Libby Rome

Blog about fun, good food, and ME!

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Life Update: Embracing Full-Time Cruise Living After Retirement

Hi friends. I know it’s been a few years since I’ve shown any signs of life on my blog. I even lost my LibbyRome.com domain name. 😦 But I promise I haven’t fallen off the planet. Quite the opposite, actually. I’ve been circling it.  For anyone new here, I’ve been a full‑time nomad for 16 years, mostly living in hotels. This blog used to be where I shared pieces of that lifestyle. And then… life…

Life Update: Embracing Full-Time Cruise Living After Retirement

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Fun on Virgin Voyages

My review of the Virgin Voyages cruise line

Virgin Voyages is a new adults-only, all-inclusive cruise line. My husband Dan and I sailed on the Scarlet Lady recently to see what it’s like. I’ve tried a variety of cruise lines – Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Norwegian, Holland America, Princess, and Cunard. They’re all quite similar to each other — for example, they have a fairly standard set of shows/musicians/magicians, a buffet,…

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Fun with Salsa & Margaritas in Cozumel

July has been a wonderful month! I’ve been super busy the past two weeks with publishing my book, Hotel Sweet Home. (Hooray!) Before that, I spent two weeks with my family and friends in Texas. It was wonderful seeing my parents again. Then I went on a cruise with my sister Wanda, niece, and best friend Missy (BFFs since junior high, over 30 years ago). Towel art and chocolate covered…

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Fun in Key West

I hope everyone is doing well despite COVID-19 and everything else that’s making 2020 a year most of us just want to be over now. For me, a lack of travel has meant time for a re-assessment of my life goals and passions. I have re-discovered my passion for healthy cooking and healthy eating, and I became a certified nutritionist. I have recently made a decision to focus my blog, my Facebook page,…

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Fun in New York City

I have been to New York City several times, and I have had a variety of experiences and opinions. My daughter Sarah excited about flying from Houston to NYC in 1999 I had a wonderful first trip to New York City, 20 years ago. My sister Wanda was living and working there. She bought my daughter Sarah and me a flight to visit her and to explore the city. Sarah and I gladly accepted the opportunity.…

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Revolutionizing Travel: How ChatGPT AI is Changing the Way We Explore the World

Artificial intelligence is here! Microsoft has invested and partnered with OpenAI, who  developed the innovative AI-powered chatbot technology called ChatGPT.  The uses of ChatGPT seem endless – from customer service and language translation, to education and research, healthcare, and content creation (like this blog post).  Personally, I am excited about the value ChatGPT provides for those…

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Sarah’s Wedding

What a wonderful day! My husband Dan and I are in The Netherlands helping our daughter and new son-law celebrate their commitment. One year ago my husband collapsed in front of me while we were watching TV. I called 911 and performed CPR until an ambulance came and spent a frightful half hour continuing to revive him (it’s not like the movies!) The next day in the hospital, the doctor told me…

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Surviving My Husband's Cardiac Arrest

Surviving My Husband’s Cardiac Arrest

A standard Monday evening with my husband Dan suddenly turned tragic. One month ago, while watching Netflix together, Dan announced he wasn’t feeling well, then collapsed to the floor. I grabbed my mobile phone and called 911. My call to 911 lasted 6 minutes. “My husband is having a medical emergency.” The 911 dispatcher asked me whether Dan was breathing. I described the unusual noises he was…

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Opening New Doors in 2021

Opening New Doors in 2021

One year into the pandemic — what is a nomad to do? With no home and no car, I have enjoyed living wherever I want, primarily in hotels, for the past decade.  All my belongings fit in two suitcases, and travel is in my blood. However, the COVID-19 pandemic means travelling is both limited and risky. Staying in hotels during COVID adds an additional health risk, primarily due to guests not…

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I make Chef AJ’s #yummy #sauce often because it’s an easy way to add extra #flavor and #nutrition to my meals. Eg, #protein #iron #vitaminc 1 lemon, juice and zest 1 can cannelini beans, rinsed and drained 1/8 tsp garlic powder (or 1 garlic clove) 2 Tbsp mustard (yellow or Dijon both work well) 3 dates 1/2 cup water Soak the dates in 1/2 cup water, and remove the pits. Blend together all ingredients. (Lemon juice, zest, beans, garlic powder, mustard, dates, and the water the dates soaked in) Warm up and serve over veggies, rice, potatoes, etc. Prepare for #Yummy !😋 If you make it a little less thick by adding more water, it makes a great cold #coleslawdressing too. #healthy #yummy #wholefoodplantbased #wfpb #chefaj #hclf #oilfree #wfpbno #starchsolution #mcdougalldiet #plantbased #vegan #veganrecipes #healthysauce #wfpbsauce #foodstagram (at Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/CLJpCK3Jf83/?igshid=16x7kzekkz0mo

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#throwback to my 2011 vacation in Rome. I never noticed #berniesanders there before. Neato! Also, hooray for our first female Vice President #kamalaharris - I am so excited about our future! #bernieinrome #unityisstrength #berniememes #unity #vacationwithbernie (at Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/CKVx64IJ9bv/?igshid=imhhvnzlzy44

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Apple crisp time!!! 🍎😋 I used my #meyerlemons 🍋 in my favorite apple crisp recipe. “Lemon juice prevents oxidation of the apples, which means that it stops the slices from turning brown by providing a barrier between the apple's flesh and the air.” Filling: 4 apples, diced 🍎 1/4 cup applesauce 1 Tbsp lemon juice (optional) 🍋 2 tsp cinnamon Crust: 1 cup oats 1 ripe mashed banana 🍌 Combine the filling ingredients and place in a casserole dish. Combine the crust ingredients and spread on top of the filling. Bake for 375 for 30 minutes. Enjoy!!! This #recipe is basically an oven adaptation of Chef AJ’s air fryer apple “pie”, which I previously shared. I love a yummy dessert that’s full of nutrition. If I overindulge, no problem. It’s so healthy and yummy, I even eat it for breakfast. Hooray for #healthydesserts !!! 😋😁 #wfpb #wholefoodplantbased #vegan #vegetarian #applepie #vegandessert #healthyeating #wfpbnooil #hclf #applecrisp #applecobbler #starchsolution #healthydessert #eatrealfood #easyrecipes #easydesserts #holistichealth #foodstagram (at Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/CKOgVHMJiVl/?igshid=1ld6itxmef0eb

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Time for an easy, yummy, healthy, & versatile sweet Lemon Sauce. 🍋 1 tsp lemon zest 3 Tbsp lemon juice (Meyer is preferred) 1 Tbsp maple syrup 1 tsp dried oregano This sauce makes steamed #vegetables taste scrumptious. I also enjoy it drizzled over veggies with rice/quinoa/potatoes. Add some Balsamic vinegar, and it makes a delicious #oilfree #saladdressing. 😋 #wfpb #wholefoodplantbased #vegan #vegetarian #lemonsauce #healthyeating #wfpbnooil #hclf #meyerlemon #chineselemon #lemondressing #wfpbno #wfpbsaladdressing (at Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/CKHEdfEJTrW/?igshid=f03jb1inff1p

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Thank you to the nice people who picked and bagged their extra lemons and placed them outside with a sign saying “Free Meyer lemons.” 🍋 Meyer lemons are yellow and more round then other lemons. Best of all, they are sweeter and less bitter than lemons. It’s described as a cross between a lemon and a mandarin. 😋 Maybe you knew that. But did you know that Meyer lemons are named after Frank Nicholas Meyer (1875 – 1918), a United States Department of Agriculture explorer who first brought the seeds from China. He was actually born with the name Frans Nicolaas Meijer in Amsterdam. There’s some lemon knowledge for the week. Now get ready for some upcoming healthy lemony recipes! #healthyeating #hclf #meyerlemon #chineselemon #iloveflorida #meyerlemons #keto #foodstagram (at Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/CKE9xr-J_4f/?igshid=1uqf6ig29ni9k

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Mmmm. Berry 🍓 #cobbler 🍨with banana 🍌 soft serve #nicecream 🍦 I sure treat myself well! 😂 I make this dish often because it’s so simple and yummy: Place berries (or diced apples) in a dish. Top it with a mixture of oats, cinnamon, and applesauce (or mashed ripe banana). Bake it at 400 degrees for about 30 minutes, and voila! It’s even more #ahmazing topped with banana nice cream, which is just a slightly frozen banana blended with a splash of plant milk and some cinnamon. 😋😋😋😋 So delicious and healthy!!! Just fruit and oats, wow! 😁 #wfpb #wholefoodplantbased #hclf #healthyrecipes #eatinghealthy #healthydesserts #easyrecipes #starchsolution #plantpowered #vegan #vegandessert (at Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ9ECZMB_Kc/?igshid=1uursdl771nz0

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I gave myself an @airbnb #ironchef challenge: Find one new seasoning or other ingredient in my #vacationhome and make something new (and healthy). Winner! I know there were no other competitors, but I still clearly won the challenge because this #soup is delicious! I found “Chili Parsley” seasoning blend from Modern Gourmet Food. Garlic, ginger, and chili spices make a common trinity for Chinese cooking. I figured those flavors with the parsley and the various produce in my fridge would make a nice Asian veggie soup. I started by browning an onion, then added vegetable broth, potatoes, carrots, celery, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, zucchini, about 2 teaspoons each of garlic powder and ginger powder, and a Tbsp of the chili parsley seasoning blend. I let it simmer for about an hour. Hooray for #yummy soup on another chilly #winter day. #wfpb #wholefoodplantbased #vegan #vegetarian #lowcarb #souprecipe #healthyeating #wfpbnooil #chiliparsley #persilchili (at Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ6YcAVhSgz/?igshid=94wuoi34awdp

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Happy Sunday Funday! There’s something extra #fun about cutting a #pineapple on a pineapple. Can you believe I disliked the taste of pineapple for most of my life?! My distaste began when I ate warm canned pineapple when our house had no electricity during #HurricaneAlicia in #1983. Decades later I ate some fresh pineapple in #Panama #centralamerica and the delicious taste blew my mind. From then on, I have enjoyed the taste again; I even crave it! Maybe I should make a tropical punch soon. 🍹 Hmmmm. 🤔😋 Maybe when the weather gets warmer. It’s still so cold in Florida this weekend! I am staying in and playing computer games 💻 by the fireplace 🔥(with pineapple breaks as needed. 😂) #thelittlethings #pineapplesmakemehappy #cuttingboardart #wfpb #pineapples #fruit #sundayfunday #sundayvibes #hclf #vegan #plantbased #floridaweather #florida #eatyourcolors #foodstagram (at Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ31pqRhEbT/?igshid=1jiflln7odizz