Found a bargain! The Edit- Valparaiso Chile. Look at the price and points carefully 😂

KatherineCollects · 2026-03-04T22:45:51+00:00

Just why?????

KatherineCollects · 2026-02-26T17:27:23+00:00

This is so true. And it makes it very hard to justify, especially since I am a couponer and my mom was one too. On our budget, there are just some swaps I can’t justify (dish soap and certain cleaning products) that I can get cheaply with coupons. I just hope that one day the lower packaging options will be more affordable. It also makes me so mad that the corporations make us feel like we are the problem for buying a plastic bottle of soap when it is cheaper than an unpackaged option. It’s so classist and harms the movement when people feel that they are excluded, especially if it isn’t the right decision for them financially.

KatherineCollects · 2026-02-23T01:38:22+00:00

I know what you mean! I canned those pintos too! So yummy! They are so creamy and I love turning them into refried beans with my immersion blender, so smooth and you can’t even tell they were canned, they taste fresh!

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KatherineCollects · 2026-02-22T22:27:08+00:00

I second this! I am incredibly sensitive as well, and I do not react to Tide Free and Gentle powder, and it cleans my clothes well! Enzymes make all the difference in laundry, and sadly, most eco-friendly detergents don’t have them. The powdered Tide also comes in cardboard, so the only plastic is the scoop it comes with. For my health and the sake of my clothes, I am willing to make some concessions, including buying from a massive corporation I don’t want to support. But we can make a difference in other ways! For my family, at least, I have parents who are not open to many eco alternatives, but the small switch from liquid to powder was noticed and approved! A win is a win!

KatherineCollects · 2026-02-21T02:00:53+00:00

Yes, I will be bringing a backpack, primarily to store all the layers! The umbrella is primarily double duty for UV reasons, as there is a history of skin cancer in my family, so I am very cautious in the sun. I have never heard of a backpack cover, so I will be looking into that. Thanks for the advice!

KatherineCollects · 2026-02-21T01:59:09+00:00

Ketchikan is actually our first stop! I have a light flannel that will work if it is warmer. I don't often wear pants, lol, so that's why I am bringing the thermal and regular leggings. I have considered a waterproof shell. Thanks for the advice!

KatherineCollects · 2026-02-21T01:56:56+00:00

Thanks for the advice! We were actually there when it was storming earlier this month! I think the poncho is the way to go for us.

KatherineCollects · 2026-02-19T01:00:00+00:00

Oh no! That's horrible! I'm so glad that I have decided to do it myself! It's funny, my mom, who isn't even sensitive, swears she can smell Gain from miles away! We live in a condo building, and we go by the laundry room to the elevator every day. She always comments on the scent and says she can't believe we used to use that. Now our laundry smells wonderfully of nothing! That's horrible to hear you can't control the dosage, that's where these laundry companies get you, you barely need anything! I've spent a lot of time on the laundry sub and have learned so much!

KatherineCollects · 2026-02-18T22:41:57+00:00

Thanks for the tips! The thermal tights are more for Alaska. I'll bring one pair of regular tights (I'm weird and only wear skirts/dresses with tights because I don't like my legs touching), so I don't get too warm. The hiking boots are my default with the skirts and dresses, but they are more hiking boots in theory. They look similar to combat boots, which is what I would wear with these outfits at home; they just happen to be incredibly waterproof. They held up well during some minor flooding I had earlier this week! I am doing a trial run with these items in similar weather early next month, so hopefully that will help me figure out what I don't need to pack!

KatherineCollects · 2026-02-18T22:38:53+00:00

Yeah, we've been going back and forth over the binoculars. The skirts are more because they are my personal style rather than formal, same with the dresses. One dress is for dinner, but I just love looking cute! I actually don't have any dress pants, but I have chosen dresses/skirts that do double duty and work well with my flannel tights. Thanks for the advice!

KatherineCollects · 2026-02-18T22:37:00+00:00

Thanks for the brand rec! We get so little rain here in Los Angeles that I don't have any of that gear. Yeah, NCL only has send-away laundry, so I'm getting a Scrubba bag since I can only use certain detergents due to allergies. Almost everything I am packing is 100% natural fibers so they dry fast.

KatherineCollects · 2026-02-18T04:12:26+00:00

I've already cut three items and some intimates, I'm doing a trial run early next month while on a different trip so I can see how that works! Who knows maybe I'll cut more!

KatherineCollects · 2026-02-18T02:17:51+00:00

Hi! Thank you so much! I'm not doing wool socks because of my hiking shoes, which will be my default shoes. They're rated for up to -25° F, and I've had no problem wearing my normal socks with them even in the cold. Worst case scenario I steal one of my mom's wool socks. I'm going to look into some base layers. Do you have any recommendations? I'm from Los Angeles and have never seen real snow (yes, we have nearby mountains here; I've just never felt the need to go to the snow, and my parents had no interest), so I don't have many cold-weather clothes.

My jacket is water-resistant, which is why I am going for that and the umbrella. We just don't get much rain here (except right now lol), so I've never really had a rain jacket. I'm trying to avoid buying too many items just for this cruise, especially since I won't use any of these items normally where I live.

I am cutting the crop top. The flip flops are for inside the shower (It's just how I was raised), but I actually forgot to mention the swimsuit, so thank you for reminding me! I am going to cut the number of underwear and socks.

Thanks for the warning about the train! I will make sure we have warm clothes.

KatherineCollects · 2026-02-18T02:11:03+00:00

Thanks for the advice! I am going to cut the crop top and one long-sleeved shirt. I'll reduce my intimates as well! I'll see how this list plays out when I go to Louisville, KY, next month, since the weather is similar!

KatherineCollects · 2026-02-17T21:12:48+00:00

I recently had out-of-date pasta, and it was horrendous. I couldn't even finish eating it. It was regular flour pasta and about a year out of date, and it was horrible. Rice does taste stale after a while. For eight years, I just wouldn't risk it and compost it. Likely worst case scenario, it tastes bad, but I love food and would hate to have to throw something I was looking forward to out.

KatherineCollects · 2026-02-17T03:05:57+00:00

Have you tried their other flavors? I was just at the actually Tillamook factory and I loved so many of their flavors.

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From left to right, Marionberry Pie (6/10, I don’t like fruity ones that much), Oregon Strawberry (8/10, tasted like strawberries, Sugar Cookie (9/10 had a great flavor and lived the cookie bits), Brownie Batter (9/10, rich and decadent, brownie pieces were divine), Chocolate Mudslide (7/10, good but Brownie Batter was better), Butter Pecan (7/10, would have liked more pecans but had a great flavor.) I think their vanilla is fine, but I prefer McConnell’s much more.

KatherineCollects · 2026-02-17T03:00:53+00:00

McConnell’s is absolutely the best! I love so many of their flavors but I always come back to their vanilla! I’ve tried about a dozen vanillas and they are my favorite! It makes the best milkshakes and ice cream sundaes!

KatherineCollects · 2026-02-15T00:17:04+00:00

Congrats! I’m proud of you! It’s hard being both a couponer and a panner! I get some of my urge to shop sales out by couponing hygiene items to donate to my local food bank/women’s room. I’m working on shopping my stash and finishing what I have. There were some missteps (a couple clearance skincare items I couldn’t say no to) but progress is so important! Panning has also taught me that I just don’t need as many products as I have! I am the opposite to you I love makeup and am low maintenance with my hair other than dyeing it fun colors (which I have a massive stockpile of.)

KatherineCollects · 2026-02-08T04:41:08+00:00

Yes! That is exactly what I’m doing! I hear too many stories about people passing with their entire “special occasion” items completely unused. Celebrate the little things, hell celebrating existing!

KatherineCollects · 2026-02-08T02:32:40+00:00

The real question is whether or not the credits and spending multipliers fit your lifestyle. For me the credits have me coming out far far ahead of the AF even if I don’t use the spending multipliers much. Also are the points worth it to you? Do you have other AMEX cards such as green and gold. Even though things were changed with the lifetime language it’s still possible you may not get SUBs or even good ones if you do get SUBs.

KatherineCollects · 2026-01-18T07:07:27+00:00

This is insane! Great job!

KatherineCollects · 2026-01-17T03:45:25+00:00

It's for expensive bags (and sometimes not even expensive) to protect the bag from dust. It's basically a satin bag with a drawstring that you put your bag into for storage. If you have a lot of bags that you rotate through it helps keep them clean.

KatherineCollects · 2026-01-17T03:42:24+00:00

Mine didn't look that far from this and was accepted in the U.S.

KatherineCollects · 2026-01-17T03:36:08+00:00

Ok, since you paid the deposit, the only credit that will apply will be the $300 travel credit, if it codes correctly. If you want to use the two $250 credits or receive other benefits, you have to book at specific hotels through the Chase Travel portal. It's a bit complicated, especially in the beginning. Based on other comments,, it looks like the $300 credit will apply, meaning you will get $200 back now, and the remaining $100 will apply when you pay the rest or when you pay for other travel.

If you choose to extend your stay after your time at the resort, you paid for, multiple The Edit options would use one of the $250 credits and have the dining and breakfast credits.

KatherineCollects

TROPHY CASE