Hotels Aren?t the Only Place You Can Stay on Vacation!
November 13, 2007
Today, we as travelers have a ton of options to consider. Where to go, how to get there, where to stay, what to take, how to plan, where to find deals? You get the point. Well, this article is to introduce you to options on where to stay other than a hotel.
Hotels are a great option. They can be just what you need for your trip, especially if it’s just two of you. You can go with big chains that are well trusted or small chains that may take some digging to ensure you get a nice, clean, affordable hotel room with everything you need. However, if you travel with a number of people or as a family, a hotel room can get cramped, lack privacy, and get expensive when you upgrade to suites and add extra amenities (like a kitchenette).
Hotels though are great because it is easy to find a lot of good deals with all the viable travel sites out there.
But, you do have other options?.
**How about a condo? Condos are great, and in some destinations the main option. Condos can be small or big. They offer added space, extra amenities, prime locations, and at prices that are comparable to hotel rooms.
Cornucopia Centerpiece for Thanksgiving Day
November 12, 2007
As we enter into the month of November my thoughts turn towards Thanksgiving and everything that this wonderful holiday has to offer.
It is a time for spending time with family and friends and for counting the many blessings the past year has brought to us. Like most people I like to decorate for the holidays, and Thanksgiving is no exception.
Indian corn, pumpkins, gourds, wheat, fruits, nuts, and anything that symbolizes a bountiful harvest are at the top of the list for things I like to include in my decorating scheme. The best way to incorporate all of these items it to design a cornucopia centerpiece for Thanksgiving Day.
What is a cornucopia?
Cornucopia is a Latin term derived from two words, cornu meaning horn and copia meaning plenty. The horn of plenty, as it is also known, is shaped like a horn or cone. It is usually shown overflowing with nuts and fruit.
(Freeman, Morton, S. The Story behind the Words. Philadelphia: Isis Press, 1985)
This everlasting symbol of abundance is easy to create and will become another important tradition you will want to share with your family each year.
Cornucopia Centerpiece:
How To Stay Slim During The Holiday Season
November 11, 2007
The majority of people find themselves carrying additional fat once the holidays are over. Worst of all, most of them never lose this extra weight. Over the years, few pounds gained over the holidays here and there add up to 10, 20, 30 pounds of excess fat!
To avoid falling into the holiday fat trap, follow these simple tips:
1. Don’t deprive yourself. Munching on a green salad while everyone is feasting on turkey and stuffing is just not worth it. You will end up miserable, and chances are you’ll binge at home or on the next party. Depriving yourself once is likely to cause you to eat everything in sight the next day to “compensate” for your suffering.
2. Don’t stuff yourself. You are not a turkey, after all! 
Remember, this is not the last time in your life that you can eat.
3. Eat a small meal several hours before the party. This will prevent you from being too hungry when faced with abundant menu. When you are not starving, you can think with your brain, and not with your stomach.
I am in a Snit
November 11, 2007
I am in my yearly snit. Now my wife would contend that I am in a snitty mood daily and sometimes more often than that. However, I am in my Yearly Snit-it’s the Tourist Season.
The tourists flooding into Guanajuato is not news, I guess. We have them all year round. In the month of October, the month of the infamous-you can only find it here-Festival Internacional Cervantino, there is an influx of 50,000 plus tourist who stay for the entire three weeks this hardy-party lasts.
What I am talking about, is the time of the year, the summer, when AMERICAN tourists coming pouring into our adopted city throwing money around like it was pigeon feed, and expecting the locals to bow and scrape before their American presence, kissing their rings, and whatever else they would like the locals to kiss.
Now, if you think I am at all exaggerating this let me tell that once I had a conversation with a woman from America about his very issue. She wanted to know why she felt, “under the eye”, or “looked down upon” in San Miguel de Allende (another little colonial town not to far from where I live but much more infected with American tourists). I told her exactly why. It wasn’t received well. She acted as though I had just made several obscene gestures and cast doubt as to the true source of her paternal origins.
Santa Goes Low Carb!
November 10, 2007
North Pole- The word is out! Due to an “unpublished dilemma” last Christmas Eve Santa has gone Low Carb!
Sources reveal that Santa was stuck in a chimney somewhere in California for over an hour last Christmas Eve - how embarrassing! The incident certainly wreaked havoc with his jolly schedule for the most important night of the year. In the aftermath, it caused Santa to really stop and think.
After careful consideration - Santa and Mrs. Claus decided they could not risk a repeat of the incident, but more importantly the risk factors associated with Santa’s health - oh my! Right after the holidays, Santa visited his primary care physician for a complete physical. A “new lifestyle” was decided upon - It’s the “Low Carb Lifestyle” for Santa!
Santa has Changed His Mind - Changed His Heart - and is Losing Weight for Life! Will this make Santa “less jolly”? Absolutely not! Fat is not what makes Santa jolly! His weight goals are not to be a skinny “Twiggy Santa” but rather a “healthy weight Santa” with less inches (for some VERY obvious reasons). The keyword here though for Santa is: HEALTH!
New Year?s Resolution: Love Your Body!
November 9, 2007
Ah, the beginning of a New Year. A time to reflect and start anew: new hopes, dreams, goals for yourself. Speaking of which, have you taken that all important inventory of your body, yet? Is this the year you’re going to make the change?
Wondering how to begin? Read on?
Most people begin a new year in earnest; dreaming of building a shapely new body. However, by the end of January they are back to their same old habits. This year make it easy on yourself; simply commit yourself to building healthy body. The rest is easy: you’ll need only to glean the proper education and time management. Here, I’ve outlined five basic steps so you can easily begin your commitment to a healthy, shapely new year:
Step One: Begin where you are. This sounds logical but it’s true. All you really have is this moment; today. The past is behind you, learn from it, then let it go. Aim to be grateful for where you are right now, give thanks for who you are. You are unique and special. In fact, take some time to list all of your greatest gifts. Reflect on them and give thanks.
5 Tips To Spend The Most Luxurious Caribbean Vacation You Ever Dreamed Of!
November 8, 2007
Tip #1 : Buy a beach front Caribbean villa! Buying Caribbean beach front property can range from a bargain to outrageous. This does not mean that the cheaper Caribbean beach front property is any less beautiful or luxurious than the more expensive ones, but rather means the location is different. For instance, Caribbean beach front property in the Bahamas is beautiful, over run with tourists, and incredibly expensive. However, Caribbean beach front property in the Dominican Republic is just as beautiful, has less tourists, and a considerably more affordable price tag.
Tip #2 : Rent a villa for your trip! If you are not into real estate investment, why not rent a villa instead? Often, the price will not be a lot more expensive then an all inclusive package in a crowded hotel. And instead of having to eat buffet food for a week, you can cook your own meal, or even have someone do it for you!
Tip #3 : Rent a Caribbean island! Did you know you can rent a whole island just for yourself? This can come with staff and everything you need to spend a luxurious vacation. It is also a very nice idea for a wedding!
Unique Gift Ideas for the 21st Century
November 7, 2007
As a personal growth specialist, I like to think I’m hip. I like to think I am avant garde. I like to think I am on the cutting edge ? despite what everyone else around thinks about me.
I read last year that the growth sector of the future is in healthcare and wellness. So, being the hip, avant garde, cutting edge kind of guy I think I am, I decided I would give very unique and personal healthcare birthday gifts.
For Aunt Marsha, I settled on a facelift. I was so excited, I just couldn’t wait to see her face. Either the old one or the new one would do.
“What’s this?”
“It’s an appointment for a facelift.”
“A facelift?
“Yes. Next week.”
“An appointment for a facelift? Next week?”
“That’s right.”
“This can mean one of only two things…”
“What two things, Aunt Marsha?”
“Either you think I am uglier than a bearded manatee with blow torch burns…”
“Oh no, Aunt Marsha. You are as beautiful as a graceful flamingo with blow torch burns.”
The Bloated Bar Mitzvah Celebration: 6 Ways to Take It Back
November 6, 2007
Bar Mitzvah celebrations have grown exponentially in size and scope in the past twenty years.
That’s great news for me; I derive much of the income I earn as a party entertainer from working at these events. Nonetheless, I offer this advice to those planning Bar Mitzvah celebrations:
Less is more.
Becoming a Bar Mitzvah is a major milestone in the life of a Jewish youngster. It is a joyous occasion deserving of celebration.
While the Bar Mitzvah service is a religious ceremony, the reception that follows is a thoroughly secular affair.
In a generation, the typical Bar Mitzvah reception has grown from a homegrown simple affair to something rivaling many weddings in its elaborateness and cost.
And, like the over-commercialization of Christmas, what is intended to be a joyous celebration of friends and family has gotten out of hand.
Don’t misunderstand. I share the joy of the Bar Mitzvah’s family. I’ve felt much joy when members of my own family and friends’ families have reached this threshold.
It’s just my observation that too much of the time the celebrants aren’t enjoying themselves very much.
European Car Rental - Top Ten Tips for Europe Travel - Tip #4: Before You Go
November 6, 2007
Many people believe that the first thing you should do to plan a trip is to figure out where you want to go. In a way this is correct, but only in a general sense. For example, say on your next trip to Europe you want to visit France, Spain and Italy. This is fine and you should have an idea of this to begin with. The reason that I wrote the previous three articles in the order I did: Car Size & Type, Price and Insurance, is that I feel you should have a good idea of what it is you need before you decide on what it is you want. The same is true of airfare and hotel accommodations as well but here we are only talking about planning the car rental part of the trip.
