Mothers Day, Do You Know What Youre Giving The Woman Who Gave You Life?
January 23, 2008
Mother’s Day, Do you know what you’re giving the woman who gave you life? by DeAnna Spencer
I decided to deviate from my normal discussion of marketing and advertising to discuss a major gift giving holiday.
Mother’s day is coming soon. May 8th to be exact. That is right around the corner. Did you ask your mom what she wanted for Mother’s Day? Did she give you one of those “Whatever you think of is fine, dear.” answers? Or even better, did she say, “Oh you don’t have to get me anything.” Here are some suggestions of things to get your mom for Mother’s day.
Gift Certificates to a spa. Tickets to the theater(movie, opera, musicals, whatever she’s into). Something personalized with your picture on it. There are lots of places online that will put your picture on a wide array of items: hats, tote bags, mugs, the list goes on and on. This is especially good if you live far away from your mother. She will always have something to remember you by while you are away. Time to herself (see the spa idea). Cook instead of waiting all day at a restaurant. Spend some time with her. Sometimes that is even better than the most expensive thing you could find in the store. A coupon to do the laundry (or whatever other chore your mom hates) for a month. If you have small children in the family, offer to babysit.
Youre How Old?!?
January 22, 2008
“Well, Happy Birthday! How old are you anyway?”
“Oh, I’m just 29 ? again.”
It’s a harmless game, denying our age, right? We play sensitive about our age as we get older, as we get further away from birth and closer to death. It’s just a way to share our unease of growing older with people around us.
Try as we might, time marches on and we get older just the same. I was reminded about this when I recently read that we are now seven million years old. That’s at least a million years older than we were just one year ago.
Of course, that does not mean you or I personally aged a million years in the past 365 days. That would be either a horror movie or the work of a genius. An early human skull found in the Sahara Desert is 7 million years old, pushing “the start of human evolution back at least another million years.”
For you and me, age is important. Denying one’s age, or even being sensitive about it, can be disabling. Our years, our lines, our scars are part of who we are. They should be a matter of comfort and pride. Happiness eludes us when we feel embarrassed, guilty, or shy about who we are.
What are the Lodging Options when Visiting Orlando Florida for Our Family Vacation
January 21, 2008
Lodging Hotels in Davenport, FL
There are numerous choices for lodging hotels in the Kissimmee, FL area. Vacationers most often think of the standard hotel with smaller sized room when booking travel accommodations, but considering a vacation villa could prove much more accommodating for you and your family. Island Club Resort and Spa in Davenport, FL offers villas and suites of all sizes, as well as the amenities you would expect from a five star resort. The two bedroom suites are three times the size of a normal hotel room! You can relax, kick your feet up and feel comfortable knowing you made the right choice for your resort lodging. Think you are sacrificing dining options, maid service or maintenance by choosing a villa option? Island Club Resort and Spa offers 24-hour guest services and security. If you need something at 3:00 a.m., rest assured that Island Club will be there to answer any questions you have. The resort offers on-site check-in so you will never have to drive too far to relax and settle in. Your suite not only comes with kitchenette accommodations for the convenience of cooking in your room, but the resort offers a full service restaurant. Visit http://www.island-club.com today for a virtual tour of this resort lodging option and information for booking your reservation.
Importance of Thanksgiving
January 20, 2008
Thanksgiving is the most important holiday of the year.
Oh, sure, Christmas is grand, and I know it has many, many fans. I’m not knocking Christmas, but Thanksgiving is more important. And Easter has its fans, too. Rebirth is a wonderful thing, but I still say Thanksgiving is more important. Yes, the kids might put in a good word for Halloween. I am sure they enjoy the costumes and the sugar overdose, but Thanksgiving is more important.
Why?
Because the two most important words in the English language are “Thank You”. This is true for business success, for social pleasure, even for self-actualization.
For business success, a thank you tells a prospect or partner that you are appreciative of what she has just done. It shows you have a genuine interest in that person and the business relationship.
For social interaction, expressing gratitude is equally important to show how you value the other person and the social relationship you have with him. Thank you is a bonding phrase.
But thanksgiving is most important on a personal level for our own happiness. This is true for anybody who has ever lived, but it is even more true for us today.
Single During the Holidays
January 20, 2008
Mistletoe. Holiday parties. New Years kiss at midnight. This time of year can be challenging for singles. With such an emphasis on family togetherness and couples exchanging heart-felt gifts, it’s hard not to hear the message ? the holidays are not for me.
At family get-togethers you get grilled about what’s going on in the "romance department." In-laws, whose company you cherished all year long, become reminders that you don’t have a "special someone." No singles shopping for gifts appear in the barrage of holiday commercials. If you are single, and not dating anyone, these holiday images can lead to emotions ranging from sadness to depression.
So, what is the best way to combat the holiday blues? Although the following strategies can be applied throughout the year, they are particularly useful during the holidays.
Don’t deny your feelings.
Emotions are neither right nor wrong. They are just how you feel about your situation. Allow yourself to be sad, without the guilt. However, be conscious of how you act on your feelings. Actions to emotions can be right or wrong. Anticipate before going to family events how you will handle dating status questions. It’s best to have a pre-planned strategy of how to politely change the subject. When asked about your love life, a simple, "There’s no news in that area, but here’s what I am doing at work", might be just enough to redirect the conversation.
How You Can Save Up to 50% or More on Your Next RV Rental Vacation
January 19, 2008
RV rental vacations aren’t cheap, but they do contain loads of opportunities for savings. In fact, there are probably more ways in which the proactive RV rental vacationer can save money than in any other mode of vacation travel.
Entertainment costs are often lower (enjoying RV and campground experience often serves as a major source of entertainment). You also have the option of doing some, or all, of your own meal preparation ? meals and drinks can cost about the same as if you’d stayed home.
An RV vacation has potential for savings in a wide range of areas. Here are a few examples:
1. Travel in the Shoulder Seasons. The Shoulder Seasons are those periods between the big prices (and huge crowds) of Peak Season and the low prices (and generally unpleasant weather) of Off Season. Depending on the part of the country, the dealer, and the time of year, Shoulder Season base rates can be 20% to 40% below what you would have to pay in Peak Season. If you don’t absolutely have to travel with the big crowds, explore the advantages of RVing in the Shoulder Seasons.
Tis The Season
January 18, 2008
I was listening to one of my favorite radio talk programs today. The topic of the hour was "do you feel burdened by Christmas?" Much to my amazement the host, and the majority of his guests, spent the better part of an hour whining and moaning about the burdensome nature of the holiday season. "I hate being with my relatives." "Why do I have to spend all this money on presents for people I don’t like?" "There’s too much pressure!" "The traffic in the stores is ridiculous." It went on and on and on!
It’s a well known fact that people tend to be more depressed during the holiday season. It can be distressing if you live far away from your family. Some people actually become depressed because of the decrease in their exposure to sunlight during the winter months. However, what I heard today was different. People were just whining! They sounded like young children who were being forced to do their chores. Then, it hit me. Those people were suffering from PHLOP!
Preparing For the Holidays: Ho Ho Ho… or Bah Humbug!
January 17, 2008
Some of my clients dread the holiday season because it often represents stress, pressure, expectations, guilt, disappointment, pain, loneliness, exhaustion… and the list goes on.
This is a choice. We choose who we spend time with. We choose what activities we say yes and no to. We choose where we go. Your holiday season can be as simple or as elaborate as you choose to make it, and it can be a lot of fun if you plan accordingly.
Take some time this week to think about what’s most important to you this season, and then do a little planning. Here are some suggestions to help.
==> Create a list of holiday rituals that are important to you.
Seek your family’s input on holiday decisions. Ask family members what they liked and disliked about last year’s holidays. Write down the most important elements and activities you wish to include this year, and plan to make it happen.
Keeping time-consuming and irrelevant traditions or rituals “just because we’ve always done it that way” can increase stress. Keep only those traditions that have meaning to you, or create some new ones.
Disney World Lodging Options in Orlando Florida and Nearby Cities
January 16, 2008
At the heart of Central Florida lies one of the most beloved family vacation spots, Walt Disney World. Walt Disney World is not only a theme park with legendary rides and characters, but it is a family vacation experience from the wonderful restaurants and exhausting, yet exciting theme parks to the breathtaking scenery and fabulous lodging. Walt Disney World operates over twenty hotels, ranging from low cost and budget oriented to luxury. Also, the surrounding area of Lake Buena Vista offers plenty of choice hotels to accommodate you and yours.
If you are wanting to stay close to the theme parks during your stay at Walt Disney World, you have many Disney Resort hotels to choose from. These resorts can be broken up into three basic categories; luxury, moderate and value/discount hotels.
Resort/Luxury Lodging
Walt Disney World offers some of the best lodging you will come across in your lifetime. Disney World lodging is, not only, characterized by its desire to meet your needs and accommodate you in any way possible, but you will find a unique theme, exquisite landscaping and friendly, down home Orlando hospitality. A couple of the most popular and renowned resorts are Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Both are priced from $199.
Is Buying a Gift for Mom as Difficult for You as it is for Me?
January 15, 2008
I have walked through a countless number of stores searching for a Mother’s Day gift and I always see the same things. A nice blouse, a trinket for the kitchen, or perhaps a bottle of perfume (do they all smell the same to you too, or is it just me?). After three stores I am tired and frustration begins to set in.
At this point I am asking myself serious questions. Is it ok to get that great “one” gift that Mom loved a few years ago, but maybe in a slightly different style or shape? Will she like it as much and does she really need another? This is the jigsaw puzzle that was my life and I tend to think that I am not alone. Last year I tried something new.
If you read my article “A Little Something Special Goes a Long Way”, you will learn that I have a great deal of “gift giving” experience. I have wowed clients time and time again with personalized gift baskets that I found online and I attribute the thoughtful uniqueness of my furnishings as sustaining me through one of the toughest times, if not the toughest time, in the hotel industry’s history. A thought occurred to me last year that was one of those things that was right there in front of my face and I did not see it for several years before it smacked me right between the eyes.
