Friday, August 29, 2014

The Last Days of Summer

Well…I suppose summer is coming to an end in most places. People have been posting that “August is the Sunday of Summer” saying around lately. I have to say that summer is a bit longer here in Texas and it never really registers as a big deal for me... its hot here like ALL THE TIME so the association with summer = hot/warm weather doesn't work down here. As you can see we’re still expecting weather in the 90s Fahrenheit (30s Celsius) on into September.

{weather.com}
Anyway, I hope you have a wonderful last weekend in August! We have a three day weekend here in America and we are going to take full advantage of that!



What are your plans for the weekend?


Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Weekly Travel Pic

I love how it seems all the port cities in Europe have beautifully colored buildings on the water. Copenhagen, Denmark is one of these cities (so is Bergen, Norway but that's for a future feature).

I really enjoyed my trip trip to Copenhagen. Such a fun and beautiful city on the water!





Monday, August 25, 2014

Things Not to Worry About While Traveling


When traveling, don't sweat the little things, have fun!

1 - Getting Robbed/Pick-Pocketed: Just stay alert and be aware of your surroundings and you'll be fine. We would always do a quick pocket check once we were out of the crowd to make sure we had everything. My grandfather was fortunate enough to be able to travel the world and he told me the only place he ever got pick-pocketed was New York City...where he lived. 

2 - What Other People Think: I am definitely a victim of this, I want to make sure I don't draw attention to myself and have TOURIST plastered on my forehead.

3 - Spending Too Much Money: You're on vacation! And you may never return to this place so have fun! If you see something you like, buy it! Don't regret not getting something because you didn't want to go over budget. 

4 - Jetlag: I can't really relate to this one, I don't seem to have a problem with it right now...maybe I will when I am older. I'm also a pretty small person, 5'4", so sleeping on a plane is manageable for me...my 6'1" husband not so much.

5 - Breaking Laws You Don't Know About: I wouldn't worry about it but it is a biggy if you want to do something crazy. I know that I wanted to bring pepper spray with me on a trip once but it was not allowed in that country.

6 - What You're Going to Wear: For me this is right along side #2, I want to make sure I blend in and don't look 100% American. but try as I might, I'm sure I still do :)

7 - Getting Sick: Just be prepared. Have a small first aid kit and some medicine that you and your body are used to. I got sick on the day day of travel once and the medicine that I got in Germany did nothing for me. Fortunately I was able to bum some Tylenol cold off someone on my flight and was able to breath again!

8 - Not Being Able to Communicate With the Locals: I haven't had any big issues with this. Yes, there have been a few language barriers during my travels but pointing helps and it seems someone that speaks a little English is always close by :)

9 - Sticking to the Itinerary: Not sticking to the itinerary is blasphemy! I joke...sort of. I'm a planner at heart so we always have a jam-packed plan when we travel. But I do leave windows open for "free time" or in the moment we'll decide what we'll do for the evening.

10 - Getting Lost: Although I don't want to get lost and it would make me stress out a bit sometimes it can be fun. And it will most likely happen when you're walking around a foreign city and you don't know how to pronounce the street names. 

{the cross streets I lived on in Norway}






Friday, August 22, 2014

Vote For Me: Define Your Aloha

It would mean the world to me if you all could vote for me everyday until September 16th (or at least just today) for the Define Your Aloha photo contest from SPG Hawaii. Please click the link, click me!, and vote for the photo you see below.

{My Aloha, My Peace at Mauna Kea Beach, Hawaii Island}

What does Aloha mean to you? Thank you for voting and have a wonderful weekend!!!



Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Weekly Travel Pic


Today I wanted to share a picture that has been on the blog before but I wanted to highlight it again. This is from my time in Norway. This was taken while I was on a walk in the town I was staying in, Hønefoss. The river was so still on the serface and it picked up the colors of the sky perfectly.
 

 
 
 

Monday, August 18, 2014

Pinspiration

I have been SO excited to share this project with y'all! It just took me a while to get it all done.

So I saw this post on YoungHouseLove and I knew I had to do the same thing! Unfortunately I read the post too late and all the large calendars were sold out! Boo! So I settled for the flip calendar that is supposed to sit on your desk. Once it was in I measured the page and my very talented dad made the frames for me (since they were an odd size). Then I painted them black and hung them in our guest room.

{In Process}
{all done!}
I love these little pictures, its such a fun way to bring traveling into the home.

How do you bring your love for travel into your home?


Friday, August 15, 2014

When Vacations Attack

Imagine you are on a safari, a once in a life time adventure. As you are driving a long you see an elephant, "Oh  honey, look at the elephant coming our way..." one might say. Well what happens when that elephant has an itch he can't scratch?!?! Pictures below...

{Hmmm, whats that smell?, Source: Armand Grobler}

{Thats the spot right there!, Source: Armand Grobler}

{ohhh yeah!!!!, Source: Armand Grobler}



Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Weekly Travel Pic

Today's picture is actually about 20 pictures all tied together to make a gif. This is the beautiful Mauna Kea beach on Hawaii Island. I love this beach! Its crystal clear blue water, the lava rocks and the green of the trees...oh, whats not to love?! Hawaii, you'll always have my heart!



Monday, August 11, 2014

Extreme Travelers: 90 year old is Running Across America

Ernie Andrus, the 90 year old World War II veteran started running/jogging/walking across the country last October from San Diego. In June, when CBS News profiled him, he was in Payson, Ariz. And now, more than 10 months after he started, he has crossed into New Mexico.

{Source, Ernie's Facebook Page}
Ernie runs three days a week. Each running day he covers as much ground as his legs will carry him, and then catches a ride back to his RV. He drives to the spot he stopped running and chills out until he's ready to set off again.

Ernie explains that his journey will end when he reaches the Atlantic Ocean, near Brunswick, Georgia, some two to four years down the line.

There is a point to his running, he is helping to raise money for the LST 325 SHIP MEMORIAL, INC. Ernie was one of the crew that brought the LST 325 back from the Isle of Crete, Greece to the US in 2000, 2001 as aired on the history channel as The Return of LST 325. One thousand fifty one LSTs were built during World War II. The 325 is the only one left that has been restored and is still operational. Plans were being made to return the ship to Normandy for the D day memorial service (D day plus 70, 2014) and beach it at the same location where it was on Omaha beach 70 years before. The cost of taking this ship across the Atlantic and back is tremendous. Shortage of finances caused the 2014 trip to be canceled. Perhaps we can raise enough money for D Day plus 75 in 2019.


{Source, Ernie's Facebook Page}
You can also join Ernie on his runs. Catch up with him using the links below.




Friday, August 8, 2014

No More Meals on Shorter First Class Flights

American airlines, along with US Airways, has decided to discontinue full meals on flights less than three hours for first class passengers.

1 hour or Less: Your snack will be packaged
1 to 2 hours: Your snack will come in a basket
Up to 2 hrs 45 mins: Your snack basket will be enhanced with fruit, breads, or sandwiches and other packaged snacks


{Lufthansa Business Class, Paris to Frankfurt}

{United Business Class, Houston to Chicago}
For me, one of the best things about first class is that I get some food prepared on a cute little tray with tiny salt and pepper shakers. Now you’re telling me that I have to fork over all this money for a comfortable seat and I won’t even get a hot meal?!?! WTF?!?! Where is the humanity?! (I’m only half joking here…seriously, you pay A LOT for first class). Luckily, I am a United flyer and don’t have to deal with this…YET.

American is keeping full meals on some of their routes that are frequented by business travelers. Flights to and from Dallas-Fort Worth to Chicago O’Hare, Chicago to New York’s LaGuardia and JFK, and Boston, Denver, Raleigh-Durham, and Washington’s Reagan National.




Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Weekly Travel Pic

Today's picture was taken in 2009 in New York City. I loved the blue sky, the bridge in the background and crisp green of Central Park.


Have you ever been to New York City? What was your favorite thing about it?



Monday, August 4, 2014

Travel RoundUp

1 - Have you heard about the AirBnB squatter? Seems like the guest from hell. The owner of the property can't get him to leave without filling an eviction notice! 

2 - Here are some helpful tips on how to snag the best seats on a plane!

3 - This actually happened a while ago but I forgot to post it. An emergency slide inflated while the plane was 38,000 feet in the air?!?! 

{Source}
4 - Are you planning on visiting a national park soon? Fox News ranked America's best national parks

5 - Here is a list of America's cleanest beaches... my favorite, Hapuna Beach, made the list! 

{snorkeling at Hapuna} 
6 - Check out these pictures of the new Airbus A350XWB, looks amazing and sleek! 


{Source}

Happy Monday! Hope you all have a wonderful week!


Friday, August 1, 2014

Retirement Destinations

I have written about retirement destinations before on this blog. I found a few more lists of places and I wanted to share. The first one is from Yahoo! Travel and Kathleen Peddicord, founder of LiveandInvestOverseas.com (whom I have mentioned on this blog before) and the second is from Dave Ramseyamateur financial adviser. I tried to keep the post short since its two lists so if you want to know more please click the links provided above. 

Yahoo! Travel's list:
Malta
Cost of living: This archipelago, located about 50 miles south of Sicily, is more expensive than retirement destinations in South America and Southeast Asia, but compared to the rest of Europe, it's a bargain. A long-term rental in Valletta runs from about $600 to $1,000 a month. A couple could live comfortably for $2,000 a month.

{Source: Thinkstock}
Cayo District, Belize
Cost of living: A couple could live comfortably in western Belize for $1,400 to $1,700 a month. In San Ignacio, you could rent a two-bedroom furnished home for $500 to $600 a month, or buy one for $75,000. A two-bedroom home on 20 acres just outside San Ignacio was recently listed for $199,000.

Guethary, France
Cost of living: Many retirees rule out France as a retirement destination because of the high cost, but the Basque region is surprisingly affordable. At current exchange rates, a couple could live there comfortably for $2,000 a month.

Nuevo Arenal, Costa Rica
Cost of living: A retired couple can live comfortably on $2,000 a month.

Tagaytay, Philippines
Cost of living: The Philippines has the second-lowest cost of living of the 24 countries in International Living's Global Retirement Index. A retired couple could live quite comfortably for about $800 a month.

Antigua, Guatemala
Cost of living: Guatemala tied with Cambodia for the lowest cost of living on International Living's Global Retirement Index. Many American couples live quite comfortably on $1,500 a month, but it's possible to get by on much less. A furnished apartment with a rooftop terrace costs $350 a month, according to International Living--and that includes utilities, cable and WiFi.

Tulum, Mexico
Cost of living: Tulum is more expensive than some other expat communities in Mexico, but it's also not as overrun with resident Americans. A retired couple can live comfortably on a budget of between $2,500 and $3,500 per month. But for what you get, the cost of living is still less than it is in many parts of the U.S., says Ron Burdine, 48, who has lived in Tulum for seven years and plans to retire there. Housing prices range from $85,000 for a small two-bedroom house to more than $2 million for a beachfront hacienda. Monthly rents for a two-bedroom, furnished condo range from $550 to $1,200 a month.

Sihanoukville, Cambodia
Cost of living: Cambodia tied with Guatemala for the lowest cost of living on International Living’s Global Retirement Index. A couple could live quite comfortably on $700 a month. A furnished 2,000-square-foot house on the beach with free high-speed Internet and utilities costs about $150 a month. A three-course lunch costs about $5.

Dave's list:
Florida
And she’s right! You can retire for $100 a day in Gainesville, according to AARP, or spend your golden years in the lap of luxury in Naples, North Key Largo or Palm Beach—three cities that made Forbes’ “25 Top Places to Retire Rich” list.

Hawaii
According to Forbes, the average home in Honolulu will cost you $500,000. But the aloha way of life may be worth the premium. From consistently wonderful weather, a laid-back lifestyle, to an abundance of natural and cultural beauty, and the fact that you could have a backyard filled with healthy foods that you can grow yourself.

{From our trip to Hawaii Island, 2011}
Texas
If you’re looking for wide open spaces with a side of swagger, don’t mess with Texas. With 268,596 square miles to stretch your arms, Texas has room for every retirement lifestyle.


Colorado
Colorful Colorado is a great destination for outdoor lovers who want to maintain an active retirement lifestyle. In fact, a recent Gallup-Healthways survey ranked Colorado as one of the top states for well-being. Another reason to move here - the sun shines almost every single day. Pueblo, Colorado, gets more sunshine than Honolulu.

Tennessee
For many of you, there’s a rocking chair with your name on it in the hills of Tennessee. A good reason to put Tennessee at the top of your list should include the no income taxes, low property taxes and low car insurance.

Costa Rica
Looking for a place where you can live in paradise for $2,000 or less per month? Costa Rica might be for you. Costa Rica stands out because it offers top-notch medical care, with many U.S.-trained healthcare providers. In fact, that’s just one of the many reasons International Living included Costa Rica in its “World’s Best Places to Retire in 2014” list. Another plus is the abundance of fresh produce and fresh fish is very healthy.

RV or Bust!
You can’t tie a free spirit down—not even in retirement. Who needs to stay in one place when you can see and experience everywhere? Like 2People1Life



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