obsessed Vanilla-Glazed Scones + Skinnytaste Cookbook

Easy Fried Mac & Cheese Bites Recipe

Easy Peanut Butter Cookie Brownies Recipe

Easy Vanilla Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream Recipe

Easy Pistachio Pudding Cupcakes Recipe

All time favorites include Easy Crockpot Whole Chicken Recipe and {Quick & Easy} Lemon & Thyme Chicken Recipe. Other favorites include these red velvet crinkle cookies.

My absolute favorites from this year are Easy My Mom's Vietnamese Egg Rolls (3 Ways!) Recipe (of course!) and this Easy Vietnamese Iced Coffee Smoothie with Boba Recipe tutorial and video.

December 2014 means DualFood turned FIVE (I can't believe that!). I had so many ideas, to write an introspective post but time ran away from me. Just sitting down and thinking back to when I started this little space as well as when I got laid off from my full-time job, 2 1/2 years ago, it boggles my mind. I'm truly grateful for all of the opportunities and all of the amazing people I have been able to meet because I'm a food blogger.

I'm really looking forward to 2015, with a lot of new goals and new projects coming up…I can't wait to tell you about…including launching a blog on my portfolio site, juliedeily.com.

Some of my goals include entertaining more, having friends over for dinner more often, make and share my Mom's Vietnamese pho recipe (including a video!), doing more to help others and taking time to just savor the moment and enjoy our weekends more.

Here's to the new year, new beginnings. Lots of love and good health to you…please keep in touch. I'm so thankful for this space and for each and every one of you!

Here's a link to Easy Top 10Of 2013 - Your Favorites! Recipes.

The post Easy Topof 2014 - Your Favorites! Recipes appeared first on DualFood.

This past spring I was in Trip to Cancun, Mexico (it was an amazing trip) but one thing, I brought my big camera and a big lens but forgot my camera strap (which by the way, I highly recommend, it was recommended to me by my friend Amanda) at home. Knowing that we would be going all over the place, into and out of boats and walking a lot…I was really worried about dropping my camera since I didn't have my camera strap so it could rest on my shoulder. Because yes, I have dropped my camera before…at home, in the spare bedroom turned office so I could only imagine what I would do with it “in the wild”. So guess what? That camera stayed in my hotel room and I used the camera on my phone.

On that trip, I decided I wanted to buy a camera that's super lightweight, small enough to put into my purse and delivers on quality. I have found that camera and if you know me well, you know how obsessed I am with this little camera. I'm one of those funny people who when they find something they love, I can't stop talking about it. I'm sure my friends love this!

Here is the full list of features I was looking for:

• wifi
• wifi
• iPhone app
• touchscreen focus
• super lightweight and compact
• sturdy camera strap
• wifi (you see where I'm getting at?)

I did a lot of research and even tried another camera out until I found this one. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1. I bought the silver model that comes with a kit lens (12-32mm). It's a mirrorless camera. It's super lightweight, it only weighs only a half a pound (that's without the lens).

When this camera arrived from Amazon, I was so giddy. I think Curtis even rolled his eyes at me.

A camera review has to have tons of photos right? And since you know I love puppies, there are of course dog pictures. This photo was actually taken at night with the GM1 inside our house. The room was pretty dark and I edited it a tad with Instaflash Pro and posted it on instagram.

I'm still getting used to this camera and all of its bells and whistles but I wanted to show you some photos straight out of the camera. Even though to me, the photo is a little dark because Sierra is under a shadow, the detail is still there and it's not grainy.

So when I edited, you can see how white she is and the detail is still there.

I love using the GM1 at restaurants (even at night) because my iPhone and my big camera can't touch this. Yes it is dark but you can see these amazing Korean fries, right? This was out of control, Korean French Fries — topped spicy beef curry tofu & Swiss cheese at a restaurant called Hashigo Korean Kitchen in Costa Mesa, CA.

I edited it in Snapseed on my phone and love how bright it is and detail still there and love that it's not grainy.

I told you I did a lot of research when I reading up on this camera. In the Amazon reviews that I read, people kept mentioning the Lumix G 20mm lens so I sprung for that when I bought the camera with the 12-32mm lens. I actually have barely used the kit lens it came with so I can't really comment on it. The 20mm lens stays on my camera 99.9% of the time.

It's so pretty. It looks huge here but it's not. I have the camera strap on the sides at all times and wear it across my body and a cross body purse when I'm traveling or out and about and it's so convenient.

I'm still learning the manual functions but all of the photos I have shown you so far are using the A (automatic) function, using auto focus but choosing what I want to focus on by using the touchscreen. The touchscreen is pretty awesome…there's an option to make the touchscreen your shutter button. So whatever you press on the screen immediately comes into focus and it immediately takes the photo. Touch shutter, it's a beautiful thing.

Another one of my favorite features of this camera is there's an app for that! And it's free. The app lets you control the camera, change settings AND lets you download images to you phone directly from the camera. The camera actually creates its own wifi network that you connect to and takes seconds to grab the photos you like and then edit them and share them online! This was the main feature I was looking at when shopping for cameras…if it didn't have wifi, I wasn't considering it.

And now these pictures. If know me, I'm not much of an fashion expert, I'm actually fashion inept so I love following blogs like J's Everyday Fashion and last year I signed up for a service called StitchFix. For a fee, they send you a box of clothing and accessories. It's your own personal stylist because they do this based on a style profile you fill out. You pay for what you keep and the styling fee you pay ($20) comes off the price of the close.

I love love love it because I have actually found clothing that fits great and works well but if I had seen it at the store on a rack, I never would have tried it on. You should try it out if you're interested. I'm a big fan. Some things can be pricey but some things are pretty reasonable. It's actually helped me realize that I can wear a lot more styles than I ever thought possible.

See my left arm behind my back? I hit the shutter button on the app on my phone and the camera is on a tripod. Ignore my messy prop closet behind me.

I had fun taking this picture of Lindsay and this A-AMAZING brownie pop we had at Deer Valley Resort in October.

Here's a little what the app looks like. The camera is aimed at my computer on my desk. You can access the quick menu and control the camera from the app. So cool!

There's a quick touch button on top of the camera that takes you directly to the wifi options. Once you have enter the password to join the wifi network and choose the right settings, you can add it to your favorites and it literally takes a few clicks to connect your phone app to your camera each time.

I select the photos I want to upload to my phone…

and hit the export icon (bottom left) to save them!

This photo in Asheville, North Carolina in front of the Biltmore House (Curtis and I) was taken with the GM1.

There seems to be a theme here with French fries…because yes, I'm obsessed with them. Taken at a dark restaurant last week, I tweaked this photo a little bit in Snapseed before posting it on instagram.

And just to show a different kind of photo taken with the camera (love this photo with my friends).

This photo is at Local Roots located inside East End Market in Orlando, FL. The one above and the one below are acutally unedited.

Sunflowers make me smile! This is outside the market.

And a photo I took from inside our hotel room in Washington, DC this past summer. Through the glass. This one is edited.

More photos at East End Market, this time at Whisk and Bowl, these are unedited.

I wanted to show you the kind of macro shots you can get with this camera and lens.

This is inside that same store, unedited.

More unedited shots from the camera, having fun in Orange County, CA with dear friends!

And there's the lovely Lindsay and Joanne in the background. This one is unedited as well. Looks pretty darn good for being unedited!

Oh Nashville hot chicken, how I love you! And fries too

A shot that I edited via Snapseed on my phone.

So this camera comes in 4 wonderful colors. I really love the orange one. I have the top left one in silver.

Like I said, to say I'm obsessed with this little camera is understatement. For the size and features, the quality is fantastic and my favorite go to camera for travel and every day now. I leave my big camera at home and pretty have this in my purse at all times.

There are tons of great features and filters even, I have only scratched the surface. The camera can take video too. I'm excited to explore more with it and maybe get other lenses for it!

Click on the image (above) to take you to the product pages for Amazon.

I purchased the Lumix G 20mm lens and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1 with the 12-32mm lens. You can purchase the camera body only though.

The other camera I was considering was the Olympus SH-1 16 MP Digital Camera but when I went to go buy in May it wasn't available yet. The other camera that I bought but returned was the Canon PowerShot S120. For me, I found a little lightweight camera with interchangeable lenses was the best option.

What do you think? Are you in the market for a little camera?

Disclosure: I bought this camera in June and love it so much, I wanted to share it with you! The links in this post contain affiliate links and I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking on my link. Thanks for your support!

The post TLK Favorites: Panasonic Lumix Gm1 Camera Review appeared first on DualFood.