PaddleBoarding For Dummies

 

Let me start out by saying that I’m quite out of shape. I like to say that the past year has not been kind to me, but in truth, I’ve not been kind to myself, either. While I’ve always been an active and physically fit woman, in the past year I stopped hitting the gym and doing my morning yoga, and it shows (body, mind, and flexibility). There was never such a wake up call for me as going paddleboarding in Turks and Caicos.

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This had been a relaxing, welcome few days of tranquility at Ocean Club Resorts, something I had been in short supply of as of late. When the chance came to go paddleboarding, I jumped at it. I loved my past experience with this sport, and was honestly looking for a little action. (I get squirmy sometimes.) I didn’t know what I was getting myself into.

I had previously tried paddleboarding in Florida, on calm, flat, and shallow water in a quiet lagoon. In better shape and with regular yoga practice, I hopped right onto the board, and stayed up the whole time, falling in only after about 2 hours right before we finished the tour. This time, however, was not the same. I was not able to even get onto the board without a whole lot of falling, tipping, and rolling right into the ocean. I finally got on, but could not get to a standing position. The rocking of the ocean had me completely off balance, and I was also quite frustrated with myself.

Two other members of the group went on ahead of us before myself and another “newbie” were able to right ourselves on the paddleboards, which (being both of us competitive in nature) made us want to catch up and figure out how to get up on that thing without drinking half the ocean in the process.
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“Cities and Towns of the Chesapeake” Book

Disclosure- I received a copy of this book for the purpose of review.  All opinions are my own and honest.

This would be a great book for anyone looking to tour or spend time in the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland.  It is full of photos and information that is easy to read and digest, and broken down into categories the reader will find useful.  With information about Maryland’s foundations and origins and great information about locals, eateries, locations, and history, it is a good read for anyone who plans on being in the area.  You can see the attention to detail by author William B. Cronin and how much time and effort he has put into the development of this book.
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An Enterprise-ing Way to Travel

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Enterprise Rent-A-Car for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

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Traveling during the winter months can be interesting.  Some but not all modern cars are built for all terrain.  For those of us who love the outdoors but for the most part drive into a city for work, driving a big 4 wheel drive vehicle to work everyday is not feasible.  But what happens when over Christmas your uncle invited everyone up to the house to go skiing?  Is your little city car expected to climb those hills?  Probably not.  One of the best options in this scenario is to rent a car.

One such option for car rentals is:  Enterprise Rent-A-Car.  The reason why I would like to point your attention to Enterprise is because right now (December 1 2013 through March 31, 2014) they are running a special promotion for their Enterprise Plus members.  With the promotion members can earn double points on certain rentals.

These include:

Purchase a qualifying rental (earn double points)

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Grapevine Texas Festivals and Events

Make your plans now to visit Grapevine, the number one festivals and events destination in Texas, in 2014. With annual festivals and events happening nearly every month, this is the perfect year to visit Grapevine and experience events that celebrate wine, family-fun, chocolate, history, a vintage railroad and more! Officially recognized as a World Festival & Events City by the International Festival & Events Association, Grapevine welcomed more than one and a half million visitors to the city’s festivals and special events in 2013. So, mark your calendars now and find out why everyone’s coming to Grapevine in 2014.

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  • Sweetheart Wine Trail, February 8 and 9: Love is in the air on the Sweetheart Wine Trail in Grapevine. This romantic escape features three tastings and food samplings at each participating Grapevine winery tasting room, a large souvenir wine glass and a bottle of premium Grapevine wine.
  • Jazz Wine Trains, March 21 and 22:  Jazz up your weekend on the Grapevine Vintage Railroad’s Jazz Wine Trains! The one-of-a-kind wine tasting experience features live Jazz entertainment, a delicious boxed dinner and samplings of Grapevine wines.  
  • 11th Annual Day Out with Thomas™, March 28, 29 and 30 and April 4, 5, and 6: Hop on board the rails with Thomas the Tank Engine™ at the 11th Annual Day Out With Thomas on the Grapevine Vintage Railroad. Activities include a train ride, storytelling and video viewing, temporary tattoos of Island of Sodor friends, and an Imagination Station with arts, crafts and more. Guests will also have the opportunity to meet Sir Topham Hatt, the Controller of the Railway on the Island of Sodor. The train ride is 25 minutes.
  • 10th Annual ChocolateFest, April 4 and 5: This annual fundraiser benefits Travelers Aid D/FW, an organization committed to assisting individuals and families facing a travel related crisis. On Friday, April 4, delicious delights await at An Evening of Chocolate and Wine featuring chocolates, wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres and live music at Delaney Vineyards, 2000 Champagne Boulevard from 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. Advance purchase is required.  On Saturday, April 5, enjoy a plethora of sweet treats at A Day of Chocolate & Art with chocolates, cooking demonstrations, art exhibits and sales at the Palace Art Center in Historic Downtown Grapevine from 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
  • Grapevine Farmers Market and Grapevine Market, April 10 – October 18: Experience the festive open-air European-style Grapevine market and show for an eclectic array of items including handmade jewelry, distinctive home décor, quality antiques and more. Open in Liberty Park, Thursdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Live a healthy lifestyle with delicious locally-grown produce and other products from North Texas vendors at The Grapevine Farmers Market. Open behind the Town Square Gazebo, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  • 22nd Annual Blessing of the Vines and New Vintage Wine & Gallery Trail, April 12:   Celebrate this annual European tradition dating back hundreds of years in Grapevine, the headquarters of the Texas wine industry.  On Saturday, April 12 at 11 a.m., experience Blessing of the Vines at Delaney Vineyards. This 400-year old custom is performed to ensure robust vines and savory grapes. Admission is free. After Blessing of the Vines, enjoy the New Vintage Wine & Gallery Trail throughout Grapevine from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Visit each of Grapevine’s wineries and sample the new vintage releases as well as enjoy live entertainment and food at each winery.
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Grapevine, the Christmas Capitol of Texas

 

Everything’s bigger in Texas!  Be it Christmas, or ice storms, Texas doesn’t play.  Grapevine, Texas, known as the Christmas capitol of the state, really showed me it’s stuff with it’s recent ice storm- but that didn’t keep a good city down. Texas still got it’s holiday groove on- albeit about 50 degrees cooler then it might be used to.

pic1We spent quite a lot of time in the Hilton Lakes DFW hotel, but I didn’t hear any complaining.  The rooms were very comfortable, and there were amenities like a pool and gym (which I never get to use, so hooray!).  However, I did do a “Supernatural” marathon with a friend while there, while eating chips and salsa.  Yep, the finer things in life  🙂  The rooms all had free cable and WiFi, and it was pretty fast, too.  Not just “fast for a hotel”- fast. There were several restaurants to check out (such as the below Bonnie and Clyde’s Hideout), so we were not hungry even when the storm kept us in.

Shrimp grits and chicken lettuce wrap

Shrimp grits and chicken lettuce wrap

The  Winewood Grill has a good variety of food (and imbibements if your heart so desires) as well as a super friendly staff. The ribs were a favorite of many, but the smoked Gouda mac and cheese was by far and away the best eats of the night.  It is also one of the restaurants’  most requested items, and for good reason.  Creamy, warm, and with a bacon topping (and mix in), there was nothing not to love about this comfort food created for grown up palettes.  Save room for dessert- you will need it with these Texas-sized portions!  But it’s worth it- share with a friend if you are running out of steam, or get a few to share with the table-none of them were disappointing.

hiltonWhen I awoke the next morning, Texas was officially frozen.  We were going to be spending the day at the Hilton- so down to The Vineyard I went to get some breakfast.  They had a quite large hot and cold buffet, as well as table service and an omelet station.  I was glad to see my favorite- biscuits!- which I don’t’ see a whole lot of in my neck of the woods.  All that eating sure does make you hungry….  LOL

texasWhen you are in Grapevine, be sure to check out Grapevine Mills, a huge shopping mall (which is also REALLY close to the Hilton, and you can be bussed there by the city busses for nearly nothing- it’s one of the many, many stops they offer for convenience for travelers. We ate lunch at the  Rainforest Cafe which is always fun.  Since the weather outside was frighting, we made sure to light our way with fun hurricane glasses of bright drinks that turned the table into a disco party.  The food was good- the chocolate volcano desserts and fun drinks made the meal, though  🙂
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Lake Placid Holiday Stroll

The Lake Placid Holiday Village Stroll is the perfect way to discover the magic of the holiday season in an Adirondack Winter Wonderland. The volunteer ran committee of elves has a wonderful weekend of art, music, gourmet foods and boutique shopping planned for the pleasure of visitors. Shoppers love the alternative to the big box store options and the intimate setting makes the Village Stroll appealing to couples and families.

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The Lake Placid Holiday Village Stroll features over 50 unique stores that accept holiday bucks to help you find the perfect holiday gifts in a serene setting. There is no hustle and bustle of the mall crowd to contend with, and you will find gifts that will be treasured by the lucky recipients.

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The weekend isn’t all about shopping. Families will love the ice skating party and Holiday Story Time at the Mirror Lake Inn. Couples will enjoy the wine tastings and art displays. Children will delight in the matinee showing of the Polar Express, the craft workshops and breakfast with Santa at participating hotels on Sunday morning.

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If you are traveling to attend the weekend you might wonder where to stay and eat. I have a few recommendations for you to consider while you are planning your 2014 Village Stroll trip.


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The Pines of Lake Placid  is truly a home away from home. Featuring a huge hot tub and gorgeous decor, the family operated inn offers a peaceful ambiance in one of the most beautiful places on earth. I loved the cozy atmosphere and wholesome vibe of The Pines. I had the pleasure of spending 2 nights at the Pines Inn, I had a lovely stay and was very impressed with the Pines of Lake Placid.  The beds were wildly comfortable, and it was within a short walk to all of the town festivities.  They also offered great activities for the kids and adult alike, from free movies and popcorn to wine and cheese tasting and a wrapping station.

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During my stay I dined at a few great places in Lake Placid. Duncan’s Grille at the Pines Inn offers Authentic German cuisine on weekends at affordable prices including Rahm Schnitzel, Schnitzel Cordon Bleu and Zwiebelsuppe. 
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A favorite place to dine or celebrate in Upstate New York is the Dancing Bears Restaurant, located at 2384 Saranac Ave., Lake Placid NY 12946 .  The energy of this establishment makes for a fun dining experience. The rich history of the restaurant includes the celebrations of Olympians during the 1980 games. On the menu you will find 3 egg omelets, gourmet burgers, lobster rolls and pizza to name a few.

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The Great Adirondack Steak and Seafood Companyoffers delectable selections such as the maple and pear flat-bread pizza, BBQ Brisket, Bangers & Mash and the Portabella Philly. The menu here is affordable, most options are under $13.  They also have an award winning beer which is loved by locals and visitors alike. Lake Placid beer this fresh is not to be missed, and the kids menu is awesome as well.  The below photo is a rib-kid-meal.
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Travel Well With Always- Prize Pack Giveaway

Disclosure: The below was provided for me in order to facilitate my review. All opinions are my own and honest. I am disclosing this in accordance to FTC Guidelines. Please see “Disclose” tab for more information.

As most of you know, I am a fairly constant traveler.  My son and I are always off to somewhere, and packing has gotten down to a science.  What goes where, how to pack the least while getting the most out of it, and to avoid checking baggage (both because of the fees and because they don’t always get where they are going.  Airlines….sigh.)

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Packing up

My son takes his own backpack, filled with toys and snacks to keep him occupied throughout the flights, I take my computer bag, and we both take our carry-ons.  In my computer bag, which goes under the seat in front of me, I always keep a book or two, my toothbrush, deodorant, and a few individually wrapped pantyliners.  I like to get off the plane not feeling all kinds of gross.

Don’t check your bag until you’ve checked to ensure you have the essentials!
With over 1.6 billion people traveling each holiday season, holiday travel can be filled with unexpected delays, long flight and cramped seats, putting you in sticky situations where you wished you had an essential item to keep you feeling your best.
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5 things to do in Koh Samui to celebrate the New Year

Thailand is a great place to celebrate the New Year. The Thai’s actually have three occasions that they celebrate New Year – with European friends on December 31st and January 1st, at the Chinese New Year in February and during Songkran in April, which marks the beginning of the traditional Thai solar calendar. If you are travelling to Thailand to celebrate New Year’s Eve on December 31st to welcome in 2014 – here’s an overview of some of the top things to do whilst you are there.

  1. Island hop to the worlds most famous full moon party over on Sunrise beach in Had Rin, Koh Pha Ngan. You can get a speedboat over from Koh Samui. Be warned this is not a suitable place for children and will be filled with 21-year-old party animals.
  2. New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner

Most of the hotels on the island will be having a Gala dinner at New Year. This is a great option for families – with an array of mouthwatering food on offer and traditional entertainment like Thai dancing. Please note when booking your hotel that the gala dinner is often compulsory and can add a hefty sum to your total bill.
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