Monday, December 30, 2013

Ashley's 2013 Review: Vlog Style

I'm excited to have another wonderful guest blogger. You may remember one of my besties, Ashley, as the reigning door decoration champ and from her previous posts on Door Decoration Tips and Winning Door Decoration Tips. Ashley is a Howie girl from New Jersey and you can check out her blog post about the cruise here.

This year Ashley did her cruise review vlog style. Her cruise review was in a series of her top 13 moments of 2013 countdown, which includes other exciting BSB and boyband adventures as well. I promise there's lots of fun and laughter in her videos ;) So without further ado- Ashley!
 
Ashley's Cruise Review

Review Part 1

Review Part 2

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

500 Reasons BSB is Larger than Life

I promised a few of you that I would post the digital version of our door decoration. So here it is! We came up with 500 reasons we love the Backstreet Boys. I wish I could take more credit for this door- but big thanks to everyone who helped which includes all of you who came by and wrote in some more reasons! And big thanks to Chrissy for putting it all together.





500 Reasons BSB is Larger than Life
  1. AJ’s jewelry line
  2. Wylee (Wylee parties)
  3. Nick plays a gnome in World of Warcraft
  4. They can actually SING
  5. Barricades…lol j/k
  6. Howie’s wiggling
  7. AJ looks great in a kilt
  8. Dorough Lupus Foundation
  9. Healthy Heart Club which is now Just Ask
  10. Not afraid to get up close and personal with the fans
  11. Together after 20 years
  12. They named themselves after a market
  13. They know (most of) the lyrics to their songs
  14. Tons of contests for fans to win VIPs, etc
  15. They paired up with another infamous boyband to form NKOTBSB
  16. Awesome body guards- Mike, Q, Josh, and Drew
  17. They have an amazing manager- Jenn
  18. They do Gangnam style better than Psy
  19. They spend their New Years Eve with the fans
  20. Kevin’s numerous emotional tears when he returned
  21. They’re releasing a documentary at Sundance and Toronto Film Festival
  22. They have amazing solo records outside of BSB
  23. Collaborated with some of the best in the business like Elton John and Sting
  24. Mediocre softball skills coming in second place versus the New Kids
  25. Brian’s random acts of silliness
  26. Kentucky accents
  27. Brian and Kevin are proud members of the Big Blue Nation
  28. Howie’s infamous wink
  29. They play their own instruments
  30. Write their own songs
  31. The fact that we’ve lost count of how many tattoos AJ has
  32. Passion
  33. Refer to ‘This is Us’ as ‘The Scissors’
  34. Beautiful wives/fiancees/families
  35. Our resident “bad boy” is the sweetest guy we know
  36. Johnny No Name
  37. Songs dedicated to the fans- Larger Than Life
  38. Songs dedicated to family - The Perfect Fan
  39. Inspirational
  40. Performed on a Penis Stage
  41. Everybody choreography
  42. As Long As You Love Me chair dance
  43. All I Have to Give hat dance
  44. The January 2000 Rolling Stone cover
  45. Backstreet time
  46. Spent 3 weeks together in London to put together the new album
  47. Their fans know more about them than they do
  48. Serenade fans on stage
  49. AJ jokes about his own ass, or lack there of
  50. They don’t take themselves too seriously
  51. Brian mimicking fans on stage so we know he sees us
  52. Howie signs his name with a smiley face
  53. Humble
  54. Nick makes a sexy mummy
  55. Catchy Burger King jingles- “Hold the pickles, hold the lettuce, special orders don’t upset us”
  56. They do soundcheck parties and meet and greets for all of their concerts
  57. Wear goofy aprons during the BSBBQ
  58. Howie was a vampire before it was cool
  59. Brave enough to do not 1, not 2, but 3 cruises with their fans
  60. Nick invites fans to play Team Fortress with him, even though most of us aren’t that good
  61. They keep their cool when reminding the media that Backstreet’s not back, they never went anywhere!
  62. AJs raspy voice
  63. They remix their classics like I Want it That Way, to keep it fresh for us
  64. Brian sings to a Christmas tree
  65. Honest
  66. They do karaoke with their fans
  67. Pick on each other
  68. Nick makes a sexy ninja turtle
  69. Brian makes Elmo look good
  70. They strip down to do the Harlem shake
  71. Survived Lou Pearlman
  72. Their album sounds even better when they are under their own record label
  73. Nick’s writing a self-help/autobiography
  74. They’re not afraid to sing a capella
  75. Nick and Lauren help inspire fans to stay healthy with KittFit
  76. They chartered their own freakin plane
  77. They can and do dance, unlike some of the newer generation of boybands
  78. They can answer a question so genuinely and pretend as if they’ve never answered it before
  79.  Broadcasted their 20th anniversary event so everyone around the world could watch
  80. AJ keeps us entertained us with booomb videos
  81. Brian constantly chirping with fans
  82. Brian’s impromptu ustream chats
  83. Howie will call/skype with fans
  84. Nick’s pranks
  85. Nick’s great drumming/guitar skills
  86. The fact that Howie said he’d ask for a refund if he got Nick as his backstage VIP tour guide
  87. Nick’s ‘classy’ wardrobe, especially while on tour
  88. Brian’s brightly spray painted shoes
  89. Nick’s younger brother looks just like him
  90. Mix the classic dance moves with the new stuff
  91. Drowning music video (original version)
  92. Kevin’s piano skills
  93. They have 2 awesome Christmas songs
  94. They’ve recorded a couple of their songs in Spanish for the Spanish-speaking fans
  95. Even they don’t know the meaning of I Want It That Way
  96. AJ will never let Nick forget that he is the reason Don’t Want You Back wasn’t a single
  97. Brian dedicated a song to the shooting victims in Connecticut
  98. Brian has been known to break into tears while singing more emotional songs
  99. They sing If You Want it To be Good Girl for their fans even though they don’t like the song
  100. Brian doesn’t hide the fact that he hates ‘Masquerade’
  101. They performed alongside Seth Rogen in the hilarious movie, This is the End.
  102. AJ is no stranger to humping a stage
  103. Their advice to other boybands is to take pictures, do autographs, and be grateful for the fans
  104. Brian has been to a One Direction concert
  105. They are popular AROUND the world
  106. Aj isn’t stingy with sharing pics of his baby Ava
  107. Appreciative of their success
  108. Brian’s sense of humor
  109. Brian’s faith
  110. Baylee takes after his dad and opens for their concert
  111. They can also act
  112. Brian likes to sing responses to questions
  113. Take pictures with cute panda bears in China
  114. Howie likes to try the local cuisine when he visits each country
  115. They’re great role-models
  116. Frick & Frack
  117. They’re business minded
  118. They view each other as family
  119. They will sing live during their concerts
  120. Integrity
  121. They pray before each show
  122. They are a vocal harmony group
  123. Bring sings with his eyes closed
  124. They bring together fans from all over the world
  125. AJs openly supports the LGBT community
  126. They produce their own music
  127. They did the best Letterman top 10 ever
  128. Brian has a man crush on Mark Wahlberg
  129. Brian’s brightly colored shoes make him hard to miss
  130. Stuff like that…
  131. Inspirational songs dedicated to anti-bullying- Madeleine
  132. Nick’s a Tampa Bay Bucs fan
  133. It took 10 years for AJ to discover the show, Friends
  134. Backstreet Boys 2.0 is in the works as more backstreet babies are being born
  135. Howie almost fainted at the birth of Holden
  136. Kevin used to work at Disney World, combining 2 ultimate loves
  137. They’re so amazing that Orlando officially declared a Backstreet Boys Day.
  138. Best selling boyband of all time
  139. Millennium broke too many records too even name
  140. Brian courageously stood up for the group when he filed a lawsuit against Lou.
  141. They work with some of the best producers in the business
  142. They learn key phrases in the local languages to better communicate with fans
  143. Greatest Hits Album
  144. Performed at the Super Bowl
  145. We’ve seen them play tennis at Arthur Ashe Kids Day
  146. Been on countless top talk shows including Oprah and Letterman
  147. Turned down a reality show to replace Kev. He is irreplaceable!
  148. Have a legacy with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
  149. Musical style has evolved over the years
  150. Variety of musical influences incorporated in their songs such as pop, R&B, hip-hop, etc.
  151. Partnered with Sears
  152. Nick partnered with Stan Lee to make BSB superheroes
  153. Did a commercial for Old Navy
  154. They’ve won too many awards too even list
  155. They all came from humble beginnings and worked for all of their success
  156. Welcome Home is an amazing Christian album
  157. Brian overcame heart surgery at such a young age
  158. Brian started singing in his choir
  159. They make the same jokes all the time but we still love it
  160. Appeal to kids with performances on Sesame Street and Arthur
  161. Brian met his wife on the set of As Long As You Love Me
  162. Brian made an appearance next to his wife in the movie Olive Juice
  163. AJ isnt afraid to share his personal struggles with alcoholism
  164. AJ started his career with awesome Nickeloden and Disney appearances including Hi Honey Im Home and Welcome Freshman
  165. They have great opening acts like Jesse McCartney and Jordin Sparks
  166. Howie is so wonderful with the fans giving hugs, autographs, and pictures
  167. Howie eagerly embraces his latin roots
  168. Howie manages the group, Neverest
  169. Howie joined Britney Spears on her South American tour
  170. Howie started a real estate company with his brother
  171. Kevin did school plays in high school including Bye Bye Birdie.
  172. Kevin nailed the role of Billy Flynn in Chicago
  173. Nick had his own reality show with House of Carters
  174. Nick’s brief cameo in Edward Scissorshands
  175. Howie’s brief cameo in the movie “Parenthood”
  176. Nick continues to embrace acting with cameos on 90210, American Dream, and 8 Simple Rules
  177. Nick is multi-talented and releasing a horror movie- Evil Blessings
  178. Nick has directing talent as well with his project, The Pendant
  179. Brian is brave enough to get into a photo booth with fans during his Healthy Heart Club events
  180. Brian works as a salesman during Leighanne’s Wylee parties
  181. Brian is willing to step into a dunk tank at his HHC events
  182. The group could make their own dictionary with words and phrases such as “betterly”
  183. They have enough songs to do a whole hour or more of straight Backstreet karaoke.
  184. They fight for what is right, like trying to finish a concert when it gets shut down early.
  185. They have after parties for their concerts to keep the party going
  186. Howie won’t go on stage if hair #72 is out of place
  187. Nick & Howie’s recent bromance
  188. Nick’s not afraid to admit Howie is his favorite Backstreet Boy
  189. AJ has a confessional booth in his house
  190. Nick’s muppet dancing
  191. Kevin’s eyebrows
  192. The fact that Kevin looks like Snoop Dogg
  193. The way Kevin talks so s-l-o-w-l-y but is so genuine at the same time
  194. Howie’s hips just keep going and going!
  195. The way Howie’s nose scrunches up when he's really happy or smiling/laughing
  196. Nick’s arms
  197. Nick’s eyes
  198. How Nick’s not afraid to be himself
  199. Nick’s thrusting in concert, even during the slow songs
  200. ….Maybe its me?
  201. Nick’s laugh
  202. Brian’s arms
  203. Brian’s Donald Duck voice
  204. Brian goes above and beyond on his backstage tours answering all the fans’ questions
  205. Brian’s chiseled jaw line
  206. AJs chicken legs
  207. AJs long beautiful eye lashes
  208. The high level of energy they have on an off the stage
  209. Brian was Nick’s guardian
  210. “Its all in the wrist…”
  211. Howie signs all the checks
  212. They have a board game
  213. Howie’s Jesus hair
  214. Howie’s the high maintenance diva of the group
  215. They have ridiculous contests like who can hold their head in a bucket of ice the longest
  216. They make cheesy jokes about Howie’s “big wood” referring to his bass guitar
  217. Nick gets so emotional on stage when he sings
  218. When they sing "cause you know that" in backstreets back
  219. Nick resigns in Florida
  220. The way AJ belts out the ending to so many songs
  221. They sing the name of the city they’re performing in during I Want it That Way
  222. How Brian actually runs when they sing things like "Doesn't really matter if you're on the run"
  223. “Looks like a field goal to me bob"
  224. Nick & Howie’s stuck in traffic song
  225. Their amazing photographer, Justin
  226. The way the can channel their inner 80s rock star- sphynkter!
  227. Always so classy in their suits
  228. "Howard! Censored!”
  229. The fact that Nick didn’t know what Family Feud is
  230. AJ has no sense of geography even though he tours the world!
  231. Kevin is the big brother of the group
  232. I’m on a boat!
  233. They remind us to “Hide your kids, hide your wives”
  234. Teach us how to practice safe sex with “protect your tings, use a rubber every time”
  235. Nick likes to step on the plane with his right foot got good luck
  236. Nick taped the 2010 cruise interview video from a bathtub
  237. Brian makes the best Prince Charming in Enchanted
  238. They even make sexy old men
  239. AJ knows his way around a stripper pole
  240. Brian likes to mock Nsync’s dances
  241. Nick still had the tag on his jacket for the cruise concert
  242. The fact that Howie threw an ironing board out of a window
  243. 130 million records worldwide
  244. They refer to the song as “Ill be the One”
  245. They’ve been known to all share the same bed on occasion
  246. Kevin flew with the blue angels
  247. Opening the This is Us concert by jumping through the screen
  248. The antenna poles for Don’t Want You Back during the Millennium tour
  249. The poker table and boxing ring in the Unbreakable tour
  250. Incorporating coffins during the Homecoming tour
  251. The hover board entrance for the Millennium tour
  252. Nick wears shirts from the fans
  253. Their fans climb over barbed wire fences for them
  254. AJ has every nerf gun known to man
  255. AJ’s song, London
  256. Confetti “snow” falling during Siberia in the Never Gone tour
  257. Brian likes to act out lyrics to many of their songs
  258. They like to talk to fans about common interests
  259. Kevin likes to remind us constantly that him and Brian are cousins
  260. They have to dress a certain way in LA (All Access Video - ALAYLM)
  261. Howie is a flippy cup master
  262. AJ isn’t afraid to do a little cross dressing
  263. AJ refers to his group as “twatsicles”
  264. AJ has bought a remote control car to play with on tour
  265. AJ bought a skateboard for easy travel underneath the NKOTBSB stage
  266. AJ loves wal-mart
  267. Wet Backstreet Boys in the Quit Playing Games video
  268. Kathy Griffin is a proud BSB fan
  269. Brian is a man that looks good in pink
  270. Brian in tank tops….
  271. AJ isn’t afraid to get a spray tan
  272. Brian barefoot skis in The Outdoor Lights Promo video
  273. They are charitable by supporting the MDA telethon
  274. Howie’s sweet falsetto voice
  275. The way Howie says ‘my wife’
  276. Howie can play the bass
  277. They don’t call Howie Sweet D for nothing
  278. They have cool nicknames like Bone and Kaos
  279. Howie sure knows how to make love to a pillow
  280. Brian can do a great ‘worm’
  281. Traveled around the world in 24 hours
  282. Brian named his fridge Sammy
  283. Hold the record for the largest indoor concert at the Atlanta dome
  284. They’ve been nominated for 7 Grammys and joke they are the Susan Lucci of the Grammys
  285. They’ve even performed at pet stores
  286. AJ did a Doritos commercial
  287. How Brian lifts his leg when he sings
  288. How they brighten our day
  289. They work hard
  290. They’ve matured
  291. Charismatic
  292. They know how to keep the Backstreet Pride Alive
  293. Per Brian, BSB is larger than the summer of their parts
  294. The Night Out video
  295. Backstreet music transcends generations
  296. Kevin was voted Sexiest Male Pop Star by People Magazine
  297. Howie wants bacon, eggs, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, guacamole…
  298. AJ wants to cook us breakfast, lunch and dinner
  299. Nick wants to kiss us, kiss us, kiss us and kiss us
  300. Brian will B-rokin’ our house
  301. AJ wears sunglasses, even indoors
  302. Nick chose BSB over the Mickey Mouse Club
  303. Nick is a 5 time winner of In-Style magazine’s sexiest male musician
  304. AJ has a cooking pig named Herbert
  305. AJ is friends with Lance
  306. They actually read our signs at concerts
  307. They almost called the album "Larger Than Life" but they didn’t want people to think they were full of themselves
  308. Kevin randomly rode a horse through New York City
  309. Even when Brain is being rebellious he does it in a religious way with his tattoo
  310. They constantly thank their fans
  311. AJ is constantly changing his hair style
  312. Nick is a video game fanatic
  313. Millennium sold a record breaking 1.1 million albums in the first week
  314. I Want it that Way is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
  315. They truly love what they do
  316. The next generation of boybands pay homage to them in their videos
  317. Nick used to stand on a tree stump and pretend the grass was his audience
  318. Kevin’s deep sexy opening in I’ll Never Break Your Heart
  319. They have the most dedicated fans
  320. Brian has said that being successful is a marathon not a sprint
  321. They youtube their own dances to relearn the old steps
  322. They’ve grown up with their fans
  323. Kevin very carefully answers every question
  324. They made it big in Canada and Europe prior to hitting it big in America
  325. Good sense of style
  326. Each bring something unique to the group
  327. They have the ability to make us laugh, smile, and cry with their music
  328. They have a great time when they’re on stage
  329. The Boys performed their first big show together at Sea World over 3,000 people
  330. Kevin called Brian in the middle of history class to join the Backstreet Boys
  331.  BSB dominated the 1999 Billboard Music Awards, winning Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Album Artist of the Year, and Album Artist Duo/Group of the Year
  332.  Black And Blue sold over 1.6 million copies in the US in its first week
  333. BSB drew the largest crowd in Good Morning America’s history
  334. They're the only group since Sade to release 7 consecutive albums in the top 10 of the Billboard Top 200
  335. 48,000 fans swarmed the outside of a hotel in Rio for a mere glimpse of the 5 boys
  336. Nick is a licensed scuba diver
  337. Nick was voted Sexiest Man Of The World by CosmoGirl Magazine
  338. Kevin founded Just Within Reach in memory of his father
  339. AJ won a silver medal on 'Guts' in 1992
  340. Howie’s sense of humor
  341. The way Brian says “Me Too” when he will be at a concert with the fans
  342. Howie’s Giligan quote from All Access (I can’t remember the exact wording of it right this moment)
  343. Kevin will stare at you straight on for minutes while singing during concerts
  344. Brian likes to jump off of/over parts of the stage
  345. The Boys like to entertain themselves during the M&G portion of VIPs by singing, play fighting, stealing purses, attacking Justin, and much more
  346. They aren’t afraid to get up close and personal during after parties
  347. Brian watches every single performance of Baylee’s from the side of the stage
  348. Nick is the only Boy that seems to want AJ to keep his beard
  349. Brian is awesome at riding a kid’s tricycle.
  350. They feel comfortable enough to bring their children on tour.
  351. All Access video
  352. Brian has written two songs about past love.
  353. Baylee is Brian’s mini-me.
  354. Howie is teaching James how to act for the ladies.
  355. They have awesome friends that are known to the Backstreet world - Mark and Jodi
  356. Brian’s athleticism
  357. Howie did not want to stop partying on the 2011 cruise.
  358. Brian has the best ad libs during songs.
  359. They are the only reason why fans still have VCR’s in their homes.
  360. They make dreams come true.
  361. The paid homage to Denniz Pop in the “Show Me the Meaning” video.
  362. Brian’s smile.
  363. AJ tries to keep himself out of situations to maintain his sobriety.
  364. Their fans get Backstreet tattoos to show their dedication.
  365. Great choreographers - Fatima Robinson
  366. AJ’s “Good God” during “Get Another Boyfriend”
  367. Brian’s bromance with Joey McIntyre
  368. They look sexy playing instruments.
  369. It’s truly a treat when Brian lifts/takes off his shirt.
  370. There is always a BSB song appropriate for your mood.
  371. Nick’s voice has continued to get stronger with age.
  372. They do surveys to get fans’ opinions.
  373. Brian’s sparkely blue eyes.
  374. Nick and Brian recreate scenes from Titanic.
  375. Brian crowd surfs.
  376. Brian’s Movie Music Machine commercial
  377. “Larger Than Life” holds the Guinness World Record for 12th most expensive music video
  378. Brian is so competitive he always cheats.
  379. Nick’s new reality show to document his road to his wedding
  380. Howie’s SNL “Tiger Beat’s Ultra Super Duper Dream Love Show” skit
  381. They give fans a reason to travel the world in order to see them.
  382. The littlest interaction with them makes fans feel so special.
  383. Fans meet their best friends because of BSB.
  384. AJs super cool nail polish
  385. AJ is happily married but eats like he’s single
  386. AJ really doesn’t filter himself at all when it comes to instagram
  387. AJs impression of Nick
  388. …and Nick’s impression of AJ
  389. Kevin keeps his composure doing a show even during a “wardrobe malfunction”
  390. They are referenced in many popular shows and movies including How I Met Your Mother
  391. Brian shares photos of landscapes and landmarks from all over the world
  392. They were featured in an art gallery
  393. Brian’s arms gets tired after flying all over the world.
  394. They always let us know when they have landed safely in distant lands.
  395. Brian loves shoes.
  396. Brian can’t live without ESPN.
  397. The Littrell family dresses alike in Wylee on family vacations.
  398. They can write their own songs.
  399. Fame has not gone to their heads.
  400. Brian did a Christmas tour with Rebecca St. James.
  401. Kevin’s man skirt
  402. Kevin’s eye contact during conversations
  403. Kevin’s “I Want It That Way” return in LA during NKOTBSB
  404. Kevin can ballroom dance.
  405. Kevin played football in high school.
  406. Kevin is great at retweeting and responding to fans on twitter
  407. Kevin always makes it a point to thank the interviewer
  408. Howie has his own ‘100 kisses’ chapstick
  409. Howie refers to his fans as ‘his lovelies’
  410. Nick does skype chats with his fans
  411. Howie made it a point to finish his Associate’s degree even after BSB became successful
  412. Howie has stated the only way he’ll get a tattoo is all the boys got one
  413. Nick’s voice has gone through puberty 3 times
  414. Kevin surprised everyone at the Staples Center in LA during the NKTOBSB tour
  415. They refer to each other as brothers
  416. Howie wrote the intro in Nick’s new book
  417. Brian quotes scripture in this thank-yous on the album
  418. Kevin is a perfectionist
  419. They find it amusing to hit each other in the private parts all the time
  420. Kevin admitted to crying at Toy Story 3
  421. Howie's fist pumping in In a World Like This
  422. Howie's twirling in In a World Like This
  423. Nick thrusting in every song even the slow ones
  424. Kevin's Kentucky drawl in feels like home
  425. Kevin beating the drum during the acoustic set
  426. Brian's high notes in In a World Like This
  427. Howie's high note in Love Somebody
  428. Kevin, Howie and Nick doing after parties every night and dancing with fans
  429. Kevin being so thankful of everything
  430. AJ not caring what anybody thinks of him and doing what he wants
  431. The way AJ sings Try
  432. Kevin came back!
  433. Kevin’s beautiful green eyes
  434. Kevin is a great song writer (Back to Your Heart, Show Em What You're Made Of)
  435. Kevin isn’t afraid to share he doesn’t wear underwear
  436. Kevin is always giving back to the fans by stopping for pictures and autographs
  437. Kevin’s mohawk
  438. Howie has his own theme song! "This is howie do it"
  439. The pics Howie posts with James
  440. Howie’s part in Trust Me
  441. Howie’s handwriting
  442. The beautiful songs Howie has written
  443. Nick and AJ get “Low” during cruise dinners
  444. They shaved a fan’s head before she started chemo
  445. AJ didn’t know how to play Musical Chairs
  446. They play Twister with fans
  447. “Are you STILL talking?” - Nick Carter to Howie D.
  448. They’ve held the Stanley Cup.
  449. Nick has made the New York Times Best Sellers List
  450. super hero action figures
  451. The pranks played during the last show of tours.
  452. Kevin wore a bunny suit when Kristen and he announced baby #2.
  453. Rochelle didn’t know AJ was a Backstreet Boy when they first started dating.
  454. Howie met his wife, Leigh, because she was the BSB webmaster.
  455. Howie makes a sexy Tony Montana
  456. Kevin & Howie have carried the Olympic torch.
  457. They’ve been animated.
  458. You can’t help but think about running your hands through Kevin’s hair.
  459. They always give back to the community.
  460. The Countdown is On commercial series.
  461. The “Got Milk” ad.
  462. Cause they're Larger than Life
  463. Brian in a wet t-shirt
  464. Howie's cute spanish skills
  465. BSB fans are awesome!
  466. Nick might not wash his hands after using the restroom
  467. They are sweet guys, always taking time for the fans
  468. Brian Thomas Littrell makes good hush puppies
  469. Howie is so proud when he hears their songs on the radio in public
  470. Brian is so hot and plays religious music
  471. Their music brings super awesome people from around the world together! 
  472. Nick's tummy when he lifts his arms
  473. Nick loves the ocean
  474. Brian feels like Kevin when he looks in your eyes
  475. Kevin's salute
  476. AJ is proud of his new hair plugs
  477. Howie Do It!
  478. Brian won the obstacle course without cheating
  479. Their faith
  480. AJ is so excited to get a selfie with the president
  481. Kevin spends so much time taking phots with the fans
  482. They have terrible handwriting
  483. They don't know how to spell Millennium
  484. Many of them wanted "Siberia" to be a single
  485. All the boys in sailor suits
  486. It took Brian 20 years to go shirtless for the Show Em What You're Made of video
  487. Nick likes Brian's shiny nipples
  488. They work with amazing photographer, Tyler Shields
  489. They make sexy Village People
  490. Howie loves his rum
  491. Kevin's solo project would be called 'Cover Story'
  492. Nick's DJing skills
  493. Brian will challenge interviewers to name popular Backstreet songs
  494. They (claim to) be good at remembering their fans
  495. Brian has a hibachi grill in his house
  496. Nick understands what its like to be a fanatic with his Bucs
  497. They play each other in fantasy football
  498. Kevin would interrogate the fans if given the chance
  499. AJ loves his Ryans- Reynolds and Gosling
  500. They're doing a 4th cruise!

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

11 Steps to an Easy Breezy Booking

Hello cruisers- I've been getting a TON of questions related to booking, and understandably so, its stressful! So I thought I'd put together a quick 11 step guide to help with the process. But first I want to answer the most commonly asked booking related question.

How does booking work with a roommate, specifically in terms of payment?

Good question! So here's how it works. You each need to create an account with Rose Tours. You do that before booking. Once you create an account you can put your credit card info in there. So when it comes time to book- only one of you will book the cabin but it'll have a screen where it asks for your roommates name and email address. So for example if you book it, you'll need your friends email address and full name he/she signed up with. Make sure you get the exact spelling. Then there will be a screen where you have the option for 1 person to pay the deposit or for everyone to pay their own portion. Its a nice system such that you don't need to hand over your credit card info to other people.
Ok back on track....
 


Step 1- Pick your Cabin Mates
You can't go any further until you decide on this step because it dictates which cabins are available.

Step 2- No roommate? No Problem!
Don't let the fact that you have no one to go with stop you. Trust me! I didn't let it stop me the first year and I'm so glad I went. If you don't have a roommate, and still want to cruise you have a couple of options. You can do the roommate match program, where Rose Tours will pair you with someone. You just won't know who it is until about a month out.
You can also try to find a roommate on the fanclub forums, twitter, or on facebook. I especially see a lot of folks looking for roommate in the facebook groups. If you cant find the groups, shoot me an email and I'll invite you to the group.

Step 3- Pick your Cabin
Now that you have an idea of how many people you'll be rooming with, you need to decide what type of cabin you want. Interior, oceanview, balcony, or suite. You need to pick what works best for you, your budget, and needs. Once you decide on what type of room, you also have the choice to pick what deck and what specific room you want. I recommend taking a peek at the Ecstasy deck plans so you have a sense of where everything is.

Step 4- Have a Plan B
Make sure you discuss with your roommates what your backup plan is in case your first choice room isn't available. Id suggest having a Plan B, C, and D just to be super safe. There's no time to waste on booking day going back & forth, so be make sure you're in agreement.


Step 5- Devil is in the Details
Once you have the cabin decided- you also want to decide with your roommates which dining you prefer. Early or late. It doesn't really matter, its a matter of personal preference. You may want to check and see what your friends are doing so you can all be in the same group. But just make sure you and your roommates are in agreement.
Another thing you'll need to decide before you book is if you want insurance. I'd suggest reading over the policy on the website to see if it makes sense for you and your situation.

Step 6- Block off the Calendar
Only 1 person is needed to book the room. If you're in charge of booking, make sure you are available when the tickets will go in sale. Past passengers & fan club presale will be January 7, 2014 at 12PM EST. The general cruise will go onsale January 8, 2014 at 12PM EST. So start faking that cough now so you can call in sick the day of.  Do whatever you need to do. I already have a meeting I'll be blowing off.

Step 7- Register Now
Everyone in your party needs to create an account with Rose Tours. This is super important. Create an account here. Make sure you enter all the necessary info including your credit card. If you're in charge of booking, make sure you have your roommates' full name (spelled correctly) and the email address they signed up with. This will tie to the accounts together.

Step 8- Presale Info
If you are participating in the pre-sale, you should receive an email from Ground Ctrl or Rose Tours with the password a few days before booking. Keep that password handy!

Step 9- Have some Wine
Come booking day, seriously, whatever you need to do take the edge off and relax will be helpful. I promise it's not as bad as you think. So try as best as you can not to stress.

Step 10- Book your Cabin
Ok I know this it the big step. You will book the cruise here. It's done through Rose Tours and backstreetboyscruise.com NOT the official BSB website. You will be taken through a series of prompts, its quite painless. I did a previous post with a step by step if you want to check it out to make sure you're super comfortable with the process.

Step 11- Celebrate
Time to excitedly blast all over social media that you are officially cruising with AJ, Brian, Nick, Howie, and Kevin! And don't forget to start that countdown timer along with the diet regimen.

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

The Evolving Backstreet Cruise

I'm proud to say I've been on all 3 cruises and will hopefully be going on the next cruise as well. Every cruise seems to keep me on my toes and have a completely different vibe from the previous. So I'm going to take a quick look down cruise memory lane and make some predictions for the 2014 cruise.

2010 Cruise

The first time the boys are brave enough to face the sea. This cruise was probably the most unlike the others because it was a half charter, a day longer, and they had a kick-ass pre cruise acoustic concert. So the trip translated into 5 days of Backstreet goodness. And with a half charter, that meant only 1 of each event- none of the group A/group B nonsense. We were all in the same dining and all got to see everything. This also meant that there was a lot more opportunity to see the boys during the downtime. They actually got to sit down and have dinner with us, knock on cabin doors, and hang out in the club with us after the events.

The other neat thing about this cruise was that everyone and their mother came, including Howie's mom! Most of their family was able to join and a lot of their friends were able to come as well. With that came pros and cons- I think it was neat to see all of their loved ones. But it arguably took time away from fans.

The boys were still quite scared and unsure on what to expect for this trip. That was really evident in their interactions with the fans. Moreover, the fans didn't know what to expect. There was no practically no camping out because we were all still learning the ropes. That and there were half the number of people on board.

Overall this trip felt more like you were on vacation and backstreet boys & their families happened to be there too. There were less events and a lot more downtime. You actually had time to sit by the pool and relax, go figure!

2011 Cruise

In 2011 they went to their first full charter and cut back on the number of days. Now we're down to a 3 day cruise, but the good news is they still kept a pre-cruise event so 4 days of solid BSB fun! There were twice the number of fans, and people started catching on to how things work. It became tougher to get closer to the stage at events. Fans came to reunite with old friends they had met from the first cruise.

The boys definitely felt a lot more comfortable on this cruise, knowing what to expect. I think they let loose a bit more, as evidenced during some of the theme nights.

This was the first year that we had to deal with early/late dining groups, which was certainly an adjustment.

Looking back I'd say this cruise had the most ideal Backstreet Events: Vacation Time ratio of the three cruises. Lots to do, but still had some time to relax and eat.

2013 Cruise

I'll cut to the chase, the 2013 cruise was nuts. They kept up a 3 day cruise, but got rid of the pre-cruise event so know we're down to 3 days of BSB excitement. That said- they sure filled those 3 days!

I think the fans were the most crazy this year. Felt like a lot of first time cruisers were on board due to the excitement of the 20th anniversary and Kevin's return. Meanwhile repeat cruisers now know all the ins & outs and tricks of the cruise. Fans were camping out by the stage for hours, even forgoing other events to do so. It just felt so much more chaotic to me.

The itinerary was also the most busy its ever been, primarily because of the addition of solo events.  Not complaining, but it didn't feel like a vacation- it felt like a BSB marathon. I was forced to skip meals because there was just no time to eat. It left me feeling exhausted, and from what I could tell, the boys exhausted as well. There was a lot less of those random run-ins because there was no downtime.

I believe Leighanne and Howie's brother, John, were the only family members still brave enough to still board the ship with all of us. Its becoming clear that this is "work" for the boys, not time to vacation with their family in the Caribbean.

Rose Tours keeps honing the trip and making the events better. Boys are also getting really comfortable at the events and giving us what we want including more chances for interaction, more pictures, etc.

2014 Cruise

I have a few predictions for 2014. I think the fans are going to continue to get worse, in terms of camping out by the stage and mobbing the guys. Repeat cruisers are just getting more and more experienced on how to work the system and get their moments. This past cruise I was roaming the halls looking at door decorations and I see a bunch of girls camped out by the crew entrance where the boys would theoretically come out of the crew corridors to get back to their cabin. Oye! Every year seems to get progressively worse.

That said, it seems like a lot of repeat cruisers are not all eagerly signing up as they were in the past. Mainly for 2 reasons. First is cost- some can't afford yet another cruise so close to the last one and so close to the holidays. Second- I think a lot of fans have had their fill, so to speak. After a couple of cruises, some people got a taste of it and that was all they needed. Lucky for me, I don't fit in either of those categories.

Once again I think there's going to be very little to no downtime. At this point I dont think they'd take away the solo events, so I think we're going to have another very busy schedule. I also see the quality of the events just getting better as they need to continuously need to outdo themselves.

These are just a few of my predictions. Do you guys have any?

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Anchors Deep...Cuz the Backstreet Party Don't Stop. Cruise 2014 Announced!

Here we go again!!





Presale Info
Past Passengers & Fan Club presale -  January 7, 2014 at 12PM EST
General Onsale January 8, 2014 at 12PM EST

Ship
The Backstreet Boys Cruise 2014 Sails on the Carnival Ecstasy!

The Ecstacy is a sister ship of the Imagination. That means it has all the same features of the Imagination and the same capacity. The biggest difference is MORE BALCONY CABINS!

Itinerary

Friday, Oct. 24, 2014 Miami, Florida 12:00PM(boarding begins)- 4:00PM
Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014Half Moon Cay 9:30AM- 6:30PM
Sunday, Oct. 26, 2014 Fun Day at Sea           
Monday, Oct. 27, 2014 Miami, Florida 8:00AM   

Pricing
Couldn't figure out how to do a chart in my lovely blog so you get this screencap instead :)