|
Hi Travel Family!
Yesterday's post was about a movie we watched and since then people have been emailing me asking where they can find it. Amazon! Of course!
Note: That is an affiliate link, which I make (maybe) a few pennies off. BUT that has nothing to do with my movie review. Read my review here if you missed it. If you enjoy off beat science fiction why not give it a try?
We were too busy today for movies, lol. 
The weather is crisp, but nice (read no snow/ice/rain/blizzards) so I'm doing a few DYI projects, I hope to post about tomorrow.
Speak soon!
0 Comments
 (2017) Kyle Gallner and Azura Skye in Alien Code Hello Travel Family!
How are things? This was not a travel week for me, sadly. :( I had company over and we were looking for a movie to watch... Note: We were not BFFs so the list from the 39 Movies was not going to cut it. He suggested Alien Code. A 2017 low budegt release that neither of us had seen, but had heard good things about. The whole idea of aliens, time travel and how we would fair isn't new, but this movies take on it was novel enough to keep you watching. The flim was actually quite good. The selling poit was the acting. The leads were very talented and way above par for a low budget movie. At time it had that kinda campy feel to it, but the actors made you quickly forget that. If you are looking for a good scifi flim no one has seen, check it out. Speak soon~  Hi Travel Family! The holidays are over and it's a few months before the next travel adventure begins, so what are you to do? It's too cold (for most of us) to do much outside....So why not invite your BFF over and have a movie marathon? I was inspired by a list of 'Chick Flick' movies I found online, thinking I probably hadn't seen many off the list. Turns out that while I don't watch much TV I do watch more movies than I realize! How many of these have you seen? Here are 39 movies to watch or re-watch with your BFF this winter: 13 Going on 30 17 again Breakfast at Tiffany’s Bridesmaids Bring it on Clueless Crazy, Stupid Love Dirty Dancing Drive Me Crazy Freaky Friday Friends with Benefits Gone with the Wind How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days Legally Blonde Letters to Juliet Little Women Love Actually Made of Honor Maid in Manhattan Mamma Mia Mean Girls Miss Congeniality My Best Friends Wedding No Strings Attached Pitch Perfect Pretty in Pink Romeo and Juliet Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion Runaway Bride She’s All That Sixteen Candles Sleepless in Seattle Sweet Home Alabama The Parent Trap The Princess Bride The Wedding Planner The Wedding Singer Titanic While You Were Sleeping You’ve Got Mail  Enjoy!  This post contains affiliate links- Hi Travel Family! This week I'm planning a three day weekend/get together for late January at my place. I have about a million and one things to do, but I'm so excited! I was looking for a gold, glitzy type theme for our get-together, but wasn't finding much except some NYE type stuff. And this party will be weeks after....The stores are putting out Valentine's Day decoration already and thats not the theme I was going for. #Fail It is almost impossible to find party ware that isn't aimed at small children or birthdays. I need something elegant, not too pricey and simple. Is that asking too much? When I didn't find anything in town I turned to trusty Amazon and they didn't disappoint. I will show you the plates/cutlery when they arrive, (they were Prime so it will be soon, lol) and I also found some cute, fun little extras I can add to the goodie bags too! Like this:  AND ITS ON SALE! Beginning Jan 1, 2019, You can Save 15.0% on select products from Smart Tart Design with promo code 15QUITTER, through 1/30 while supplies last. (Cute, right?) AND I found a coupon code I can share with you! Hit the link to see other cool stuff they have on offer. I'm also thinking of decorating with something like this:  It will look cute, but not too Christmas-y. I also found a code for it! Save 55.0% on select products from WED with promo code 55BKKMPD, through 1/3 while supplies last. Click here to take a closer look. Thank you Amazon, for saving the day for this event! I'm also looking at making the guest room a bit more "homey" and less "spare room - throw unwanted junk in here" lol, which is the current theme. So I've bought some plants and a few pictures and was looking for a nice duvet to dress it up some. I found a good deal on a 3 piece Duvet Cover:  I love the all white look. I think it looks uber clean and modern. This code will save up to 50% off on this cute set!
So all in all it's been a very productive day! I'm still not finished, but I feel like I am at least making progress. Expect another post when everything arrives - and if you want to use the codes, get on it! They are all limited time deals - some of them don't start until Jan- click each to read the start/end date. Catch you later~  Read Part One Here: Travel Fees and How to Avoid Them It’s been my experience that frequent flier programs are not all that. Be careful when it comes to using frequent flyer programs, because they sometimes impose fees on your supposed free flights. These could include a fuel charge, airport fees, and redemption charges when you cash in the miles. #Fail Whats a fuel charge? Fuel surcharges are another tricky fee to avoid. They are often tacked onto your frequent flyer miles, and to small children who don’t take up a seat. International flights will be the most expensive. It pays to compare costs carefully. The cheap fare you see may not be so cheap after all if the airline imposes fuel surcharges or other hidden fees.  And don’t get me started on checked bag fees! Most of the so called budget airlines will stick you will a $35 and up bag fee (each way) if you want to bring more than just a carry-on bag. As one of my friends points out this is the “Fly Naked” deal. Its cheap airfare if you don’t need more than a backpack, but if you are spending anytime anywhere your gonna need luggage and you will end up paying for that privilege. So if you plan on a trip longer than a few days, you will be adding a bag and a charge to the ticket price. But pack lightly, and beware overweight baggage fees. Over the limit fees can be exorbitant! If you are checking a bag, avoid adding even more fees by making sure you don’t over-pack. Weigh your luggage before you leave to avoid any surprises. Other fees on budget airlines you may be tempted to opt for are priority boarding and seat upgrades.  Note me sitting in the extended leg room seats whenever possible, lol Personally being 5’9 I usually buy extend leg room, unless it is more than the ticket, (yes, I’ve seen that). But priority boarding, if I have an assigned seat isn't an issue and can add another $10 - $25 per ticket, depending on the airlines. The only downside is you may not be able to put your luggage in the bin over your seat. But is that worth $25 to you? Personally I’d rather board towards the end, walk to my seat and take off, rather than sit for 10-15 minutes while people push by. But that’s totally up to you.  Aaah....the hurry up and wait of boarding. Car Rental Fees When renting a car, check to make sure the fee includes everything, with no added extras. Remember that your credit card will offer travel protection for collisions, so you might not need additional insurance. But it is always wise to call your credit card company before your trip to see if you have limited coverage out of state or out of country. I was picking up a car at Heathrow (London airport) and witnessed an American woman crying over the fact she thought she was covered until her insurance company found the international loop hole and she was on the hook for an extra $10,000USD in damages from the rental company. #TrueStory  Also beware key replacement, alternate drop-off locations, taxes and fuel surcharges can all be tacked on to the final car rental bill. Picking up a car in one state and dropping off in another usually cost me an extra $200USD. #AlsoTrueStory And there will also be a charge if the gas tank isn't at the level you picked it up at. It is always more affordable to top it off yourself, rather than opting for them to fill it for you.  Next time we will discuss accommodations and the hidden fees of some hotels and vacation rentals. Think those fees are small? I’ve seen hotel parking in New Orleans for an astonishing $45 a day! Along with holiday house fees you might not know about.
Until then~  Tidings of comfort & joy & all the best to you & yours, travel family! I hope all your travel dreams come true in 2019~ Enjoy the holidays!   Carcassonne, France Hello Travel Family! Hope you're having a wonderful winter day! I was digging around on an external drive looking for business files and found these pictures from a sunny day in France. How was this four years ago??  Carcassonne is easily accessed by Train from Spain or by Ryan Air from the UK. The first time I flew over Carcassonne I knew I had to go explore! Reading about the fortified town is one thing, seeing it from the air is another!  The Cite at night is breathtaking!  Full of many hidden gems!  If you are at a loss as to where to go in the south of France (and want to avoid the trite American tourist destinations), I suggest Carcassonne. "Since the pre-Roman period, a fortified settlement has existed on the hill where Carcassonne now stands. In its present form it is an outstanding example of a medieval fortified town, with its massive defences encircling the castle and the surrounding buildings, its streets and its fine Gothic cathedral. Carcassonne is also of exceptional importance because of the lengthy restoration campaign undertaken by Viollet-le-Duc, one of the founders of the modern science of conservation." read more  The Medieval City is beyond impressive.  From there you can rent a car and explore further the countryside,  Out driving-- eating and shopping in small markets to.. #FrenchThings I'm missing France and all things French right now. From the wonderful food to the good friends I have made there. I love Paris, because who doesn't? But I also adore the beauty of nature and the friendliness of the people in the south of France.  Too pretty for weather... Hence the (null)  This trip we stayed three months and yes, I cried when we left. I love how clear the water was! We stayed in a three story gite, right beside the river and could look out the window and see the fish swimming by! We were also less than a block from cafes and shops. It was a prefect holiday and I cannot wait to go back!
 We can't always run away to the ocean, sadly. Happy Monday! So how are things? I am finishing up a nice weekend off. #WIN I don’t know about you, but lately, I’ve been coming home from work EXHAUSTED! I promised myself I would stop complaining about how tired I was from work on here, but I was asked recently how I relaxed after a stressful day. Honestly, in the past I just sucked it up and keep going. I used to tell myself that this was my life and that I had to keep going, people were depending on me. End of story. But over the past few years, I’ve realized that if I want to continue to kick-ass at work, I need to make my health and well-being a priority. I have to set firm boundaries and build in downtime for myself. I stared by creating a routine to help me relax when I get home. This gives me time to unwind and de-stress and makes the rest of the evening so much better. Talking to other women it's the same. Let's face it, it hard to relax after work when you have so much to do at home or if you run a side business, and especially if you have a family. OMG! The work never ends!  OMG! The laundry never ends! I’d get home and think about the 10,000 different projects I wanted to get started on, plus all the normal day-to-day stuff like gardening and laundry that needed to be tended too and then stay busy until I fell into bed, sometime around 11:45. Relaxing wasn’t something I was totally comfortable with. So if that sounds familiar and you need some help in the relaxing department, I have put together a few easy ways to relax after a long day at work. Change Out of Your Work Clothes Begin the minute you walk through the door. There’s nothing better than getting home from work and changing into a comfy t-shirt and losing the bra! Changing out of my work clothes tells my brain that its time to relax, and that I can enjoy a few hours to myself, without the stress of work weighing on my shoulders. Turn off Your Phone I’m on my phone all day long, and if I’m not on my phone, I’m on my computer. I’m answering e-mails, returning voicemails, processing paperwork, so when I get home, my brain needs a break. I’m legit sick of my phone by the time I get home, so I’ve been making an effort to unplug for a couple of hours. I’ll leave my phone in my bedroom for an hour or two and I’ll go out to the family room to do anything other than check my social media. This has helped my sanity tremendously. #BIGWIN Meditate/Do Yoga After a long day at work, it’s so great to spend a few minutes meditating. I'm actually a meditating expert, (I teach meditation), and because of that I know that anyone can learn this simple form of relaxation. Begin by just sitting on the floor for five minutes, and do nothing other than focusing on your breathing. This is also a great time to give thanks for the day and just be still. But if you’re not a fan of meditating or you’re just not ready for it, do some yoga or at the very least, stretch. Chances are, you’ve been sitting on your butt all day long, and your body needs some stretching. Trust me, you’ll feel SO MUCH BETTER! Another great way to unwind is reading. Grab A Book It's no secret I am a total bookworm! I love to sit in the garden or my reading nook and just relax with a good book. Even if you can only read for half an hour it will help you relax.  Take A Bubble Bath I swear, I think my bath tub is my favorite part of my new house. If it wasn’t for the fact that you get all wrinkly after sitting in the tub for a while, I think I’d stay in there for hours at a time. After a super stressful day at work, there’s nothing like slipping into a hot bubble bath. I use two different kinds of soaking baths- eucalyptus/sea salt and lavender- both are amazing for helping me achieve a few minutes of pure relaxation.  And speaking of scents... Use Essential Oils Right before bed I turn on my diffuser. I keep it filled with essential oil and not only does it relax me, but it helps me fall asleep quickly. I have one in my bedroom, one in the guest room and a large one in the formal living room. Plus I'm thinking of adding one to my office. I love oils THAT MUCH. Light Candles After a long day at work, I love lighting candles. It really sets the tone for the evening and it helps me remember to take it easy. It signals my brain that the rest of the night is for unwinding and a gentler pace.  Herbal Tea
Unwind with a mug of soothing herbal tea. The feel of your favorite mug in your hand and the wonderful aroma of a soothing herbal blend work together to help you relax. There are so many different blends to try, just make sure you get an organic tea that is pesticide free. How do you unwind and relax from a stressful day? I'd love to hear your tips - leave me a comment below and let's discuss. Now I'm off for a long soak with a good book and a warm cuppa! Catch you later- |
Author Welcome to my travel blog, my healthy Vegan lifestyle blog and my life! It's a lot, but it's my passions and I just love to write about it. Here I share tips, stories and photos from my adventures and life. This is the place where people can find daily inspiration to travel and motivation to live healthier lives and laugh a bit too! 
Archives
January 2019
Categories
All
Most Popular Blog
|
RSS Feed
