25 Things...with Theresa

Keeping the '25 Things You Don't Know About Me' alive - and now it's my turn!  My first thoughts when I sat down with fingers to keyboard was this was going to be a really hard assignment.  However, once I got started, it wasn't hard at all and in fact, it was quite fun!  I realized I like myself and at 48 years old I can say I am mostly happy with the person I am (not in a conceited way - just a Sally Field kind of 'I'm proud of the person I am' way! :) )

So here goes...

1.  I'm obsessed with commas, and use, WAY, too, many of them!

2.  I love to be silly. My kids say I'm weird!

{A 'Selfie' from a recent trip - sending kisses home to my hubby and girls - That's me (Mimi) and the love of my life - Blake}

3.  I am a Grandma! (anyone who follows this blog knows this already, but I just wanted to say it out loud ~ again!)

4.  I am addicted to Nacho Cheese Doritos...seriously. If you don't believe me, come in the office and   check out all of my orange finger-printed papers!

5.  I can be pretty bossy ~ just ask my business partners!

6.  I'm blind as a bat and I don't wear contacts or glasses. Warning - move over when you see me coming!

7.  I prefer cats to dogs, but I have no cats and 2 dogs.

8.  I love ANYTHING to do with hair/skin care/make-up and have been known to spend upwards of 3 hours at Ulta! If the travel biz wasn't my passion, I would definitely be an esthetician or in the beauty field in some way. Until then, I practice on myself!

{Before and after hair shot - any blondes out there looking for the most amazing colorist - I have the perfect one!}

9.  I HATE professional sports. I actually don't care for sports in general but I LOVE to watch my daughter Lexie, a fastpitch softball pitcher, do her thing.

10.  I don't like the Beatles or Elvis. I mean, I really don't like them.

11.  I prefer seafood to any kind of meat and don't consider a salad a meal.

12.  I'm definitely a pool person but like the beach for walking.

13.  I don't like gardening, but I love gardens. Every year I vow to make a change and I plant tons of flowers in May. By end of June, they're dead. Every year.

14.   I'm a reality TV addict. I'm too embarrassed to list all of the shows on my TIVO.

15.  In relation to #14, I tease my kids that if, God forbid, we ever had a house fire, I'd grab my TIVO box before the family photos!  J/K (I think).

16.  I have 3 amazing girls and I'm nuts about them!! See #8. What would I have done with boys?

17.  I subscribe to 9 monthly magazines and People is the only one I religiously read cover to cover.

18.  I can't touch my toes with my legs straight (actually I'm not sure my finger tips even go past my knees, but who's measuring?).

19.  I'm obsessed with reading blogs. I especially love blogs about home design and beauty. I don't follow any other travel blogs... I think ours is the best!

20.  I think I'm a pretty good dancer.

21.  I'm not such a good driver.

22.  I think Dr. Phil is the smartest man alive.

23.  I totally believe in 'The Secret.'

24.  In relation to #23: I believe that God is all-knowing and has a plan for all of us.... A plan to give us hope and a future.  I'm so thankful for Him and for all of the blessings He has given me.

25.  Someday I'm going to be one of the travel experts for the 'Today Show.' Think that's far fetched?  Wait and see!

Until next time...

Funky Friday ~ Holiday Crafts For Kids!

I realize it's only Tuesday, but the post below was what I had setup to publish last Friday. After the devastating and horrific events in Newtown, I didn't feel right about posting an up-beat blog about something so trivial in the scheme of things. Before I get to my 'Funky Friday' post below, I wanted to link to a great resource I found if anyone else is wondering how (other than our prayers), we can help and support the families of Sandy Hook and Newtown, Connecticut: link.

________________________________________________________

My first time doing a Funky Friday blog post! It's kind of fun to have the opportunity to write about anything under the sun for a change. I wanted to show you all what I was up to last Friday with a friend and our two little ones... Making reindeer feet!

Blake's {not-so-little} footies!

No, we definitely did think this up ourselves! My friend came across the idea while browsing Pinterest. If you want to try it out for yourself, here's the original blog post.

Here's the sample picture... I think ours turned out pretty well, don't you??

It's true what parents always say... Time goes so fast and kids seem to grow and change in the blink of an eye! I love that I'll always be able to look back at those sweet little feet from Blake's 1st Christmas :) 

Below are some other fun holiday crafts I plan to try in future years. If you click on the picture, it'll take you to a link with instructions if you need them. I like all of these ideas because they're easy, inexpensive and they'll be great keepsakes!

Based on how much I enjoyed making the reindeer feet, Blake will probably be 15 and I'll be begging him to do Christmas crafts with me... Ha! Sadly, I'm not totally kidding.

Breezin' with Carnival Cruise Lines

A few weeks ago, a new ship 'breezed' its way into Miami, Florida and from what I've heard, she's making quite a splash! Carnival Cruise Lines' newest ship, the Carnival Breeze, arrived in Miami on November 21 and as her arrival coincided with the Thanksgiving Holiday, she even brought her own turkey along! The Carnival Breeze is the cruise line's 24th ship currently in service and she's also the 101st ship that has sailed under the Carnival brand since the 1970s. That's a lot of fun ~ wouldn't you say?

Carnival Breeze is the sister ship to the Carnival Dream and the Carnival Magic and shares some of their most popular amenities. The WaterWorks aqua park with its Twister corkscrew water slide, SportSquare outdoor recreation complex, with a mini golf course that lights up at night, a fitness area and a ropes course that lets you 'test your courage high above the sea', and my personal favorite, the Lanai, a scenic half-mile, outdoor, wraparound promenade deck with whirlpools that jutt out over the ships sides! Gone is the familiar glitz and glam and neon decor of what comes to mind when you think of a Carnival ship. The theme of the Carnival Breeze is much more laid back. Picture tropical island setting ~ palm trees, driftwood signs, beach umbrellas ~ Caribbean island style. Ahhhhh.

Gorgeous Atrium with stars that twinkle at night

Inside stateroom / Cloud 9 Spa balcony / Ocean Suite

One thing that hasn't changed is all there is to experience aboard a Carnival ship. The list for the kids is always endless and the Breeze is no different. Whether they elect to participate in the scheduled activities of Camp Carnival (ages 2-11), Circle C (ages 12-14) and Club O2 (ages 15-17), or find something to do on their own, the options are endless. While the kids are happily occupied, there's plenty for us grown-ups to do too! Experience a treatment in the Cloud 9 Spa, taste Carnivals own ThirstyFrog Red brew in the Red Frog pub, or take in some silence and relaxation in the adults-only Serenity area. Believe me, I could go on and on but don't just take my word for it! Take this virtual tour and then check out the other great videos on the Carnival Breeze on Carnival Cruise Line's Youtube page.

Great fun for the Kids: Waterworks AquaPark / Gameroom

Cherry on Top / Camp Carnival

Circle C / Club O2

Adult fun: Piano Bar / Liquid Nightclub / Winners Casino / Lanai seating area

Sapphire Dining Room / Blue Iguana Tequila Bar / Guy's Burger Joint / Fat Jimmy's BBQ 

The Library Bar / Limelight Lounge / Ovation Theatre

 Carnival Breeze is offering year-round 6 and 8 day Caribbean sailings from Miami, visiting some of the region’s most popular ports of call. Six-day sailings feature Grand Turk, Ocho Rios, and Nassau. Three different eight-day itineraries include an exotic southern Caribbean itinerary visiting Grand Turk, La Romana (Dominican Republic), Curacao, and Aruba; an eastern Caribbean itinerary visiting St. Thomas/St. John, Antigua, Tortola and Nassau; and an exotic eastern Caribbean itinerary with vistas to Grand Turk, San Juan, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten or Tortola.

If after all that, you're still not sure if a cruise on the Carnival Breeze is right for you, give me a call and I'll get started on my list of additional reasons you've got to experience this amazing ship! Honestly, the list is endless!

All photos copyright Carnival Cruise Lines

Until next time...

W.A.T.W. ~ New York City!

I

DECEMBER!

I love the hustle and bustle & all of the preparation that goes on during the Holiday Season! Actually, it's the only time of the winter season that I really don't mind the cold and the snow... I'll even quietly admit, I like it! I can't imagine being anywhere else at this time of year!

If I had to choose another city to hang my Santa hat, my #1 pick would be New York City. I've visited New York at other times throughout the year, but never during the 'Most Wonderful Time of the Year!'  If you're one of the lucky ones and are headed to the Big Apple for a visit, here's a list of Holiday Traditions you don't want to miss!

• Rockefeller Center Plaza - Breakfast with Santa, skating on the famous ice rink and probably the most celebrated Christmas tree around!  30,000 lights bright - a tradition since the 1930's!

• FAO Schwartz - New York's most famous toy store with real-life toy soldiers that greet their customers!

• Radio City Music Hall's Christmas Spectacular  featuring the infamous kicks of the Rockettes. A must see!

• New York City Ballet performance of 'The Nutcracker' at Lincoln Center is said to be magical, even for those who would rather take in a performance of the New York Giants!

• Grand Central Station - Grand Central Station is a must see itself.  The New York Transit Museum's Holiday Train Show on display until February makes it even more so!

• Macy's - The Holiday windows of Macy's New York are said to be a sight to see and what kid (or adult) doesn't want to experience the magic of 'Santaland'!

• Central Park - If the rink is too crowded at Rockefeller Center, head over to Central Park and try your hand at ice skating on Trump Wollman Rink. (tip: it's cheaper too!)

And who knows, you might even run into one of these or a number of other celebrities usually spotted around the city!

Josiah Kamau/Buzz Foto via People

Heidi Klum and bodyguard boyfriend Martin Kirsten take an afternoon stroll

Photo credit: Jae Donnelly/INF via People

Married life seems to be agreeing with Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake

Photo credit: Andrew Marks/Picture group via People

Kate Hudson looking gorgeous at a beauty launch for Almay Cosmetics

Photo credit: Alo Ceballos/Film Magic via People

Hugh Jackman hails a cab in the NYC's West Village

Photo credit: Chris Watts/INF via People

Sofia Vergara while in NYC to film her new flick 'Fading Gigolo'

Photo credit: Bryan Smith/Zuma via People

'Live with Kelly and Michael's Michael Strahan takes in the sites from the Empire State Building with twin daughters Isabella and Sophia

Photo credit: Jackson Lee/Splash News Online via People

Mariah Carey celebrates with Santa during the annual lighting of the tree at Rockefeller Center

And because I've shared with you just a few ways to celebrate the Holiday's in New York City, you can see why they call her 'The City that Never Sleeps'! With so much to see and do, there's no time for shut eye!!

Until next time...

Funky Friday ~ Let's Get Kinky!

I mean not literally, but I knew this title might get some attention! First off, an admission... I like the spirits. Not the spooky kind or the kind you can't see. I like the spirits that are in my glass! A glass of wine after a long day at work, a skinny margarita when I'm out with girlfriends, a pina colada while sitting in my chair on the beach with my latest read, (or pretty much any other excuse I can come up with to imbibe)! I recently discovered the most delicious liqueur and it's called Kinky! I feel like we're meant to be ~ even more so because it's made and distributed in my own town of St. Paul, Minnesota!

It may have out there for a while, but it's my new discovery and I'm loving it! I've been trying all sorts of recipes (thanks to pinterest), and since it's not realistic to invite you all over for a 'Kinky' party, I thought I'd share a few of my favorites with you here!

KINKY BUBBLES

Ingredients
2 oz.Champagne
2 oz. Kinky Liqueur
 Directions: Pour chilled Kinky into a Champagne glass then top off with champagne.

KINKY SODA

Ingredients

21/2 oz. Kinky Liqueur

Club Soda

Lemon or Lime for garnish

Directions: Fill glass with ice. Add Kinky and top off with club soda.

KINKY BREEZE

Ingredients

2 oz. Kinky Liqueur

1 oz. Coconut Rum

Splash of Pineapple Juice

Directions: Fill glass with ice.  Add ingredients. Mix and enjoy!

KINKY-TINI

Ingredients

2 oz. Kinky Liqueur

1 oz. Vodka

Orange for Garnish

Directions:  Add ice, Kinky and vodka to shaker. Cap and shake for a few seconds. Strain into chilled martini glass and garnish with an orange twist.

KINKY-RITA

Ingredients

2 oz. Kinky Liqueur

1 oz. silver Tequila

Juice of fresh lime

Lime wedge for garnish

Directions: Add all ingredients into an ice filled shaker. Cap and shake for a few seconds. Strain into a salt-rimmed margarita glass.  Add ice.

I wholeheartedly invite you to try these recipes or the many others shared on the Kinky Liqueur Pinterest page. I'd love to hear what you think of these or share one of your own with me!

Until next time...

Trend Alert! Barefoot Sandals

Happy Hump Day everyone! It's almost the end of the work day which means only two more days until the weekend (... not that I don't love my day job as a romance specialist for Midwest Travel Service!). I wanted to show you a few pictures of a new trend I've been noticing recently, barefoot sandals.

Barefoot sandals are actually beaded straps or jewelry worn on the toes and ankles. They are becoming a popular footwear option for destination wedding brides considering they have no soles or heels, but they still dress up the feet. As you may imagine, it would be pretty tricky to walk gracefully through the sand in heels, and no bride wants to come down the aisle looking awkward and uncoordinated!

Here are a few pictures of some of the options that I personally liked. All four can be ordered through Daisy Days.

Great classic bridal option

Maybe for bridesmaids? The beads could be any color!

A little cliche for a beach wedding, but still pretty...

For dinner on the beach during your honeymoon?

So unless you want to bring in a carpeted aisle with planks underneath for your beach ceremony, barefoot sandals may be a fabulous alternative to going barefoot. And simply because I love any excuse to reminisce about my own wedding, I'll show you my selection of bridal footwear:

How about this one? There's Mama Theresa helping me put them on!

What do you think of this new footwear trend? Would you ever try it out for your destination wedding or honeymoon? Don't be shy!! Let us know!

I'll Have a Blue Christmas!

As a lifelong Minnesotan, the only Christmas I'm familiar with is a 'White Christmas'.  Over the weekend I heard Elvis' rendition of 'Blue Christmas' and it was stuck.  One of those tunes that you can't get rid of and find it stuck in your head for hours!  Silently singing it to yourself, singing it loud and proud, humming it, over and over again! Very frustrating indeed - especially for someone who is not a big fan of Elvis.  (I know, it's hard to believe I don't like Elvis - I don't like the Beatles either - but let's stay on task here!)

It got me thinking...lots of people experience the season of Christmas without the white and I did a little investigating.  Following are some of the customs of popular places we head to when we want to escape the white and get into some blue!  The blue of the Caribbean Seas!

Junkanoo in the Bahamas!

Bahamas - How do they celebrate? Junkanoo!  Junkanoo is a Bahamian festival that occurs during the early morning hours of December 26 and the early morning hours of New Years Day.  It's a street parade, similar to the Mardi Gras of New Orleans, with colorful costumes, street dancing, and contests for the best music, costumes and best overall fun! Best thing about it?  Everyone is included!

Puerto Rico - A traditional favorite of Puerto Ricans is to gather at one another's door and sing holiday tunes while playing musical instruments.  We call it caroling...they call it Parrandas!

Cayman Islands - Those that feel it's just not Christmas if it isn't white can head to the Cayman Islands. Here local tradition calls for "backing sand" which is bringing buckets of white sand from local beaches and spreading it around their yards and homes to stand in for a snowy welcome for Santa.  The older I get, the more I'm liking that kind of white Christmas!

Traditional carols with a
reggae vibe - ya mon!

Jamaica - Shopaholics will love spending Christmas in Jamaica where the way to celebrate is with the Grand Market traditionally starting on Christmas Eve and running through Christmas Day.  Reggae music lovers will love the traditional songs sung to a reggae beat.

Costa Rica -Bright, tropical flowers are the star of the Christmas season in Costa Rica. The pasito (nativity scene) is decorated with wild orchids that bloom in the tropical jungle areas and colorful fresh fruit. Some of these scenes are family projects that take weeks to set up and can take up an entire room!

Belize -A holiday favorite in Belize is a rum-and-eggnog concoction called "rum popo" made with cinnamon, raisins and at least a pint of rum! Yum!  And if you're a 'birder', you might find yourself here for the annual Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count, a bird census performed throughout the Americas.

Mexico - The classic Poinsettia plant originated in Mexico and now it graces many a Christmas table worldwide!  Legend has it that a little boy named Pablo was walking to a shrine in his village to see baby Jesus and had nothing to offer the child. Having seen greenish branches that grew everywhere, he collected them and laid them on the manter though other children teased him. But to the surprise of others, red-shaped flowers soon appeared on each branch and the poinsettia was born!

Regardless if your preference for Christmas is blue or white, the general pastime remains the same around the world.  Spending time with family and friends.  Celebrating old Holiday traditions or starting new ones.  That is the most valued gift of all.

Until next time...